Hourly Wage for Medical Interpreter Salary in the United States
What is the highest and lowest hourly pay for Medical Interpreter?
As of July 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Medical Interpreter in the United States is
$25, which translates to an annual salary of about $51,667.
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
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): $49,837
Early Career (1-2 years): $50,004
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $52,002
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $53,876
Expert (over 8 years): $54,009
Levels
Salary
Entry Level Medical Interpreter
$49,837
Intermediate Level Medical Interpreter
$50,004
Senior Level Medical Interpreter
$52,002
Specialist Level Medical Interpreter
$53,876
Expert Level Medical Interpreter
$54,009
$49,8370 yr
$50,004< 2 yrs
$52,0022-4 yrs
$53,8765-8 yrs
$54,009> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
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:
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: $65,168
San Francisco: $64,454
Oakland: $63,096
San Jose, CA$65,168
San Francisco, CA$64,454
Oakland, CA$63,096
New York, NY$59,489
Paramus, NJ$58,766
Queens Village, NY$58,763
Passaic, NJ$58,714
Bergenfield, NJ$58,709
Stamford, CT$58,596
Huntington, NY$58,574
Newark, NJ$58,193
Bridgeport, CT$58,084
Vallejo, CA$57,981
New Brunswick, NJ$57,960
Petaluma, CA$57,929
Middlesex, NJ$57,831
Somerset, NJ$57,795
Santa Cruz, CA$57,728
Boston, MA$57,412
Monterey, CA$57,231
Seattle, WA$57,113
Santa Rosa, CA$57,102
Los Angeles, CA$57,087
Juneau, AK$56,953
Washington, DC$56,896
Orange, CA$56,712
Santa Ana, CA$56,575
Long Beach, CA$56,524
Anaheim, CA$56,513
Anchorage, AK$56,488
Santa Maria, CA$56,333
Everett, WA$56,322
Danbury, CT$56,140
Bremerton, WA$56,069
Tacoma, WA$55,883
New Suffolk, NY$55,882
Sacramento, CA$55,868
Santa Barbara, CA$55,811
Trenton, NJ$55,754
San Diego, CA$55,754
Brockton, MA$55,697
Fairbanks, AK$55,570
Lompoc, CA$55,439
Lowell, MA$55,397
Ventura, CA$55,387
Nashua, NH$55,377
Stockton, CA$55,372
Modesto, CA$54,994
Poughkeepsie, NY$54,881
Olympia, WA$54,783
Kennewick, WA$54,783
New Haven, CT$54,762
Lawrence, MA$54,576
Hartford, CT$54,524
Riverside, CA$54,514
New Bedford, MA$54,462
Richland, WA$54,462
Bakersfield, CA$54,390
San Bernardino, CA$54,369
New Britain, CT$54,364
Atlantic City, NJ$54,364
New London, CT$54,343
Norwich, CT$54,328
Portsmouth, NH$54,318
Boulder, CO$54,208
Portland, OR$54,137
Worcester, MA$54,132
Minneapolis, MN$53,971
Philadelphia, PA$53,899
Honolulu, HI$53,729
Saint Paul, MN$53,704
Vineland, NJ$53,692
Providence, RI$53,543
Chicago, IL$53,393
Bellingham, WA$53,331
Springfield, MA$53,289
Baltimore, MD$53,274
Chico, CA$53,145
Pittsfield, MA$53,005
Manchester, NH$52,907
Spokane, WA$52,680
Denver, CO$52,675
Albany, NY$52,432
Troy, NY$52,411
Nassau, NY$52,356
Schenectady, NY$52,303
Wilmington, DE$52,261
Burlington, VT$52,189
Salem, OR$52,168
Portland, ME$52,008
Yakima, WA$51,956
Rochester, MN$51,796
Reno, NV$51,770
Fresno, CA$51,770
Milwaukee, WI$51,724
Detroit, MI$51,672
Ann Arbor, MI$51,663
Allentown, PA$51,657
Colorado Springs, CO$51,569
Syracuse, NY$51,543
Carson City, NV$51,543
Houston, TX$51,471
Eugene, OR$51,445
Gary, IN$51,383
Springfield, OR$51,341
Bismarck, ND$51,331
Galveston, TX$51,295
Medford, OR$51,217
Fort Collins, CO$51,197
Concord, NH$51,171
Austin, TX$51,155
Mesa, AZ$51,047
Reading, PA$51,042
Phoenix, AZ$51,037
Dallas, TX$51,021
Saint Cloud, MN$50,972
Madison, WI$50,902
Utica, NY$50,763
Rochester, NY$50,680
Des Moines, IA$50,675
Raleigh, NC$50,670
Atlanta, GA$50,592
Battle Creek, MI$50,577
Salt Lake City, UT$50,561
Lancaster, PA$50,484
Harrisburg, PA$50,411
Kansas City, MO$50,360
Champaign, IL$50,349
Kansas City, KS$50,349
Fort Worth, TX$50,344
Columbus, OH$50,336
Boca Raton, FL$50,324
Pittsburgh, PA$50,303
Richmond, VA$50,282
Indianapolis, IN$50,272
Cleveland, OH$50,267
Las Vegas, NV$50,205
Cincinnati, OH$50,205
Petersburg, VA$50,127
Huntsville, AL$50,050
Lansing, MI$50,015
Lebanon, PA$50,008
Pueblo, CO$50,003
Appleton, WI$49,988
Buffalo, NY$49,967
Dayton, OH$49,952
