How much does an interpreter or translator make?
Typical yearly pay for interpreters and translators in the United States.
median pay per year, about $5,014 a month or $28.93 an hour.
That's more than 44% of the 100 jobs in our salary guide, ranking #56 of 100.
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| Paramedic | $60,600 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 |
| Mail carrier | $60,550 |
| Interpreter or translator | $60,170 |
| Water treatment operator | $60,020 |
| Heavy equipment operator | $59,850 |
| Firefighter | $59,280 |
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- Photographer$44,660
- Referee or umpire$40,710
- Theatrical makeup artist$97,150
How much does an interpreter or translator make per hour?
About $28.93 an hour, if you spread the median yearly pay over a standard 40-hour week, 52 weeks a year. Actual hourly pay varies with overtime, shift work and location.
Becoming an interpreter or translator
The U.S. Department of Labor's career profile covers the training, licenses and day-to-day tasks for this job.
How to become an interpreter or translator
About this number
This is the national median wage for the occupation “Interpreters and Translators” (code 27-3091.00) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 release, as published on O*NET OnLine. The median is the middle value: half of workers earn more, half earn less.