Loading
Assembling your view…
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
A $20K salary difference sounds abstract until you multiply it by a career. The national median salary for Interpreter/Translators in 2026 is $66,342, with entry-level positions averaging $47,766 and senior roles reaching $94,205. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $120,840, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Positioned in Arts & Media within the broader Creative & Media industry, Interpreter/Translators typically hold Bachelor's + fluency. The employment landscape is shaped by high demand, and the day-to-day is hybrid/remote. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$73,530 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Interpreter/Translator in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $120,840 — $73,530 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($47,310). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. That ratio holds up even after adjusting for local costs.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Interpreter/Translators average $47,766, the median sits at $66,342, and senior earners pull in $94,205. That $46,439 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $14,025 below the national median household income of $80,367 — which tells you location and cost of living are critical factors in making this salary work.
Stack the top-paying states against the cheapest — the math is revealing. The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $112,860 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $47,690. That $65,170 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
A Interpreter/Translator in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $120,840 — $73,530 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($47,310). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Interpreter/Translator is $47,766, while senior-level (P90) earners average $94,205. That $46,439 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $47,766 | $66,342 | $94,205 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £24,822 | £34,475 | £48,955 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$35,815 | CA$49,744 | CA$70,636 |
| Australia | 13 | A$39,759 | A$55,220 | A$78,413 |
| Sweden | 24 | 253,576 kr | 352,190 kr | 500,109 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $57,651 | $80,071 | $113,701 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $55,712 | $77,378 | $109,876 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $55,404 | $76,950 | $109,269 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $51,300 | $71,250 | $101,175 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $50,684 | $70,395 | $99,961 |
| Washington | 8 | $49,710 | $69,041 | $98,039 |
| New York | 5 | $46,785 | $64,980 | $92,271 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $46,786 | $64,980 | $92,272 |
| Florida | 22 | $46,431 | $64,488 | $91,573 |
| Colorado | 11 | $45,629 | $63,374 | $89,991 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $45,554 | $63,270 | $89,843 |
| Nevada | 5 | $45,472 | $63,156 | $89,681 |
| Arizona | 12 | $45,247 | $62,843 | $89,236 |
| Oregon | 5 | $45,144 | $62,700 | $89,034 |
| Idaho | 3 | $45,007 | $62,510 | $88,764 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $44,652 | $62,016 | $88,063 |
| Utah | 4 | $44,528 | $61,845 | $87,820 |
| Virginia | 7 | $43,795 | $60,827 | $86,374 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $43,229 | $60,040 | $85,257 |
| Alaska | 1 | $43,092 | $59,850 | $84,987 |
| Illinois | 5 | $42,599 | $59,166 | $84,016 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $41,542 | $57,697 | $81,929 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $41,040 | $57,000 | $80,940 |
| Montana | 1 | $41,040 | $57,000 | $80,940 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $40,903 | $56,810 | $80,670 |
| Texas | 40 | $40,701 | $56,530 | $80,272 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $40,630 | $56,430 | $80,131 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $40,425 | $56,145 | $79,726 |
| Georgia | 6 | $40,288 | $55,955 | $79,456 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $40,219 | $55,860 | $79,321 |
| Kansas | 4 | $40,014 | $55,575 | $78,917 |
| Michigan | 6 | $39,877 | $55,385 | $78,647 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $39,399 | $54,720 | $77,703 |
| Maryland | 1 | $39,398 | $54,720 | $77,702 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $38,988 | $54,150 | $76,893 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $38,988 | $54,150 | $76,893 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $37,962 | $52,725 | $74,870 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $37,757 | $52,440 | $74,465 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $37,244 | $51,728 | $73,453 |
| Missouri | 4 | $37,244 | $51,728 | $73,453 |
| Alabama | 5 | $37,100 | $51,528 | $73,170 |
| Indiana | 3 | $36,526 | $50,730 | $72,037 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $36,526 | $50,730 | $72,037 |
| Iowa | 2 | $36,115 | $50,160 | $71,227 |
| Ohio | 6 | $36,047 | $50,065 | $71,093 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $34,474 | $47,880 | $67,990 |
The state salary map for Interpreter/Translators: California at $80,071, Massachusetts at $77,378, Hawaii at $76,950 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($47,880), Ohio ($50,065), Iowa ($50,160) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $32,191.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($120,840 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $57,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $120,840 | 212 | $57,000 | $73,480 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $112,860 | 198 | $57,000 | $69,087 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $104,880 | 184 | $57,000 | $64,694 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $103,170 | 181 | $57,000 | $63,753 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $101,460 | 178 | $57,000 | $62,811 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $100,890 | 177 | $57,000 | $62,497 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $100,890 | 177 | $57,000 | $62,497 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $98,610 | 173 | $57,000 | $61,204 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $98,610 | 173 | $57,000 | $61,204 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $96,330 | 169 | $57,000 | $59,903 |
From a career planning perspective, Interpreter/Translator offers a $46,439 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires Bachelor's + fluency. Day-to-day, expect hybrid/remote work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Interpreter/Translators is $66,342 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $47,766, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $94,205.
The highest-paying city for Interpreter/Translators is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $120,840. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($120,840), Santa Clara ($112,860), Irvine ($104,880). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Interpreter/Translator salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $47,310. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Interpreter/Translators (10th percentile) average $47,766 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $87,005. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Interpreter/Translators average $94,205 nationally — $46,439 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Interpreter/Translators can earn up to $171,593.
The top-paying states for Interpreter/Translators are California ($80,071 median), Massachusetts ($77,378 median), Hawaii ($76,950 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Interpreter/Translator involves Bachelor's + fluency. The field is in the Creative & Media sector (Arts & Media), and the career outlook is high demand. Work style is typically hybrid/remote.
With a national median of $66,342 and representation across 288 metro areas, Interpreter/Translator offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $46,439 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: high demand.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.