Racine, WI$49,941
Charlotte, NC$49,936
Saint Louis, MO$49,921
York, PA$49,890
Elkhart, IN$49,890
Gastonia, NC$49,880
Billings, MT$49,867
Beaumont, TX$49,853
Lorain, OH$49,843
Benton Harbor, MI$49,833
Toledo, OH$49,822
Binghamton, NY$49,797
Rock Hill, SC$49,791
Rockford, IL$49,766
Springfield, IL$49,745
Elyria, OH$49,740
Fargo, ND$49,740
Flagstaff, AZ$49,704
Fort Lauderdale, FL$49,673
Duluth, MN$49,642
Miami, FL$49,642
Cheyenne, WY$49,605
Grand Forks, ND$49,605
Bangor, ME$49,492
Cedar Rapids, IA$49,435
Durham, NC$49,413
Louisville, KY$49,409
Grand Rapids, MI$49,399
Hialeah, FL$49,394
Casper, WY$49,321
Scranton, PA$49,259
New Orleans, LA$49,244
Virginia Beach, VA$49,239
Akron, OH$49,213
Peoria, IL$49,146
Sarasota, FL$49,135
Nashville, TN$49,099
Omaha, NE$49,099
Green Bay, WI$49,099
Baton Rouge, LA$49,073
Charleston, SC$49,063
Jamestown, NY$49,037
Davenport, IA$49,037
Tucson, AZ$49,011
Saint Petersburg, FL$48,980
Tampa, FL$48,970
Evansville, IN$48,939
Port Arthur, TX$48,939
Bradenton, FL$48,918
Santa Fe, NM$48,825
Orlando, FL$48,732
Clearwater, FL$48,717
Canton, OH$48,608
La Crosse, WI$48,608
Albuquerque, NM$48,577
Newport News, VA$48,572
High Point, NC$48,557
Ogden, UT$48,536
Corpus Christi, TX$48,495
Norfolk, VA$48,464
Laramie, WY$48,464
Rock Island, IL$48,433
Saginaw, MI$48,422
Jacksonville, FL$48,417
Salisbury, NC$48,407
Boise, ID$48,396
Moline, IL$48,371
Fort Myers, FL$48,355
Memphis, TN$48,345
Tulsa, OK$48,319
Waterloo, IA$48,288
Spartanburg, SC$48,236
Lincoln, NE$48,210
Fort Wayne, IN$48,200
Provo, UT$48,195
Cedar Falls, IA$48,133
San Antonio, TX$48,112
Greensboro, NC$48,092
South Bend, IN$48,086
Savannah, GA$48,030
Muskegon, MI$48,009
Birmingham, AL$48,004
Winston Salem, NC$47,978
Lake Charles, LA$47,854
Anderson, IN$47,844
Lexington, KY$47,828
Augusta, GA$47,813
Greenville, SC$47,813
Lima, OH$47,771
Wichita, KS$47,766
Tuscaloosa, AL$47,766
Columbia, SC$47,720
Springfield, OH$47,709
Asheville, NC$47,627
Bloomington, IN$47,590
Knoxville, TN$47,404
Shreveport, LA$47,399
Wilmington, NC$47,332
Roanoke, VA$47,332
Topeka, KS$47,239
Frankfort, KY$47,233
Oklahoma City, OK$47,198
Chillicothe, OH$47,177
Longview, TX$47,172
Melbourne, FL$47,167
Sioux Falls, SD$47,084
Mobile, AL$47,079
Terre Haute, IN$47,058
Altoona, PA$47,027
Amarillo, TX$46,991
Killeen, TX$46,976
Fayetteville, AR$46,934
Chattanooga, TN$46,919
Sioux City, IA$46,872
Idaho Falls, ID$46,862
Lynchburg, VA$46,821
Gainesville, FL$46,753
Portsmouth, OH$46,728
Little Rock, AR$46,717
Lafayette, LA$46,697
Youngstown, OH$46,697
Daytona Beach, FL$46,666
Clarksville, TN$46,660
Pensacola, FL$46,655
Temple, TX$46,652
Hopkinsville, KY$46,500
Erie, PA$46,490
Florence, SC$46,469
Charleston, WV$46,387
Great Falls, MT$46,361
Macon, GA$46,288
Tallahassee, FL$46,283
Fayetteville, NC$46,273
Waco, TX$46,263
Helena, MT$46,226
Pine Bluff, AR$46,207
Vincennes, IN$46,144
Lubbock, TX$46,123
Alamogordo, NM$46,092
Twin Falls, ID$46,046
Rapid City, SD$46,030
Jackson, MS$45,937
Huntington, WV$45,934
Greenville, MS$45,932
Parkersburg, WV$45,879
Montgomery, AL$45,870
Wichita Falls, TX$45,818
Springfield, MO$45,818
Biloxi, MS$45,792
Monroe, LA$45,741
Johnstown, PA$45,705
Sumter, SC$45,684
Columbus, GA$45,679
Pascagoula, MS$45,581
Abilene, TX$45,581
Kingsport, TN$45,446
Albany, GA$45,446
Gulfport, MS$45,431
Alexandria, LA$45,260
Fort Smith, AR$45,131
El Paso, TX$44,992
Las Cruces, NM$44,759
Harlingen, TX$44,628
Pocatello, ID$44,620
Florence, AL$44,552
Brownsville, TX$44,542
Mcallen, TX$44,434
Dothan, AL$44,361
Columbus, MS$44,054
Altus, OK$43,814
Lawton, OK$43,715
Pierre, SD$43,529
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.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Customer Service
6.79%
Insurance Industry
4.62%
Pediatric
0.71%
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
$71,300
38%
Business Operations
$64,584
25%
Cross-Cultural Communication
$62,517
21%
Organizing
$56,834
10%
HIPAA
$56,317
9%
Innovation
$56,317
9%
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 $54,874.
While startup companies pay approximate $46,738.
Medical Interpreter Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$46,738
