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The role of a Per Diem Interpreter is essential in facilitating communication across diverse environments. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position is $42,675 annually. Factors influencing this salary include geographical location, years of experience, and the specific industry of employment.
Salaries for Per Diem Interpreters can differ by state. For instance, states like California and New York often present higher salary ranges due to the demand for multilingual services. In contrast, regions with fewer resources may offer lower compensation. It’s crucial for interpreters to research local job markets to assess potential earning opportunities.
Interpreters find opportunities in sectors such as healthcare, legal services, and education. Each industry has unique requirements and salary structures, which can significantly affect overall compensation. Healthcare settings, for example, may offer higher pay due to the specialized knowledge required.
Understanding these dynamics allows interpreters to make informed decisions about their career paths and seek positions that align with their financial goals.
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The average per diem interpreter salary in New York, California, and Oregon are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average per diem interpreter salary states are Indiana, Oklahoma, and Alabama.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $63,294 | $30.43 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $69,477 | $33.40 |
| 3 | Oregon | $56,832 | $27.32 |
| 4 | California | $61,849 | $29.74 |
| 5 | Washington | $55,076 | $26.48 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $49,450 | $23.77 |
| 7 | Vermont | $47,670 | $22.92 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $47,244 | $22.71 |
| 9 | Nevada | $47,285 | $22.73 |
| 10 | Virginia | $55,642 | $26.75 |
| 11 | Utah | $51,784 | $24.90 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $43,698 | $21.01 |
| 13 | Florida | $44,763 | $21.52 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $45,497 | $21.87 |
| 15 | Colorado | $50,998 | $24.52 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $44,847 | $21.56 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $42,575 | $20.47 |
| 18 | Mississippi | $46,321 | $22.27 |
| 19 | Maine | $42,620 | $20.49 |
| 20 | Nebraska | $44,612 | $21.45 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $43,858 | $21.09 |
| 22 | Maryland | $46,909 | $22.55 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $44,303 | $21.30 |
| 24 | Alaska | $46,884 | $22.54 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $43,423 | $20.88 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $40,350 | $19.40 |
| 27 | Texas | $41,796 | $20.09 |
| 28 | Arizona | $39,747 | $19.11 |
| 29 | Louisiana | $40,918 | $19.67 |
| 30 | Missouri | $40,421 | $19.43 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $41,336 | $19.87 |
| 32 | Kansas | $38,200 | $18.37 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $39,017 | $18.76 |
| 34 | Montana | $39,408 | $18.95 |
| 35 | Michigan | $37,941 | $18.24 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $39,190 | $18.84 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $37,397 | $17.98 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $37,334 | $17.95 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $34,598 | $16.63 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $35,790 | $17.21 |
| 41 | Georgia | $37,825 | $18.19 |
| 42 | Idaho | $34,190 | $16.44 |
| 43 | Iowa | $37,383 | $17.97 |
| 44 | Ohio | $30,821 | $14.82 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $30,454 | $14.64 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $34,992 | $16.82 |
| 47 | Delaware | $28,925 | $13.91 |
| 48 | Illinois | $34,989 | $16.82 |
| 49 | Indiana | $33,741 | $16.22 |
| 50 | Alabama | $31,547 | $15.17 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $32,784 | $15.76 |
The highest-paying cities for per diem interpreters are Davis, CA, New York, NY, and Portland, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davis, CA | $67,105 | $32.26 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $63,496 | $30.53 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $56,323 | $27.08 |
