Interpreters and Translators Salary
Interpreters and Translators in Tennessee make a median of $51,080 a year, or about $24.56 an hour. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $56,895 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 34.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $51K get you in Tennessee?
About interpreters and translators
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for interpreters and translators in Tennessee runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $60K. Rent runs $1,215/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level interpreters and translators (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $46K spread from bottom to top.
Interpreters and Translators salary by metro in Tennessee
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $67K | +31% | 70 |
| Knoxville | $65K | +27% | 140 |
| Chattanooga | $53K | +4% | 100 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $50K | -2% | 290 |
Compare to other states
Track interpreters and translators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a interpreters and translator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $51K, rent takes 33.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new interpreters and translators typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,937/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 63% 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 Tennessee?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $51K here vs. $60K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for interpreters and translators?
Tennessee pays $51K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $57K — below the national median.
How much do interpreters and translators make in Tennessee?
The median is $51,080 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,280, and experienced interpreters and translators can clear $78,480. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,590/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 33.8% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $56,895 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.