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Sign language interpreter salary
Average sign language interpreter salary
$43,655
Understanding Sign Language Interpreter Salaries
The average salary for a Sign Language Interpreter is approximately $43,655 per year or $21 per hour. This compensation can vary significantly based on factors such as location, experience, and the specific industry. For instance, interpreters working in educational settings may earn less than those in healthcare or corporate sectors, where demand is higher.
Salary by State
Certain states tend to offer higher salaries for sign language interpreters. For example, California and Texas frequently top the list, reflecting a robust market for skilled interpreters. Other states that provide competitive wages include New York and Florida, with salaries often exceeding the national average.
Career Opportunities
As a sign language interpreter, job opportunities abound in various sectors, including schools, hospitals, and government agencies. Additionally, freelance opportunities are available, allowing for flexible work arrangements and potential higher earnings. With the increasing emphasis on accessibility, the demand for qualified interpreters is expected to grow.
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Where can a Sign Language Interpreter earn more?
Sign language interpreter salary estimates from across the web
Average sign language interpreter salary by state
The average sign language interpreter salary in Virginia, Oregon, and Washington are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average sign language interpreter salary states are Hawaii, Ohio, and Alabama.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for sign language interpreters
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $59,877 | $28.79 |
| 2 | Virginia | $62,120 | $29.87 |
| 3 | West Virginia | $52,158 | $25.08 |
| 4 | Washington | $58,774 | $28.26 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $54,336 | $26.12 |
| 6 | Vermont | $51,840 | $24.92 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $78,608 | $37.79 |
| 8 | California | $56,726 | $27.27 |
| 9 | New York | $57,071 | $27.44 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $48,369 | $23.25 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $50,990 | $24.51 |
| 12 | Maryland | $52,920 | $25.44 |
| 13 | Colorado | $52,989 | $25.48 |
| 14 | New Mexico | $47,238 | $22.71 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $54,921 | $26.40 |
| 16 | Utah | $53,852 | $25.89 |
| 17 | Alaska | $54,334 | $26.12 |
| 18 | Kentucky | $47,056 | $22.62 |
| 19 | Nebraska | $47,405 | $22.79 |
| 20 | Florida | $47,274 | $22.73 |
| 21 | Mississippi | $48,539 | $23.34 |
| 22 | Rhode Island | $47,187 | $22.69 |
| 23 | Nevada | $48,332 | $23.24 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $45,794 | $22.02 |
| 25 | North Dakota | $44,272 | $21.28 |
| 26 | Maine | $46,932 | $22.56 |
| 27 | Montana | $43,097 | $20.72 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $43,320 | $20.83 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $45,225 | $21.74 |
| 30 | Michigan | $42,938 | $20.64 |
| 31 | Kansas | $40,085 | $19.27 |
| 32 | Minnesota | $45,552 | $21.90 |
| 33 | Iowa | $40,006 | $19.23 |
| 34 | Arizona | $41,427 | $19.92 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $40,470 | $19.46 |
| 36 | Missouri | $42,558 | $20.46 |
| 37 | Texas | $40,380 | $19.41 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $41,070 | $19.75 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $37,747 | $18.15 |
| 40 | Illinois | $37,975 | $18.26 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $41,207 | $19.81 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $34,507 | $16.59 |
| 43 | Delaware | $32,551 | $15.65 |
| 44 | Georgia | $39,655 | $19.06 |
| 45 | Indiana | $36,238 | $17.42 |
| 46 | Idaho | $36,159 | $17.38 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $32,722 | $15.73 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $36,691 | $17.64 |
| 49 | Ohio | $34,209 | $16.45 |
| 50 | Alabama | $33,063 | $15.90 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $30,000 | $14.42 |
Highest paying cities for sign language interpreters
The highest-paying cities for sign language interpreters are Washington, DC, Fredericksburg, VA, and Sacramento, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $78,592 | $37.78 |
| 2 | Fredericksburg, VA | $63,306 | $30.44 |
| 3 | Sacramento, CA | $62,292 | $29.95 |
| 4 | Vancouver, WA | $60,479 | $29.08 |
| 5 | Bend, OR | $59,213 | $28.47 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $57,223 | $27.51 |
| 7 | Salt Lake City, UT | $53,603 | $25.77 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $53,257 | $25.60 |
| 9 | Castle Rock, CO | $53,012 | $25.49 |
| 10 | Reno, NV | $51,886 | $24.95 |
| 11 | Charleston, WV | $50,502 | $24.28 |
| 12 | Biloxi, MS | $49,361 | $23.73 |
| 13 | Tampa, FL | $47,829 | $22.99 |
| 14 | Duluth, MN | $45,893 | $22.06 |
| 15 | Philadelphia, PA | $45,709 | $21.98 |
| 16 | Helena, MT | $43,881 | $21.10 |
| 17 | Saint Louis, MO | $42,592 | $20.48 |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $41,542 | $19.97 |
| 19 | Amarillo, TX | $40,565 | $19.50 |
| 20 | Council Bluffs, IA | $40,058 | $19.26 |
Sign Language Interpreters are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Sign language interpreter salary details
A sign language interpreter's salary ranges from $26,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $70,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a sign language interpreter's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
| 75th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
| Average | $43,655 | $3,638 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
Highest paying sign language interpreter jobs
The highest paying types of sign language interpreters are technical translator, interpretive program coordinator, and language translator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Technical Translator | $55,019 | $4,585 | $26.45 | 68,352 |
| Arabic Linguist | $44,433 | $3,703 | $21.36 | 742 |
| Interpreter And Translator | $43,870 | $3,656 | $21.09 | 3,787 |
Top companies hiring sign language interpreters now:
Which companies pay sign language interpreters the most?
