Interpreters and Translators Salary
Interpreters and Translators in Alabama make a median of $46,130 a year, or about $22.18 an hour. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $99K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.36), which stretches that salary to about $52,207 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,085/month, about 34.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alabama. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $46K get you in Alabama?
About interpreters and translators
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What this looks like in Alabama
Pay for interpreters and translators in Alabama runs about 23% below the U.S. median of $60K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,085/month, which is 35.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for interpreters and translatorss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alabama
Entry-level interpreters and translators (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $99K or more, a $66K spread from bottom to top.
Interpreters and Translators salary by metro in Alabama
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery | $46K | -1% | 30 |
| Birmingham | $41K | -10% | 100 |
| Huntsville | $40K | -12% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track interpreters and translators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a interpreters and translator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alabama?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 35.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for interpreters and translators in Alabama?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new interpreters and translators typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,983/month. At HUD’s $1,085/month FMR, rent would take 55% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is interpreters and translator a high-paying job in Alabama?
Local pay runs 23% below the national median — $46K here vs. $60K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Alabama compare to the national average for interpreters and translators?
Alabama pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — below the national median.
How much do interpreters and translators make in Alabama?
The median is $46,130 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,050, and experienced interpreters and translators can clear $98,660. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,080/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 35.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a interpreters and translators salary go in Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 88.36 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median interpreters and translators salary is worth about $52,207 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do interpreters and translators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.