Interpreter and Translator Salary in Boston, MA
Interpreters and Translators in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $75,120 a year — 25% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $58,141 take-home, or $4,845 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median interpreter and translator salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,696
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,657
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,089
- Massachusetts income tax$3,536
- Take-home pay$58,141
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Interpreter and Translator pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,700 | $25.34 | $42,109 | $3,509 |
| 25th percentile | $61,000 | $29.33 | $48,364 | $4,030 |
| Median (50th) | $75,120 | $36.12 | $58,141 | $4,845 |
| 75th percentile | $97,950 | $47.09 | $73,060 | $6,088 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $132,330 | $63.62 | $95,317 | $7,943 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $75,120 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median interpreter and translator's $58,141 take-home pay has the buying power of $53,702 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Boston, MA has 1.8× the national concentration of interpreter and translator jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for interpreters and translators, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #9 of 29 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $94,510 | $70,253 | $64,521 |
| 2 | Rochester, NY | $77,770 | $59,939 | $61,770 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $87,590 | $66,317 | $58,915 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $74,850 | $58,902 | $55,682 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $83,680 | $63,058 | $54,543 |
| 6 | Riverside, CA | $74,310 | $57,408 | $53,934 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $62,900 | $52,720 | $53,760 |
| 8 | Milwaukee, WI | $64,700 | $52,101 | $53,747 |
| 9 | Boston, MA | $75,120 | $58,141 | $53,702 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 29 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a interpreter and translator make in Boston, MA?
The median interpreter and translator salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $75,120 a year, or about $36.12 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $61,000 and $97,950.
What is a interpreter and translator’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $75,120 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $58,141 a year ($4,845 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,536 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a interpreter and translator?
Pay here is 25% above the national median of $60,170. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $53,702 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #9 of 29 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a interpreter and translator afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median interpreter and translator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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