Interpreters and Translators Salary
Interpreters and Translators in Lancaster, PA make a median of $78,890 a year, or about $37.93 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $96K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.26), that's roughly $80,287 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,526/month, or 28.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $79K get you in Lancaster?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lancaster’s Regional Price Parity (98.26). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About interpreters and translators
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What this looks like in Lancaster
Lancaster sits well above the national pay line for interpreters and translators, local pay runs about 31% higher than the U.S. median of $60K. Rent runs $1,526/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.26) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for interpreters and translators in metros near Lancaster, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $58K | $56K |
| Pittsburgh | $63K | $66K |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $54K | $55K |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $55K | $55K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lancaster, PA
Entry-level interpreters and translators (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $96K or more, a $56K spread from bottom to top.
Interpreters and Translators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Interpreters and Translators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $110K | +83% | 280 |
| Maryland | $89K | +47% | 1,150 |
| New York | $84K | +40% | 3,240 |
| Rhode Island | $82K | +37% | 200 |
| Massachusetts | $73K | +21% | 2,280 |
| Colorado | $72K | +19% | 800 |
| California | $71K | +18% | 5,560 |
| Connecticut | $68K | +14% | 280 |
| Minnesota | $66K | +10% | 1,030 |
| Oregon | $66K | +10% | 660 |
| Idaho | $66K | +10% | 300 |
| Utah | $66K | +9% | 850 |
| New Mexico | $64K | +6% | 360 |
| Maine | $63K | +5% | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $63K | +5% | 1,410 |
| Virginia | $63K | +5% | 1,630 |
| Vermont | $62K | +4% | 80 |
| Washington | $62K | +3% | 1,250 |
| Ohio | $61K | +2% | 2,030 |
| New Jersey | $59K | -2% | 870 |
| Georgia | $58K | -4% | 1,600 |
| Mississippi | $57K | -5% | 80 |
| Pennsylvania | $57K | -5% | 1,420 |
| Missouri | $57K | -5% | 440 |
| New Hampshire | $56K | -6% | 240 |
| Illinois | $55K | -8% | 1,510 |
| Kentucky | $54K | -11% | 480 |
| South Dakota | $53K | -12% | 230 |
| Nebraska | $53K | -12% | 570 |
| Arkansas | $52K | -13% | 220 |
| Tennessee | $51K | -15% | 710 |
| South Carolina | $51K | -15% | 520 |
| Nevada | $50K | -16% | 320 |
| Arizona | $50K | -17% | 2,070 |
| North Carolina | $50K | -17% | 1,780 |
| Oklahoma | $49K | -19% | 320 |
| Florida | $49K | -19% | 4,200 |
| Louisiana | $48K | -20% | 120 |
| North Dakota | $48K | -20% | 130 |
| Iowa | $48K | -20% | 560 |
| Indiana | $48K | -20% | 1,170 |
| Kansas | $48K | -20% | 470 |
| Montana | $48K | -20% | 60 |
| Texas | $48K | -21% | 6,780 |
| Alabama | $46K | -23% | 310 |
| Michigan | $45K | -25% | 940 |
| Hawaii | $42K | -30% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 47 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track interpreters and translators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Lancaster numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a interpreters and translator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lancaster?
Yes — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 29.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,526/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for interpreters and translators in Lancaster?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new interpreters and translators typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,382/month. At HUD’s $1,526/month FMR, rent would take 64% 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 Lancaster?
Local pay is 31% above the national median — $79K here vs. $60K nationally.
How does Lancaster compare to the national average for interpreters and translators?
Lancaster pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s +31%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.26), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do interpreters and translators make in Lancaster, PA?
The median is $78,890 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,700, and experienced interpreters and translators can clear $95,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Lancaster?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,122/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,526/month, which eats 29.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a interpreters and translators salary go in Lancaster?
Lancaster has a Regional Price Parity of 98.26 (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 $80,287 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.