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Translator salary
Average translator salary
$44,278
Understanding Translator Salaries
The demand for translators continues to rise as global communication expands. According to current data, the average annual salary for a translator in the United States stands at $44,278, with hourly wages around $21. However, these figures can fluctuate based on several factors:
- Location: Translators in metropolitan areas often earn more than those in rural regions.
- Experience: As expected, seasoned translators generally command higher salaries.
- Specialization: Certain fields, such as technical or legal translation, may offer better compensation.
For instance, translators working in California or New York may see higher average salaries compared to those in states with lower living costs. Exploring opportunities within various industries can also enhance earning potential, particularly in sectors that prioritize multilingual communication. If you're considering a career in translation, understanding these dynamics is crucial for making informed career decisions.
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Where can a Translator earn more?
Translator salary estimates from across the web
Average translator salary by state
The highest-paying states for translators are New York, New Jersey, and Washington. The lowest average translator salary states are Indiana, Arkansas, and Hawaii.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for translators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $79,461 | $38.20 |
| 2 | Oregon | $56,359 | $27.10 |
| 3 | Virginia | $57,167 | $27.48 |
| 4 | Maryland | $56,011 | $26.93 |
| 5 | New York | $61,711 | $29.67 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $52,447 | $25.21 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $57,867 | $27.82 |
| 8 | Mississippi | $48,524 | $23.33 |
| 9 | Alaska | $51,557 | $24.79 |
| 10 | Washington | $57,338 | $27.57 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $47,477 | $22.83 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $52,897 | $25.43 |
| 13 | Kentucky | $48,611 | $23.37 |
| 14 | Nebraska | $46,156 | $22.19 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $46,181 | $22.20 |
| 16 | California | $55,158 | $26.52 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $46,979 | $22.59 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $55,886 | $26.87 |
| 19 | Vermont | $50,673 | $24.36 |
| 20 | Idaho | $45,984 | $22.11 |
| 21 | Utah | $45,195 | $21.73 |
| 22 | Rhode Island | $46,435 | $22.32 |
| 23 | Nevada | $48,051 | $23.10 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $43,666 | $20.99 |
| 25 | Texas | $44,627 | $21.46 |
| 26 | Wyoming | $44,401 | $21.35 |
| 27 | Colorado | $47,929 | $23.04 |
| 28 | Maine | $45,738 | $21.99 |
| 29 | Ohio | $42,901 | $20.63 |
| 30 | Georgia | $42,132 | $20.26 |
| 31 | Florida | $43,343 | $20.84 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $41,338 | $19.87 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $43,438 | $20.88 |
| 34 | Montana | $41,203 | $19.81 |
| 35 | Arizona | $43,407 | $20.87 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $43,161 | $20.75 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $39,334 | $18.91 |
| 38 | Michigan | $42,251 | $20.31 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $41,250 | $19.83 |
| 40 | Alabama | $38,337 | $18.43 |
| 41 | Delaware | $32,746 | $15.74 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $34,992 | $16.82 |
| 43 | Kansas | $39,156 | $18.82 |
| 44 | Illinois | $38,763 | $18.64 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $37,723 | $18.14 |
| 46 | Iowa | $38,169 | $18.35 |
| 47 | Wisconsin | $38,492 | $18.51 |
| 48 | Indiana | $37,006 | $17.79 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $29,320 | $14.10 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $36,204 | $17.41 |
| 51 | Missouri | $33,825 | $16.26 |
Highest paying cities for translators
The highest-paying cities for translators are Washington, DC, New York, NY, and Berkeley, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $79,490 | $38.22 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $61,928 | $29.77 |
| 3 | Berkeley, CA | $60,642 | $29.15 |
| 4 | Newark, NJ | $57,990 | $27.88 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $57,839 | $27.81 |
| 6 | Eugene, OR | $57,071 | $27.44 |
| 7 | Greenwich, CT | $55,969 | $26.91 |
| 8 | Waltham, MA | $52,794 | $25.38 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $46,718 | $22.46 |
| 10 | Salt Lake City, UT | $44,884 | $21.58 |
| 11 | Houston, TX | $44,449 | $21.37 |
| 12 | Tampa, FL | $43,881 | $21.10 |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $43,497 | $20.91 |
| 14 | Ann Arbor, MI | $42,071 | $20.23 |
| 15 | Duluth, GA | $42,070 | $20.23 |
| 16 | Durham, NC | $41,995 | $20.19 |
| 17 | Evanston, IL | $39,060 | $18.78 |
| 18 | Urbandale, IA | $37,936 | $18.24 |
| 19 | Kailua, HI | $35,052 | $16.85 |
Translator salary details
A translator's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $70,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a translator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
| 75th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
| Average | $44,278 | $3,690 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
Highest paying translator jobs
The highest paying types of translators are technical translator, interpretive program coordinator, and language translator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bilingual Interpreter | $44,168 | $3,681 | $21.23 | 5,338 |
| Cryptologic Linguist | $43,225 | $3,602 | $20.78 | 696 |
| Medical Interpreter | $43,593 | $3,633 | $20.96 | 47,796 |
| Educational Interpreter | $39,807 | $3,317 | $19.14 | 5,541 |
| Per Diem Interpreter | $42,675 | $3,556 | $20.52 | 38,934 |
| Interpreter | $42,008 | $3,501 | $20.20 | 3,772 |
Top companies hiring translators now:
Which companies pay translators the most?
