Interpreters and Translators
Interpreters and Translators (SOC 27-3091) earn a median $60,170 a year ($28.93 an hour) in the United States, with 52,060 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What interpreters and translators do
Interpreters and translators interpret spoken or signed language, or translate written text from one language into another. Interpreters render messages into specified languages, simultaneously or consecutively, orally or in sign, and listen to speakers' statements to work out meanings and prepare translations. Translators gather terminology and background information for translations, including technical terms such as those for legal or medical material, consult dictionaries, lexicons, encyclopedias, and computerized terminology banks, and verify terminology so translations are accurate. Both settle conflicts over the meanings of words, concepts, practices, or behaviors, and follow ethical codes that protect confidentiality. Alternate titles include American Sign Language interpreter, community interpreter, Arabic translator, and Braille translator, which show that sign language and Braille work are included. The occupation is defined by the conversion of meaning between languages, whether spoken, signed, or written.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported level of education for this occupation is a bachelor's degree.
Also called: American Sign Language Interpreter, Arabic Translator, Bilingual Interpreter, Bilingual Secretary, Braille Transcriber.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $17.82 | $22.37 | $28.93 | $38.86 | $49.84 | $31.90 | 52,060 |
| Annual | $37,070 | $46,530 | $60,170 | $80,830 | $103,660 | $66,360 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where interpreters and translators earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $28.23 | $37.05 | $52.87 | $59.83 | $61.83 | $49.50 | 280 | 0.40 | 1.19 |
| Annual | $58,720 | $77,060 | $109,970 | $124,450 | $128,610 | $102,960 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $24.84 | $30.42 | $42.57 | $49.40 | $58.13 | $41.91 | 1,150 | 0.42 | 1.24 |
| Annual | $51,660 | $63,270 | $88,550 | $102,750 | $120,900 | $87,160 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $23.52 | $26.93 | $40.43 | $51.83 | $61.22 | $41.61 | 3,240 | 0.34 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $48,930 | $56,010 | $84,090 | $107,800 | $127,350 | $86,550 | ||||
| Rhode Island | Hourly | $24.73 | $28.00 | $39.58 | $64.55 | $64.55 | $41.05 | 200 | 0.41 | 1.22 |
| Annual | $51,450 | $58,240 | $82,320 | $134,270 | $134,270 | $85,370 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $23.87 | $27.91 | $34.98 | $44.72 | $63.41 | $38.05 | 2,280 | 0.63 | 1.87 |
| Annual | $49,650 | $58,050 | $72,750 | $93,010 | $131,900 | $79,140 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $15.15 | $18.27 | $22.84 | $30.24 | $42.85 | $26.84 | 6,780 | 0.48 | 1.44 |
| Annual | $31,500 | $38,010 | $47,510 | $62,900 | $89,140 | $55,840 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $23.81 | $27.04 | $34.02 | $49.04 | $57.60 | $37.88 | 5,560 | 0.31 | 0.91 |
| Annual | $49,530 | $56,230 | $70,770 | $102,010 | $119,810 | $78,800 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $16.49 | $18.67 | $23.53 | $37.74 | $47.88 | $28.32 | 4,200 | 0.42 | 1.26 |
| Annual | $34,290 | $38,840 | $48,930 | $78,500 | $99,590 | $58,900 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $23.52 | $26.93 | $40.43 | $51.83 | $61.22 | $41.61 | 3,240 | 0.34 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $48,930 | $56,010 | $84,090 | $107,800 | $127,350 | $86,550 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $23.87 | $27.91 | $34.98 | $44.72 | $63.41 | $38.05 | 2,280 | 0.63 | 1.87 |
| Annual | $49,650 | $58,050 | $72,750 | $93,010 | $131,900 | $79,140 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $28.42 | $37.28 | $48.81 | $51.13 | $51.68 | $45.03 | 300 | 0.27 | 0.79 |
