Interpreters and Translators Salary
Interpreters and Translators in North Carolina make a median of $50,030 a year, or about $24.05 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $101K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $53,993 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 38.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $50K get you in North Carolina?
About interpreters and translators
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Pay for interpreters and translators in North Carolina runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $60K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,284/month, which is 38.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, North Carolina
Entry-level interpreters and translators (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $101K or more, a $67K spread from bottom to top.
Interpreters and Translators salary by metro in North Carolina
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $54K | +8% | 60 |
| Greenville | $53K | +6% | 50 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $53K | +5% | 390 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $52K | +4% | 140 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $51K | +2% | 190 |
| Winston-Salem | $49K | -1% | 100 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $43K | -13% | 130 |
| Asheville | $42K | -17% | 80 |
| Burlington | $39K | -23% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track interpreters and translators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a interpreters and translator afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $50K, rent takes 38.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/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 North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new interpreters and translators typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,071/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 62% 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 North Carolina?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $50K here vs. $60K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for interpreters and translators?
North Carolina pays $50K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $54K — below the national median.
How much do interpreters and translators make in North Carolina?
The median is $50,030 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,510, and experienced interpreters and translators can clear $101,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,332/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 38.5% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $53,993 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.