Interpreters and Translators pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,920 a year or less, while the top 10% make $136,150 or more. The middle half of interpreters and translators in Washington earn between $62,810 and $118,400.
- $57K10th
- $63K25th
- $95KMedian
- $118K75th
- $136K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $93,460 | $7,788 | $44.93 |
| Median | $94,510 | $7,876 | $45.44 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $62,810 | $5,234 | $30.20 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $118,400 | $9,867 | $56.92 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Interpreters and Translators salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $93,460, a single filer in Washington takes home about $69,604 a year, or $5,800 a month and $2,677 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $71,188 | $5,932 |
| Working in MD | $70,351 | $5,863 |
| Working in VA | $70,019 | $5,835 |
| Working in DC | $69,604 | $5,800 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for interpreters and translators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $93,460 buys what about $85,834 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 6.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Interpreters and Translators salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$85,220
- Harrisonburg, VA$51,600
- Charlottesville, VA$76,830
- York, PA$70,280
- Richmond, VA$72,950
- Harrisburg, PA$56,430
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Interpreters and Translators salary in Washington: questions
How much do interpreters and translators make an hour in Washington?
$44.93 an hour on average, and $45.44 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level interpreters and translators salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,920 a year and the 25th percentile is $62,810, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the interpreters and translators take-home pay in Washington?
About $69,604 a year ($5,800 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $93,460.
Do interpreters and translators earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 38% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($67,848).
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.7%.
- 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 state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.55, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.