| Annual | $59,110 | $77,540 | $101,530 | $106,350 | $107,480 | $93,650 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $27.37 | $30.20 | $45.44 | $56.92 | $65.46 | $44.93 | 1,630 | 0.52 | 1.55 |
| Annual | $56,920 | $62,810 | $94,510 | $118,400 | $136,150 | $93,460 | ||||
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | Hourly | $27.16 | $30.50 | $45.17 | $45.17 | $46.07 | $40.42 | 60 | 0.14 | 0.41 |
| Annual | $56,480 | $63,450 | $93,960 | $93,960 | $95,830 | $84,070 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $23.17 | $28.35 | $42.11 | $52.48 | $64.94 | $43.80 | 2,520 | 0.27 | 0.79 |
| Annual | $48,200 | $58,970 | $87,590 | $109,150 | $135,070 | $91,110 | ||||
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | Hourly | $28.73 | $30.79 | $40.84 | $41.51 | $50.23 | $39.71 | 30 | 0.17 | 0.50 |
| Annual | $59,750 | $64,040 | $84,960 | $86,330 | $104,480 | $82,600 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $16.71 | $17.54 | $21.39 | $28.82 | $37.20 | $24.60 | 2,530 | 0.77 | 2.29 |
| Annual | $34,750 | $36,480 | $44,490 | $59,940 | $77,380 | $51,170 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $23.17 | $28.35 | $42.11 | $52.48 | $64.94 | $43.80 | 2,520 | 0.27 | 0.79 |
| Annual | $48,200 | $58,970 | $87,590 | $109,150 | $135,070 | $91,110 | ||||
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | Hourly | $15.52 | $18.26 | $24.07 | $29.55 | $49.04 | $26.14 | 1,720 | 0.72 | 2.16 |
| Annual | $32,280 | $37,980 | $50,070 | $61,470 | $102,000 | $54,370 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $25.34 | $29.33 | $36.12 | $47.09 | $63.62 | $39.06 | 1,660 | 0.61 | 1.83 |
| Annual | $52,700 | $61,000 | $75,120 | $97,950 | $132,330 | $81,250 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $27.37 | $30.20 | $45.44 | $56.92 | $65.46 | $44.93 | 1,630 | 0.52 | 1.55 |
| Annual | $56,920 | $62,810 | $94,510 | $118,400 | $136,150 | $93,460 | ||||
Top industries employing interpreters and translators
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employ 38.9% of interpreters and translators nationally (20,260 jobs) at a median $60,610 a year ($29.14 an hour), followed by Elementary and Secondary Schools (15.9%) and General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (9.1%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services NAICS 541900 | 20,260 | 38.9% | $60,610 | $29.14 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools NAICS 611100 | 8,260 | 15.9% | $58,570 | $28.16 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals NAICS 622100 | 4,720 | 9.1% | $62,480 | $30.04 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 2,160 | 4.1% | $63,300 | $30.43 |
| Employment Services NAICS 561300 | 2,110 | 4.1% | $38,480 | $18.50 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (52,060). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $49,110 for interpreters and translators in May 2021 and $60,170 in May 2025, with employment of 52,170 and 52,060.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $49,110 | $23.61 | 52,170 |
| May 2022 | $53,640 | $25.79 | 52,160 |
| May 2023 | $57,090 | $27.45 | 51,560 |
| May 2024 | $59,440 | $28.58 | 53,360 |
| May 2025 | $60,170 | $28.93 | 52,060 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
50 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $52.87 | $109,970 | $58,720 | $128,610 | 280 | 0.40 | 1.19 |
| 2 | Maryland profile | $42.57 | $88,550 | $51,660 | $120,900 | 1,150 | 0.42 | 1.24 |
| 3 | New York profile | $40.43 | $84,090 | $48,930 | $127,350 | 3,240 | 0.34 | 1.00 |
| 4 | Rhode Island profile | $39.58 | $82,320 | $51,450 | $134,270 | 200 | 0.41 | 1.22 |
| 5 | Massachusetts profile | $34.98 | $72,750 | $49,650 | $131,900 | 2,280 | 0.63 | 1.87 |
| 6 | Colorado profile | $34.51 | $71,790 | $51,230 | $105,180 | 800 | 0.28 | 0.83 |
| 7 | California profile | $34.02 | $70,770 | $49,530 | $119,810 | 5,560 | 0.31 | 0.91 |
