Salary AI Book a Demo

Translator Interpreter Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Translator Interpreter in the United States is $52,645 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $25.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $61,408
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $47,165 to $57,232
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $42,176
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Translator Interpreter Salaries

A Translator 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 Translator Interpreter Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Translator 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): $50,453
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $50,621
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $52,645
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $54,533
  • Expert (over 8 years): $54,668
Levels Salary
Entry Level Translator Interpreter$50,453
Intermediate Level Translator Interpreter$50,621
Senior Level Translator Interpreter$52,645
Specialist Level Translator Interpreter$54,533
Expert Level Translator Interpreter$54,668
View as Graph

How Do Translator 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 Translator Interpreters. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $58,288.
  • California: $58,067.
  • Massachusetts: $57,293.

Top Paying Cities for Translator 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: $66,401
  • San Francisco: $65,674
  • Oakland: $64,290

What Skills Can Increase a Translator 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 Translator 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 $72,650
38%
Business Operations $65,806
25%
Cross-Cultural Communication $63,700
21%
Get Latest Data

Translator Interpreter Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Translator 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, Translator Interpreter positions in Edu., Government & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Translator Interpreter as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Translator Interpreter

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$60,541$29.015%

How Education impacts a Translator Interpreter's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Translator 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 Translator Interpreter with a No Diploma is between $47,676 and $51,271).

Translator Interpreter Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Translator 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

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

Understanding how a Translator 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
$47,165
Average $52,645/year
$57,232
$3,930
Average $4,387/month
$4,769
$907
Average $1,012/week
$1,101
$23
Average $25/hour
$28
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $57,232 $4,769 $1,101 $28
Average $52,645 $4,387 $1,012 $25
25th Percentile $47,165 $3,930 $907 $23

Most common benefits for Translator Interpreter

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

Common company salaries for Translator Interpreter

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

Find Your Next Translator Interpreter Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Translator Interpreter job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Translator Interpreter

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Translator Interpreter?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Translator Interpreter roles, with salaries approximately 15% above the market median.

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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst