Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for an interpreter and translator
Quoted expert
Katty Kauffman
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you thinking of becoming an interpreter and translator and really want to work at United States Army Corps of Engineers? Turns out, your chances to become an interpreter and translator are better in some states than others.In order to help you decide which state is the best for interpreter and translators, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for interpreter and translator jobs.
The median salary for interpreter and translators in District of Columbia is $77,870. Compare that to the median salary in Oklahoma of $29,255, which ranked worst for interpreter and translators, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that District of Columbia is the best state for interpreter and translator jobs, whereas Oklahoma is the worst.
10 best states for interpreter and translators in 2025
1. District of Columbia
Total interpreter and translator jobs: 39 Average annual salary: $77,870 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location Quotient: 3.75
2. Oregon
Total interpreter and translator jobs: 322 Average annual salary: $57,896 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 12.54
3. Virginia
Total interpreter and translator jobs: 94 Average annual salary: $59,372 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location Quotient: 1.61
4. New York
Total interpreter and translator jobs: 84 Average annual salary: $57,104 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
5. Massachusetts
Total interpreter and translator jobs: 99 Average annual salary: $52,563 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 1.74
6. Maryland
Total interpreter and translator jobs: 68 Average annual salary: $54,921 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 1.73
7. California
Total interpreter and translator jobs: 164 Average annual salary: $57,117 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
8. Minnesota
Total interpreter and translator jobs: 41 Average annual salary: $50,118 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 1
9. West Virginia
Total interpreter and translator jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $51,248 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 0.63
10. New Jersey
Total interpreter and translator jobs: 33 Average annual salary: $53,944 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 0.67
Interpreter and translator jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an interpreter and translator
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an interpreter and translator
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $77,870 | $46,000 | 693,972 | 39 |
| 2 | Oregon | $57,896 | $34,000 | 4,142,776 | 322 |
| 3 | Virginia | $59,372 | $35,000 | 8,470,020 | 94 |
| 4 | New York | $57,104 | $34,000 | 19,849,399 | 84 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $52,563 | $31,000 | 6,859,819 | 99 |
| 6 | Maryland | $54,921 | $32,000 | 6,052,177 | 68 |
| 7 | California | $57,117 | $33,000 | 39,536,653 | 164 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $50,118 | $31,000 | 5,576,606 | 41 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $51,248 | $31,000 | 1,815,857 | 6 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $53,944 | $32,000 | 9,005,644 | 33 |
| 11 | Mississippi | $48,031 | $29,000 | 2,984,100 | 11 |
| 12 | Utah | $48,668 | $29,000 | 3,101,833 | 13 |
| 13 | Vermont | $49,857 | $30,000 | 623,657 | 3 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $46,756 | $28,000 | 1,342,795 | 17 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $46,366 | $28,000 | 2,088,070 | 10 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $49,702 | $29,000 | 3,588,184 | 15 |
| 17 | Nebraska | $45,265 | $28,000 | 1,920,076 | 16 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $45,685 | $27,000 | 1,059,639 | 12 |
| 19 | Texas | $45,945 | $27,000 | 28,304,596 | 107 |
| 20 | Washington | $48,257 | $29,000 | 7,405,743 | 30 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $44,598 | $26,000 | 12,805,537 | 68 |
| 22 | Alaska | $50,338 | $32,000 | 739,795 | 1 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $46,017 | $28,000 | 4,454,189 | 10 |
| 24 | Nevada | $47,430 | $28,000 | 2,998,039 | 2 |
| 25 | Idaho | $45,039 | $27,000 | 1,716,943 | 8 |
| 26 | Montana | $40,223 | $25,000 | 1,050,493 | 12 |
| 27 | Colorado | $47,200 | $29,000 | 5,607,154 | 13 |
| 28 | Maine | $45,123 | $28,000 | 1,335,907 | 3 |
| 29 | Georgia | $41,951 | $25,000 | 10,429,379 | 53 |
| 30 | Michigan | $42,262 | $25,000 | 9,962,311 | 29 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $42,380 | $27,000 | 755,393 | 3 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $38,551 | $24,000 | 869,666 | 7 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $43,044 | $25,000 | 4,684,333 | 10 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $43,497 | $27,000 | 579,315 | 1 |
