Interpreters and Translators Salary in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
Interpreters and Translators in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX make a median of $38,940 a year, or about $18.72 an hour. The range runs from $26K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 85.89), which stretches that salary to about $45,337 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,060/month — about 37.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $39K get you in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by McAllen-Edinburg-Mission’s Regional Price Parity (85.89). 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
Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
Entry-level interpreters and translators (10th percentile) start around $26K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $47K spread from bottom to top.
Interpreters and Translators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $85K | +42% | 3,650 |
| District of Columbia | $81K | +37% | 160 |
| Maryland | $78K | +32% | 870 |
| Virginia | $74K | +25% | 2,610 |
| California | $74K | +24% | 6,710 |
| Washington | $70K | +17% | 1,620 |
| Utah | $66K | +11% | 690 |
| Massachusetts | $65K | +10% | 2,250 |
| West Virginia | $64K | +7% | 60 |
| Minnesota | $63K | +7% | 1,060 |
| Georgia | $62K | +4% | 1,730 |
| Oregon | $62K | +3% | 1,220 |
| Wisconsin | $61K | +3% | 1,190 |
| Vermont | $60K | +1% | 80 |
| Alaska | $59K | -0% | 100 |
| New Mexico | $59K | -1% | 460 |
| Ohio | $58K | -3% | 1,670 |
| Wyoming | $58K | -3% | 30 |
| Connecticut | $58K | -3% | 220 |
| Idaho | $56K | -5% | 300 |
| Maine | $55K | -8% | 130 |
| New Hampshire | $55K | -8% | 50 |
| Illinois | $54K | -9% | 1,860 |
| Kentucky | $54K | -9% | 570 |
| Michigan | $52K | -12% | 540 |
| Missouri | $52K | -12% | 400 |
| Arkansas | $51K | -14% | 230 |
| North Carolina | $51K | -14% | 1,800 |
| Iowa | $50K | -16% | 510 |
| Delaware | $50K | -16% | 90 |
| South Dakota | $50K | -17% | 230 |
| Tennessee | $49K | -17% | 710 |
| Nebraska | $49K | -17% | 570 |
| Pennsylvania | $49K | -18% | 1,050 |
| Arizona | $48K | -19% | 2,040 |
| Nevada | $48K | -19% | 450 |
| Kansas | $48K | -20% | 440 |
| Hawaii | $48K | -20% | 70 |
| Indiana | $47K | -20% | 990 |
| South Carolina | $47K | -21% | 440 |
| Oklahoma | $47K | -22% | 330 |
| Florida | $46K | -22% | 4,500 |
| Montana | $46K | -22% | 60 |
| North Dakota | $46K | -22% | N/A |
| Alabama | $46K | -23% | 360 |
| Texas | $46K | -23% | 5,820 |
| New Jersey | $45K | -24% | 1,090 |
| Louisiana | $45K | -24% | 150 |
| Mississippi | $43K | -27% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states
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 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
How much do interpreters and translators make in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX?
The median is $38,940 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $25,910, and experienced interpreters and translators can clear $73,160. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,777/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,060/month, which eats 38.2% 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 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission?
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission has a Regional Price Parity of 85.89 (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 $45,337 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.