Interpreters and Translators pay in California
In California, the median pay for interpreters and translators is $34.02 an hour ($70,770 a year). About 5,560 people work in this job there.
That is 18% higher than the U.S. median ($60,170). California ranks 7th of 47 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for interpreters and translators in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $23.81 | $49,530 |
| 25% of workers | $27.04 | $56,230 |
| Half of workers (median) | $34.02 | $70,770 |
| 75% of workers | $49.04 | $102,010 |
| 90% of workers | $57.60 | $119,810 |
Interpreters and Translators pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $101,530 | 300 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $84,960 | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $83,680 | 760 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $82,440 | 70 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $75,920 | 70 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $74,310 | 450 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $73,690 | 360 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $69,460 | 1,480 |
| Fresno | $68,050 | 110 |
| Visalia | $66,000 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $64,360 | 430 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $63,900 | 50 |
| Salinas | $62,720 | 560 |
| Modesto | $60,530 | 40 |
| Merced | $52,710 | 30 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $50,480 | 80 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for interpreters and translators
- Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 1 to 2 years (O*NET)
- Job outlook: +2% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 6,000 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $101,370 |
| Tutors | $45,100 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $49,130 |
| Speech-Language Pathologists | $118,970 |
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $130,490 |
| Social Science Research Assistants | $60,250 |
| Technical Writers | $104,000 |
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $99,860 |
Other job titles for this job
Open interpreters and translators jobs on JAI Bot
No open jobs in this field right now. Search all jobs or set up a free job alert.
Hiring interpreters and translators? Use the free hiring guide for a job description and interview questions, then post the job on JAI Bot. Every job shows typical pay to job seekers.
Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.