Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Translator & Interpreter salary in Kentucky
$53,590
Median annual
$25.77
Median hourly
$58,930
Mean annual
480
Employed
In Kentucky, a typical translator earned $53,590 a year in May 2025 (median), with an average of $58,930. About 480 people work in this occupation there.
That is 11% below the national median of $60,170. Compared with all occupations in Kentucky (median $46,920), translators earn 14% more. Its location quotient of 0.71 means the job is less common here than nationally.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $35,160, while the top 10% earned more than $81,800. Many translators are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,160 | $16.91 |
| 25th | $44,070 | $21.19 |
| Median | $53,590 | $25.77 |
| 75th | $73,170 | $35.18 |
| 90th | $81,800 | $39.33 |
Metro areas in Kentucky
| Metro area | Median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $68,150 | 60 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $66,320 | 120 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $53,590 | 170 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.