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A bilingual interpreter plays a crucial role in facilitating communication between speakers of different languages. The average salary for this position is $44,168 per year. Factors influencing salary include geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry in which interpreters work.
Some states offer significantly higher salaries for bilingual interpreters. For instance:
These figures illustrate the demand for bilingual services, particularly in diverse metropolitan areas.
Bilingual interpreters can find work in various fields, including healthcare, legal services, and education. Positions can range from freelance interpreting to full-time roles in organizations that require ongoing bilingual support.
As the global landscape evolves, the need for skilled bilingual interpreters continues to grow, making this an excellent career choice for individuals fluent in multiple languages. Take the next step in your career by exploring available job opportunities today!
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The average bilingual interpreter salary in Virginia, New York, and Oregon are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average bilingual interpreter salary states are Tennessee, Arkansas, and Idaho.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $80,391 | $38.65 |
| 2 | Oregon | $61,207 | $29.43 |
| 3 | Virginia | $63,364 | $30.46 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $57,031 | $27.42 |
| 5 | New York | $63,055 | $30.31 |
| 6 | California | $59,125 | $28.43 |
| 7 | Texas | $49,260 | $23.68 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $56,121 | $26.98 |
| 9 | Utah | $55,105 | $26.49 |
| 10 | Maryland | $54,167 | $26.04 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $53,197 | $25.58 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $49,172 | $23.64 |
| 13 | Nebraska | $48,367 | $23.25 |
| 14 | Vermont | $52,791 | $25.38 |
| 15 | Colorado | $54,332 | $26.12 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $49,271 | $23.69 |
| 17 | Washington | $50,823 | $24.43 |
| 18 | Alaska | $56,166 | $27.00 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $48,024 | $23.09 |
| 20 | Mississippi | $49,143 | $23.63 |
| 21 | Georgia | $47,921 | $23.04 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $46,248 | $22.23 |
| 23 | Maine | $47,724 | $22.94 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $46,289 | $22.25 |
| 25 | Delaware | $46,404 | $22.31 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $47,884 | $23.02 |
| 27 | Montana | $44,489 | $21.39 |
| 28 | South Dakota | $41,427 | $19.92 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $47,110 | $22.65 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $46,633 | $22.42 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $43,744 | $21.03 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $44,997 | $21.63 |
| 33 | Michigan | $42,713 | $20.54 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $41,944 | $20.17 |
| 35 | Arizona | $38,938 | $18.72 |
| 36 | Iowa | $40,900 | $19.66 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $40,328 | $19.39 |
| 38 | Illinois | $41,017 | $19.72 |
| 39 | Missouri | $43,343 | $20.84 |
| 40 | Florida | $38,788 | $18.65 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $41,686 | $20.04 |
| 42 | Kansas | $40,798 | $19.61 |
| 43 | Ohio | $39,580 | $19.03 |
| 44 | Indiana | $37,886 | $18.21 |
| 45 | Idaho | $37,181 | $17.88 |
| 46 | Alabama | $38,961 | $18.73 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $37,632 | $18.09 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $34,336 | $16.51 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $37,323 | $17.94 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $34,947 | $16.80 |
| 51 | Nevada | $33,198 | $15.96 |
The highest-paying cities for bilingual interpreters are Washington, DC, Alexandria, VA, and Alameda, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $80,372 | $38.64 |
| 2 | Alexandria, VA | $66,254 | $31.85 |
| 3 | Alameda, CA | $64,821 | $31.16 |
| 4 | Hempstead, NY | $63,292 | $30.43 |
| 5 | Fort Lee, NJ | $56,353 | $27.09 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $54,246 | $26.08 |
| 7 | El Paso, TX | $50,697 | $24.37 |
| 8 | Kennewick, WA | $50,261 | $24.16 |
