Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Translator & Interpreter salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$82,440
Median annual
$39.63
Median hourly
$92,880
Mean annual
70
Employed
The median annual wage for interpreters and translators in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA was $82,440 in May 2025, with an average of $92,880. About 70 people work in this occupation there.
That is 37% above the national median of $60,170. Compared with all occupations in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA (median $51,690), translators earn 59% more.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $51,610, while the top 10% earned more than $142,960. Many translators are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $51,610 | $24.81 |
| 25th | $69,900 | $33.60 |
| Median | $82,440 | $39.63 |
| 75th | $114,050 | $54.83 |
| 90th | $142,960 | $68.73 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.