What is the actual average rate for EN-ES translations? Thread poster: Roberto Govia
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Quite simple, and if there's another thread already where the topic has been properly discussed, just point me there and close this one, but...
Seriously, what is the actual rate? According to this ProZ the range was 0.12-0.08, so as I'm just trying to get into the industry (and specializing in Game Localization and Literature), I chose to go with the low end of 0.08, seems plenty enough to me, and with my regular volume of 4000 words per day, I can earn more than plenty.
... See more Quite simple, and if there's another thread already where the topic has been properly discussed, just point me there and close this one, but...
Seriously, what is the actual rate? According to this ProZ the range was 0.12-0.08, so as I'm just trying to get into the industry (and specializing in Game Localization and Literature), I chose to go with the low end of 0.08, seems plenty enough to me, and with my regular volume of 4000 words per day, I can earn more than plenty.
But then I start to get told that it is too expensive by all agencies and clients, so I drop it to 0.04, still profitable thanks to my speed. But even then I get agencies telling me that it's too expensive and ask for even more competitive rates, where I proceed to ask what's their target rate-range, so I can see if I can work with that, but nobody replies after that.
I'm assuming right now that it's just a haggling strategy, and have been refusing to go any lower than 0.04$, but at this point I don't know if I'm just being unrealistic about the rate.
Thank you very much in advance to anybody that bothers to reply! ▲ Collapse
| | | | DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
+ ...
| HNY'2020: Smelling a rat? | Dec 31, 2019 |
Hello Roberto,
I work with local direct clients only, so I have little to say regarding middlemen and spongers.
If you're (1) a decent specialist in some real* [engineer, designer, lawyer, accountant...] field with (2) business awareness and (3) foreign language skills to run your* biz in several languages/countries, why don't you get away from the imposed per-word basis, offering your translation as a unique turnkey solution to a specific niche? (if you know your audie... See more Hello Roberto,
I work with local direct clients only, so I have little to say regarding middlemen and spongers.
If you're (1) a decent specialist in some real* [engineer, designer, lawyer, accountant...] field with (2) business awareness and (3) foreign language skills to run your* biz in several languages/countries, why don't you get away from the imposed per-word basis, offering your translation as a unique turnkey solution to a specific niche? (if you know your audience)
For instance, dedicated copy/rewriters and transcreators easily can charge $10-$500 a phrase/a line, though it's a bit different translation aspect (accent).
As for your $0.05 rate--you should know it better, why? However, there come traditional 'freebies', adopted tricks, cheap Post-Edit MT, and funny "repetition grid" discounts, which may easily turn even $0.10+/word into $0.01/word flat and down. IF it's really your biz, then it's you who decides, of course.
Shortly, an unqualified McDonald's freshman gets about $10 an hour, so a highly qualified and experienced specialist should earn at least double. Assuming you can do some X words per hour, you should realize your goals and how you're going now.
But can you substantiate and explain it to prospects what makes up your rate? Whatever you do, after $0.05/word it will be difficult to justify $0.08/word, not to mention 0.15+/word. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Roberto Govia 
Brazil
Local time: 17:42
English to Spanish
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | About my rates... | Dec 31, 2019 |
Thanks for replying DZiW!
"For instance, dedicated copy/rewriters and transcreators easily can charge $10-$500 a phrase/a line, though it's a bit different translation aspect (accent)."
I've worked in Upwork as a Narrative Designer (a game writer basically, as they were indies, they didn't pay well), so I get where you are coming from, but it's very specific kind of clients that care very highly about quality and have the means to pay for it that get you earnings, it's ... See more Thanks for replying DZiW!
"For instance, dedicated copy/rewriters and transcreators easily can charge $10-$500 a phrase/a line, though it's a bit different translation aspect (accent)."
I've worked in Upwork as a Narrative Designer (a game writer basically, as they were indies, they didn't pay well), so I get where you are coming from, but it's very specific kind of clients that care very highly about quality and have the means to pay for it that get you earnings, it's often a matter of luck+mastering how to sell yourself.
Sadly I can't even do work on Upwork nowadays, because they changed their proposal system, and I lack the resources to finance it. Most translations gigs over there come from Chinese slavers that pretend to pay 0.01$/w at best.
"As for your $0.05 rate--you should know it better, why? However, there come traditional 'freebies', adopted tricks, cheap Post-Edit MT, and funny "repetition grid" discounts, which may easily turn even $0.10+/word into $0.01/word flat and down. IF it's really your biz, then it's you who decides, of course."
I DO want to charge $0.08, but its been two months since I started seeking clients at that price and I haven't fount the first one, so I moved to $0.04, which still hasn't borne any fruits either. If I had some big fund in the bank, I would patiently wait until I find the agencies that would value my quality and speed at $0.08, but I do need to earn some money soon...
The problem is, that not even $0.04 is netting me any jobs at all, so that's why I'm wondering if I'm really overcharging at $0.04 for EN-ES translations.
Keep in mind, while I've translated over 180K-words of literary content, it was a personal project in the pursuit fo improving my both my skill and speed, which I did, but I'm a total begginer in the translation business, and I'm trying to find my place in this industry.
[Edited at 2019-12-31 08:04 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Dan Lucas
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:42
Member (2014)
Japanese to English
| File under "Chimeras, hunting of" | Dec 31, 2019 |
Roberto Govia wrote:
Seriously, what is the actual rate?
Seriously, there isn't one. Translation is not a monolithic market.
There are many rates, depending on your language pair, your ability to offer some kind of specialization, the balance between supply and demand within your pair and area of specialisation, your ability to market yourself, find and retain clients, the degree of credibility and professionalism you project through your words and actions, and so on. It's all interlinked.
Regards,
Dan
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