Interpreters and Translators salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Interpreters and Translators in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median of $73,690 a year ($35.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 360 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $124,060 for the top 10%. That is 22% higher than the national median of $60,170. Pay here is 4% higher than the California statewide median of $70,770. There are 0.24 interpreters and translators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.71). The average (mean) salary is $79,960, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for interpreters and translators in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,780 | $22.97 |
| 25th percentile | $52,140 | $25.07 |
| Median | $73,690 | $35.43 |
| 75th percentile | $102,600 | $49.33 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $124,060 | $59.65 |
| Average (mean) | $79,960 | $38.44 |
Half of interpreters and translators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,140.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,070.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,834.23 |
| Weekly | $1,417.12 |
| Hourly | $35.43 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $73,690 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Interpreters and Translators salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $101,530 | 300 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $84,960 | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $83,680 | 760 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $82,440 | 70 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $75,920 | 70 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $74,310 | 450 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $69,460 | 1,480 |
| Fresno, CA | $68,050 | 110 |
| Visalia, CA | $66,000 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $64,360 | 430 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $63,900 | 50 |
| Salinas, CA | $62,720 | 560 |
| Modesto, CA | $60,530 | 40 |
| Merced, CA | $52,710 | 30 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $50,480 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for interpreters and translators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $109,970 |
| Maryland | $88,550 |
| New York | $84,090 |
| Rhode Island | $82,320 |
| Massachusetts | $72,750 |
| Colorado | $71,790 |
| California | $70,770 |
| Connecticut | $68,340 |
| Minnesota | $66,410 |
| Oregon | $66,300 |
See Interpreters and Translators pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist | $81,240 | $39.06 |
| Editor | $78,870 | $37.92 |
| Technical Writer | $101,750 | $48.92 |
| Writers and Authors | $82,590 | $39.71 |
| Media and Communication Workers, All Other | $85,180 | $40.95 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $63,810 | $30.68 |
| Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners | $123,230 | $59.24 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $47,230 | — |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $44,420 | $21.36 |
| Producers and Directors | $99,520 | $47.85 |
| Interior Designer | $80,640 | $38.77 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $59,470 | $28.59 |
| Art Director | $126,050 | $60.60 |
| Photographer | $44,030 | $21.17 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-3091. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a interpreters and translators make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median salary for interpreters and translators in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $73,690 a year, or $35.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $124,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid interpreters and translators make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The top 10% of interpreters and translators in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn at least $124,060 a year. The top 25% earn $102,600 or more.
What is the starting pay for interpreters and translators in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,780 a year, and a quarter of interpreters and translators earn $52,140 or less.
How many interpreters and translators work in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
About 360 interpreters and translators are employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.