The average salary for a sign language interpreter in California is around $70,770 per year.
Avg Salary
Sign language interpreters earn an average yearly salary of $70,770.
Wages typically start from $49,530 and go up to $119,810.
3% below national average Updated in 2025
Sign language interpreter earnings by seniority
Top-level sign language interpreter earnings begin at:
$57.60 per hour
$119,810 per year
Senior-level sign language interpreter earnings begin at:
$49.04 per hour
$102,010 per year
Mid-level sign language interpreter earnings begin at:
$34.02 per hour
$70,770 per year
Junior-level sign language interpreter earnings begin at:
$27.04 per hour
$56,230 per year
Starting level sign language interpreter earnings begin at:
$23.81 per hour
$49,530 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Sign language interpreter salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $88,550 |
| New York | $84,090 |
| Rhode Island | $82,320 |
| Massachusetts | $72,750 |
| Colorado | $71,790 |
| California | $70,770 |
| Connecticut | $68,340 |
| Minnesota | $66,410 |
| Oregon | $66,300 |
| Idaho | $66,130 |
| Utah | $65,770 |
| New Mexico | $63,550 |
| Maine | $63,470 |
| Wisconsin | $63,390 |
| Virginia | $63,030 |
| Vermont | $62,450 |
| Washington | $61,750 |
| Ohio | $61,230 |
| New Jersey | $58,970 |
| Georgia | $57,880 |
| Mississippi | $57,130 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,040 |
| Missouri | $57,010 |
| New Hampshire | $56,370 |
| Illinois | $55,290 |
| Kentucky | $53,590 |
| Delaware | $53,450 |
| South Dakota | $53,140 |
| Nebraska | $53,050 |
| Arkansas | $52,490 |
| Alaska | $52,450 |
| Tennessee | $51,080 |
| South Carolina | $50,860 |
| Nevada | $50,370 |
| Arizona | $50,150 |
| North Carolina | $50,030 |
| Oklahoma | $48,980 |
| Florida | $48,930 |
| Louisiana | $48,420 |
| North Dakota | $48,190 |
| Iowa | $48,150 |
| Indiana | $48,140 |
| Kansas | $47,950 |
| Montana | $47,850 |
| Texas | $47,510 |
| Alabama | $46,130 |
| Michigan | $45,310 |
| Wyoming | $44,730 |
| Hawaii | $42,270 |
| Puerto Rico | $41,560 |
| West Virginia | $31,150 |
| District of Columbia | $109,970 |
How do sign language interpreter salaries compare to similar careers?
Sign language interpreters earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than clergies but more than family social workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Clergy salary | $78K |
| Computer repair technician salary | $80K |
| Insurance appraiser salary | $79K |
| Ambulance dispatcher salary | $80K |
| Meter reader salary | $79K |
| Sign language interpreter salary | $71K |
| Wedding planner salary | $71K |
| Event planner salary | $71K |
| Social worker salary | $63K |
| Family social worker salary | $65K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)