| 4 | Salt Lake City, UT | $51,499 | $24.76 |
| 5 | Reno, NV | $50,249 | $24.16 |
| 6 | Hackensack, NJ | $49,835 | $23.96 |
| 7 | Burlington, VT | $47,157 | $22.67 |
| 8 | Fall River, MA | $46,066 | $22.15 |
| 9 | Miami, FL | $44,275 | $21.29 |
| 10 | New Britain, CT | $43,907 | $21.11 |
| 11 | Manchester, NH | $43,747 | $21.03 |
| 12 | Portland, ME | $43,448 | $20.89 |
| 13 | San Antonio, TX | $41,850 | $20.12 |
| 14 | Saint Paul, MN | $41,373 | $19.89 |
| 15 | Scranton, PA | $41,210 | $19.81 |
| 16 | Garden City, MI | $38,076 | $18.31 |
| 17 | Carbondale, IL | $35,439 | $17.04 |
| 18 | Gadsden, AL | $31,246 | $15.02 |
| 19 | Goldsboro, NC | $30,723 | $14.77 |
A per diem interpreter's salary ranges from $26,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $68,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $68,000 | $5,667 | $33 |
| 75th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
| Average | $42,675 | $3,556 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
The highest paying types of per diem 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 |
| Technical Translator | $55,019 | $4,585 | $26.45 | 68,352 |
| 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 |
Top companies hiring per diem interpreters now:
Per diem interpreter salaries at Cottage Health and Mission Regional Medical Center are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average per diem interpreter salary at companies like Grand View Health and Dignity Health are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cottage Health | $100,491 | $48.31 |
| 2 | Mission Regional Medical Center | $87,022 | $41.84 |
| 3 | Grand View Health | $84,110 | $40.44 |
| 4 | Dignity Health | $82,968 | $39.89 |
| 5 | Washington Hospital Healthcare System | $81,069 | $38.98 |
| 6 | HonorHealth | $78,233 | $37.61 |
| 7 | Sutter Health | $77,751 | $37.38 |
| 8 | Fresenius Medical Care North America Holdings Limited Partnership | $76,642 | $36.85 |
| 9 | St. Tammany Health System | $74,831 | $35.98 |
| 10 | UMiami Health System | $71,882 | $34.56 |
| 11 | Sharp HealthCare | $71,865 | $34.55 |
| 12 | Thomas Jefferson University | $70,333 | $33.81 |
| 13 | Prime Healthcare | $69,507 | $33.42 |
| 14 | Geisinger Medical Center | $68,110 | $32.75 |
| 15 | Day Kimball Health | $67,499 | $32.45 |
| 16 | Encompass Health | $65,492 | $31.49 |
| 17 | Cambridge Health Alliance | $65,186 | $31.34 |
| 18 | Scripps Health | $64,512 | $31.02 |
| 19 | Chapters Health System | $64,076 | $30.81 |
| 20 | AHMC Healthcare | $61,546 | $29.59 |
The average per diem interpreter salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health Care | $52,530 | $25.25 |
| 2 | Insurance | $50,627 | $24.34 |
| 3 | Professional | $40,219 | $19.34 |
| 4 | Government | $39,006 | $18.75 |
The average per diem interpreter salary has risen by $6,663 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average per diem interpreter earned $36,012 annually, but today, they earn $42,675 a year. That works out to a 13% change in pay for per diem interpreters over the last decade.
Compare per diem interpreter salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare per diem interpreter salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $42,700 | $20.52 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | $42,300 | $20.32 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | $40,700 | $19.58 | +5.5% |
| 2022 | $38,500 | $18.50 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $37,600 | $18.08 | +4.2% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uvmhomehealth | Per Diem Radiology Opportunities: X-Ray, CT, MRI, Mammography, and Ultrasound | Burlington, VT | 12/09/2024 | $64,509 |
| Vanderheyden Hall | Emergency Response Staff-Per Diem-Overnights | Troy, NY | 10/13/2024 | $31,305 |
| Kaweah Health Care District | Per Diem Interpreter | Visalia, CA | 09/18/2024 | $45,100 |
| Albany Medical Health System | ASA V-HUC: General Pediatrics-Per Diem Night Shift | Albany, NY | 09/11/2024 | $38,317 |
| Multicare Health System | Per Diem MA-C, Occupational Medicine Mill Creek | Mill Creek, WA | 03/22/2024 | $47,020 |
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