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Medical interpreter salary
Average medical interpreter salary
$43,593
Understanding Medical Interpreter Salaries
The role of a Medical Interpreter is critical, as it facilitates communication between patients and healthcare providers, ensuring accurate exchanges of information. As of October 2025, the average salary stands at $43,593 per year, or about $21 per hour. However, these figures can vary significantly based on factors such as location, years of experience, and specific industry.
Where Can Medical Interpreters Earn More? States like California and New York are known for offering higher salaries due to their dense populations and diverse healthcare needs. For instance, interpreters in these states may earn upwards of $50,000 annually.
Additionally, interpreting in specialized fields such as mental health or legal settings can command higher pay rates compared to general medical interpreting. Experience levels also play a crucial role; seasoned interpreters often have access to more lucrative opportunities.
To better navigate this career path, it's advisable to research salary estimates by state and specialty, as this information can guide job seekers in making informed decisions about their career trajectory.
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Where can a Medical Interpreter earn more?
Medical interpreter salary estimates from across the web
Average medical interpreter salary by state
The highest-paying states for medical interpreters are California, Virginia, and Oregon. The lowest average medical interpreter salary states are Ohio, Missouri, and Alabama.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for medical interpreters
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $74,449 | $35.79 |
| 2 | California | $59,312 | $28.52 |
| 3 | Virginia | $56,808 | $27.31 |
| 4 | West Virginia | $49,274 | $23.69 |
| 5 | Oregon | $55,160 | $26.52 |
| 6 | Nevada | $45,765 | $22.00 |
| 7 | New York | $54,778 | $26.34 |
| 8 | Mississippi | $46,653 | $22.43 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $49,986 | $24.03 |
| 10 | Kentucky | $44,276 | $21.29 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $44,377 | $21.34 |
| 12 | Maryland | $52,376 | $25.18 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $51,655 | $24.83 |
| 14 | Nebraska | $43,050 | $20.70 |
| 15 | Vermont | $47,755 | $22.96 |
| 16 | Texas | $44,483 | $21.39 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $47,702 | $22.93 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $43,673 | $21.00 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $44,271 | $21.28 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $42,521 | $20.44 |
| 21 | Idaho | $42,332 | $20.35 |
| 22 | Washington | $46,922 | $22.56 |
| 23 | Alaska | $47,963 | $23.06 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $42,754 | $20.55 |
| 25 | Georgia | $40,575 | $19.51 |
| 26 | Maine | $43,263 | $20.80 |
| 27 | Utah | $42,409 | $20.39 |
| 28 | Colorado | $44,417 | $21.35 |
| 29 | Kansas | $36,546 | $17.57 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $40,983 | $19.70 |
| 31 | Michigan | $40,757 | $19.59 |
| 32 | Louisiana | $42,001 | $20.19 |
| 33 | Arizona | $39,071 | $18.78 |
| 34 | Montana | $37,569 | $18.06 |
| 35 | Florida | $40,501 | $19.47 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $40,778 | $19.60 |
| 37 | Illinois | $34,851 | $16.76 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $39,217 | $18.85 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $36,719 | $17.65 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $34,408 | $16.54 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $39,129 | $18.81 |
| 42 | Alabama | $31,703 | $15.24 |
| 43 | Missouri | $31,709 | $15.24 |
| 44 | Delaware | $30,809 | $14.81 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $36,076 | $17.34 |
| 46 | Iowa | $35,825 | $17.22 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $34,976 | $16.82 |
| 48 | North Carolina | $31,377 | $15.09 |
| 49 | Indiana | $34,271 | $16.48 |
| 50 | Ohio | $32,260 | $15.51 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $28,109 | $13.51 |
Highest paying cities for medical interpreters
The highest-paying cities for medical interpreters are Washington, DC, Davis, CA, and Salem, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $74,403 | $35.77 |
| 2 | Davis, CA | $65,439 | $31.46 |
| 3 | Salem, OR | $55,324 | $26.60 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $54,964 | $26.43 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $52,747 | $25.36 |
| 6 | Springfield, MA | $50,547 | $24.30 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $47,337 | $22.76 |
| 8 | Saint George, UT | $46,330 | $22.27 |
| 9 | Galveston, TX | $44,772 | $21.52 |
| 10 | Nashua, NH | $44,767 | $21.52 |
| 11 | Aurora, CO | $44,296 | $21.30 |
| 12 | Saint Paul, MN | $42,577 | $20.47 |
| 13 | Tampa, FL | $40,958 | $19.69 |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $40,538 | $19.49 |
| 15 | Phoenix, AZ | $39,124 | $18.81 |
| 16 | La Crosse, WI | $38,173 | $18.35 |
| 17 | Sioux Falls, SD | $37,056 | $17.82 |
| 18 | Kansas City, KS | $36,457 | $17.53 |
| 19 | Mishawaka, IN | $35,065 | $16.86 |
| 20 | Goldsboro, NC | $31,992 | $15.38 |
Medical interpreter salary details
A medical interpreter's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $68,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a medical interpreter's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $68,000 | $5,667 | $33 |
| 75th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
| Average | $43,593 | $3,633 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
Highest paying medical interpreter jobs
The highest paying types of medical interpreters are technical translator, interpretive program coordinator, and language translator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freelance Translator | $44,736 | $3,728 | $21.51 | 1,162 |
| Cryptologic Linguist | $43,225 | $3,602 | $20.78 | 696 |
| Language Translator | $45,490 | $3,791 | $21.87 | 21,450 |
| Translator | $44,278 | $3,690 | $21.29 | 1,206 |
| Arabic Linguist | $44,433 | $3,703 | $21.36 | 742 |
| Technical Translator | $55,019 | $4,585 | $26.45 | 68,352 |
Top companies hiring medical interpreters now:
Which companies pay medical interpreters the most?
