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A Court Interpreter plays a vital role in the judicial system, facilitating communication in legal proceedings. The average salary for this position is $44,300 annually, equating to roughly $21 per hour. However, this figure can differ based on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific employer.
In states like California and New York, salaries tend to be higher due to the demand for skilled interpreters and the cost of living. For example, interpreters in urban centers typically earn more than those in rural areas. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for prospective interpreters when considering job opportunities.
As the legal landscape evolves, the demand for qualified court interpreters continues to grow. By gaining experience and potentially specializing in specific languages or legal fields, interpreters can increase their earning potential and job stability. Explore job listings to find positions that align with your skills and aspirations.
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The highest-paying states for court interpreters are New York, Oregon, and Washington. The lowest average court interpreter salary states are Florida, Oklahoma, and Ohio.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $80,065 | $38.49 |
| 2 | Oregon | $65,063 | $31.28 |
| 3 | New York | $72,471 | $34.84 |
| 4 | Virginia | $63,277 | $30.42 |
| 5 | Washington | $64,459 | $30.99 |
| 6 | California | $61,484 | $29.56 |
| 7 | Vermont | $55,051 | $26.47 |
| 8 | Utah | $58,660 | $28.20 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $52,867 | $25.42 |
| 10 | Alaska | $62,360 | $29.98 |
| 11 | Nebraska | $51,078 | $24.56 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $53,869 | $25.90 |
| 13 | Maryland | $54,087 | $26.00 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $50,730 | $24.39 |
| 15 | Colorado | $57,995 | $27.88 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $56,688 | $27.25 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $49,168 | $23.64 |
| 18 | Montana | $48,149 | $23.15 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $50,884 | $24.46 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $48,281 | $23.21 |
| 21 | Mississippi | $50,070 | $24.07 |
| 22 | Nevada | $50,902 | $24.47 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $49,434 | $23.77 |
| 24 | North Dakota | $47,291 | $22.74 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $50,198 | $24.13 |
| 26 | Texas | $45,473 | $21.86 |
| 27 | Maine | $50,189 | $24.13 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $46,487 | $22.35 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $43,773 | $21.04 |
| 30 | Arizona | $43,438 | $20.88 |
| 31 | Michigan | $43,907 | $21.11 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $42,710 | $20.53 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $41,379 | $19.89 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $44,011 | $21.16 |
| 35 | Kansas | $42,940 | $20.64 |
| 36 | Idaho | $39,781 | $19.13 |
| 37 | Missouri | $45,419 | $21.84 |
| 38 | Georgia | $40,885 | $19.66 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $42,479 | $20.42 |
| 40 | Iowa | $42,799 | $20.58 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $43,016 | $20.68 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $34,652 | $16.66 |
| 43 | Delaware | $33,347 | $16.03 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $38,764 | $18.64 |
| 45 | Florida | $37,782 | $18.16 |
| 46 | Indiana | $39,745 | $19.11 |
| 47 | Illinois | $39,830 | $19.15 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $38,509 | $18.51 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $36,289 | $17.45 |
| 50 | Ohio | $35,318 | $16.98 |
| 51 | Alabama | $34,120 | $16.40 |
The highest-paying cities for court interpreters are Central Islip, NY, Santa Rosa, CA, and Reston, VA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Islip, NY | $73,257 | $35.22 |
| 2 | Santa Rosa, CA | $68,170 | $32.77 |
