SOC 27-3091 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Interpreters and Translators — Merced
Merced, CA · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Interpreters and Translators in Merced, CA is $52,710 per year, 12.4% below the national median of $60,170.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Interpreters and Translators in Merced, CA is $52,710 per year, 12.4% below the national median of $60,170. Half of workers earn between $49,150 and $82,080. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $48,990 and the ninetieth at $99,270.
The area has 30 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.4 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, San Jose records the highest median at $101,530. Of the 272 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 152nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,990 | −18.6% |
| 25th | $49,150 | −18.3% |
| Median (50th) | $52,710 | −12.4% |
| 75th | $82,080 | +36.4% |
| 90th | $99,270 | +65.0% |
| Mean | $65,990 | +9.7% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $101,530 | 300 | |
| 2 | Santa Rosa | $84,960 | 30 | |
| 3 | San Francisco | $83,680 | 760 | |
| 4 | Santa Maria | $82,440 | 70 | |
| 5 | Oxnard | $75,920 | 70 | |
| 6 | Riverside | $74,310 | 450 | |
| 7 | San Diego | $73,690 | 360 | |
| 8 | Los Angeles | $69,460 | 1,480 | |
| 9 | Fresno | $68,050 | 110 | |
| 10 | Visalia | $66,000 | 50 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Merced run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $52,710 buys what $47,615 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 20.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$52,710as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$47,615US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $52,710 a year, 12.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $48,990 to $99,270 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 30 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $101,530.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Interpreters and Translators in Merced, CA?
The median annual wage is $52,710, or $25.34 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $60,170, so pay in Merced, CA is 12.4% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Merced, CA earns more than $99,270 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $48,990 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Jose, at $101,530 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 30 jobs in this occupation in Merced, CA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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