Interpreters and Translators Salary
Interpreters and Translators in Texas make a median of $47,510 a year, or about $22.84 an hour. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $89K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $51,929 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,415/month, about 41.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $48K get you in Texas?
About interpreters and translators
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What this looks like in Texas
Pay for interpreters and translators in Texas runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $60K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,415/month, which is 42.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Texas
Entry-level interpreters and translators (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $89K or more, a $58K spread from bottom to top.
Interpreters and Translators salary by metro in Texas
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $63K | +32% | 600 |
| Corpus Christi | $61K | +28% | 40 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $57K | +20% | 1,280 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $52K | +9% | 380 |
| Lubbock | $50K | +6% | 60 |
| Tyler | $45K | -6% | 30 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $44K | -6% | 2,530 |
| El Paso | $44K | -8% | 530 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Texas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a interpreters and translator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Texas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 42.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/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 Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new interpreters and translators typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,890/month. At HUD’s $1,415/month FMR, rent would take 75% 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 Texas?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $48K here vs. $60K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Texas compare to the national average for interpreters and translators?
Texas pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — below the national median.
How much do interpreters and translators make in Texas?
The median is $47,510 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,500, and experienced interpreters and translators can clear $89,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,351/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 42.2% 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 Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (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 $51,929 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.