Average Salary for Interpreters and Translators
SOC 27-3091 · Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Interpreters and Translators in the United States is $59,440 ($28.58/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $35,630 at the 10th percentile to $99,830 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 53,360 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 36.4% since 2014.
Median Annual
$59,440
Mean Annual
$64,950
10th Pct
$35,630
75th Pct
$80,020
Employment
53,360
Salary Distribution
$36k
10th
$45k
25th
$59k
Median
$80k
75th
$100k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $98,910 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $96,510 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $85,660 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $85,590 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $84,670 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $83,740 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $81,600 |
| Salinas, CA | $80,120 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $80,020 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $78,140 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $77,710 |
| Salem, OR | $77,320 |
| Rochester, NY | $76,610 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $76,500 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $75,730 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| New York | $84,650 |
| District of Columbia | $81,140 |
| Maryland | $78,350 |
| Virginia | $74,250 |
| California | $73,510 |
| Washington | $69,620 |
| Colorado | $66,590 |
| Utah | $65,990 |
| Massachusetts | $65,490 |
| West Virginia | $63,750 |
| Minnesota | $63,440 |
| Georgia | $61,610 |
| Oregon | $61,520 |
| Wisconsin | $61,000 |
| Vermont | $60,210 |
| Alaska | $59,280 |
| New Mexico | $59,010 |
| Ohio | $57,850 |
| Wyoming | $57,700 |
| Connecticut | $57,700 |
| Idaho | $56,340 |
| Maine | $54,890 |
| New Hampshire | $54,650 |
| Illinois | $53,870 |
| Kentucky | $53,820 |
| Michigan | $52,240 |
| Missouri | $52,080 |
| Arkansas | $50,880 |
| North Carolina | $50,830 |
| Iowa | $50,110 |
| Delaware | $49,790 |
| South Dakota | $49,630 |
| Tennessee | $49,270 |
| Nebraska | $49,070 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,010 |
| Arizona | $48,200 |
| Nevada | $47,890 |
| Kansas | $47,830 |
| Hawaii | $47,580 |
| Indiana | $47,470 |
| South Carolina | $47,060 |
| Puerto Rico | $46,700 |
| Oklahoma | $46,640 |
| Florida | $46,320 |
| Montana | $46,240 |
| North Dakota | $46,150 |
| Alabama | $45,760 |
| Texas | $45,610 |
| New Jersey | $45,120 |
| Louisiana | $45,060 |
| Mississippi | $43,410 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Interpreters and Translators broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $137,350 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $137,350 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $102,440 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $102,380 |
| Software Publishers | $99,650 |
| Publishing Industries | $99,650 |
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | $88,500 |
| Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers | $82,220 |
| Broadcasting and Content Providers | $82,160 |
| Junior Colleges | $80,490 |
| Information | $80,120 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | $75,600 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | $75,120 |
| Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities | $72,900 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $72,800 |
| Home Health Care Services | $72,800 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $72,620 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $69,970 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $69,970 |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | $69,120 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $69,050 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $67,920 |
| Business Schools and Computer and Management Training | $66,450 |
| Individual and Family Services | $66,300 |
| Civic and Social Organizations | $65,540 |
| Educational Services | $64,700 |
| Grantmaking and Giving Services | $64,340 |
| Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists | $62,630 |
| Hospitals | $61,360 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $61,350 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $61,250 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $61,020 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | $60,780 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $60,760 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities | $60,720 |
| Educational Services | $60,560 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | $60,560 |
| Insurance Carriers | $59,030 |
| Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers | $59,030 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities | $59,030 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $59,020 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $59,020 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $59,020 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $58,850 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | $58,690 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $58,660 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $58,240 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $58,240 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $58,240 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $58,180 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $57,530 |
| Wholesale Trade | $56,680 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $56,680 |
| Social Assistance | $55,450 |
| Religious Organizations | $53,890 |
| Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers | $51,550 |
| Finance and Insurance | $51,490 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $50,040 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $49,900 |
| Manufacturing | $49,600 |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $47,580 |
| Animal Slaughtering and Processing | $47,320 |
| Food Manufacturing | $47,320 |
| Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities | $47,010 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $46,970 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages | $46,290 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | $45,780 |
| Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services | $45,480 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services | $45,080 |
| Child Care Services | $45,070 |
| Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers | $44,530 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $43,870 |
| Offices of Physicians | $43,790 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | $41,910 |
| Warehousing and Storage | $40,690 |
| Warehousing and Storage | $40,690 |
| Business Support Services | $40,680 |
| Support Activities for Air Transportation | $40,670 |
| Support Activities for Transportation | $40,670 |
| Legal Services | $38,930 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $37,960 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $33,670 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $33,670 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $32,640 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $32,640 |
| Employment Services | $32,390 |
| Temporary Help Services | $31,470 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $59,440 |
| 2023 | $57,090 |
| 2022 | $53,640 |
| 2021 | $49,110 |
| 2020 | $52,330 |
| 2019 | $51,830 |
| 2018 | $49,930 |
| 2017 | $47,190 |
| 2016 | $46,120 |
| 2015 | $44,190 |
| 2014 | $43,590 |