The salary of certified court interpreters are competitive as there is a great demand in California, particularly in areas with large immigrant populations. About half of California’s certified court interpreters work as permanent employees of the trial courts. The other half work as freelance contract interpreters, hired by the day or the half day by the courts.

A contract interpreter must be willing to travel from one trial court to another, and often from one county to another, to be assured of full-time work. Currently, the rate of contract court interpreters is $265 a day and $147 for half day. Trial courts pay their staff court interpreters salary between $30,000 and $66,000 per year, depending on location and experience and subject to negotiation with organized labor.

Below is another statistic for the salary of court interpreters: 

Court Interpreter Salaries (2006)

CA Trial Courts

Salary Starting: $68,900
Top End Salary: $70,969
Hourly: $33.13-34.12/hour

Federal Court
(Criminal/San Diego)1
Starting Salary: $70,007
Top End Salary: $113, 822