Translation and Interpretation Services — Average Employee Salary

The average employee in the translation and interpretation services industry earns $59,512 per year ($28.61/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.

$59,512
Avg Annual Pay
37,996
Total Employees
5,072
Total Establishments
7
Avg Employees/Business

What Do Translation and Interpretation Workers Earn?

At $59,512/year (equivalent to $28.61/hour for a full-time worker), translation and interpretation services wages are near the national average of ~$65,000.

The typical translation and interpretation services business employs 7 people. These are mid-sized operations where payroll is a significant but manageable expense.

Wages as a Percentage of Revenue

32.7%

For the average translation and interpretation services business generating $1.3M/year with 7 employees at $59,512 each, total payroll represents roughly 32.7% of revenue. Labor is a significant cost but leaves room for other expenses and profit.

What This Means for Business Owners

If you're starting or running a translation and interpretation servicesbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:

  • Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $77,366/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
  • Typical team size: 7 employees = ~$416,584/year in base payroll.
  • Hourly equivalent: $28.61/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
  • Revenue needed: With average revenue of $1.3M/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.

See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.

View full Translation and Interpretation Services revenue benchmarks →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do translation and interpretation services employees make?
The average translation and interpretation services employee earns $59,512 per year, which is equivalent to $28.61/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is below the national average of approximately $65,000.
How many people work in the translation and interpretation services industry?
The translation and interpretation services industry employs 37,996 workers across 5,072 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 7 employees.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).