Best cities for an interpreter
The best cities for interpreters are Chesapeake, VA, Buffalo, NY, and Houston, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for interpreters vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for interpreters in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an interpreter or considering a move, this list of the best cities for interpreters to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for interpreters. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an interpreter. While the absolute best city for interpreters is Chesapeake, VA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for interpreters in 2024.
If you're looking for an interpreter job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for interpreters in 2026
1. Chesapeake, VA
Total interpreter jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $56,324 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location quotient: 7.82 2. Buffalo, NY
Total interpreter jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $51,312 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location quotient: 2.55 3. Houston, TX
Total interpreter jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $44,113 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Location quotient: 1.02 4. Sacramento, CA
Total interpreter jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $49,931 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Location quotient: 2.00 5. Fresno, CA
Total interpreter jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $49,023 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location quotient: 2.79 6. El Paso, TX
Total interpreter jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $44,568 Lowest 10 percent warn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location quotient: 0.91 7. Philadelphia, PA
Total interpreter jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $40,440 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Location quotient: 0.97 8. Atlanta, GA
Total interpreter jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $46,160 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location quotient: 0.57 9. San Antonio, TX
Total interpreter jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $44,389 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location quotient: 0.53 10. Dallas, TX
Total interpreter jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $43,278 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location quotient: 0.68
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Best cities for interpreters
- Chesapeake, VA
- Buffalo, NY
- Houston, TX
- Sacramento, CA
- Fresno, CA
- El Paso, TX
- Philadelphia, PA
- Atlanta, GA
- San Antonio, TX
- Dallas, TX
- (4 interpreter jobs)
- (5 interpreter jobs)
- (22 interpreter jobs)
- (8 interpreter jobs)
- (3 interpreter jobs)
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- (10 interpreter jobs)
- (3 interpreter jobs)
- (8 interpreter jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an interpreter
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chesapeake, VA | $56,324 | $37,000 | 237,940 | 4 |
| 2 | Buffalo, NY | $51,312 | $34,000 | 256,902 | 5 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $44,113 | $29,000 | 2,303,482 | 22 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $49,931 | $32,000 | 495,234 | 8 |
| 5 | Fresno, CA | $49,023 | $32,000 | 522,053 | 3 |
| 6 | El Paso, TX | $44,568 | $30,000 | 683,080 | 1 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $40,440 | $26,000 | 1,567,872 | 9 |
| 8 | Atlanta, GA | $46,160 | $31,000 | 472,522 | 10 |
| 9 | San Antonio, TX | $44,389 | $29,000 | 1,492,510 | 3 |
| 10 | Dallas, TX | $43,278 | $29,000 | 1,317,929 | 8 |
| 11 | New York, NY | $52,638 | $34,000 | 8,537,673 | 32 |
| 12 | Omaha, NE | $38,750 | $27,000 | 446,970 | 6 |
| 13 | Long Beach, CA | $47,048 | $31,000 | 470,130 | 4 |
| 14 | Laredo, TX | $44,875 | $29,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 15 | Virginia Beach, VA | $56,823 | $37,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 16 | Corpus Christi, TX | $44,725 | $29,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 17 | Austin, TX | $44,147 | $29,000 | 947,890 | 3 |
| 18 | Mesa, AZ | $39,760 | $26,000 | 484,587 | 1 |
| 19 | Norfolk, VA | $56,617 | $37,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 20 | Saint Paul, MN | $38,184 | $26,000 | 302,398 | 10 |
| 21 | Islip, NY | $52,731 | $35,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 22 | Brookhaven, NY | $52,727 | $35,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 23 | Phoenix, AZ | $39,848 | $26,000 | 1,615,017 | 11 |
| 24 | Hempstead, NY | $52,692 | $35,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 25 | Oyster Bay, NY | $52,681 | $35,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 26 | Oakland, CA | $50,106 | $32,000 | 420,005 | 1 |
| 27 | Chula Vista, CA | $46,102 | $30,000 | 267,172 | 1 |
| 28 | Lubbock, TX | $43,594 | $29,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 29 | Fort Worth, TX | $43,336 | $29,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 30 | Arlington, TX | $43,330 | $29,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 31 | San Francisco, CA | $50,170 | $32,000 | 870,887 | 9 |
| 32 | Colorado Springs, CO | $40,801 | $27,000 | 465,101 | 12 |
| 33 | Albuquerque, NM | $39,830 | $26,000 | 559,277 | 1 |
| 34 | Las Vegas, NV | $39,244 | $25,000 | 632,912 | 4 |
| 35 | Los Angeles, CA | $47,287 | $31,000 | 3,976,322 | 17 |
| 36 | Baltimore, MD | $46,076 | $30,000 | 614,664 | 7 |
| 37 | Irving, TX | $43,264 | $29,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 38 | Lincoln, NE | $38,721 | $26,000 | 280,364 | 1 |
| 39 | Garland, TX | $43,205 | $29,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 40 | Minneapolis, MN | $38,130 | $26,000 | 413,651 | 9 |
| 41 | Plano, TX | $43,165 | $29,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 42 | Reno, NV | $40,989 | $26,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 43 | Louisville, KY | $40,974 | $28,000 | 597,337 | 1 |
| 44 | Lexington, KY | $41,327 | $28,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 45 | Aurora, CO | $40,119 | $27,000 | 361,710 | 4 |
| 46 | San Jose, CA | $49,853 | $32,000 | 1,025,350 | 4 |
| 47 | Pittsburgh, PA | $38,523 | $25,000 | 303,625 | 2 |
| 48 | Fremont, CA | $49,960 | $32,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 49 | Fort Wayne, IN | $36,087 | $24,000 | 264,488 | 1 |
| 50 | Stockton, CA | $49,876 | $32,000 | 307,072 | - |
Highest paying cities for interpreters
| Rank | City | Avg. interpreter salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arlington, VA | $58,967 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $52,638 |
| 3 | Santa Maria, CA | $48,495 |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $46,076 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $44,147 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $42,635 |
| 7 | Colorado Springs, CO | $40,801 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $40,440 |
| 9 | Phoenix, AZ | $39,848 |
| 10 | Manchester, NH | $39,011 |
| 11 | Omaha, NE | $38,750 |
| 12 | Saint Paul, MN | $38,184 |
| 13 | Murray, UT | $37,638 |
| 14 | Delray Beach, FL | $37,579 |
| 15 | Washington, DC | $36,409 |
| 16 | Portland, OR | $35,715 |
| 17 | Indianapolis, IN | $34,745 |
| 18 | Chicago, IL | $33,109 |
| 19 | Des Moines, IA | $32,575 |
| 20 | Ann Arbor, MI | $32,175 |
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Updated January 8, 2025