Interpreters and Translators Salary
Interpreters and Translators in Montana make a median of $47,850 a year, or about $23.01 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $49,330 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,129/month, about 34.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Montana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $48K get you in Montana?
About interpreters and translators
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What this looks like in Montana
Pay for interpreters and translators in Montana runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $60K. Rent runs $1,129/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97) 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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level interpreters and translators (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track interpreters and translators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a interpreters and translator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 34.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new interpreters and translators typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,311/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 49% 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 Montana?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $48K here vs. $60K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for interpreters and translators?
Montana pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $49K — below the national median.
How much do interpreters and translators make in Montana?
The median is $47,850 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,520, and experienced interpreters and translators can clear $60,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,231/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 34.9% 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 Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 97 (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 $49,330 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.