Sign language interpreter salaries at Kern Community College District and Google are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average sign language interpreter salary at companies like University of Maryland Medical System and St. Mary's Health Inc. are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kern Community College District | $131,621 | $63.28 |
| 2 | $110,734 | $53.24 | |
| 3 | University of Maryland Medical System | $109,596 | $52.69 |
| 4 | St. Mary's Health Inc. | $98,380 | $47.30 |
| 5 | Accountable Healthcare Holdings Corp. | $89,525 | $43.04 |
| 6 | CovenantHealth | $83,529 | $40.16 |
| 7 | Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan | $76,249 | $36.66 |
| 8 | UTMB HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS | $74,804 | $35.96 |
| 9 | Southern California Alcohol and Drug Programs, Inc. | $73,133 | $35.16 |
| 10 | Shirley Ryan AbilityLab | $71,317 | $34.29 |
| 11 | New Jersey Courts | $70,999 | $34.13 |
| 12 | Tacoma Community College | $69,909 | $33.61 |
| 13 | COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN MARYLAND | $67,817 | $32.60 |
| 14 | Chicago Public Schools | $67,571 | $32.49 |
| 15 | Froedtert Hospital | $67,231 | $32.32 |
| 16 | Sinai Chicago | $65,808 | $31.64 |
| 17 | Careerstaff Unlimited - A Genesis Healthcare Company | $65,471 | $31.48 |
| 18 | Mount Aloysius College | $64,624 | $31.07 |
| 19 | Topeka Public Schools | $63,530 | $30.54 |
| 20 | Soliant | $63,521 | $30.54 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Sign language interpreter salary trends
The average sign language interpreter salary has risen by $6,816 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average sign language interpreter earned $36,839 annually, but today, they earn $43,655 a year. That works out to a 13% change in pay for sign language interpreters over the last decade.
Compare sign language interpreter salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average sign language interpreter salary over time
Compare sign language interpreter salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Sign language interpreter salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $43,700 | $20.99 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | $43,200 | $20.79 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | $41,700 | $20.03 | +5.5% |
| 2022 | $39,400 | $18.93 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $38,500 | $18.50 | +4.2% |
Recently added sign language interpreter salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flathead Valley Community College | Sign Language Interpreter | Kalispell, MT | 06/30/2025 | $54,262 |
| Evoke Consulting | French (African) Language Interpreter | Interpretation Services [Clt037036] | Charlotte, NC | 06/29/2025 | $60,000 |
| Get It Recruit-Educational Services | Schools-Sign Language Interpreter-Remote | WFH | Madison, AL | 06/29/2025 | $62,610 |
| Get It Recruit-Educational Services | Virtual Sign Language Interpreter-Remote | WFH | Minneapolis, MN | 06/29/2025 | $72,000 |
| Epic Special Education Staffing | Sign Language Interpreter School SY | Albemarle, NC | 06/29/2025 | $62,610 |
| Epic Special Education Staffing | Sign Language Interpreter School SY | Seattle, WA | 06/29/2025 | $77,219 |
| Get It Recruit-Educational Services | School-Based Sign Language Interpreter Needed-Remote | WFH | Anchorage, AK | 06/29/2025 | $73,045 |
| Epic Special Education Staffing | Sign Language Interpreter School SY | Cartersville, GA | 06/29/2025 | $62,610 |
| Epic Special Education Staffing | Sign Language Interpreter School | Riverside, CA | 06/29/2025 | $77,219 |
| Uc Health | Sign Language Interpreter | Greeley, CO | 06/28/2025 | $70,582 |
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