Phone Interpreter Salary in the United States

How much does a Phone Interpreter make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Phone Interpreter in the United States is $74,214 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $36.

However, a Phone Interpreter's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $82,551
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $62,511 to $78,578
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $51,856
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View as table View as graph 25% $62,511 10% $51,856 90% $82,551 75% $78,578 $74,214 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Phone Interpreter Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $78,578 $6,548 $1,511 $38
Average $74,214 $6,185 $1,427 $36
25th Percentile $62,511 $5,209 $1,202 $30
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Key Factors That Influence Phone Interpreter Salaries

A Phone 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 Phone Interpreter Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Phone 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): $61,152
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $76,652
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $92,216
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $117,481
  • Expert (over 8 years): $79,074
Levels Salary
Recruiter... Level Phone Interpreter$61,152
Phone Int... Level Phone Interpreter$76,652
Recruiter... Level Phone Interpreter$92,216
Recruiter... Level Phone Interpreter$117,481
Recruitin... Level Phone Interpreter$79,074
$61,152 0 yr
$76,652 < 2 yrs
$92,216 2-4 yrs
$117,481 5-8 yrs
$79,074 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Phone 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 Phone Interpreters. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $82,170.
  • California: $81,858.
  • Massachusetts: $80,767.

Top Paying Cities for Phone 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: $93,606
  • San Francisco: $92,581
  • Oakland: $90,630

What Skills Can Increase a Phone Interpreter's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Interviewing (Mentioned in 6.11% Job Postings): The ability and process of conducting a conversation to gather information to facilitate all kinds of decision-making.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 2.75% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • HRIS (Mentioned in 1.23% Job Postings): HRIS is a management system designed specifically to provide managers with information to make HR decisions. Is a system that lets you keep track of all your employees and information about them.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Interviewing 6.11%
Microsoft Office 2.75%
HRIS 1.23%
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 Phone Interpreter's salary.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Workday: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Analysis
$78,667
6%
Insight
$78,667
6%
Workday
$77,925
5%
Partnering
$77,183
4%
Consulting
$77,183
4%
Leadership
$77,183
4%
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Phone Interpreter Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Phone Interpreter roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Phone Interpreter positions in Biotechnology or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Phone Interpreter as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Phone Interpreter

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$89,057$43.020%

How Education impacts a Phone Interpreter's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Phone Interpreters enter the field with a Associate's Degree 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 Phone Interpreter with a Associate's Degree is between $73,164 and $77,798).

Phone Interpreter Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Phone Interpreter
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.0%
High School 8.9%
Associates 8.2%
Bachelors 60.9%
Masters 20.0%
Doctorate 1.0%
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Phone Interpreter Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Phone 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 July 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Phone Interpreter

Salaries for a Phone Interpreter can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $70,417 in 2023 to around $70,471 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Phone Interpreter salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Phone Interpreter Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$70,417
2024
$70,608
2025
$70,471
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $70,417
2024 $70,608
2025 $70,471
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Phone Interpreter

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Phone Interpreter

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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