Translator & Interpreter salary in Madison, WI
In Madison, WI, a typical translator earned $72,720 a year in May 2025 (median), with an average of $72,610. About 220 people work in this occupation there.
That is 21% above the national median of $60,170. Compared with all occupations in Madison, WI (median $58,080), translators earn 25% more. With a location quotient of 1.61, the occupation is more concentrated here than in the US as a whole.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $46,020, while the top 10% earned more than $97,550. Many translators are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $46,020 | $22.13 |
| 25th | $59,440 | $28.58 |
| Median | $72,720 | $34.96 |
| 75th | $87,460 | $42.05 |
| 90th | $97,550 | $46.90 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.