27
Interpreters and Translators is a notable career in the 27 category. This page provides verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0 (2024), helping you compare Interpreters and Translators against similar careers and make data-driven decisions.
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| soc | 27-3091 |
| title | Interpreters and Translators |
| onet code | 27-3091.00 |
| description | Interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into another. |
| job zone | 4 |
| major group | 27 |
| tot emp | 53,360 |
| a mean | 64,950 |
| a median | 59,440 |
| a pct10 | 35,630 |
| a pct25 | 45,020 |
| a pct75 | 80,020 |
| a pct90 | 99,830 |
| h mean | 31 |
| h median | 28 |
The day-to-day work of a interpreters and translators typically centers on follow ethical codes that protect the confidentiality of information. Every task listed below is classified as Core in O*NET — they collectively define the role. Task descriptions below are quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET 29.0 occupation profile.
Workers in this occupation rely most on Speaking, Active Listening, and Reading Comprehension. Across the top 10 skills, the average O*NET importance score is 3.55 out of 5 — highly rated for this role. Importance reflects how essential each skill is for adequate job performance.
Among working interpreters and translators, the most common entry qualification is a Bachelor's Degree (54.7%). Bachelor's-degree-or-higher credentials are reported by 86% of incumbents. This is a degree-heavy profession — most incumbents hold a four-year degree or beyond.
Median annual pay is highest in New York at $84,650 and lowest in Mississippi at $43,410 — a 2.0× spread. The top five states (New York, District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, California) average $78,380. Figures reflect BLS OEWS May 2024 state-level wage estimates; percentiles shown are for full-time wage-earners in each state.
| State | Median | Mean | 10th % | 90th % | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $84,650 | $86,810 | $44,630 | $128,720 | 3,650 |
| District of Columbia | $81,140 | $88,370 | $54,870 | $128,670 | 160 |
| Maryland | $78,350 | $84,710 | $47,170 | $135,810 | 870 |
| Virginia | $74,250 | $80,500 | $44,070 | $137,350 | 2,610 |
| California | $73,510 | $76,490 | $47,580 | $108,390 | 6,710 |
| Washington | $69,620 | $72,720 | $46,640 | $99,650 | 1,620 |
| Colorado | $66,590 | $73,050 | $51,540 | $101,780 | 890 |
| Utah | $65,990 | $66,120 | $44,160 | $87,720 | 690 |
| Massachusetts | $65,490 | $70,100 | $48,160 | $94,800 | 2,250 |
| West Virginia | $63,750 | $62,810 | $29,440 | $102,790 | 60 |
| Minnesota | $63,440 | $68,600 | $49,820 | $93,650 | 1,060 |
| Georgia | $61,610 | $62,510 | $31,340 | $96,340 | 1,730 |
| Oregon | $61,520 | $65,210 | $48,060 | $80,430 | 1,220 |
| Wisconsin | $61,000 | $61,030 | $38,000 | $83,680 | 1,190 |
| Vermont | $60,210 | $77,100 | $49,210 | $108,130 | 80 |
| Alaska | $59,280 | $61,250 | $30,580 | $98,270 | 100 |
| New Mexico | $59,010 | $61,620 | $29,630 | $94,660 | 460 |
| Ohio | $57,850 | $59,100 | $36,700 | $81,730 | 1,670 |
| Connecticut | $57,700 | $66,780 | $36,030 | $103,910 | 220 |
| Wyoming | $57,700 | $51,400 | $30,280 | $67,190 | 30 |
| Idaho | $56,340 | $60,380 | $39,950 | $89,440 | 300 |
| Maine | $54,890 | $58,380 | $47,150 | $61,270 | 130 |
| New Hampshire | $54,650 | $55,960 | $36,190 | $69,010 | 50 |
| Illinois | $53,870 | $57,940 | $36,120 | $93,600 | 1,860 |
| Kentucky | $53,820 | $57,720 | $36,180 | $86,300 | 570 |
| Michigan | $52,240 | $55,240 | $36,600 | $80,470 | 540 |
| Missouri | $52,080 | $61,200 | $37,590 | $98,230 | 400 |
| Arkansas | $50,880 | $55,270 | $31,640 | $77,200 | 230 |
| North Carolina | $50,830 | $64,280 | $33,750 | $121,800 | 1,800 |
| Iowa | $50,110 | $52,830 | $39,330 | $68,030 | 510 |
| Delaware | $49,790 | $53,000 | $34,180 | $74,100 | 90 |
| South Dakota | $49,630 | $53,110 | $35,000 | $66,310 | 230 |
| Tennessee | $49,270 | $52,610 | $31,800 | $75,550 | 710 |
| Nebraska | $49,070 | $54,270 | $37,820 | $83,370 | 570 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,010 | $56,530 | $36,680 | $91,220 | 1,050 |
| Arizona | $48,200 | $56,560 | $35,770 | $95,910 | 2,040 |
| Nevada | $47,890 | $49,110 | $35,630 | $66,700 | 450 |
| Kansas | $47,830 | $51,830 | $31,310 | $82,330 | 440 |
| Hawaii | $47,580 | $67,410 | $31,620 | $139,230 | 70 |
| Indiana | $47,470 | $54,550 | $37,130 | $78,010 | 990 |
| South Carolina | $47,060 | $48,000 | $32,150 | $65,260 | 440 |
| Oklahoma | $46,640 | $50,600 | $28,180 | $83,980 | 330 |
| Florida | $46,320 | $54,790 | $31,340 | $86,140 | 4,500 |
| Montana | $46,240 | $55,230 | $31,310 | $89,290 | 60 |
| North Dakota | $46,150 | $47,800 | $37,190 | $77,930 | — |
| Alabama | $45,760 | $49,680 | $30,610 | $74,840 | 360 |
| Texas | $45,610 | $53,700 | $28,710 | $84,030 | 5,820 |
| New Jersey | $45,120 | $61,900 | $31,470 | $114,020 | 1,090 |
| Louisiana | $45,060 | $46,530 | $27,280 | $76,390 | 150 |
| Mississippi | $43,410 | $50,040 | $26,220 | $79,720 | — |
Recruiters and job boards use several alternate titles for interpreters and translators. Knowing these variants widens your job search — listings for American Sign Language Interpreter (ASL Interpreter) or Arabic Translator frequently describe the same role. The list below is a sample of the most common industry variants.
This data helps you understand how Interpreters and Translators compares to others in the 27 category. Use it to make informed decisions based on verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0.
careers with the closest data values to Interpreters and Translators
The CertifyWize editorial team aggregates and verifies careers data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.
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