Interpreters and Translators pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,120 a year or less, while the top 10% make $83,740 or more. The middle half of interpreters and translators in Memphis earn between $51,000 and $82,470.
- $48K10th
- $51K25th
- $67KMedian
- $82K75th
- $84K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $67,250 | $5,604 | $32.33 |
| Median | $66,720 | $5,560 | $32.08 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $51,000 | $4,250 | $24.52 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $82,470 | $6,872 | $39.65 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Interpreters and Translators pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Interpreters and translators in Memphis earn 25% more than the Tennessee average ($53,590) and about the same as the U.S. average ($66,360). At the median the gap is +11% against the U.S. median of $60,170.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $67,250 | $66,720 | $48,120 | $83,740 | 70 |
| Tennessee | $53,590 | $51,080 | $32,280 | $78,480 | 710 |
| United States | $66,360 | $60,170 | $37,070 | $103,660 | 52,060 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Interpreters and Translators salary after taxes in Memphis
On the average salary of $67,250, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $56,140 a year, or $4,678 a month and $2,159 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $56,140 | $4,678 |
| Working in MS | $54,182 | $4,515 |
| Working in AR | $54,139 | $4,512 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for interpreters and translators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $67,250 buys what about $72,956 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 3.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Interpreters and Translators salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 1st of 4 Tennessee metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Memphis$67,250
- Knoxville$57,040
- Chattanooga$52,820
- Nashville$52,090
Highest-paying cities for interpreters and translators
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($93,650).
- San Jose, CA$93,650
- Washington, DC$93,460
- Santa Maria, CA$92,880
- New York, NY$91,110
- San Francisco, CA$90,940
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Interpreters and Translators salary in Memphis: questions
How much do interpreters and translators make an hour in Memphis?
$32.33 an hour on average, and $32.08 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level interpreters and translators salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,120 a year and the 25th percentile is $51,000, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the interpreters and translators take-home pay in Memphis?
About $56,140 a year ($4,678 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $67,250. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do interpreters and translators earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($66,360).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-3091; area Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.35, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.35).
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