Salary/income as a translator/pm/editor/etc Thread poster: Matthias_2000
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Hello there,
I am studying translation at the moment and have no idea what to expect as a rookie/professional newcomer working at an agency or starting as a freelancer. It is honestly so difficult to find reliable numbers/data and all I've been able to gather so far is more or less vague. Rates don't help me much either, as I cannot estimate how much work I could get on average per month. Is there any way to get access to valuable data regarding this aspect? Are there any people her... See more Hello there,
I am studying translation at the moment and have no idea what to expect as a rookie/professional newcomer working at an agency or starting as a freelancer. It is honestly so difficult to find reliable numbers/data and all I've been able to gather so far is more or less vague. Rates don't help me much either, as I cannot estimate how much work I could get on average per month. Is there any way to get access to valuable data regarding this aspect? Are there any people here willing to share their average monthly income/salary? It doesn't matter if this comes from an inhouse translator or from a freelancer, but it would help me tremendously in analyzing my prospects.
I understand if some people are not willing to share their salary/income. However, are there any reliable data bases instead?
It doesn't necessarily have to be translation, I am open for any incomes/salaries that can be found in the language industry.
Btw, I am based in Germany if that matters.
Best regards
Matt
[Bearbeitet am 2021-06-26 17:36 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | dkfmmuc 
Local time: 00:02
Member (2009)
German to English
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| Challenges in future, expanding knowledge and portfolio | Jun 27, 2021 |
Dear Mathias2000,
at first I would like to cordially welcome here. It is great that you are
thinking early about your remuneration in the future. Naturally the salary will depend on the language pair, the industry as well the scope of work. In my experience and in line with statistical data the profession is not remunerated above average.
There is a thread here at proz.com which discusses declining rates.
Not to disappoint you but to enable you to n... See more Dear Mathias2000,
at first I would like to cordially welcome here. It is great that you are
thinking early about your remuneration in the future. Naturally the salary will depend on the language pair, the industry as well the scope of work. In my experience and in line with statistical data the profession is not remunerated above average.
There is a thread here at proz.com which discusses declining rates.
Not to disappoint you but to enable you to navigate through unchartered water. 👍
The next two steps are:
1. Watch this video:
"Jocko Willink Why you should ask questions" e. g. on YouTube.
2. Think about combining your language knowledge with job opportunities where translating and repackaging of information is an important part but not 100 % of the tasks. Large law firms with international clients as well as consulting companies are often the gatekeepers on the information flow between Germany and "the world". In view of business practices, modern management America is top-notch. Similar is valid for other language combinations e. g. think of any institution promoting international trade.
Or the local branches of the world largest companies.
In view of the actual developments in technology and the markets I would always prefer to work for a larger corporate entity. As a freelancer you have many tasks only distracting you from the core business.
So try to work during every semester break and gain knowledge.And kero in mind the fast pace of technology.
Hope this helps a bit.
Best regards
Gerd
[Edited at 2021-06-27 14:35 GMT]
[Edited at 2021-06-27 14:36 GMT]
[Edited at 2021-06-27 14:37 GMT]
[Edited at 2021-06-27 14:39 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | | IrinaN
United States
Local time: 17:02
English to Russian
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| A straight answer | Jun 27, 2021 |
For a freelancer, it can be anywhere between 20 and 100 000+. The latter would take at least a decade to achieve, likely more, and only with a steady growth of impeccable reputation and portfolio. Unfortunately, for the beginners it can even be between 0 and 100 000+.
I'm afraid that the average salary offered through the link (by a very experienced and knowledgeable colleague) was calculated based, among other things, on the pretty good SALARIES of the translators working full-tim... See more For a freelancer, it can be anywhere between 20 and 100 000+. The latter would take at least a decade to achieve, likely more, and only with a steady growth of impeccable reputation and portfolio. Unfortunately, for the beginners it can even be between 0 and 100 000+.
I'm afraid that the average salary offered through the link (by a very experienced and knowledgeable colleague) was calculated based, among other things, on the pretty good SALARIES of the translators working full-time for numerous EU/UN and the like structures/organizations, and does not reflect realistic situation on the freelance market. In fact, there is no such thing as any proven average, no reliable databases. You swim at your own risk, climb and fall, prove yourself and keep trying, trying and trying, learning, learning and learning. This is the only thing you can expect for sure.
But... luck plays a huge role in translators' lives. Maybe you'll find a full-time entry-level position, maybe, maybe, maybe.
Unless you have other financial sources to pay your bills, I'd suggest to keep some day job and work in two directions simultaneously, such as a) attempting to find your own clients and be ready to work after your first job rather than meeting friends, and b) start monitoring all and any reasonably useful but not necessarily translator vacancies with private and government sectors. Back in time I loved to be a tour guide but... tourism is not the most flourishing industry nowadays.
Keep in mind that even if you land your first job very soon after getting your degree, your first freelance money will come in 45-90 days plus the time needed to complete the assignment. The job will likely be fairly small, not enough to cover monthly bills and food. This is a common European practice and, I'm sorry to say, you will not be in a position to negotiate or decline as firmly and aggressively as the established "well-fed" freelancers would.
In short, do not rely on translation as your source of income on Day 1 after graduation.
With all that said, still - best of luck! Nothing is impossible but it will take time to get there.
Sincerely,
Irina ▲ Collapse
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Adieu
Ukrainian to English
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Don't forget the taxman. Those pricks tend to want A LOT.
