Interpreter and Translator Salary in Seattle, WA
Interpreters and Translators in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $65,800 a year — 9% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $55,050 take-home, or $4,588 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median interpreter and translator salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,716
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,080
- Medicare (1.45%)$954
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$55,050
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Interpreter and Translator pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,680 | $22.92 | $40,491 | $3,374 |
| 25th percentile | $49,680 | $23.88 | $42,098 | $3,508 |
| Median (50th) | $65,800 | $31.63 | $55,050 | $4,588 |
| 75th percentile | $82,990 | $39.90 | $67,213 | $5,601 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $104,270 | $50.13 | $82,184 | $6,849 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $65,800 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median interpreter and translator's $55,050 take-home pay has the buying power of $49,536 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 Seattle, WA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.99).
Best-paying cities for interpreters and translators, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #14 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 |
| 14 | Seattle, WA | $65,800 | $55,050 | $49,536 |
*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 Seattle, WA?
The median interpreter and translator salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $65,800 a year, or about $31.63 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,680 and $82,990.
What is a interpreter and translator’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $65,800 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $55,050 a year ($4,588 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a interpreter and translator?
Pay here is 9% above the national median of $60,170. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $49,536 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #14 of 29 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a interpreter and translator afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median interpreter and translator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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