| 3 | Reston, VA | $65,874 | $31.67 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $57,965 | $27.87 |
| 5 | Newark, NJ | $56,936 | $27.37 |
| 6 | Brockton, MA | $53,087 | $25.52 |
| 7 | Hartford, CT | $50,286 | $24.18 |
| 8 | Laredo, TX | $44,999 | $21.63 |
| 9 | Phoenix, AZ | $43,626 | $20.97 |
| 10 | Las Cruces, NM | $40,861 | $19.64 |
| 11 | Woodstock, IL | $39,724 | $19.10 |
| 12 | San Juan, PR | $38,796 | $18.65 |
| 13 | Tampa, FL | $38,153 | $18.34 |
A court interpreter's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $72,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $72,000 | $6,000 | $35 |
| 75th Percentile | $57,000 | $4,750 | $27 |
| Average | $44,300 | $3,692 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
The highest paying types of court interpreters are technical translator, interpretive program coordinator, and language translator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technical Translator | $55,019 | $4,585 | $26.45 | 68,352 |
| Language Translator | $45,490 | $3,791 | $21.87 | 21,450 |
| Arabic Linguist | $44,433 | $3,703 | $21.36 | 742 |
| Translator | $44,278 | $3,690 | $21.29 | 1,206 |
| Freelance Translator | $44,736 | $3,728 | $21.51 | 1,162 |
| Cryptologic Linguist | $43,225 | $3,602 | $20.78 | 696 |
Top companies hiring court interpreters now:
Court interpreter salaries at City of Houston and U.S. District Court are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average court interpreter salary at companies like New Jersey Courts and Delaware State Government are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Houston | $80,658 | $38.78 |
| 2 | U.S. District Court | $75,424 | $36.26 |
| 3 | New Jersey Courts | $74,729 | $35.93 |
| 4 | Delaware State Government | $74,181 | $35.66 |
| 5 | United States Courts | $71,377 | $34.32 |
| 6 | Superior Court Of California | $52,847 | $25.41 |
| 7 | State of Connecticut | $48,889 | $23.50 |
| 8 | Maricopa County | $48,195 | $23.17 |
| 9 | My Florida Regional Mls | $47,786 | $22.97 |
| 10 | SOS International | $46,889 | $22.54 |
| 11 | Metlang | $46,631 | $22.42 |
| 12 | Superior Court of Fulton County | $46,320 | $22.27 |
| 13 | Welocalize | $43,352 | $20.84 |
| 14 | Florida Department of Transportation | $40,484 | $19.46 |
| 15 | State Of Florida | $32,798 | $15.77 |
| 16 | Florida Dept. of Health | $31,968 | $15.37 |
The average court interpreter salary has risen by $6,917 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average court interpreter earned $37,383 annually, but today, they earn $44,300 a year. That works out to a 13% change in pay for court interpreters over the last decade.
Compare court interpreter salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare court interpreter salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $44,300 | $21.30 | +1.0% |
| 2025 | $43,900 | $21.09 | +3.7% |
| 2024 | $42,300 | $20.32 | +5.5% |
| 2023 | $39,900 | $19.21 | +2.3% |
| 2022 | $39,000 | $18.77 | +4.2% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Courts | Conditionally Approved/Trainee or Court Interpreter 1-Spanish | Jersey City, NJ | 06/25/2025 | $61,212 |
| United States Courts | Court Interpreter | San Diego, CA | 06/24/2025 | $120,381 |
| West Valley City | Court Interpreter/Coordinator | West Valley City, UT | 05/25/2025 | $44,912 |
| MTC | Court Interpreter Scheduler | Boston, MA | 05/16/2025 | $68,235 |
| Massachusetts Court System | Court Interpreter-Suffolk County | Boston, MA | 05/16/2025 | $79,772 |
| Global Impact Group | Onsite Court Certified Interpreter | Dallas, TX | 05/15/2025 | $93,915 |
| Superior Court of Orange County | Court Interpreter (Spanish) | Ione, CA | 05/08/2025 | $95,285 |
| BOCC | Court Interpreter-Spanish (Thirteenth Judicial Circuit) | Tampa, FL | 04/28/2025 | $62,798 |
| Global Impact Group | Court-Ready Interpreter Consecutive and Simultaneous Nationwide | Raleigh, NC | 04/25/2025 | $62,610 |
| 15Th Judicial Circuit Court | Court Interpreter Scheduling Specialist (Court Program Specialist III) | West Palm Beach, FL | 04/02/2025 | $53,751 |
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