How much does a interviewer make?
The median interviewer in the United States earns $45,920 per year, about $22.08 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all interviewers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 43-4111.
Interviewer salary range
Pay for interviewers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $33,900 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $62,810. The average (mean) wage of $47,240 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 | $33,900 | $16.30 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $38,330 | $18.43 | |
| Median (50th) | $45,920 | $22.08 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $53,090 | $25.53 | |
| 90th percentile | $62,810 | $30.20 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for interviewers, except eligibility and loan (SOC 43-4111), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Interviewer salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Interviewers earn the most in California at $56,880 a year, and the least in Alabama at $34,180. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| California | $56,880 | 22,250 |
| New York | $55,410 | 9,260 |
| Washington | $51,090 | 3,050 |
| Oregon | $50,730 | 1,710 |
| Massachusetts | $50,340 | 3,050 |
| Minnesota | $49,980 | 1,950 |
| Rhode Island | $49,780 | 370 |
| District of Columbia | $49,730 | 640 |
| Colorado | $49,660 | 5,360 |
| Vermont | $49,480 | 380 |
| Delaware | $49,010 | 570 |
| New Hampshire | $48,890 | 1,390 |
| Connecticut | $47,980 | 1,210 |
| Alaska | $47,630 | 80 |
| Maryland | $47,550 | 2,510 |
| New Jersey | $47,380 | 4,170 |
| Wisconsin | $46,070 | 1,130 |
| Virginia | $44,280 | 2,250 |
| Michigan | $44,180 | 4,590 |
| Nebraska | $44,130 | 2,280 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,070 | 3,640 |
| Texas | $43,980 | 13,930 |
| South Dakota | $43,930 | 590 |
| Maine | $43,830 | 1,000 |
| Florida | $43,500 | 7,420 |
| Arizona | $43,200 | 2,630 |
| Illinois | $43,200 | 2,240 |
| Montana | $42,970 | 760 |
| Ohio | $42,480 | 6,730 |
| Nevada | $42,340 | 2,190 |
| Utah | $41,530 | 570 |
| Georgia | $41,450 | 1,910 |
| Indiana | $40,510 | 3,280 |
| Kentucky | $40,490 | 1,050 |
| Wyoming | $40,050 | 420 |
| Iowa | $39,520 | 1,800 |
| Idaho | $39,450 | 560 |
| Kansas | $39,430 | 3,640 |
| Tennessee | $39,340 | 1,660 |
| North Carolina | $39,200 | 2,330 |
| Oklahoma | $39,130 | 1,480 |
| Missouri | $38,940 | 3,470 |
| South Carolina | $38,830 | 940 |
| North Dakota | $38,590 | 160 |
| Louisiana | $37,190 | 4,440 |
| Arkansas | $37,150 | 2,990 |
| West Virginia | $36,480 | 2,480 |
| Hawaii | $35,680 | N/A |
| Mississippi | $35,110 | 2,200 |
| Alabama | $34,180 | 3,120 |
State median wages for interviewers, except eligibility and loan (SOC 43-4111), 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 interviewers
The BLS projects employment of interviewers to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 10.4%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 153,600 jobs in 2025 moving toward 137,600 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 13,200 openings a year for interviewers. 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 interviewer
The typical entry-level education for interviewers is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much an interviewer earns
Employer, industry, seniority, and metro area drive pay. Large organizations and high cost cities pay above small offices and entry-level roles.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (California, $56,880) and the lowest (Alabama, $34,180) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 148,060 people work as interviewers in the United States. At $45,920 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Interviewer salary FAQ
How much does an interviewer make an hour?
The median hourly wage for an interviewer is $22.08. The middle half of interviewers earn between $18.43 and $25.53 per hour.
What is the highest interviewer salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of interviewers earn more than $62,810 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does an interviewer make a year?
The median annual salary for an interviewer is $45,920. The average (mean) wage of $47,240 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 interviewer a well paid job?
At $45,920 a year, an interviewer earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 148,060 people work as interviewers in the United States.
Which state pays interviewers the most?
California has the highest median salary for interviewers at $56,880 a year. New York ($55,410) and Washington ($51,090) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being an interviewer a good career?
Employment of interviewers is projected to shrink 10.4% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 13,200 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become an interviewer?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for interviewers as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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