How Much Does an Interpreting Service Cost?

When planning an event or meeting that requires interpretation, you need to understand the full cost structure to budget correctly. Many organizations are surprised to find out that interpreter fees are just one piece of the puzzle. Well, according to ZipRecruiter of June 15, 2025, interpreters in the US earn an average hourly wage of $31.89. Rates vary greatly depending on experience, specialization and location. Hourly rates range from $25.24 (25th percentile) to $38.70 (75th percentile), with overall wages ranging from $12.50 to $40.14. This guide breaks down all the components that affect interpreting service costs so you can make informed decisions for your multilingual communication needs.

The 4 Main Components of Interpreting Service Costs

Interpreting services have several cost components that work together to give you a language experience. Before we get into pricing, let’s break down these 4 main cost parts:

The total cost of interpreting services includes fees for interpreters, infrastructure and equipment, travel costs and project management. Each of these varies greatly depending on your requirements, event type and delivery method.

Knowing these components helps you know where to budget and where to cut without compromising on quality. Let’s look at each of these in more detail.

Interpreter Fees: The Core of Your Interpreting Budget

The largest part of your interpreting budget will go towards the interpreters themselves. Several factors affect how much you’ll pay for these language professionals.

Hiring Options: Direct vs. Agency

You have two options when hiring interpreters: direct hire or agency. Direct hire might seem cheaper upfront but agencies offer value through quality control, backup interpreters if someone gets sick and administrative tasks. For complex events or critical meetings the security of working with an established agency often justifies any extra cost.

Using Translation Earbuds: A Smart, Scalable Alternative to Live Interpreters

For organizations looking for a cost-effective and scalable alternative to traditional interpreting services AI-powered translation earbuds are becoming a viable solution. Devices like Timekettle WT2 Edge or W4 Pro use advanced neural machine translation to provide real-time, two-way communication between speakers of different languages—without the need for a human interpreter present.

These earbuds are perfect for small meetings, factory visits, casual client interactions or multilingual team collaboration where hiring professional interpreters might not be practical or within budget. Once paired with a smartphone app and connected to the internet they can support up to 40 languages and 90+ accents and deliver near simultaneous translation in natural speech flow.

Not yet a replacement for human interpreters in high-stakes negotiations or technical discussions translation earbuds offer significant benefits in terms of cost, convenience and accessibility. With no daily interpreter fees, no travel expenses and no setup of interpreter booths or audio equipment these devices can dramatically reduce interpreting costs especially for frequent, short-duration interactions.

By incorporating translation earbuds into your multilingual communication strategy you can reserve professional interpreters for key events and use technology to bridge language gaps efficiently.

Key Pricing Factors for Interpreters

The cost of hiring interpreters varies widely based on several important factors:

Interpretation type: Simultaneous interpreting (headsets) is more expensive than consecutive interpreting (pauses for interpretation) as it’s more intense and requires more skills. Telephone or video remote interpreting may have different rate structures, billed by the minute not by the day.

Language combination: Common language pairs like English-Spanish generally cost less than rare combinations like English-Icelandic or specialized dialects, simply due to supply and demand in the market.

Expertise level: Interpreters with specialized knowledge in fields like medicine, law, or technical subjects command premium rates due to their additional expertise and vocabulary knowledge.

Duration: Most professional interpreters charge either half-day (up to 4 hours) or full-day rates (up to 8 hours), with overtime fees applying beyond standard hours.

Sample Price Ranges

While rates vary by location and specific requirements, here are some general price ranges to help with initial budgeting:

• Simultaneous interpreters: $500-$1,500 per day per interpreter
• Consecutive interpreters: $350-$1,000 per day
• Telephone/video remote interpreting: $1.50-$4.00 per minute

Remember that simultaneous interpreting typically requires at least two interpreters per language pair for events lasting more than an hour, as interpreters need to rotate every 20-30 minutes due to the mental fatigue associated with this demanding task.

Infrastructure Costs: Equipment and Technology

The second major component of interpreting costs is the infrastructure needed to deliver interpretation services. This varies wildly depending on whether your event is in-person, remote or hybrid.

In-Person Event Equipment

For traditional in-person events that require simultaneous interpretation, you’ll need special equipment including interpreter booths, consoles, transmitters and receivers/headsets for attendees. This hardware-based approach costs between $1,500-$5,000 per day depending on the number of participants and languages.

