Translator & Interpreter salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
The median annual wage for interpreters and translators in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA was $48,360 in May 2025, with an average of $44,890. About 60 people work in this occupation there.
That is 20% below the national median of $60,170. Compared with all occupations in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA (median $47,430), translators earn 2% more. With a location quotient of 1.97, the occupation is more concentrated here than in the US as a whole.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $35,050, while the top 10% earned more than $53,080. Many translators are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,050 | $16.85 |
| 25th | $38,080 | $18.31 |
| Median | $48,360 | $23.25 |
| 75th | $48,360 | $23.25 |
| 90th | $53,080 | $25.52 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.