Interpreters and translators
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Median Salary
$59,440
~$29/hr · ~$4,953/mo
US Jobs
75K
Slower than average
AI & Automation Risk
9/10
Very High
AI & Automation Risk
Very High 9/10
The core work product is purely digital information (text and speech) in a domain where Large Language Models already demonstrate near-human proficiency. While high-stakes interpreting (legal, medical) and sign language still require human presence and nuanced judgment, the vast majority of translation and routine interpreting tasks are being rapidly automated or shifted to 'post-editing' roles, significantly reducing the total human labor required per unit of work.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CABEST VALUE | $98,910 | Above avg (112.8) | $87,706 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $76,500 | Below avg (89.3) | $85,665 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $96,510 | Above avg (113.1) | $85,363 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $81,600 | Average (98.4) | $82,963 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $80,020 | Average (98.1) | $81,559 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area | $85,660 | Above avg (107.0) | $80,048 |
| Savannah, GA | $75,230 | Below avg (95.9) | $78,440 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $85,590 | Above avg (109.5) | $78,134 |
| Rochester, NY | $76,610 | Average (98.4) | $77,864 |
| Lancaster, PA | $75,010 | Below avg (96.8) | $77,527 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $73,080 | Below avg (94.9) | $76,990 |
| Salem, OR | $77,320 | Average (102.5) | $75,464 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $83,740 | Above avg (112.6) | $74,340 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $77,710 | Above avg (107.3) | $72,395 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $84,670 | Above avg (117.6) | $72,028 |
Cost of Living Index: 100 = US national average. Below 100 = cheaper. Above 100 = more expensive.
Education & Requirements
Education Required
Bachelor's degree
10-Year Growth
+2% (Slower than average)
Hourly Rate
~$29/hr
Monthly Income
~$4,953/mo
Related Careers
Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OOH (2024)