Interpreters and Translators pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,340 a year or less, while the top 10% make $70,860 or more. The middle half of interpreters and translators in Columbia earn between $49,810 and $52,200.
- $41K10th
- $50K25th
- $52KMedian
- $52K75th
- $71K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $54,180 | $4,515 | $26.05 |
| Median | $52,200 | $4,350 | $25.10 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,810 | $4,151 | $23.95 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $52,200 | $4,350 | $25.10 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Interpreters and Translators pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Interpreters and translators in Columbia earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($55,230) and 18% less than the U.S. average ($66,360). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $60,170.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $54,180 | $52,200 | $41,340 | $70,860 | 170 |
| South Carolina | $55,230 | $50,860 | $36,860 | $75,310 | 520 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $54,180, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $44,437 a year, or $3,703 a month and $1,709 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for interpreters and translators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $54,180 buys what about $57,846 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 4.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Interpreters and Translators salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 4th of 5 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($66,420).
- Charleston$66,420
- Spartanburg$64,280
- Greenville$55,330
- Columbia$54,180
- Hilton Head Island$42,690
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 Columbia: questions
How much do interpreters and translators make an hour in Columbia?
$26.05 an hour on average, and $25.09 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level interpreters and translators salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,340 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,810, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the interpreters and translators take-home pay in Columbia?
About $44,437 a year ($3,703 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $54,180.
Do interpreters and translators earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.7%.
- 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 1.26, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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