Interpreters and Translators pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,180 a year or less, while the top 10% make $72,730 or more. The middle half of interpreters and translators in Chattanooga earn between $47,640 and $55,030.
- $37K10th
- $48K25th
- $53KMedian
- $55K75th
- $73K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $52,820 | $4,402 | $25.39 |
| Median | $52,970 | $4,414 | $25.47 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,640 | $3,970 | $22.90 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $55,030 | $4,586 | $26.46 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Interpreters and Translators pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Interpreters and translators in Chattanooga earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($53,590) and 20% less than the U.S. average ($66,360). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $60,170.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $52,820 | $52,970 | $37,180 | $72,730 | 100 |
| Tennessee | $53,590 | $51,080 | $32,280 | $78,480 | 710 |
| 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 Chattanooga
On the average salary of $52,820, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $44,621 a year, or $3,718 a month and $1,716 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $44,621 | $3,718 |
| Working in GA | $42,734 | $3,561 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for interpreters and translators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chattanooga area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $52,820 buys what about $57,749 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 6.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Interpreters and Translators salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 3rd of 4 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Memphis pays the most ($67,250).
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 Chattanooga: questions
How much do interpreters and translators make an hour in Chattanooga?
$25.39 an hour on average, and $25.47 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level interpreters and translators salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,180 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,640, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the interpreters and translators take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $44,621 a year ($3,718 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $52,820. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do interpreters and translators earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% 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 Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.06, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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