Translator salaries at Apple and Alameda Health System are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average translator salary at companies like Workday and Highland General Hospital are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple | $121,484 | $58.41 |
| 2 | Alameda Health System | $119,638 | $57.52 |
| 3 | Workday | $106,720 | $51.31 |
| 4 | Highland General Hospital | $104,856 | $50.41 |
| 5 | AstraZeneca | $104,388 | $50.19 |
| 6 | Bloomberg | $91,284 | $43.89 |
| 7 | Birch | $83,565 | $40.18 |
| 8 | Interactive Brokers | $83,147 | $39.97 |
| 9 | New York Film Academy | $82,645 | $39.73 |
| 10 | Daiwa Capital Markets America Holdings Inc. | $80,801 | $38.85 |
| 11 | Asset Management Company | $76,908 | $36.98 |
| 12 | ACLU of Illinois | $74,541 | $35.84 |
| 13 | Rotary International | $73,927 | $35.54 |
| 14 | UMiami Health System | $73,861 | $35.51 |
| 15 | Eaton & Van Winkle | $72,383 | $34.80 |
| 16 | Harris County Attorney's Office | $72,170 | $34.70 |
| 17 | Dow Jones | $70,002 | $33.65 |
| 18 | CDC Foundation | $68,772 | $33.06 |
| 19 | Trion Worlds | $68,324 | $32.85 |
| 20 | New York State Restaurant Association | $67,099 | $32.26 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Translator salary by industry
The average translator salary varies across industries:
- The average translator salary in the technology industry is $58,098, the highest of any industry.
- The average translator salary in the finance industry is $55,528.
- Translators in the manufacturing industry earn an average salary of $46,220, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for translators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $58,098 | $27.93 |
| 2 | Non Profits | $55,528 | $26.70 |
| 3 | Government | $54,185 | $26.05 |
| 4 | Professional | $52,070 | $25.03 |
| 5 | Education | $51,316 | $24.67 |
| 6 | Media | $50,802 | $24.42 |
| 7 | Agriculture | $49,134 | $23.62 |
| 8 | Manufacturing | $46,220 | $22.22 |
High paying translator jobs
Translator salary trends
The average translator salary has risen by $6,913 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average translator earned $37,365 annually, but today, they earn $44,278 a year. That works out to a 13% change in pay for translators over the last decade.
Compare translator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average translator salary over time
Compare translator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Translator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $44,300 | $21.29 | +1.0% |
| 2025 | $43,900 | $21.08 | +3.7% |
| 2024 | $42,200 | $20.31 | +5.5% |
| 2023 | $39,900 | $19.20 | +2.3% |
| 2022 | $39,000 | $18.76 | +4.2% |
Recently added translator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contact Government Services | Translator | San Juan, PR | 06/30/2025 | $48,533 |
| Wayne County Schools Employment Network | Ukranian Translator | Bowne, MI | 06/27/2025 | $50,000 |
| Teema | Korean Translator | Peoria, AZ | 06/27/2025 | $62,610 |
| Leidos | Tamashek/Tamasheq Translator/Linguist | Reston, VA | 06/26/2025 | $72,150 |
| Wayne RESA | Ukranian Translator | Detroit, MI | 06/26/2025 | $50,000 |
| Revere School District | Security/Translator | Revere, MA | 06/26/2025 | $44,996 |
| Oklahoma City-County Health Department | Translator (Spanish) | Oklahoma City, OK | 06/18/2025 | $18,528 |
| Rwjbarnabas Health | Translator | Toms River, NJ | 06/14/2025 | $70,457 |
| Greater Albany Public School District 8J | Translator II | Ione, OR | 06/12/2025 | $56,224 |
| Translator | Translator | Altamont, IL | 06/10/2025 | $104,350 |
Translator salary FAQs
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