Prevailing Wage for Interpreters and Translators
Prevailing wage for Interpreters and Translators is set by DOL under SOC 27-3091 and applies to every sponsored position, whether the hire is a Court Interpreter, a Medical Interpreter, or an American Sign Language Interpreter (ASL Interpreter). DOL establishes four experience levels, and the wage floor shifts considerably depending on which U.S. city the worksite falls in.
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Entry-level interpreters and translators with limited professional experience, typically recent graduates or those new to the occupation. Assignments are closely supervised, involve routine language pairs, and do not yet require independent judgment on complex subject-matter terminology.
The most common filing level for interpreters and translators. Candidates bring moderate experience working independently on standard assignments across a defined subject area, such as legal, medical, or conference settings, without requiring close day-to-day supervision.
Experienced professionals who handle complex, specialized assignments and may guide junior staff. Typically several years of demonstrated expertise in a specific domain, such as federal court interpretation or technical translation, with a consistent record of independent performance.
Senior or lead interpreters and translators with a broad, recognized command of specialized subject matter. These professionals set quality standards, mentor others, and take on the most demanding assignments, including simultaneous interpretation at high-stakes or technical proceedings.
Prevailing Wage for Interpreters and Translators by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Interpreters and Translators and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Interpreters and Translators
Know where agency contracts compress your wage level
Staffing agencies that place court interpreters and medical interpreters frequently file LCAs at Level 1 even for experienced candidates. Confirm the wage level on your LCA reflects your actual years of domain-specific experience, not a generic agency template.
Watch for federal government worksite misclassification
Interpreters and translators placed at federal agency worksites in Washington, DC often command substantially higher prevailing wages than the national median. Ensure the LCA lists the actual federal worksite city, not the staffing employer's home office address.
Verify that per-word or per-minute rates clear the annual floor
Translators paid on per-word or per-minute project rates risk falling below the annualized prevailing wage. Confirm the total guaranteed hours and rate convert to at least the applicable wage level before accepting a sponsored offer.
Use Migrate Mate to identify which employers have sponsored interpreters
Migrate Mate shows historical visa sponsorship counts by employer, so you can see which hospitals, federal contractors, and language-service companies have actually sponsored interpreters and translators rather than relying on job posting language alone.
Jobs for Interpreters and Translators are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Interpreters and TranslatorsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 27-3091.00 alongside Interpreters and Translators, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
American Sign Language Interpreter (ASL Interpreter) Prevailing Wage
American Sign Language Interpreter (ASL Interpreter) Prevailing Wage
American Sign Language Interpreter (ASL Interpreter) positions fall under SOC 27-3091.00 (Interpreters and Translators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Court Interpreter Prevailing Wage
Court Interpreter Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Court Interpreter for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 27-3091.00 (Interpreters and Translators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Educational Interpreter Prevailing Wage
Educational Interpreter Prevailing Wage
Educational Interpreter is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 27-3091.00 (Interpreters and Translators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Interpreter Prevailing Wage
Interpreter Prevailing Wage
Interpreter positions fall under SOC 27-3091.00 (Interpreters and Translators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Linguist Prevailing Wage
Linguist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Linguist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 27-3091.00 (Interpreters and Translators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Medical Interpreter Prevailing Wage
Medical Interpreter Prevailing Wage
Medical Interpreter is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 27-3091.00 (Interpreters and Translators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Sign Language Interpreter Prevailing Wage
Sign Language Interpreter Prevailing Wage
Sign Language Interpreter positions fall under SOC 27-3091.00 (Interpreters and Translators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Spanish Interpreter Prevailing Wage
Spanish Interpreter Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Spanish Interpreter for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 27-3091.00 (Interpreters and Translators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Spanish Translator Prevailing Wage
Spanish Translator Prevailing Wage
Spanish Translator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 27-3091.00 (Interpreters and Translators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Translator Prevailing Wage
Translator Prevailing Wage
Translator positions fall under SOC 27-3091.00 (Interpreters and Translators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for interpreters and translators?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan areas. For each area, DOL assigns four wage levels derived from the wage distribution for SOC 27-3091. Employers sponsoring an interpreter or translator must pay at least the level that matches the position's requirements, and they certify that figure on the Labor Condition Application submitted to OFLC.
What do the four wage levels mean, and how do I know which applies to my offer?
Level 1 covers entry positions with routine, supervised work. Level 2, the most common filing level for this occupation, reflects qualified professionals working independently in a defined subject area. Level 3 applies to experienced specialists handling complex assignments with minimal oversight. Level 4 covers senior or lead roles setting quality standards. Match your level by comparing the job duties, supervision structure, and required experience in the offer letter against OFLC's published level definitions.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same interpreter role vary so much between cities?
DOL's prevailing wages are drawn from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so local labor market conditions drive the figures. A dense employer market with federal agencies and multilingual institutions, like Washington, DC, produces much higher survey wages than smaller metros. For sponsored positions, the LCA must cite the actual worksite metropolitan area, meaning the wage floor follows the work location, not where the company is headquartered.
What happens if an employer's offer falls below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify a compliant Labor Condition Application if the offered wage is below the applicable prevailing wage. OFLC will not certify the LCA, which means the H-1B or PERM petition cannot proceed. If a deficiency is discovered after filing, USCIS or DOL can issue a denial, trigger a back-pay investigation, or bar the employer from future sponsorship. Candidates should verify the offered salary against the published level before the LCA is submitted.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for an interpreter or translator role in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you look up current prevailing wages by SOC code 27-3091 and metropolitan area. Select the metro that matches the actual worksite, choose the wage level that reflects the position's scope, and compare the result to your offer. You can also cross-reference the Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational employment data. Migrate Mate can help you identify employers with a track record of sponsoring interpreters and translators, giving you a starting point for targeted outreach.
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