Interpreter and Translator Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Interpreters and Translators in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $69,460 a year — 15% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $54,447 take-home, or $4,537 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median interpreter and translator salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,451
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,307
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,007
- California income tax$2,345
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$903
- Take-home pay$54,447
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Interpreter and Translator pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,000 | $24.52 | $41,386 | $3,449 |
| 25th percentile | $60,890 | $29.27 | $48,611 | $4,051 |
| Median (50th) | $69,460 | $33.39 | $54,447 | $4,537 |
| 75th percentile | $98,520 | $47.37 | $71,925 | $5,994 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $124,810 | $60.00 | $87,573 | $7,298 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $69,460 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median interpreter and translator's $54,447 take-home pay has the buying power of $47,943 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Interpreter and Translator jobs are less concentrated in Los Angeles, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.71), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for interpreters and translators, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #17 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 |
| 17 | Los Angeles, CA | $69,460 | $54,447 | $47,943 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 29 metros →
Interpreter and Translator salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $83,680
- Riverside, CA — $74,310
- Salinas, CA — $62,720
Frequently asked questions
How much does a interpreter and translator make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median interpreter and translator salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $69,460 a year, or about $33.39 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $60,890 and $98,520.
What is a interpreter and translator’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $69,460 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $54,447 a year ($4,537 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,248 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a interpreter and translator?
Pay here is 15% above the national median of $60,170. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $47,943 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #17 of 29 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a interpreter and translator afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median interpreter and translator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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