How much does a interpreter and translator make?
The median interpreter and translator in the United States earns $60,170 per year, about $28.93 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all interpreters and translators earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 27-3091.
Interpreter and translator salary range
Pay for interpreters and translators spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $37,070 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $103,660. The average (mean) wage of $66,360 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,070 | $17.82 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $46,530 | $22.37 | |
| Median (50th) | $60,170 | $28.93 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $80,830 | $38.86 | |
| 90th percentile | $103,660 | $49.84 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for interpreters and translators (SOC 27-3091), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Interpreter and translator salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Interpreters and translators earn the most in District of Columbia at $109,970 a year, and the least in Hawaii at $42,270. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $109,970 | 280 |
| Maryland | $88,550 | 1,150 |
| New York | $84,090 | 3,240 |
| Rhode Island | $82,320 | 200 |
| Massachusetts | $72,750 | 2,280 |
| Colorado | $71,790 | 800 |
| California | $70,770 | 5,560 |
| Connecticut | $68,340 | 280 |
| Minnesota | $66,410 | 1,030 |
| Oregon | $66,300 | 660 |
| Idaho | $66,130 | 300 |
| Utah | $65,770 | 850 |
| New Mexico | $63,550 | 360 |
| Maine | $63,470 | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $63,390 | 1,410 |
| Virginia | $63,030 | 1,630 |
| Vermont | $62,450 | 80 |
| Washington | $61,750 | 1,250 |
| Ohio | $61,230 | 2,030 |
| New Jersey | $58,970 | 870 |
| Georgia | $57,880 | 1,600 |
| Mississippi | $57,130 | 80 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,040 | 1,420 |
| Missouri | $57,010 | 440 |
| New Hampshire | $56,370 | 240 |
| Illinois | $55,290 | 1,510 |
| Kentucky | $53,590 | 480 |
| South Dakota | $53,140 | 230 |
| Nebraska | $53,050 | 570 |
| Arkansas | $52,490 | 220 |
| Tennessee | $51,080 | 710 |
| South Carolina | $50,860 | 520 |
| Nevada | $50,370 | 320 |
| Arizona | $50,150 | 2,070 |
| North Carolina | $50,030 | 1,780 |
| Oklahoma | $48,980 | 320 |
| Florida | $48,930 | 4,200 |
| Louisiana | $48,420 | 120 |
| North Dakota | $48,190 | 130 |
| Iowa | $48,150 | 560 |
| Indiana | $48,140 | 1,170 |
| Kansas | $47,950 | 470 |
| Montana | $47,850 | 60 |
| Texas | $47,510 | 6,780 |
| Alabama | $46,130 | 310 |
| Michigan | $45,310 | 940 |
| Hawaii | $42,270 | 60 |
State median wages for interpreters and translators (SOC 27-3091), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for interpreters and translators
The BLS projects employment of interpreters and translators to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 73,900 jobs in 2025 moving toward 75,400 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 6,000 openings a year for interpreters and translators. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become an interpreter and translator
The typical entry-level education for interpreters and translators is a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much an interpreter and translator earns
Employer, market size, reputation, and whether the work is staff or freelance drive a wide pay spread. A small group of top earners pulls the high end of this field well up.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (District of Columbia, $109,970) and the lowest (Hawaii, $42,270) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 52,060 people work as interpreters and translators in the United States. At $60,170 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Interpreter and translator salary FAQ
How much does an interpreter and translator make an hour?
The median hourly wage for an interpreter and translator is $28.93. The middle half of interpreters and translators earn between $22.37 and $38.86 per hour.
What is the highest interpreter and translator salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of interpreters and translators earn more than $103,660 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does an interpreter and translator make a year?
The median annual salary for an interpreter and translator is $60,170. The average (mean) wage of $66,360 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being an interpreter and translator a well paid job?
At $60,170 a year, an interpreter and translator earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 52,060 people work as interpreters and translators in the United States.
Which state pays interpreters and translators the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median salary for interpreters and translators at $109,970 a year. Maryland ($88,550) and New York ($84,090) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being an interpreter and translator a good career?
Employment of interpreters and translators is projected to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 6,000 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become an interpreter and translator?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for interpreters and translators as a bachelor's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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