Translator & Interpreter salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
In Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, a typical translator earned $94,510 a year in May 2025 (median), with an average of $93,460. About 1,630 people work in this occupation there.
That is 57% above the national median of $60,170. Compared with all occupations in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (median $71,060), translators earn 33% more. With a location quotient of 1.55, the occupation is more concentrated here than in the US as a whole.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $56,920, while the top 10% earned more than $136,150. Many translators are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $56,920 | $27.37 |
| 25th | $62,810 | $30.20 |
| Median | $94,510 | $45.44 |
| 75th | $118,400 | $56.92 |
| 90th | $136,150 | $65.46 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.