Of course, it depends on your jurisdiction, but most sole proprietor taxation schemes are downright nasty to anyone who sells a service made of little more than thoughts and digital letters (since there's very little in the way of deductible expenses vs., say, a taxi driver or a even a salesman)
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Income varies all over the map (depending on the country you live in, type of employer, years of experience, specializations…). I worked for 20 years in Brussels as staff translator in an EU Institution and my last salary in June 2006 when I retired was €9,045. As a freelancer in Lisbon I make half of that in a very good month. One of my daughters who also works in Lisbon as in-house translator earns €2,500 a month…
| | | | | | Joakim Braun
Sweden
Local time: 00:02
German to Swedish
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Adieu wrote:
(...) most sole proprietor taxation schemes are downright nasty to anyone who sells a service made of little more than thoughts and digital letters (since there's very little in the way of deductible expenses vs., say, a taxi driver or a even a salesman)
So if you can't deduct expenses you don't have, how is that unfair?
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Adieu
Ukrainian to English
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| Because the tax rate isn't designed with businesses that report 90% margins in mind | Jun 28, 2021 |
If it were, the sum total of all tax would be around 5-7%.
Joakim Braun wrote: Adieu wrote:
(...) most sole proprietor taxation schemes are downright nasty to anyone who sells a service made of little more than thoughts and digital letters (since there's very little in the way of deductible expenses vs., say, a taxi driver or a even a salesman) So if you can't deduct expenses you don't have, how is that unfair?
| | | | | @Adieu and @DJ | Jun 28, 2021 |
Adieu wrote:
Don't forget the taxman. Those **** tend to want A LOT.
Of course, it depends on your jurisdiction, but most sole proprietor taxation schemes are downright nasty to anyone who sells a service made of little more than thoughts and digital letters (since there's very little in the way of deductible expenses vs., say, a taxi driver or a even a salesman)
Um... what Joachim said... and why is it unfair to be taxed a percentage of your net income in exactly the same way as for other lines of work?
And, um... without taxes, how do you pay for public services, social security etc?
Then again, the governments of the world could always approach Mr $250k for a sub.
OP: If I hired a translation (post)graduate, I'd start them around £20k. Which isn't much, but they still require an unbelievable amount of training, and as soon as they're any good they up sticks and turn freelance
| | | | | You do have expenses to deduct - add them to your take-home pay | Jun 28, 2021 |
My first comment to beginners is whatever you do, charge a realistic fee, or as close as you can get. You are not an employee, and as a freelancer you never get promoted. You are CEO, chief cook and bottlewasher, or whatever you like to call yourself, from day one.
You provide a professional service from day one, with full value to the client. So you charge a full rate, no beginner discounts. They benefit from all the latest new ideas you have picked up from uni, which did not exist... See more My first comment to beginners is whatever you do, charge a realistic fee, or as close as you can get. You are not an employee, and as a freelancer you never get promoted. You are CEO, chief cook and bottlewasher, or whatever you like to call yourself, from day one.
You provide a professional service from day one, with full value to the client. So you charge a full rate, no beginner discounts. They benefit from all the latest new ideas you have picked up from uni, which did not exist when some of us experienced colleagues and old hacks were students... (Honestly, there was not even a screen on the computer, singular, in my student days!) The world has changed a lot, and you have to keep up, but don't underrate yourself.
As you specialise and gather experience, you should be able to charge more. Aim in any case for the top of the market, because machine translation is getting quite adequate for the bottom end, where cheap and fast are the selling points. You simply can't compete there!
Next: as soon as you can, you must start putting money aside for insurance, subscriptions to online dictionaries and a decent CAT tool, a replacement computer every five years or so, holidays, at least a week off sick without worrying, and a pension scheme. All tax deductible where I live, and they add up to more than 10% of my income!
That, of course, is after you have paid your rent and everyday necessities.
As others have said, you may have to have another job at first, and some colleagues like to keep it on to get away from the isolation of translating all the time.
Most translators don't spin gold, but you should be able to make a living, support a family and live a decent life on what you earn. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | salary, gross/net income | Jun 29, 2021 |
Matthias_2000 wrote:
... I cannot estimate how much work I could get on average per month. ...
Matt
[Bearbeitet am 2021-06-26 17:36 GMT]
No-one can, or at least few of us have precise control over the amount of work we will obtain. Even with a constant flow, the intensity will vary and some jobs are more profitable than others.
You are asking the right questions and it is wise to do so now. Any information you would obtain here is likely to be of little use. Different qualifications, different backgrounds, different countries, different skills, different client, different ways of working, etc. The number of variables are enough to drive any statistician crazy.
When starting out, particularly fresh out of college, it' good to get experience in a work situation where you are certain of being able to meet at least your essential needs. Then you can aim to go above and beyond. If you start out with no experience, no network and no experience of running a business your two major problems will be :
- getting clients
- then making sure those clients pay you
What you might consider testing the water by finding a job as an employee and set up a business structure in some simple basic form that enables to you invoice translation work. In fact, this is a third point that really is essential.
Business structure : many countries have simple forms of small business structures. These enable you to invoice the provision of your services without paying high rates of charge. The disadvantage with that is that in most countries where this type of structure exists, you must bear in mind that if your contributions to national health, retirement and other funds are low, the cover you will have will be low too. (That is another advantage of having a "day job"). When the day job starts to get in the way, you may consider shifting the emphasis and be able to spend more time trasslating .
Income. If you are an employee with a contract of employment, you will have a salary. Depending on the country, income tax may be deducted from the salary at source (by the employer) or you may have to pay it to the tax man later.
If you are self-employed, you will not have a salary. You will no doubt have to pay a certain level of contributions. Sooner or later you may also have to pay income tax too.
Also, again depending on the country, you may have to pay contributions upfront (before you earn a dime) and then adjustments may be made later. If you have a bad year, you will generally not pay too much. If the next year is really good, then you will need to make sure you can pay those contributions later. Alternating good and bad years means being disciplined about putting the money aside to be able to pay what you have to later on.
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