Comments on: How do you know how much to charge as a freelance translator? http://ginstrom.com/scribbles/2008/10/01/how-do-you-know-how-much-to-charge-as-a-freelance-translator/ Random scribbling about programming, translation, and Japan Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:57:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: MT http://ginstrom.com/scribbles/2008/10/01/how-do-you-know-how-much-to-charge-as-a-freelance-translator/comment-page-1/#comment-337 MT Sat, 04 Oct 2008 02:07:19 +0000 http://ginstrom.com/scribbles/?p=348#comment-337 Actually, a lot of translators work fewer than 6 hours a day, too: for instance, I work generally no more than 4 hours a day, but I'm still making a full-time salary. It just kind of depends on your individual speed, the kind of material you get, your rates, etc., so you can't really generalize too much. 2,400 words a day sounds about right for most people, however. I personally don't think professional translators should ever charge less than $0.10 per word--no matter the language combination. In some combinations, like Spanish/English, that is a cent or two higher than a lot of people charge, but I still feel strongly that $0.10 is the minimum rate at when the profession of translation makes economic sense. Actually, a lot of translators work fewer than 6 hours a day, too: for instance, I work generally no more than 4 hours a day, but I’m still making a full-time salary. It just kind of depends on your individual speed, the kind of material you get, your rates, etc., so you can’t really generalize too much. 2,400 words a day sounds about right for most people, however.

I personally don’t think professional translators should ever charge less than $0.10 per word–no matter the language combination. In some combinations, like Spanish/English, that is a cent or two higher than a lot of people charge, but I still feel strongly that $0.10 is the minimum rate at when the profession of translation makes economic sense.

]]> By: Ryan Ginstrom http://ginstrom.com/scribbles/2008/10/01/how-do-you-know-how-much-to-charge-as-a-freelance-translator/comment-page-1/#comment-335 Ryan Ginstrom Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:13:09 +0000 http://ginstrom.com/scribbles/?p=348#comment-335 Hi Fabio: Thanks for the comment. You've got a cool-looking blog (especially now that I know who the guy in the header image is :)). I've added the <a href="http://fidusinterpres.com/?cat=5">in English</a> category to my RSS feeds. Regarding working hours: I know that lots of translators work longer hours than that, but I was trying to count only "head-down," productive working time, just to get an idea of how much translators were charging per word. I don't think that 6 hours is overly pessimistic for that.. Maybe I should have just said "2,400 words per day" and left it at that. :) You're also right that my experience is mostly limited to Japanese-to-English translation, although the ATA's figures are for freelance translators in general. Hi Fabio: Thanks for the comment. You’ve got a cool-looking blog (especially now that I know who the guy in the header image is :) ). I’ve added the in English category to my RSS feeds.

Regarding working hours: I know that lots of translators work longer hours than that, but I was trying to count only “head-down,” productive working time, just to get an idea of how much translators were charging per word. I don’t think that 6 hours is overly pessimistic for that.. Maybe I should have just said “2,400 words per day” and left it at that. :)

You’re also right that my experience is mostly limited to Japanese-to-English translation, although the ATA’s figures are for freelance translators in general.

]]> By: Fabio http://ginstrom.com/scribbles/2008/10/01/how-do-you-know-how-much-to-charge-as-a-freelance-translator/comment-page-1/#comment-336 Fabio Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:58:33 +0000 http://ginstrom.com/scribbles/?p=348#comment-336 Hi, I would like to add that - Many many translators work not 6 hours a day, but a lot more. I wouldn't say there is an average, but from what I know about translators all around the world, the community's working hours are way beyond 6 hours. In fact, I think working long hours can be the a way to keep a good level of income for translators working exclusively with (greedy) agencies - if translators had more end-clients they would definitely learn to work less (and of course get more pay). - Regarding the relation between what agencies charge from end-clients and what they pay their freelance translators, I'm inclined to think, from my own experience, that they don't pay 50-75% to translators, but very often less than that. Here I'm talking especially about European agencies (Germany, France, Austria, Holland), who tend, by the way, to charge the end-client a per-line-rate and pay the translator a per-word-rate, which allows them to get much more value out their business (I mean, to get R-I-C-H in no time). :-) Anyway, in your comments I think you should always mention what country and what market you are talking about. Of course, we know you talk mostly about Japan and Japanese-English translation, but, as you know, there's a great deal of diversity in the translation business which should be taken into consideration in any analysis. That said, I just want to say that I like your blog (I'm a RSS reader)! I have my own translation blog (in Portuguese, English and German): <a href="http://fidusinterpres.com">http://fidusinterpres.com</a> :-) Hi, I would like to add that

- Many many translators work not 6 hours a day, but a lot more. I wouldn’t say there is an average, but from what I know about translators all around the world, the community’s working hours are way beyond 6 hours. In fact, I think working long hours can be the a way to keep a good level of income for translators working exclusively with (greedy) agencies – if translators had more end-clients they would definitely learn to work less (and of course get more pay).

- Regarding the relation between what agencies charge from end-clients and what they pay their freelance translators, I’m inclined to think, from my own experience, that they don’t pay 50-75% to translators, but very often less than that. Here I’m talking especially about European agencies (Germany, France, Austria, Holland), who tend, by the way, to charge the end-client a per-line-rate and pay the translator a per-word-rate, which allows them to get much more value out their business (I mean, to get R-I-C-H in no time). :-)

Anyway, in your comments I think you should always mention what country and what market you are talking about. Of course, we know you talk mostly about Japan and Japanese-English translation, but, as you know, there’s a great deal of diversity in the translation business which should be taken into consideration in any analysis.

That said, I just want to say that I like your blog (I’m a RSS reader)! I have my own translation blog (in Portuguese, English and German):
http://fidusinterpres.com
:-)

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