| 35 | Florida | $41,189 | $24,000 | 20,984,400 | 59 |
| 36 | Arizona | $35,862 | $21,000 | 7,016,270 | 59 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $40,654 | $25,000 | 6,715,984 | 9 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $37,901 | $23,000 | 5,795,483 | 19 |
| 39 | Kansas | $38,531 | $24,000 | 2,913,123 | 8 |
| 40 | Delaware | $32,189 | $18,000 | 961,939 | 11 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $37,196 | $22,000 | 5,024,369 | 13 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $32,640 | $19,000 | 10,273,419 | 51 |
| 43 | Iowa | $37,429 | $23,000 | 3,145,711 | 9 |
| 44 | Illinois | $36,113 | $22,000 | 12,802,023 | 36 |
| 45 | Ohio | $33,616 | $20,000 | 11,658,609 | 34 |
| 46 | Indiana | $35,519 | $22,000 | 6,666,818 | 16 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $34,727 | $23,000 | 1,427,538 | 3 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $35,831 | $22,000 | 3,004,279 | 4 |
| 49 | Alabama | $32,586 | $19,000 | 4,874,747 | 13 |
| 50 | Missouri | $33,329 | $20,000 | 6,113,532 | 14 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $29,255 | $18,000 | 3,930,864 | 9 |
Highest paying states for interpreter and translators
| Rank | State | Avg. Interpreter And Translator Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $77,870 |
| 2 | Oregon | $57,896 |
| 3 | Virginia | $59,372 |
| 4 | New York | $57,104 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $52,563 |
| 6 | Maryland | $54,921 |
| 7 | California | $57,117 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $50,118 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $51,248 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $53,944 |
| 11 | Mississippi | $48,031 |
| 12 | Utah | $48,668 |
| 13 | Vermont | $49,857 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $46,756 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $46,366 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $49,702 |
| 17 | Nebraska | $45,265 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $45,685 |
| 19 | Texas | $45,945 |
| 20 | Washington | $48,257 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $44,598 |
| 22 | Alaska | $50,338 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $46,017 |
| 24 | Nevada | $47,430 |
| 25 | Idaho | $45,039 |
| 26 | Montana | $40,223 |
| 27 | Colorado | $47,200 |
| 28 | Maine | $45,123 |
| 29 | Georgia | $41,951 |
| 30 | Michigan | $42,262 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $42,380 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $38,551 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $43,044 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $43,497 |
| 35 | Florida | $41,189 |
| 36 | Arizona | $35,862 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $40,654 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $37,901 |
| 39 | Kansas | $38,531 |
| 40 | Delaware | $32,189 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $37,196 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $32,640 |
| 43 | Iowa | $37,429 |
| 44 | Illinois | $36,113 |
| 45 | Ohio | $33,616 |
| 46 | Indiana | $35,519 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $34,727 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $35,831 |
| 49 | Alabama | $32,586 |
| 50 | Missouri | $33,329 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $29,255 |
Expert opinions on the best states for interpreter and translators
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for interpreter and translators to find work opportunities?
Katty Kauffman
US-based Freelance Interpreter, member of AIIC, representative of the VEGA Outreach and Mentoring Network, International Association of Conference Interpreters
Conference interpreting is a smaller industry in the U.S. than it is in Europe, where there are a lot of large institutions working daily in multiple languages. Although we do have large institutions that employ conference interpreters, like the UN in New York and the World Bank, IDB, and Pan American Health Organization in Washington, unless they have a particularly sought after language combination, young graduates will find more opportunities by starting their working life in medical institutions or as court interpreters. Both of these require additional, specialized studies and national or state certification, so make sure you know your state's requirements so you can make the best choices for your career.
Interpreter and translator best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common arts, entertainment, sports, and media questions.
Search for interpreter and translator jobs
Updated January 8, 2025