| 8 | Connecticut profile | $32.85 | $68,340 | $40,840 | $128,760 | 280 | 0.17 | 0.49 |
| 9 | Minnesota profile | $31.93 | $66,410 | $52,290 | $91,150 | 1,030 | 0.35 | 1.04 |
| 10 | Oregon profile | $31.88 | $66,300 | $47,090 | $95,770 | 660 | 0.34 | 1.00 |
| 11 | Idaho profile | $31.80 | $66,130 | $42,740 | $101,500 | 300 | 0.35 | 1.05 |
| 12 | Utah profile | $31.62 | $65,770 | $46,140 | $86,360 | 850 | 0.49 | 1.47 |
| 13 | New Mexico profile | $30.55 | $63,550 | $31,120 | $99,860 | 360 | 0.41 | 1.22 |
| 14 | Maine profile | $30.51 | $63,470 | $50,450 | $99,050 | 90 | 0.14 | 0.42 |
| 15 | Wisconsin profile | $30.48 | $63,390 | $40,390 | $88,460 | 1,410 | 0.48 | 1.43 |
| 16 | Virginia profile | $30.30 | $63,030 | $43,160 | $123,490 | 1,630 | 0.40 | 1.19 |
| 17 | Vermont profile | $30.02 | $62,450 | $48,050 | $113,460 | 80 | 0.26 | 0.78 |
| 18 | Washington profile | $29.69 | $61,750 | $44,640 | $105,710 | 1,250 | 0.35 | 1.05 |
| 19 | Ohio profile | $29.44 | $61,230 | $39,300 | $91,920 | 2,030 | 0.37 | 1.09 |
| 20 | New Jersey profile | $28.35 | $58,970 | $33,170 | $176,910 | 870 | 0.20 | 0.61 |
| 21 | Georgia profile | $27.83 | $57,880 | $35,370 | $98,980 | 1,600 | 0.33 | 0.98 |
| 22 | Mississippi profile | $27.47 | $57,130 | $33,020 | $83,740 | 80 | 0.07 | 0.20 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania profile | $27.42 | $57,040 | $38,580 | $104,120 | 1,420 | 0.23 | 0.70 |
| 24 | Missouri profile | $27.41 | $57,010 | $39,790 | $94,320 | 440 | 0.15 | 0.45 |
| 25 | New Hampshire profile | $27.10 | $56,370 | $47,610 | $61,900 | 240 | 0.34 | 1.03 |
| 26 | Illinois profile | $26.58 | $55,290 | $37,990 | $82,370 | 1,510 | 0.25 | 0.74 |
| 27 | Kentucky profile | $25.77 | $53,590 | $35,160 | $81,800 | 480 | 0.24 | 0.71 |
| 28 | South Dakota profile | $25.55 | $53,140 | $36,730 | $75,320 | 230 | 0.50 | 1.50 |
| 29 | Nebraska profile | $25.51 | $53,050 | $41,860 | $87,480 | 570 | 0.56 | 1.66 |
| 30 | Arkansas profile | $25.24 | $52,490 | $32,170 | $80,770 | 220 | 0.17 | 0.50 |
| 31 | Tennessee profile | $24.56 | $51,080 | $32,280 | $78,480 | 710 | 0.22 | 0.65 |
| 32 | South Carolina profile | $24.45 | $50,860 | $36,860 | $75,310 | 520 | 0.23 | 0.68 |
| 33 | Nevada profile | $24.21 | $50,370 | $37,470 | $70,160 | 320 | 0.21 | 0.62 |
| 34 | Arizona profile | $24.11 | $50,150 | $32,280 | $99,070 | 2,070 | 0.64 | 1.91 |
| 35 | North Carolina profile | $24.05 | $50,030 | $34,510 | $101,110 | 1,780 | 0.36 | 1.07 |
| 36 | Oklahoma profile | $23.55 | $48,980 | $27,790 | $82,750 | 320 | 0.19 | 0.57 |
| 37 | Florida profile | $23.53 | $48,930 | $34,290 | $99,590 | 4,200 | 0.42 | 1.26 |
| 38 | Louisiana profile | $23.28 | $48,420 | $29,910 | $79,040 | 120 | 0.06 | 0.19 |
| 39 | North Dakota profile | $23.17 | $48,190 | $39,650 | $73,030 | 130 | 0.31 | 0.93 |
| 40 | Iowa profile | $23.15 | $48,150 | $34,330 | $67,290 | 560 | 0.36 | 1.08 |
| 41 | Indiana profile | $23.14 | $48,140 | $41,460 | $80,810 | 1,170 | 0.37 | 1.10 |
| 42 | Kansas profile | $23.05 | $47,950 | $32,850 | $88,830 | 470 | 0.33 | 0.98 |
| 43 | Montana profile | $23.01 | $47,850 | $38,520 | $60,940 | 60 | 0.11 | 0.34 |
| 44 | Texas profile | $22.84 | $47,510 | $31,500 | $89,140 | 6,780 | 0.48 | 1.44 |
| 45 | Alabama profile | $22.18 | $46,130 | $33,050 | $98,660 | 310 | 0.15 | 0.43 |
| 46 | Michigan profile | $21.78 | $45,310 | $35,990 | $88,630 | 940 | 0.21 | 0.64 |
| 47 | Hawaii profile | $20.32 | $42,270 | $36,910 | $92,150 | 60 | 0.10 | 0.30 |
| – | Alaska profile | * | * | * | * | 150 | 0.45 | 1.34 |
| – | Delaware profile | * | * | * | * | 110 | 0.23 | 0.69 |
| – | West Virginia profile | * | * | * | * | 120 | 0.17 | 0.50 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (27-3090), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 27-3091 Interpreters and Translators.
*- Wage estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 27-3091, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 27-3091.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.