Poll: Are your rates lower than the industry standard for your language combination? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Are your rates lower than the industry standard for your language combination?".
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| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 06:32
Spanish to English
+ ...
Pray tell, kind sir, what is this "industry standard" of which you speak?
AFAIK, my rates are about average or even rather low for my ES-EN pair. Whatever the "industry standard" is supposed to be, I'd like to know where I can consult this type of information.
| | | | matt robinson 
Spain
Local time: 06:32
Member (2010)
Spanish to English
| "Impossible to answer as question is meaningless" option | May 27, 2021 |
There is no industry standard.
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I have no idea what the industry standard is. I know that I charge more than some of my competitors and that some potential clients say that I’m too expensive, but my long-standing customers pay what we agree on.
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Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:32
Member (2008)
Italian to English
| Depends on the country | May 27, 2021 |
Some Italian agencies love telling me that my rate is very high for Italy (because they think I don't know that many other Italian agencies are happy to pay it).
But generally, a rate that is considered high in Italy is considered normal elsewhere, e.g. Germany.
It depends on the country.
| | | | | No but they used to be + "it depends" | May 27, 2021 |
The inevitable "it depends". No, my rates are pitched in the middle/upper range of standard for France. Some charge an extravagant rate and I am happy for them. When you charge as much as some do though, you need to be good and professional. After more than 25 as a freelance translator, I am still surprised at the poor quality work I come across from some top-charging translators, I mean extremely high rates. At the other end of the scale, there are some good people probably unaware of how low t... See more The inevitable "it depends". No, my rates are pitched in the middle/upper range of standard for France. Some charge an extravagant rate and I am happy for them. When you charge as much as some do though, you need to be good and professional. After more than 25 as a freelance translator, I am still surprised at the poor quality work I come across from some top-charging translators, I mean extremely high rates. At the other end of the scale, there are some good people probably unaware of how low their rates are. Knowing your worth takes time. When starting out, many undercharge. The client doesn't want poor work at a cheap rate. That's not the reputation you will build a healthy activity upon and when you start, it takes you longer to complete a job anyway. Make sure you do the job to the best of your ability and charge a decent rate for it. I did not take this on board early enough, which was a mistake. It's all part of presenting and being "professional". The client has expectations, so do you. Sometimes they match well. Use that and charge for it. Don't be arrogant though, remain humble. You probably don't have infused science either. But when you can do a good brew, charge for it.
As a rule, do a good job for a good rate and you'll get good clients. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mario Freitas
Brazil
Local time: 01:32
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
When you live in the Southern Hemisphere, you have to consider this question from two different points of view.
My rates are indeed a bit lower than the standard in Europe or in the USA, but they are way higher than the national standard.
But since 75% of my clients are in the Northern Hemisphere and only 25% are in Brazil, I suppose my rates are within the average.
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"Industry standard" varies greatly depending who you ask. Is it the standard as set by agencies and clients? Then the rates will always be lower, even compared to itself (but in my case, no). If we talk about the standard set by translators' associations, there a great chance that the answer is yes. And then, which country's standard? This changes the answer drastically as well.
"Do you think your rates are low" would have been more simple to answer, I think. The "standard" is a bit of a f... See more "Industry standard" varies greatly depending who you ask. Is it the standard as set by agencies and clients? Then the rates will always be lower, even compared to itself (but in my case, no). If we talk about the standard set by translators' associations, there a great chance that the answer is yes. And then, which country's standard? This changes the answer drastically as well.
"Do you think your rates are low" would have been more simple to answer, I think. The "standard" is a bit of a fuzzy notion, and no side wants to let the other set it (but we know which one's winning, though). But translators do know when they get far less than they deserve. ▲ Collapse
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| Standard = average | May 27, 2021 |
matt robinson wrote:
There is no industry standard.
True, but we all have an idea of what other people charge.
I certainly charge above average.
| | | | Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 06:32
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
My rates are about the same as the industry standard rates. But there are higher rates than mine, perhaps a little above standards. But I think that this also depends on the customer's country. My rates were considered well above industry standards from eastern customers.
| | | | Robert Forstag
United States
Local time: 00:32
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Well above average | May 27, 2021 |
Of course, this doesn't say much, given that the average rates offered by agencies in my language pair have plummeted during the past five years.
| | | | | Above The Standard, In Both Cases | May 27, 2021 |
I have seen lists, which may or may not be "official", that state what are supposed to be the standard per word rates for translation, depending on the specific language combinations. It seems that I charge more for both literary and other, shorter kinds of translations. I'm glad that I have the luxury of not backing down from my price, in either instance.
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Throughout my freelance career, I've been told that my rates are "too high," but my schedule is still full.
| | | | LIZ LI
China
Local time: 12:32
French to Chinese
+ ...
Yes, by comparing with fellow translators working in other language pairs.
No, as the job posting system keeps sending me notifications with 0,02usd/w budget.
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