Interpreters and Translators pay range in Madison
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $97,550 or more. The middle half of interpreters and translators in Madison earn between $59,440 and $87,460.
- $46K10th
- $59K25th
- $73KMedian
- $87K75th
- $98K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $72,610 | $6,051 | $34.91 |
| Median | $72,720 | $6,060 | $34.96 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $59,440 | $4,953 | $28.58 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $87,460 | $7,288 | $42.05 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Interpreters and Translators pay in Madison vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Interpreters and translators in Madison earn 13% more than the Wisconsin average ($64,240) and 9% more than the U.S. average ($66,360). At the median the gap is +21% against the U.S. median of $60,170.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $72,610 | $72,720 | $46,020 | $97,550 | 220 |
| Wisconsin | $64,240 | $63,390 | $40,390 | $88,460 | 1,410 |
| 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 Madison
On the average salary of $72,610, a single filer in Madison takes home about $57,109 a year, or $4,759 a month and $2,197 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 (2026 rules).
Is Madison a good place for interpreters and translators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Madison area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $72,610 buys what about $74,635 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Madison ($58,080). A typical home costs $452,769, or 6.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Interpreters and Translators salary in other Wisconsin cities
Madison ranks 1st of 5 Wisconsin metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Madison: questions
How much do interpreters and translators make an hour in Madison?
$34.91 an hour on average, and $34.96 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level interpreters and translators salary in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $59,440, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the interpreters and translators take-home pay in Madison?
About $57,109 a year ($4,759 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $72,610.
Do interpreters and translators earn more in Madison than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% more 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 Madison, WI (31540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.4%.
- 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 1.61, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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