SSalario

Interpreter Salary in 2026

Convert spoken messages from one language to another in real-time settings.

Median Salary

$55,000

$4,583/mo

Entry Level

$35,000

starting pay

Senior Level

$78,000

experienced

Job Growth

+18%

10-yr outlook

Interpreter Overview

Convert spoken messages from one language to another in real-time settings.

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Experience

2-4 years

Industry

Services

Total Jobs (US)

62K

5-Year Growth

+3%

Category

Services

Hourly Rate

$26.44/hr

Monthly Pay

$4,583

Interpreter Salary Calculator

Adjust your state and experience level to see the estimated Interpreter salary in your area.

Mid Career (5-9 yrs)

Estimated Interpreter Salary

$63,000

$5,250/month · $2,423/biweekly · $30.29/hr

Interpreter Salary Range

Salary distribution from entry-level to top earners in the Interpreter field.

25th Percentile$43,000
$43K
Median (50th)$55,000
$55K
75th Percentile$66,500
$67K
90th Percentile$88,000
$88K
Top Earners$98,000
$98K

Entry-level Interpreters earn around $35,000, while the top 10% earn $88,000 or more.

Top Paying States for Interpreters

StateEst. Median Salaryvs National
California$65,000+$10,000
New York$63,000+$8,000
Illinois$57,000+$2,000
Texas$54,000$-1,000
Florida$54,000$-1,000

Top Paying Cities for Interpreters

CityEst. Median Salaryvs National
New York$65,000+$10,000
Los Angeles$62,000+$7,000
Chicago$58,000+$3,000
Miami$56,000+$1,000
Houston$54,000$-1,000

Required Skills & Certifications

Key Skills

Bilingual FluencySimultaneous InterpretationCultural CompetencyMemoryEthics

Certifications

RID CertificationState Certification

Interpreter Career Progression

Typical salary growth path for a Interpreter from entry level to expert.

Entry Level

$35,000

0-2 years

Mid Career

$57,000

3-7 years

Senior

$78,000

8-14 years

Lead / Expert

$98,000

15+ years

EntryExpert

Interpreter Salary FAQ

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