Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
None
None
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Interpreters and translators support communication across languages, using strong writing, reading, speaking, and listening abilities. Nationally, this occupation has a median annual salary of $59,440 with about 75,000 people employed. Projected employment growth is 1.7%, and there are an estimated 7,000 annual openings, indicating ongoing demand for new and experienced professionals. The role calls for a blend of detail orientation, interpersonal strengths, and adaptability, plus creativity and innovation when dealing with complex or nuanced messages. Customer service skills, leadership, problem solving and decision making, and comfort with computers and information technology also play an important part in success. Typical entry into this field involves a bachelor’s degree, making it accessible to students planning ahead as well as career changers who already hold a four‑year degree. For those interested in language-focused careers, related paths include occupations such as writers and authors, editors, news analysts, reporters, journalists, and several adult education roles.
Interpreters and translators earn a national median annual salary of $59,440, offering a solid earnings baseline for language professionals. Pay levels vary meaningfully by location. At the state level, New York shows a median salary of $84,090, while Massachusetts and California offer $72,750 and $70,770, respectively. Colorado and Washington also sit above the national median, at $71,790 and $61,750. At the metro level, salaries can be even higher. The San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA area has a median of $101,530, and the Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC‑VA‑MD‑WV area has $94,510. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY‑NJ metro posts $87,590, while San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA‑NH offer $83,680 and $75,120. These figures highlight that earnings potential in this career can substantially increase in certain states and major metro areas.
Interpreters and translators have a national employment base of about 75,000 workers, with projected employment growth of 1.7%. This measured growth, combined with 7,000 estimated annual openings, suggests a steady flow of opportunities from new positions and turnover in existing roles. The consistent 1.7% growth rate also appears across the highlighted states and metro areas, indicating similar projected trends in those regions. For individuals planning a long-term career, these numbers point to a field with ongoing hiring needs rather than a static labor market. The availability of annual openings is important for both new graduates with bachelor’s degrees and experienced professionals seeking lateral moves or advancement. Overall, the employment and growth figures indicate a career path where jobs continue to be created and vacated on a regular basis, supporting mobility and entry at different stages of one’s working life.
Location makes a clear difference for interpreters and translators in both salary and opportunity score. Among states, California, Massachusetts, and New York stand out with the highest CareerGPS opportunity scores: 67.38, 65.87, and 65.78. New York also has the highest state-level median salary at $84,090, while California and Massachusetts offer $70,770 and $72,750. Washington and Colorado show slightly lower opportunity scores, in the mid‑50s, but still provide median salaries above or near the national median. At the metro level, the San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA region leads with an opportunity score of 77.42 and a median salary of $101,530. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY‑NJ metro is close behind with an opportunity score of 77.27 and median salary of $87,590. Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC‑VA‑MD‑WV, San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA, and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA‑NH also combine relatively high median salaries with strong opportunity scores, offering multiple geographic options for maximizing career potential.
The typical education level for interpreters and translators is a bachelor’s degree. This makes the field accessible to students planning a four-year program and to professionals who already hold a degree and want to redirect their careers toward language work. Success in this occupation relies on a well-rounded skill set that goes beyond language fluency alone. Key strengths include writing and reading, speaking and listening, and careful attention to detail. Interpersonal skills and adaptability support effective work with different people and situations, while creativity and innovation help with complex communication challenges. Customer service and leadership abilities can be valuable for working directly with clients or coordinating projects. Problem solving and decision making, along with comfort using computers and information technology, round out the profile. Together, the bachelor’s degree and this mix of skills provide a solid foundation for entering and growing in interpreter and translator roles.
Use CareerGPS Pro to compare markets, understand the tradeoffs, and focus on the places with the strongest potential.
