Interpreter demographics and statistics in the US
Interpreter demographics research summary. Zippia estimates interpreter demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our interpreter estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about interpreters after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 30,152 interpreters currently employed in the United States.
- 61.3% of all interpreters are women, while 38.7% are men.
- The average interpreter age is 41 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of interpreters is White (38.7%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (32.8%), Asian (17.5%) and Black or African American (5.8%).
- Interpreters are most in-demand in Sioux City, IA.
- The government industry is the highest-paying for interpreters.
- Arlington, VA pays an annual average wage of $58,967, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women interpreters earned 94% of what men earned.
- 15% of all interpreters are LGBT.
- Virginia is the best state for interpreters to live.
- Interpreters are 55% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to education companies.
On this page
Interpreter demographics by:
Interpreter gender statistics
61.3% of interpreters are women and 38.7% of interpreters are men.
- Female, 61.3%
- Male, 38.7%
Interpreter gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 61.3% |
| Male | 38.7% |
Interpreter gender pay gap
Women earn 94¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$43,461
Female income
$40,900
Interpreter gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in interpreter positions over time. Currently, 61.3% of interpreters are female.
Interpreter gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 32.62% | 67.38% |
| 2011 | 38.07% | 61.93% |
| 2012 | 39.35% | 60.65% |
| 2013 | 39.00% | 61.00% |
| 2014 | 40.01% | 59.99% |
| 2015 | 36.22% | 63.78% |
| 2016 | 38.04% | 61.96% |
| 2017 | 38.61% | 61.39% |
| 2018 | 31.59% | 68.41% |
| 2019 | 33.78% | 66.22% |
| 2020 | 31.28% | 68.72% |
| 2021 | 38.67% | 61.33% |
Interpreter related jobs gender ratio
We compared interpreters with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, public address announcer and track announcer have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Paraprofessional Interpreter | 12% | 88% |
| Deaf Interpreter | 15% | 85% |
| Fashion Journalist | 15% | 85% |
| Interpreter | 39% | 61% |
| Sports Announcer | 91% | 9% |
| Track Announcer | 92% | 8% |
| Public Address Announcer | 93% | 7% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Interpreter demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among interpreters is White, which makes up 38.7% of all interpreters. Comparatively, 32.8% of interpreters are Hispanic or Latino and 17.5% of interpreters are Asian.
- White, 38.7%
- Hispanic or Latino, 32.8%
- Asian, 17.5%
- Black or African American, 5.8%
- Unknown, 4.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
Interpreter race
| Interpreter race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 38.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 32.8% |
| Asian | 17.5% |
| Black or African American | 5.8% |
| Unknown | 4.9% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.3% |
Interpreter race and ethnicity over time
See how interpreter racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Interpreter race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 47.11% | 6.59% | 13.68% | 28.89% |
| 2011 | 44.52% | 5.35% | 15.38% | 30.56% |
| 2012 | 44.52% | 6.80% | 15.96% | 28.01% |
| 2013 | 46.91% | 6.27% | 14.52% | 27.80% |
| 2014 | 43.96% | 8.16% | 16.88% | 27.74% |
| 2015 | 46.81% | 6.30% | 16.40% | 27.22% |
| 2016 | 44.61% | 6.17% | 16.75% | 28.52% |
| 2017 | 48.05% | 6.62% | 14.91% | 26.46% |
| 2018 | 40.27% | 5.72% | 18.61% | 32.59% |
| 2019 | 46.48% | 5.85% | 15.72% | 28.10% |
| 2020 | 39.32% | 5.81% | 17.99% | 31.87% |
| 2021 | 38.75% | 5.80% | 17.46% | 32.80% |
Interpreter wage gap by race
According to our data, unknown interpreters have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Asian interpreters have the lowest average salary at $40,042.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $47,066 |
| White | $44,770 |
| Black or African American | $41,343 |
| Asian | $40,042 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $44,449 |
Average interpreter age
See how the average age of interpreters varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Interpreter age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 44 | |
| White | 36 | 40 |
| Black or African American | 39 | |
| Asian | 48.5 | 47 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 40 | 42 |
Interpreter age breakdown
The average age of interpreters is 40+ years years old, representing 52% of the interpreter population.
