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Hourly Wage for Medical Interpreter Salary in the United States

What is the highest and lowest hourly pay for Medical Interpreter?

As of September 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Medical Interpreter in the United States is $25, which translates to an annual salary of about $51,677.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $29 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $22 to $27 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $20 per hour
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Medical Interpreter Salaries

A Medical Interpreter's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Medical Interpreter Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Medical Interpreter's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $49,845
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $50,011
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $52,010
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $53,876
  • Expert (over 8 years): $54,009
Levels Salary
Entry Level Medical Interpreter$49,845
Intermediate Level Medical Interpreter$50,011
Senior Level Medical Interpreter$52,010
Specialist Level Medical Interpreter$53,876
Expert Level Medical Interpreter$54,009
View as Graph

How Do Medical Interpreter Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Medical Interpreters. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $57,217.
  • California: $57,000.
  • Massachusetts: $56,240.

Top Paying Cities for Medical Interpreters

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $65,180
  • San Francisco: $64,467
  • Oakland: $63,108

What Skills Can Increase a Medical Interpreter's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 6.79% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Insurance Industry (Mentioned in 4.62% Job Postings): The insurance industry comprises companies and people who develop insurance policies, and sell, administrate, and regulate them.
  • Pediatric (Mentioned in 0.71% Job Postings): Pediatrics is the branch of medicine that involves the medical care of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 6.79%
Insurance Industry 4.62%
Pediatric 0.71%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Medical Interpreter's salary.

  • Medical Equipment: Can increase your salary by up to 38%.
  • Business Operations: Can increase your salary by up to 25%.
  • Cross-Cultural Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Medical Equipment $71,314
38%
Business Operations $64,596
25%
Cross-Cultural Communication $62,529
21%
Get Latest Data

Medical Interpreter Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Medical Interpreter salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $54,849. While startup companies pay approximate $46,709.

Medical Interpreter Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $46,709
Growth Stage 51~500 $49,319
Established 501~5000 $53,044
Enterprise 5000+ $54,849

Medical Interpreter Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Medical Interpreter roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 30% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 15% above the average. Conversely, Medical Interpreter positions in Edu., Government & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Medical Interpreter as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Medical Interpreter

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$59,429$29.015%

How Education impacts a Medical Interpreter's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Medical Interpreter enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Medical Interpreter with a Bachelor's Degree is between $48,967 and $52,196.

Medical Interpreter Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Medical Interpreter
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.0%
High School 28.7%
Associates 10.3%
Bachelors 46.7%
Masters 11.8%
Doctorate 1.5%
View as Graph

Medical Interpreter Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Medical Interpreter's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$46,097
Average $51,677/year
$56,142
$3,841
Average $4,306/month
$4,679
$886
Average $994/week
$1,080
$22
Average $25/hour
$27
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $56,142 $4,679 $1,080 $27
Average $51,677 $4,306 $994 $25
25th Percentile $46,097 $3,841 $886 $22

Most common benefits for Medical Interpreter

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Medical Interpreter

Here are companies hiring for Medical Interpreter and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Medical Interpreter

1. What are the responsibilities of Medical Interpreter?

Conducts medical and general interpreting for staff, patients, and their families. Assesses and monitors patients' understanding of information conveyed. Advises medical personnel about any cultural issues that might impact patient care. Records and monitors interpretation activities according to hospital and department standards. May be required to translate written documents. Requires familiarity with medical terminology. Requires fluency in one or more languages in addition to English. May require an associate degree or equivalent. May require Translation certificate. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Works under moderate supervision. Gaining or has attained full proficiency in a specific area of discipline. Typically requires 1-3 years of related experience.

2. What are the skills of Medical Interpreter

Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

1.)

Customer Service: Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.

2.)

Insurance Industry: The insurance industry comprises companies and people who develop insurance policies, and sell, administrate, and regulate them.

3.)

Pediatric: Pediatrics is the branch of medicine that involves the medical care of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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