Or you can use Remote Simultaneous Interpretation (RSI) platforms for in-person events, so interpreters can work remotely while attendees use their smartphones and headphones to listen. This modern approach reduces equipment costs and is more flexible.

Remote Interpreting Infrastructure

For fully remote events, costs shift toward video conferencing platforms with interpretation features. Popular options include:

• Zoom with its built-in interpretation feature
• Specialized RSI platforms like Interprefy, KUDO, or Interactio
• Custom solutions for enterprise-level needs

These platforms typically charge based on:

• Number of language pairs
• Duration of the event
• Number of participants
• Level of technical support required

Costs for remote platforms generally range from $300-$2,000 per day depending on complexity and scale, making them often more economical than traditional equipment rental.

Travel Expenses: The Hidden Cost Multiplier

Travel expenses can significantly impact your interpreting budget, especially for multi-day events or those in remote locations. These costs include:

• Airfare or other transportation
• Hotel accommodations (typically required the night before an assignment)
• Per diem for meals
• Local transportation
• Potential visa fees for international interpreters

For events requiring multiple interpreters from different locations, these expenses can quickly add up to thousands of dollars beyond the basic service fees.

The Remote Advantage

One of the big advantages of remote interpreting is eliminating travel costs. By having interpreters work from their home offices, organizations can save big – often 20-30% of the total project cost – and reduce their carbon footprint.

But some complex or high-stakes situations may still require interpreters to be on site where non-verbal cues and immediate interaction with speakers can make a difference.

Project Management: Coordinating the Pieces

The last piece of the interpreting cost puzzle is project management – coordinating interpreters, equipment, scheduling and client communication. For multilingual events, project management is key.

Project management adds around 15-20% to the total cost of interpreting services depending on the complexity of the event. This includes:

• Interpreter recruitment and vetting

• Equipment coordination and testing

• Scheduling

• Client consultation

• On-site or remote technical support

• Quality assurance

• Troubleshooting during the event

For big conferences with multiple languages and complex logistics, dedicated project managers become part of the team to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Cost Management Tips

Interpreting is a big investment, but there are ways to save without sacrificing quality:

Prioritize Interpreter Quality

Quality of interpretation can make or break your event. Cutting costs by hiring less qualified interpreters will result in poor communication outcomes that can damage relationships or create misunderstandings. Always prioritize professional, qualified interpreters for your language pairs.

Go Remote When You Can

Remote interpreting has come a long way in recent years. For many types of meetings and events, remote interpretation is great quality and eliminates travel costs and equipment costs. Ask yourself if your event really needs on-site interpreters or if remote solutions will do.

Work with a Reputable Agency

Working with established interpreting agencies may seem more expensive upfront, but their expertise in matching the right interpreters to your needs, quality assurance and logistics often delivers better value and less risk than trying to do everything yourself.

Take on Some Project Management

If your organization has in-house event management capabilities, taking on some project management can save you costs. Talk to your interpreting provider which parts of the project you can manage internally and which parts they should handle.

Conclusion

Now you know the true cost structure of interpreting services so you can budget better and make better decisions for your multilingual events. While professional interpretation is an investment, remember that communication is key to the success of your international meetings, conferences and negotiations.

By considering all four cost elements – interpreter fees, infrastructure, travel costs and project management – you can have a budget that delivers great language services and identify areas to cut costs.

Remember communication across language barriers is an investment that pays off in clarity, relationships and better outcomes for your multilingual projects.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need two interpreters for simultaneous interpretation?

Simultaneous interpretation is mentally exhausting and requires intense focus. Research shows that interpreter accuracy starts to drop off after 30 minutes of continuous work. Professional standards require interpreters to work in pairs, switching every 20-30 minutes to maintain quality throughout your event.

Is remote interpreting as good as on-site interpretation?

For many situations remote interpretation is just as good as on-site, especially with today’s technology. However for highly technical content, complex negotiations or poor internet connectivity on-site interpreters may be better. Talk to your language service provider to determine what’s best for you.

How far in advance should I book interpretation?

For common language pairs and standard meetings 2-3 weeks notice is often enough. For conferences, rare language combinations or specialized technical content 1-2 months notice is recommended to get the best interpreters and allow for proper preparation time.

Do interpreters charge for preparation time?

Most professional interpreters include prep time in their daily rate. However, events that require specialized terminology or review of a lot of technical materials may incur additional prep fees. Always ask about prep requirements when requesting a quote.