How Much Does a Sign Language Interpreter Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$60,170
Sign language interpreters in the U.S. earn a median of $60,170 a year, or $28.93 an hour. Half of sign language interpreters earn more than $60,170 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $103,660.
Pay percentiles for sign language interpreters
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $17.82 | $37,070 |
| 25th | $22.37 | $46,530 |
| 50th (median) | $28.93 | $60,170 |
| 75th | $38.86 | $80,830 |
| 90th | $49.84 | $103,660 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Interpreters and Translators (SOC 27-3091). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for sign language interpreters
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $109,970 | $52.87 | +83% |
| Maryland | $88,550 | $42.57 | +47% |
| New York | $84,090 | $40.43 | +40% |
| Rhode Island | $82,320 | $39.58 | +37% |
| Massachusetts | $72,750 | $34.98 | +21% |
| Colorado | $71,790 | $34.51 | +19% |
| California | $70,770 | $34.02 | +18% |
| Connecticut | $68,340 | $32.85 | +14% |
| Minnesota | $66,410 | $31.93 | +10% |
| Oregon | $66,300 | $31.88 | +10% |
| United States | $60,170 | $28.93 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many sign language interpreters are there?
BLS counts about 52,060 sign language interpreters employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Interpreters and Translators”. The most jobs are in Texas (6,780), California (5,560) and Florida (4,200).
The mean (average) annual wage is $66,360, higher than the median of $60,170.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $5,014
- Biweekly
- $2,314
- Weekly
- $1,157
- Daily (8 hours)
- $231
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do sign language interpreters make an hour?
The median hourly wage for sign language interpreters is $28.93. The middle 50% earn between $22.37 and $38.86 an hour.
Which state pays sign language interpreters the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage for sign language interpreters at $109,970, +83% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for sign language interpreters?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of sign language interpreters earn less than $37,070 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.