Translator & Interpreter salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
In San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA, a typical translator earned $73,690 a year in May 2025 (median), with an average of $79,960. About 360 people work in this occupation there.
That is 22% above the national median of $60,170. Compared with all occupations in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (median $58,690), translators earn 26% 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 $47,780, while the top 10% earned more than $124,060. Many translators are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $47,780 | $22.97 |
| 25th | $52,140 | $25.07 |
| Median | $73,690 | $35.43 |
| 75th | $102,600 | $49.33 |
| 90th | $124,060 | $59.65 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.