How much does an interpreter cost per minute?
Major providers typically publish $1.25–$4.00/min for phone interpreting, $1.95–$4.95/min for video, and $45–$150+/hour (plus minimums and travel) for on-site interpreters. On Remoto, professional remote interpreting for the most-requested language pairs typically costs $0.42–$1.81 per minute, all-in and billed by the second — the live English ↔ Spanish median is $0.71/min.
The Remoto rates on this page are computed live from 5,700+ verified interpreters — not estimates.
Typical published rates: phone, video and on-site vs Remoto
What a per-minute or per-hour rate sheet usually looks like across the industry, next to what interpreters on Remoto actually charge today.
| Service type | Typical published rate | Billing model | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Over-the-phone interpreting (OPI) | $1.25–$4.00 per minute | Per minute; often contracts or monthly minimums | Industry sources |
| Video remote interpreting (VRI) | $1.95–$4.95 per minute | Per minute; usually quote-based | Industry sources |
| On-site interpreter | $45–$150+ per hour | Hourly; commonly 2-hour minimums plus travel | Industry sources |
| Remoto (video or phone, on demand) | English–Spanish typically about $0.71/min (live median); most pairs $0.60–$1.10/min | Billed per minute — no hourly minimums, no contracts | Live rates, this page |
Industry sources: Publicly listed per-minute and hourly rates from major US remote-interpreting providers and state and federal language-access price schedules, reviewed 2025–2026. Ranges are ballparks; negotiated contract rates differ.Remoto figures are all-in client prices in USD, aggregated hourly from interpreters' published rates.
Live interpreter rates by language pair
Median and typical (middle 50%) all-in prices per minute, aggregated hourly from interpreters' published rates. Click a pair to see the available interpreters.
| Language pair | Median /min | Typical range /min | Interpreters |
|---|---|---|---|
| English ↔ Spanish | $0.71 | $0.60–$1.20 | 1,037 |
| English ↔ French | $1.10 | $0.60–$1.81 | 472 |
| English ↔ Arabic | $0.60 | $0.42–$1.06 | 401 |
| English ↔ Russian | $0.84 | $0.60–$1.30 | 368 |
| English ↔ Portuguese | $0.80 | $0.60–$1.40 | 329 |
| English ↔ Chinese | $0.80 | $0.60–$1.60 | 285 |
| English ↔ Italian | $1.38 | $1.00–$1.80 | 265 |
| English ↔ Swahili | $0.60 | $0.50–$0.70 | 182 |
| Amharic ↔ English | $0.60 | $0.43–$0.60 | 177 |
| English ↔ Urdu | $0.60 | $0.42–$1.00 | 158 |
All-in prices including the platform fee, in USD. Pairs with fewer than 5 interpreters are excluded to keep the statistics meaningful.
Worked example: a 20-minute medical appointment
At the live English ↔ Spanish median of $0.71/min, a 20-minute on-demand video call costs about $14.20 (typically $12.00–$24.00). The same session at a typical published VRI rate of $1.95–$4.95/min would run $39.00–$99.00, and an on-site interpreter would usually bill a 2-hour minimum regardless of how short the visit is.
- Rate locked and shown before you connect
- Billed by the second — no rounding up
- No subscription, no contract, no monthly minimum
What determines what an interpreter costs?
Language pair
High-supply pairs (Spanish, French, Mandarin with English) cost less than rare pairs, because more interpreters compete for the work. On Remoto you can compare live rates per pair before you book.
Specialty and certification
Medical, legal and court-certified interpreters typically charge more than generalists — their training and credentials are part of what you're paying for.
Session type
On-demand calls are billed by the second at the interpreter's published per-minute rate. Scheduled bookings are paid per session, and conference (simultaneous) work is priced by interpreters and languages needed.
Extras
On Remoto the only add-on is optional call recording (+$0.10/min, charged only when you turn it on). Traditional providers may add connection fees, minimums or after-hours surcharges — always check the fine print.
Interpreter cost FAQ
How much does an interpreter cost per minute?
Major providers typically publish $1.25–$4.00 per minute for over-the-phone interpreting and $1.95–$4.95 per minute for video remote interpreting; on-site interpreters bill about $45–$150+ per hour, usually with a 2-hour minimum. On Remoto, English–Spanish typically costs about $0.71/min (live median) and most in-demand pairs run $0.60–$1.10/min, all-in and billed per minute with no hourly minimums.
How much does an interpreter cost per hour?
On-site interpreters typically charge around $45–$150+ per hour, often with a 2-hour minimum plus travel. Remote interpreting is usually far cheaper for short sessions because you only pay for connected minutes — a 20-minute video call on Remoto often costs less than a single on-site minimum.
How much does a medical interpreter cost?
Certified medical interpreters command premium hourly rates on-site (often $100+ per hour with minimums). Remote medical interpreting on Remoto is billed per minute at the interpreter's published rate — browse medical interpreters to see live rates for your language pair before you commit.
Are there subscriptions, contracts or minimums?
Remoto has no subscription and no contract: you pay per second of connected time at the rate shown before you connect, with a small $0.50 minimum per call. Many traditional providers require contracts, monthly minimums or volume commitments.
Is the price shown the full price?
Yes. The per-minute rate you see in the Remoto directory and at checkout is the all-in price, including the platform service fee. Optional call recording (+$0.10/min) is always shown before you confirm.
Why are interpreter rates different for every language pair?
Supply and demand. Rates are set by the interpreters themselves, so pairs with many available interpreters tend to be cheaper, while rare pairs or specialist credentials cost more. The live table on this page shows real medians and typical ranges by pair.
See the exact rate for your language pair
Browse live per-minute rates from verified interpreters — no account needed to compare prices.
Keep reading
VRI vs OPI vs on-site
Which interpreting mode fits your situation — a practical decision guide.
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Pay-as-you-go, per-second billing, live rate explorer.
Security, privacy & HIPAA
Encryption, access control, recording consent, sub-processors, and BAAs on request.
Agency coverage & backstop terms
Roster first, Remoto network as a backstop you control — rates, billing, and availability.