SOC 27-3091 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Interpreters and Translators — South Bend
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI · 4 metro areas compared
In South Bend, IN the median wage for Interpreters and Translators is $66,980 a year, which is 11.3% higher than the national figure of $60,170.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
How pay has moved
The next ten years
Projected to grow more slowly than average
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- +1.7%
- Openings per year
- 6,900
- Typical entry-level education
- Bachelor's degree
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
27.0% of people in this occupation work for themselves.
Projections are published nationally only. This is the outlook for the occupation across the United States, not a measurement for South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Salary overview
In South Bend, IN the median wage for Interpreters and Translators is $66,980 a year, which is 11.3% higher than the national figure of $60,170. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $62,810 and $82,830. The lowest tenth earn under $45,980, while the highest tenth earn more than $94,000.
Within the state, Elkhart records the highest median at $47,820. Of the 387 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 118th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $45,980 | −23.6% |
| 25th | $62,810 | +4.4% |
| Median (50th) | $66,980 | +11.3% |
| 75th | $82,830 | +37.7% |
| 90th | $94,000 | +56.2% |
| Mean | $68,230 | +13.4% |
Other metro areas in Indiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elkhart | $47,820 | 40 | |
| 2 | Evansville | $47,690 | 40 | |
| 3 | Indianapolis | $47,530 | 700 | |
| 4 | Fort Wayne | $44,000 | 70 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in South Bend run 7.1% below the national average, so the median of $66,980 goes as far as $72,099 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 19.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$66,980as reported by BLSLocal price level
92.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$72,099US average = 100 · BEA 2024Why the state that pays most is usually not where pay goes furthest
Key takeaways
- Median pay is $66,980 a year, 11.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $45,980 to $94,000 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Elkhart, at $47,820.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Interpreters and Translators in South Bend, IN?
The median annual wage is $66,980, or $32.20 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 South Bend, IN is 11.3% higher. 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 South Bend, IN earns more than $94,000 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $45,980 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 Elkhart, at $47,820 per year.
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.
Explore related data