Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Translator & Interpreter salary in New York
$84,090
Median annual
$40.43
Median hourly
$86,550
Mean annual
3,240
Employed
The median annual wage for interpreters and translators in New York was $84,090 in May 2025, with an average of $86,550. About 3,240 people work in this occupation there.
That is 40% above the national median of $60,170. Compared with all occupations in New York (median $59,670), translators earn 41% more.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $48,930, while the top 10% earned more than $127,350. Many translators are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,930 | $23.52 |
| 25th | $56,010 | $26.93 |
| Median | $84,090 | $40.43 |
| 75th | $107,800 | $51.83 |
| 90th | $127,350 | $61.22 |
Metro areas in New York
| Metro area | Median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $87,590 | 2,520 |
| Rochester, NY | $77,770 | 450 |
| Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $77,120 | — |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $69,470 | 150 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $47,940 | 150 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.