Translator & Interpreter salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
In Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, a typical translator earned $59,660 a year in May 2025 (median), with an average of $61,310. About 1,070 people work in this occupation there.
That is roughly in line with the national median. Compared with all occupations in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (median $54,720), translators earn 9% 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 $39,290, while the top 10% earned more than $86,220. Many translators are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,290 | $18.89 |
| 25th | $45,800 | $22.02 |
| Median | $59,660 | $28.68 |
| 75th | $75,750 | $36.42 |
| 90th | $86,220 | $41.45 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.