Translation and Interpretation Services Revenue Benchmarks
The average translation and interpretation services business in the United States generates $1.3M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 2,709 translation and interpretation services businesses in the U.S., employing 37,377 workers with an average profit margin of 22.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $60K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Translation and Interpretation Business Actually Do?
Businesses providing written translation (documents, marketing) or spoken interpretation (meetings, courts, medical settings). Certified translation is required for legal, immigration, and academic documents.
Who buys: Businesses expanding internationally, courts and legal firms, hospitals, immigration applicants.
Average Revenue
$1.3M
per year
Profit Margin
22.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$92K
per year
Total Businesses
2,709
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$281K
small business avg
Labor Cost
50.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$60K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
0.8
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Translation and Interpretation Services Charge?
Translation is priced per word; interpretation is priced per hour.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
General translation | $0.08–0.20 per word |
Specialized (legal/medical) | $0.15–0.40 per word |
Certified translation | $25–50 per page |
Interpretation (simultaneous) | $100–250/hour |
Interpretation (consecutive) | $60–150/hour |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete translation and interpretation business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a translation and interpretation services business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the translation and interpretation services industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Client-related expenses | $4 | $54K | Software licenses, subscriptions, printing, filing fees, travel billed to clients. |
Wages & benefits | $50 | $638K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $71K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $4 | $54K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $14 | $179K | Professional liability insurance, continuing education, tech, admin support. |
Net profit | $22 | $281K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
13.21%
openings/year
Closure Rate
10.38%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+2.16%
annual
Businesses Closed
5,672
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Translation and Interpretation Business?
Startup Cost
$10K – $75K
Break-Even
2 months
5-Year Survival Rate
60.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a translation and interpretation services business do?
- Businesses providing written translation (documents, marketing) or spoken interpretation (meetings, courts, medical settings). Certified translation is required for legal, immigration, and academic documents. Businesses expanding internationally, courts and legal firms, hospitals, immigration applicants.
- How much do translation and interpretation services charge?
- Translation is priced per word; interpretation is priced per hour. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average translation and interpretation services make per year?
- The average translation and interpretation services business generates $1.3M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $281K per year at a 22.0% profit margin.
- How many translation and interpretation services businesses are there in the US?
- There are 2,709 translation and interpretation services businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 37,377 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a translation and interpretation services business?
- Startup costs for a translation and interpretation services business typically range from $10K to $75K, with a 5-year survival rate of 60.0%.
- What is the average salary in the translation and interpretation services industry?
- The average employee in the translation and interpretation services industry earns $60K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The translation and interpretation services industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 2.2% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (13.2% entry vs 10.4% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 58% of translation and interpretation services businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 5,672 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the translation and interpretation services industry earns $59,512/year. This is near the national average of ~$65K. With 5,072 establishments employing 37,996 people, the typical business has about 7 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The translation and interpretation services industry has grown 23% since 2000 (from 47,380 to 58,460 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Translation and Interpretation Services revenue with other industries: