https://www.proz.com/forum/business_issues/13614-hourly_rates_is_yours_the_same_for_different_kinds_of_work.html
This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings

Translation - art & business » Business issues »
Hourly rates: is yours the same for different kinds of work?
Thread poster: Ali YANDIK (X)
Ali YANDIK (X)
Ali YANDIK (X)  Identity Verified
Türkiye
Local time: 00:18
English to Turkish
+ ...
Aug 26, 2003

Regarding the hourly rates, I wonder whether you apply a standard rate to all kinds of work (proofreading, dtp or typesetting etc.) which is billed in hours.

For example, if you charge X dollars for an hour of editing, do you again charge X dollars for an hour of typesetting?
 
Narasimhan Raghavan
Narasimhan Raghavan  Identity Verified
Local time: 02:48
English to Tamil
+ ...
In memoriam
It depends on what you can do in an hour Aug 26, 2003

Suppose you can translate 500 words in an hour, this multiplied by the word rate should be your hourly rate.Once this is settled, if you are asked to edit, just quote the same hourly rate, as you would have earned this amount by translation. An hour is an hour. If you edit faster than you do translation, the client will be automatically benefited. Same holds good for interpreting. You are dedicating the hour to your client and do not take up any other work in that period.
Now the next ste... See more
Suppose you can translate 500 words in an hour, this multiplied by the word rate should be your hourly rate.Once this is settled, if you are asked to edit, just quote the same hourly rate, as you would have earned this amount by translation. An hour is an hour. If you edit faster than you do translation, the client will be automatically benefited. Same holds good for interpreting. You are dedicating the hour to your client and do not take up any other work in that period.
Now the next step. Also have a minimum billing for say 2 hours. This is to compensate your taking the trouble of going to the client's place. Add the taxi fare both sides plus the cost of tea/coffe/lunch as applicable. Now you can quote in a scientific manner. Let not the client tell you that during interpreting you are idle some of the time. It is not your fault. You are available to him and if he doesn't utilize you properly, it is his lookout. ▲ Collapse
 
Terry Thatcher Waltz, Ph.D.
Terry Thatcher Waltz, Ph.D.  Identity Verified
Local time: 17:18
Chinese to English
+ ...
Don't agree entirely... Aug 26, 2003

I would never charge the same hourly rate for interpreting that I earn for translation. There is a much higher learning curve for conference interpreting, and I cannot consult references, relax, have a cup of tea or whatever while I'm working. Also, interpreting requires travel, which is often uncompensated, but cuts time off from work in one's office. The law of supply and demand, finally, exists -- I don't think I can charge the same for editing English text as I can for translating from Chin... See more
I would never charge the same hourly rate for interpreting that I earn for translation. There is a much higher learning curve for conference interpreting, and I cannot consult references, relax, have a cup of tea or whatever while I'm working. Also, interpreting requires travel, which is often uncompensated, but cuts time off from work in one's office. The law of supply and demand, finally, exists -- I don't think I can charge the same for editing English text as I can for translating from Chinese to English, for example, because there are far more people qualified to do the first than the second; likewise, I can charge more to do an hour's simultaneous interpretation than to do an hour's translation work, as there are far fewer people who do the former.

Just some thoughts... ▲ Collapse
 
Narasimhan Raghavan
Narasimhan Raghavan  Identity Verified
Local time: 02:48
English to Tamil
+ ...
In memoriam
What I meant was the barest minimum Aug 27, 2003

What I suggested was just a basis for working out a logical rate. Once you comprehend it, the rest follows. You can always ask more but never accept anything less the basic amount. This covers the difference between the consecutive and simultaneous interpreting as well and the latter is paid at a higher rate. Word rate translation in an hour was chosen, as it is a quantifiable item and is comrehensible to all. And translation is an important activity, which laymen too can appreciate.
 


To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator:

Moderator(s) of this forum
Margarita[Call to this topic]
Jorge Rodrigues[Call to this topic]
James Heppe-Smith[Call to this topic]

You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request »

Hourly rates: is yours the same for different kinds of work?


Translation news
» Translation trends at the London Book Fair: Japanese are overtaking the UK market, translations from Ukrainian are on the rise
(0 comments)
» Survey finds generative AI proving major threat to the work of translators
(0 comments)
» New ISO Standard 5060 Focuses on Human Evaluation to Ensure Translation Quality
(0 comments)


Forum rules
Help and orientation




Trados Studio 2022 Freelance
The leading translation software used by over 270,000 translators.

Designed with your feedback in mind, Trados Studio 2022 delivers an unrivalled, powerful desktop and cloud solution, empowering you to work in the most efficient and cost-effective way.

More info »
CafeTran Espresso
You've never met a CAT tool this clever!

Translate faster & easier, using a sophisticated CAT tool built by a translator / developer. Accept jobs from clients who use Trados, MemoQ, Wordfast & major CAT tools. Download and start using CafeTran Espresso -- for free

Buy now! »