Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Translator & Interpreter salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
$55,400
Median annual
$26.63
Median hourly
$55,750
Mean annual
120
Employed
In Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, a typical translator earned $55,400 a year in May 2025 (median), with an average of $55,750. About 120 people work in this occupation there.
That is 8% below the national median of $60,170. Compared with all occupations in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA (median $51,820), translators earn 7% more.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $36,850, while the top 10% earned more than $75,260. Many translators are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,850 | $17.72 |
| 25th | $47,830 | $23.00 |
| Median | $55,400 | $26.63 |
| 75th | $63,590 | $30.57 |
| 90th | $75,260 | $36.19 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.