| 9 | Danbury, CT | $49,195 | $23.65 |
| 10 | Kansas City, MO | $43,385 | $20.86 |
| 11 | Asheboro, NC | $41,887 | $20.14 |
| 12 | Milwaukee, WI | $41,867 | $20.13 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $41,172 | $19.79 |
| 14 | Las Cruces, NM | $40,215 | $19.33 |
| 15 | Glendale, AZ | $39,028 | $18.76 |
| 16 | Hollywood, FL | $38,710 | $18.61 |
| 17 | Carson City, NV | $35,582 | $17.11 |
A bilingual interpreter's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $71,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $71,000 | $5,917 | $34 |
| 75th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
| Average | $44,168 | $3,681 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
The highest paying types of bilingual 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 |
| Translator | $44,278 | $3,690 | $21.29 | 1,206 |
| Cryptologic Linguist | $43,225 | $3,602 | $20.78 | 696 |
| Arabic Linguist | $44,433 | $3,703 | $21.36 | 742 |
| Technical Translator | $55,019 | $4,585 | $26.45 | 68,352 |
| Language Translator | $45,490 | $3,791 | $21.87 | 21,450 |
Top companies hiring bilingual interpreters now:
Bilingual interpreter salaries at Randolph Health and Trinitas Regional Medical Center are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average bilingual interpreter salary at companies like City of Richmond and Soliant are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Randolph Health | $101,221 | $48.66 |
| 2 | Trinitas Regional Medical Center | $73,192 | $35.19 |
| 3 | City of Richmond | $68,745 | $33.05 |
| 4 | Soliant | $65,768 | $31.62 |
| 5 | Sinai Chicago | $65,397 | $31.44 |
| 6 | Topeka Public Schools | $64,124 | $30.83 |
| 7 | TransPerfect | $60,595 | $29.13 |
| 8 | ProCare Therapy | $56,170 | $27.00 |
| 9 | Liberty Language | $56,032 | $26.94 |
| 10 | Rancho Alamitos High School | $55,344 | $26.61 |
| 11 | BioLife Solutions | $54,339 | $26.12 |
| 12 | Hemet Unified School District | $53,976 | $25.95 |
| 13 | ESL Federal Credit Union | $52,812 | $25.39 |
| 14 | Santa Maria Joint Union High School District | $51,963 | $24.98 |
| 15 | RWJBarnabas Health | $51,669 | $24.84 |
| 16 | Danbury Public Schools | $50,020 | $24.05 |
| 17 | KidsCare Therapy | $49,915 | $24.00 |
| 18 | Biolife Plasma Services | $49,533 | $23.81 |
| 19 | ActionAIDS | $46,520 | $22.37 |
| 20 | Kelly Services | $44,529 | $21.41 |
The average bilingual interpreter salary has risen by $6,896 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average bilingual interpreter earned $37,272 annually, but today, they earn $44,168 a year. That works out to a 13% change in pay for bilingual interpreters over the last decade.
Compare bilingual interpreter salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare bilingual interpreter salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $44,200 | $21.23 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | $43,700 | $21.03 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | $42,100 | $20.26 | +5.5% |
| 2022 | $39,800 | $19.15 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $38,900 | $18.71 | +4.2% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyracom | Arabic Bilingual Interpreter | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $34,436 |
| Project Open Hand | Bilingual Caseworker Spanish/English | San Francisco, CA | 06/29/2025 | $51,382 |
| Danbury Public Schools District | Paraeducator-Esl/Bilingual | Danbury, CT | 06/27/2025 | $41,740 |
| Ottumwa Community School District | Bilingual Interpreter | Ottumwa, IA | 06/27/2025 | $41,740 |
| Abs Kids | Bilingual Bcba Bonus, Flexibility) | Hesperia, CA | 06/21/2025 | $94,000 |
| Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health | Bilingual Crisis Caseworker | Winter Park, FL | 06/18/2025 | $38,610 |
| Children's Village, Inc. | MST Caseworker-Bilingual Preferred | Dobbs Ferry, NY | 06/16/2025 | $59,062 |
| Houston Independent School District | Spclst, Eval-Bilingual 12M | Houston, TX | 06/13/2025 | $93,608 |
| Above and Beyond Therapy | Bilingual-Registered Behavior Technition (RBT) | Oklahoma City, OK | 06/13/2025 | $37,566 |
| Kennewick School District | Cl22383: Para/Eceap/Bilingual Preferred-Eceap | Kennewick, WA | 06/12/2025 | $42,470 |
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