Translator & Interpreter salary in Columbia, SC
The median annual wage for interpreters and translators in Columbia, SC was $52,200 in May 2025, with an average of $54,180. About 170 people work in this occupation there.
That is 13% below the national median of $60,170. Compared with all occupations in Columbia, SC (median $46,430), translators earn 12% more. With a location quotient of 1.26, the occupation is more concentrated here than in the US as a whole.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $41,340, while the top 10% earned more than $70,860. Many translators are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $41,340 | $19.87 |
| 25th | $49,810 | $23.95 |
| Median | $52,200 | $25.09 |
| 75th | $52,200 | $25.09 |
| 90th | $70,860 | $34.07 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.