How much does a translator make in the United States?
This is the median gross salary: half earn more and half earn less. That is $5,910 a month.
- Approx. take-home per month
- $4,871
- Compared with the median pay in the United States
- 1.3 times
- Data from
- 2025
Where the United States ranks among 144 countries
Each line is a country, on a log scale from $100 to $100,000 a year.
In other countries
Median gross salary a year, in dollars.
| 1. Switzerland estimate | $92,160 |
| 2. Luxembourg estimate | $75,650 |
| 3. United States | $70,930 |
| 4. Iceland estimate | $65,930 |
| 144. Nigeria estimate | $331 |
Similar jobs
Professionals
- Medical writer$82,630
- Journalist$73,210
- Lawyer$159,700
- Judge$139,400
- Legal professionals not elsewhere classified$75,530
- Museum curator$63,870
- Librarian$68,270
- Economist$124,700
By state
Median gross salary a year.
| District of Columbia | $126,600 |
| Maryland | $118,500 |
| Virginia | $115,400 |
| New York | $94,690 |
| West Virginia | $94,520 |
| Delaware | $92,330 |
| Wyoming | $88,610 |
| Colorado | $88,480 |
| Hawaii | $86,370 |
| Rhode Island | $85,030 |
See all 50 states
| Minnesota | $84,600 |
| Louisiana | $83,630 |
| Washington | $81,570 |
| Massachusetts | $81,450 |
| California | $80,220 |
| Ohio | $77,240 |
| Oregon | $76,560 |
| Mississippi | $76,460 |
| Georgia | $74,060 |
| Montana | $73,370 |
| New Mexico | $72,410 |
| Vermont | $72,290 |
| Alabama | $71,140 |
| New Jersey | $71,100 |
| Idaho | $70,380 |
| Utah | $70,280 |
| Illinois | $69,550 |
| Pennsylvania | $69,380 |
| Connecticut | $68,340 |
| Wisconsin | $67,350 |
| Missouri | $67,230 |
| New Hampshire | $66,970 |
| Maine | $66,690 |
| Nevada | $66,660 |
| North Carolina | $65,680 |
| Arkansas | $65,210 |
| Oklahoma | $65,130 |
| Kentucky | $64,240 |
| South Carolina | $62,900 |
| Kansas | $62,740 |
| Nebraska | $61,980 |
| North Dakota | $61,730 |
| Michigan | $61,380 |
| Arizona | $61,200 |
| Texas | $61,080 |
| South Dakota | $60,870 |
| Tennessee | $60,330 |
| Florida | $59,040 |
| Iowa | $57,320 |
| Indiana | $49,170 |
Jobs in this group in the United States
Official name of each one and its median salary a year.
| Interpreter and Translator | $60,170 |
| Social Scientist and Related Worker | $101,100 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a translator make a month in the United States?
The median gross salary is $5,910 a month, $70,930 a year.
How much does a translator make starting out and with experience?
The lowest-paid 10%, usually people starting out, make around $44,700 a year; the top 10%, with experience or senior roles, make more than $118,500.
Which country pays a translator the most?
United States, with a median of $70,930 a year before tax, according to our data.
Which state pays a translator the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $126,600 a year.
Does a translator make more in the United States or in Germany?
In the United States: $70,930 a year against $58,000 in Germany, 1.2 times more.
Who makes more, a translator or a medical writer?
A medical writer: $82,630 a year against $70,930 for a translator, 1.2 times more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS survey, 2025. How we calculate