Interpreters and Translators salary
Interpreters and Translators earn a median of $60,170 a year ($28.93/hr) in the U.S. – from $42,270 in Hawaii to $109,970 in District of Columbia. Enter your pay below to see how you compare.
Median pay, United States$28.93/hr · $60,170 a year
Pay range
90% earn more$37,070$17.82/hr
75% earn more$46,530$22.37/hr
half earn more, half less$60,170$28.93/hr
25% earn more$80,830$38.86/hr
top 10% earn more$103,660$49.84/hr
pulled up by top earners$66,360$31.90/hr
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Pay by state
States ranked by median annual wage for interpreters and translators. Tap a state for its minimum wage.
280 jobs · $52.87/hr$109,970
1,150 jobs · $42.57/hr$88,550
3,240 jobs · $40.43/hr$84,090
200 jobs · $39.58/hr$82,320
2,280 jobs · $34.98/hr$72,750
800 jobs · $34.51/hr$71,790
5,560 jobs · $34.02/hr$70,770
280 jobs · $32.85/hr$68,340
1,030 jobs · $31.93/hr$66,410
660 jobs · $31.88/hr$66,300
300 jobs · $31.80/hr$66,130
850 jobs · $31.62/hr$65,770
360 jobs · $30.55/hr$63,550
90 jobs · $30.51/hr$63,470
1,410 jobs · $30.48/hr$63,390
1,630 jobs · $30.30/hr$63,030
80 jobs · $30.02/hr$62,450
1,250 jobs · $29.69/hr$61,750
2,030 jobs · $29.44/hr$61,230
870 jobs · $28.35/hr$58,970
1,600 jobs · $27.83/hr$57,880
80 jobs · $27.47/hr$57,130
1,420 jobs · $27.42/hr$57,040
440 jobs · $27.41/hr$57,010
240 jobs · $27.10/hr$56,370
1,510 jobs · $26.58/hr$55,290
480 jobs · $25.77/hr$53,590
230 jobs · $25.55/hr$53,140
570 jobs · $25.51/hr$53,050
220 jobs · $25.24/hr$52,490
710 jobs · $24.56/hr$51,080
520 jobs · $24.45/hr$50,860
320 jobs · $24.21/hr$50,370
2,070 jobs · $24.11/hr$50,150
1,780 jobs · $24.05/hr$50,030
320 jobs · $23.55/hr$48,980
4,200 jobs · $23.53/hr$48,930
120 jobs · $23.28/hr$48,420
130 jobs · $23.17/hr$48,190
560 jobs · $23.15/hr$48,150
1,170 jobs · $23.14/hr$48,140
470 jobs · $23.05/hr$47,950
60 jobs · $23.01/hr$47,850
6,780 jobs · $22.84/hr$47,510
310 jobs · $22.18/hr$46,130
940 jobs · $21.78/hr$45,310
130 jobs · $20.67/hr$42,990
60 jobs · $20.32/hr$42,270
No wage estimate published for: Alaska, Delaware, West Virginia.
Related jobs
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC code 27-3091. Wages exclude the self-employed. All jobs · Minimum wage by state
Questions & answers
How much do interpreters and translators make?
The median wage for interpreters and translators in the U.S. was $28.93 an hour or $60,170 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $46,530 and $80,830 a year.
Which state pays interpreters and translators the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage for interpreters and translators: $109,970 a year. The lowest published median is in Hawaii at $42,270. Living costs also differ a lot between states.
How many interpreters and translators are there?
BLS estimates 52,060 interpreters and translators were employed in the U.S. in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
What is the difference between median and average pay?
The median is the middle wage: half of workers earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) adds everyone up and divides, so a few very high earners pull it up. The median is usually the better guide to typical pay.
What does the 10th or 90th percentile mean?
The 10th percentile is the wage that only 10% of workers earn less than – often entry-level pay. The 90th percentile is the wage that only 10% earn more than – usually the most experienced or highest-paid workers.