Interpreters and Translators pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,900 a year or less, while the top 10% make $84,960 or more. The middle half of interpreters and translators in Durham earn between $44,980 and $61,670.
- $39K10th
- $45K25th
- $52KMedian
- $62K75th
- $85K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $57,680 | $4,807 | $27.73 |
| Median | $51,990 | $4,332 | $25.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,980 | $3,748 | $21.62 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,670 | $5,139 | $29.65 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Interpreters and Translators pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Interpreters and translators in Durham earn 4% less than the North Carolina average ($59,890) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($66,360). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $60,170.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $57,680 | $51,990 | $38,900 | $84,960 | 140 |
| North Carolina | $59,890 | $50,030 | $34,510 | $101,110 | 1,780 |
| 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 Durham
On the average salary of $57,680, a single filer in Durham takes home about $46,733 a year, or $3,894 a month and $1,797 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for interpreters and translators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $57,680 buys what about $59,115 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 7.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Interpreters and Translators salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 2nd of 9 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Charlotte pays the most ($60,720).
- Charlotte$60,720
- Durham$57,680
- Raleigh$56,690
- Greenville$55,120
- Hickory$53,070
- Asheville$50,390
- Winston-Salem$50,370
- Greensboro$47,850
- Burlington$45,750
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 Durham: questions
How much do interpreters and translators make an hour in Durham?
$27.73 an hour on average, and $25.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level interpreters and translators salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,900 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,980, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the interpreters and translators take-home pay in Durham?
About $46,733 a year ($3,894 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $57,680.
Do interpreters and translators earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.0%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.22, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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