How much does an interpreter and translator make in San Diego?
$73,690a year
Median yearly pay for interpreter and translators in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $35.43 an hour or $6,141 a month.
- Hourly
- $35.43
- Vs. national median
- +22%
- Rank among cities
- 21 of 161
- Jobs in the area
- 360
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $47,780Median: $73,690Highest 10%: $124,100
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $47,780 | $22.97 | |
| 25th | $52,140 | $25.07 | |
| Median | $73,690 | $35.43 | |
| 75th | $102,600 | $49.33 | |
| 90th | $124,100 | $59.64 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for interpreter and translators.
| San Jose, CA | $101,500 |
| San Francisco, CA | $83,680 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $82,440 |
| Oxnard, CA | $75,920 |
| Riverside, CA | $74,310 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $69,460 |
| Fresno, CA | $68,050 |
| Visalia, CA | $66,000 |
| Sacramento, CA | $64,360 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $63,900 |
| Salinas, CA | $62,720 |
| Stockton, CA | $50,480 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Art Director | $126,100 |
| Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner | $123,200 |
| Special Effects Artist and Animator | $118,800 |
| Musician and Singer | $106,400 |
| Technical Writer | $101,800 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designer | $99,650 |
| Producer and Director | $99,520 |
| Media and Communication Worker | $85,180 |
| Film and Video Editor | $83,480 |
| Writer and Author | $82,590 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does an interpreter and translator make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $35.43 ($73,690 a year).
Do interpreter and translators make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $73,690 against $60,170 nationally, 22% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $70,770, so San Diego pays 4% more.
Where does San Diego rank for interpreter and translator pay?
21 of 161 metro areas with data.
How much does an interpreter and translator make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $47,780 or less a year; the top 10% make $124,100 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.