Growth Stage
51~500
$49,343
Established
501~5000
$53,083
Enterprise
5000+
$54,874
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
$59,417
$29.0
15%
How Education impacts a Medical Interpreter's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Medical Interpreters enter the field with a No Diploma degree,
higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data,
the median salary for a Medical Interpreter with a No Diploma is between
$47,676
and $51,271).
Medical Interpreter Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Medical Interpreter
No Diploma1.0%
High School28.7%
Associates10.3%
Bachelors46.7%
Masters11.8%
Doctorate1.5%
view as table
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.
Salaries for a Medical Interpreter can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $37,343 in 2023
to around $36,586 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Medical Interpreter salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Medical Interpreter Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$37,343
2024
$37,211
2025
$36,586
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$37,343
2024
$37,211
2025
$36,586
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Medical Interpreter
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Medical Interpreter
Here are companies hiring for Medical Interpreter and their salaries, click below for more details.
N
$97,099/per year
New York Police Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$95,962/per year
State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$94,615/per year
US Department of Transportation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$93,141/per year
US General Services Administration
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$92,342/per year
Los Angeles County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
D
$92,011/per year
Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,967/per year
US Department of Commerce
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,755/per year
US Department of Energy
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
F
$91,673/per year
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$90,276/per year
Naval Sea Systems Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,975/per year
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$88,721/per year
San Diego County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,664/per year
The TTB
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$87,569/per year
Lutheran Services
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
M
$85,066/per year
Maryland Inc
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$83,780/per year
State University of New York
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$82,969/per year
New York State
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
P
$82,703/per year
Puerto Rico Department of Education
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$80,526/per year
US Central Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
H
$80,286/per year
Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$79,270/per year
Air Force Reserve
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$78,505/per year
American Automobile Association (AAA)
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$76,678/per year
State of Florida - Department of Health
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$75,183/per year
New York State Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$75,106/per year
State University System of Florida
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
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FAQ about Medical Interpreter
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Medical Interpreter?
The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Medical Interpreter roles,
with salaries approximately 15% above the market median.
2. 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.
3. 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.
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