Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Translator & Interpreter salary in Tennessee
$51,080
Median annual
$24.56
Median hourly
$53,590
Mean annual
710
Employed
In Tennessee, a typical translator earned $51,080 a year in May 2025 (median), with an average of $53,590. About 710 people work in this occupation there.
That is 15% below the national median of $60,170. Compared with all occupations in Tennessee (median $47,380), translators earn 8% more. Its location quotient of 0.65 means the job is less common here than nationally.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $32,280, while the top 10% earned more than $78,480. Many translators are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $32,280 | $15.52 |
| 25th | $39,080 | $18.79 |
| Median | $51,080 | $24.56 |
| 75th | $64,770 | $31.14 |
| 90th | $78,480 | $37.73 |
Metro areas in Tennessee
| Metro area | Median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $66,720 | 70 |
| Knoxville, TN | $64,770 | 140 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $52,970 | 100 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $49,840 | 290 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.