Interpreter age breakdown
| Interpreter Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 52% |
| 30-40 years | 28% |
| 20-30 years | 20% |
Interpreter educational attainment
The most common degree for interpreters is bachelor's degree, with 56% of interpreters earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 15% and associate degree degree at 12%.
- Bachelor's, 56%
- Associate, 15%
- Master's, 12%
- High School Diploma, 7%
- Other Degrees, 10%
Interpreters by degree level
| Interpreter degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 56% |
| Associate | 15% |
| Master's | 12% |
| High School Diploma | 7% |
| Other Degrees | 10% |
Interpreter jobs you might like
Interpreter wage gap by degree level
According to the data, interpreters with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $46,753 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, interpreters earn a median annual income of $43,793 compared to $43,610 for interpreters with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $46,753 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $40,304 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $43,793 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $43,610 |
Interpreter employment statistics
Most interpreters work for a private in the professional industry.
Company size where interpreters work
Below, you can see the size of companies where interpreters work.
Interpreter jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 6% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 22% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 27% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 9% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 22% |
| > 10,000 employees | 13% |
Interpreter jobs by company type
Employees with the interpreter job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most interpreters prefer to work at private companies over education companies.
Interpreter jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 24% |
| Public | 8% |
| Private | 55% |
| Government | 13% |
Interpreter jobs by industry
The most common industries for interpreters are professional, education and health care.
Interpreter industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Professional | 21% |
| Education | 19% |
| Health Care | 13% |
| Non Profits | 10% |
| Government | 8% |
| Manufacturing | 4% |
| Technology | 4% |
| Fortune 500 | 4% |
| Finance | 3% |
| Media | 2% |
| Transportation | 2% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Retail | 2% |
| Telecommunication | 2% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
Interpreter turnover and employment statistics
Interpreter unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for interpreters between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Interpreter unemployment rate by year
| Year | Interpreter unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 7.66% |
| 2011 | 6.79% |
| 2012 | 6.36% |
| 2013 | 6.86% |
| 2014 | 5.89% |
| 2015 | 4.90% |
| 2016 | 3.75% |
| 2017 | 3.59% |
| 2018 | 3.95% |
| 2019 | 4.57% |
| 2020 | 6.35% |
| 2021 | 6.78% |
Average interpreter tenure
The average interpreter stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 16,460 interpreters resumes in Zippia's database.
Interpreter tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 23% |
| 1-2 years | 28% |
| 3-4 years | 13% |
| 5-7 years | 18% |
| 8-10 years | 7% |
| 11+ years | 11% |
Interpreter LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of interpreters that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Critic | 10.10% | 16 |
| Sports Broadcaster | 10.34% | 2,040 |
| Sustainability Internship | 12.01% | 48,244 |
| Offline Editor | 12.38% | 4,437 |
| Interpreter | 14.90% | - |
| Radio Script Writer | 16.36% | 12,370 |
| Emcee | 16.36% | 58 |
Similar interpreter jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Critic | 10.10% | 16 |
| Sports Broadcaster | 10.34% | 2,040 |
| Sustainability Internship | 12.01% | 48,244 |
| Offline Editor | 12.38% | 4,437 |
| Radio Script Writer | 16.36% | 12,370 |
| Emcee | 16.36% | 58 |
Foreign languages spoken by interpreters
The most common foreign language among interpreters is Spanish at 33.7%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 8.9% and Arabic is the third-most popular at 8.4%.
- Spanish, 33.7%
- French, 8.9%
- Arabic, 8.4%
- Chinese, 6.9%
- Mandarin, 6.4%
- Other, 35.7%
Interpreter languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 33.7% |
| French | 8.9% |
| Arabic | 8.4% |
| Chinese | 6.9% |
| Mandarin | 6.4% |
| Other | 35.7% |