Medical interpreter salaries at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital and St. Mary's Health Inc. are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average medical interpreter salary at companies like Berkshire Medical Center and Charles River Community Health are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital | $108,972 | $52.39 |
| 2 | St. Mary's Health Inc. | $96,152 | $46.23 |
| 3 | Berkshire Medical Center | $88,146 | $42.38 |
| 4 | Charles River Community Health | $79,226 | $38.09 |
| 5 | Stanford Health Care | $78,924 | $37.94 |
| 6 | Mercy Children's Hospital | $77,479 | $37.25 |
| 7 | Tenet Healthcare | $76,781 | $36.91 |
| 8 | CovenantHealth | $73,295 | $35.24 |
| 9 | UTMB HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS | $72,916 | $35.06 |
| 10 | Swedish Hospital | $70,315 | $33.81 |
| 11 | UVA Culpeper Hospital | $67,326 | $32.37 |
| 12 | Cambridge Health Alliance | $66,654 | $32.05 |
| 13 | Children's Hospital Colorado | $66,153 | $31.80 |
| 14 | Cooley Dickinson Hospital | $65,903 | $31.68 |
| 15 | Parkland Hospital | $65,567 | $31.52 |
| 16 | Arkansas Children's Hospital | $64,687 | $31.10 |
| 17 | Wayne Community College | $63,523 | $30.54 |
| 18 | Care New England Health System | $63,436 | $30.50 |
| 19 | Rady Children's Hospital And Health Center | $63,063 | $30.32 |
| 20 | Baystate Health | $61,935 | $29.78 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Medical interpreter salary trends
The average medical interpreter salary has risen by $6,806 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average medical interpreter earned $36,787 annually, but today, they earn $43,593 a year. That works out to a 13% change in pay for medical interpreters over the last decade.
Compare medical interpreter salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average medical interpreter salary over time
Compare medical interpreter salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Medical interpreter salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $43,600 | $20.96 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | $43,200 | $20.76 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | $41,600 | $20.00 | +5.5% |
| 2022 | $39,300 | $18.90 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $38,400 | $18.47 | +4.2% |
Recently added medical interpreter salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayo Clinic Health System | Medical Interpreter-Bosnian | Rochester, MN | 06/29/2025 | $52,926 |
| Language Link | Medical Vietnamese Interpreter-Independent Contractor Onsite | Quincy, MA | 06/29/2025 | $114,785 |
| Uc Health | Spanish Video Medical Interpreter | Aurora, CO | 06/28/2025 | $50,318 |
| AMN Healthcare | Cantonese, Mandarin, or Vietnamese Medical Interpreter | Philadelphia, PA | 06/27/2025 | $41,740 |
| Uchealth | Spanish Video Medical Interpreter | Aurora, CO | 06/27/2025 | $50,318 |
| Emory Healthcare/Emory University | Spanish Medical Interpreter | Atlanta, GA | 06/24/2025 | $50,756 |
| University of Washington | Medical Interpreter, Korean (Per-Diem, Days) | Seattle, WA | 06/24/2025 | $55,619 |
| Carle Foundation Hospital | Medical Interpreter-Spanish | Urbana, IL | 06/19/2025 | $37,566 |
| University Hospital | Medical Interpreter-Asl/Trilingual | Newark, NJ | 06/10/2025 | $64,055 |
| Montefiore | Medical Interpreter | New York, NY | 06/09/2025 | $79,389 |
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