Interpreter and Translator Salary in San Francisco, CA
Interpreters and Translators in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $83,680 a year — 39% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $63,058 take-home, or $5,255 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median interpreter and translator salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,580
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,188
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,213
- California income tax$3,553
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,088
- Take-home pay$63,058
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Interpreter and Translator pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,960 | $27.87 | $46,470 | $3,873 |
| 25th percentile | $75,180 | $36.14 | $57,940 | $4,828 |
| Median (50th) | $83,680 | $40.23 | $63,058 | $5,255 |
| 75th percentile | $103,340 | $49.68 | $74,805 | $6,234 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $120,240 | $57.81 | $84,903 | $7,075 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $83,680 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median interpreter and translator's $63,058 take-home pay has the buying power of $54,543 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 about as common in San Francisco, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.95).
Best-paying cities for interpreters and translators, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #5 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 →
Interpreter and Translator salaries elsewhere in California
- Riverside, CA — $74,310
- Los Angeles, CA — $69,460
- Salinas, CA — $62,720
Frequently asked questions
How much does a interpreter and translator make in San Francisco, CA?
The median interpreter and translator salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $83,680 a year, or about $40.23 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $75,180 and $103,340.
What is a interpreter and translator’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $83,680 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $63,058 a year ($5,255 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,640 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a interpreter and translator?
Pay here is 39% above the national median of $60,170. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $54,543 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #5 of 29 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a interpreter and translator afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 50% of a median interpreter and translator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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