Interpreters and Translators Salary
Interpreters and Translators in Virginia make a median of $63,030 a year, or about $30.3 an hour. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $123K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $66,494 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,646/month, about 39.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $63K get you in Virginia?
About interpreters and translators
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What this looks like in Virginia
Interpreters and translators pay in Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $63K locally vs. $60K nationwide, a 5% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,646/month, which is 39.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Virginia
Entry-level interpreters and translators (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $123K or more, a $80K spread from bottom to top.
Interpreters and Translators salary by metro in Virginia
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $78K | +24% | 140 |
| Charlottesville | $66K | +5% | 40 |
| Roanoke | $55K | -13% | 40 |
| Harrisonburg | $41K | -36% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track interpreters and translators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a interpreters and translator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 39.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new interpreters and translators typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,590/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 64% 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 Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $63K locally vs. $60K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for interpreters and translators?
Virginia pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do interpreters and translators make in Virginia?
The median is $63,030 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,160, and experienced interpreters and translators can clear $123,490. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,131/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 39.8% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $66,494 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.