Interpreter and Translator Salary in Milwaukee, WI
Interpreters and Translators in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median $64,700 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $52,101 take-home, or $4,342 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median interpreter and translator salary in Milwaukee, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,584
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,011
- Medicare (1.45%)$938
- Wisconsin income tax$2,066
- Take-home pay$52,101
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Interpreter and Translator pay by experience in Milwaukee, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,950 | $22.09 | $37,860 | $3,155 |
| 25th percentile | $55,810 | $26.83 | $45,349 | $3,779 |
| Median (50th) | $64,700 | $31.11 | $52,101 | $4,342 |
| 75th percentile | $78,170 | $37.58 | $61,060 | $5,088 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,730 | $39.77 | $64,026 | $5,336 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $64,700 buys in Milwaukee, WI
Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 3.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 3% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median interpreter and translator's $52,101 take-home pay has the buying power of $53,747 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Milwaukee, WI 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
Milwaukee, WI ranks #8 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 |
*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 Milwaukee, WI?
The median interpreter and translator salary in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $64,700 a year, or about $31.11 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $55,810 and $78,170.
What is a interpreter and translator’s take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI?
On the median $64,700 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $52,101 a year ($4,342 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,066 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Milwaukee, WI a good place to work as a interpreter and translator?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $60,170. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $53,747 would in a typical U.S. city. Milwaukee, WI ranks #8 of 29 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a interpreter and translator afford rent in Milwaukee, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Milwaukee, WI is $1,119 a month ($1,338 for two bedrooms) — 26% of a median interpreter and translator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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