How Much Should I Get Paid for Interpreter Work?

by Nancy Wagner, Demand Media

The type of industry and the state where you work make a big difference in the amount of pay you may receive as an interpreter. The ability to fluently speak a language other than English is a prerequisite for interpreters who must convert information from one language to another. Some interpreters deal with spoken language, while others work in sign language. The highest paid translators make an average of more than $100,000 annually, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.


The average annual salary for interpreters was $50,610 as of May 2011, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This breaks down to $24.33 per hour. The top 10 percent of interpreters make an average of $88,010 annually, or $42.31 per hour. The lowest 10 percent make an average of $23,710 annually, equivalent to $11.40 per hour.

Regional Comparisons

The top paying states for interpreters include Virginia, with 3,840 jobs that pay an average of $89,890 annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Maine comes in second among the top paying states at an average of $63,890 per year. New Jersey pays an average of $62,050 annually as the third highest paying state. North Carolina pays an average of $61,890 annually, while Colorado pays an average of $59,370 per year. The Washington, D.C., metropolitan area is also a major center for interpreter jobs, with 3,400 jobs that average $93,670 annually. The state with the highest number of jobs is California, with 6,820 jobs, and Texas with 3,980 jobs. Virginia has 3,840 jobs, while New York has 3,260 jobs.

Contributing Factors

The industries with the highest levels of employment include professional, scientific and technical service organizations that hire 15,080 interpreters, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Elementary and secondary schools provide 10,720 jobs, while medical and surgical hospitals have 4,180 jobs. The top paying industries include computer systems and design organizations that pay an average of $104,990 annually. Management, scientific and technical consulting industries pay $97,020 on average each year.

Career Outlook

The job outlook for interpreters is expected to grow by 42 percent between 2010 and 2020, according to the BLS. This is much faster than the average for all occupations. As the population in the United States becomes even more diversified, the need for translators will increase. The country’s growing international trade will also increase the need for interpreters. While computers are used to automate some of the work involved with translating, the job cannot be completely automated.

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