Interpreters and Translators pay range in Detroit
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $78,200 or more. The middle half of interpreters and translators in Detroit earn between $35,990 and $52,310.
- $36K10th
- $36K25th
- $36KMedian
- $52K75th
- $78K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $47,630 | $3,969 | $22.90 |
| Median | $35,990 | $2,999 | $17.30 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,990 | $2,999 | $17.30 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $52,310 | $4,359 | $25.15 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Interpreters and Translators pay in Detroit vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Interpreters and translators in Detroit earn 12% less than the Michigan average ($54,040) and 28% less than the U.S. average ($66,360). At the median the gap is -40% against the U.S. median of $60,170.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | $47,630 | $35,990 | $35,990 | $78,200 | 580 |
| Michigan | $54,040 | $45,310 | $35,990 | $88,630 | 940 |
| United States | $66,360 | $60,170 | $37,070 | $103,660 | 52,060 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Interpreters and Translators salary after taxes in Detroit
On the average salary of $47,630, a single filer in Detroit takes home about $37,669 a year, or $3,139 a month and $1,449 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Is Detroit a good place for interpreters and translators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Detroit area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.3), so the average $47,630 buys what about $47,488 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Detroit ($52,080). A typical home costs $269,080, or 5.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Interpreters and Translators salary in other Michigan cities
Detroit ranks 3rd of 3 Michigan metro areas for this job; Kalamazoo pays the most ($53,980).
- Kalamazoo$53,980
- Grand Rapids$53,190
- Detroit$47,630
Highest-paying cities for interpreters and translators
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($93,650).
- San Jose, CA$93,650
- Washington, DC$93,460
- Santa Maria, CA$92,880
- New York, NY$91,110
- San Francisco, CA$90,940
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Interpreters and Translators salary in Detroit: questions
How much do interpreters and translators make an hour in Detroit?
$22.90 an hour on average, and $17.30 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level interpreters and translators salary in Detroit?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,990, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the interpreters and translators take-home pay in Detroit?
About $37,669 a year ($3,139 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $47,630. Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Do interpreters and translators earn more in Detroit than elsewhere?
The average here is 28% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,360).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-3091; area Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI (19820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 21.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.91, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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