Interpreters and Translators · Illinois

Interpreters and Translators Salary in Illinois

Interpreters and Translators in Illinois earn a median annual wage of $55,290 —8.1% below the national median of $60,170. That ranks IL #26 of 47 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$55,290
Median hourly
$26.58
Entry level (P10)
$37,990
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$82,370
90th percentile
Employment
1,510
0.2 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-8.1%
U.S. $60,170

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$37,990
$42,760
$55,290
$69,010
$37,990$55,290$82,370
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $55,290.

Employment is only 0.74× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in Illinois.

Highest-paying states for interpreters and translators

All 47 states ranked by median annual wage. Illinois is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1District of Columbia$109,970$52.872801.19
2Maryland$88,550$42.571,1501.24
3New York$84,090$40.433,2401.00
4Rhode Island$82,320$39.582001.22
5Massachusetts$72,750$34.982,2801.87
6Colorado$71,790$34.518000.83
7California$70,770$34.025,5600.91
8Connecticut$68,340$32.852800.49
9Minnesota$66,410$31.931,0301.04
10Oregon$66,300$31.886601.00

Related occupations in Illinois

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Illinois.

OccupationIllinois medianU.S. median
Public Relations Specialists$76,380$74,750
Coaches and Scouts$49,120$47,320
Graphic Designers$62,560$62,960
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$40,270$39,390
Producers and Directors$81,080$90,360
Editors$76,060$77,920

Frequently asked questions

How much do interpreters and translators make in Illinois?

The median annual wage for interpreters and translators in Illinois is $55,290, or $26.58 per hour. That is 8.1% below the national median of $60,170.

What is the entry-level interpreters and translators salary in Illinois?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $37,990 per year ($18.26/hour). The 25th percentile is $42,760.

How many people work as interpreters and translators in Illinois?

About 1,510 people work in this occupation in Illinois, or 0.2 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Illinois a good state for interpreters and translators?

Illinois ranks #26 of 47 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.74x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in Illinois.

Which state pays interpreters and translators the most?

District of Columbia has the highest median wage at $109,970 per year, followed by Maryland ($88,550) and New York ($84,090).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes