Translator & Interpreter salary in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
The median annual wage for interpreters and translators in New Orleans-Metairie, LA was $49,270 in May 2025, with an average of $53,400. About 50 people work in this occupation there.
That is 18% below the national median of $60,170. Compared with all occupations in New Orleans-Metairie, LA (median $47,290), translators earn 4% more. Its location quotient of 0.33 means the job is less common here than nationally.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $30,320, while the top 10% earned more than $79,040. Many translators are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30,320 | $14.58 |
| 25th | $48,010 | $23.08 |
| Median | $49,270 | $23.69 |
| 75th | $57,430 | $27.61 |
| 90th | $79,040 | $38.00 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.