Raising Rates

The beginning of a new year is when many freelancers raise their rates. I’m interested to know how often this happens (every year, every few years, when you think of it, etc.) and by how much (5%, 10%, a few pennies/pence/kronor/other relevant currency, etc.).

As for me, since I rarely work for agencies and since I don’t generally do just one kind of translation work, I don’t have completely set rates. Instead, I estimate the cost of each project by looking it over and trying to figure out how difficult it is, how much work is required, and how much time it will take me, plus I take into consideration how soon the client wants the work completed. This in turn means that I don’t have an annual increase in rates. Rather, as I get more experience and as I get more compliments and messages of gratitude from customers, I slowly increase my prices a bit. I probably don’t do this often enough, but as I try not to quote prices that are lower than I know I deserve or that I feel comfortable with, I am generally satisfied with rates that are fair both to my customers and to me.

From informally talking to other translators or from seeing messages on translation lists, however, it seems that an annual increase in rates is quite common. Judging by the rates people list, I estimate that their fees go up by about 8% a year. What do you do? Please vote below.

How often do you raise your rates?

Every year.Every few years.More than once a year.Whenever the market seems to allow for it.When I think of it.Other.

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How much do you raise your rates by?

1-5%5-8%8-10%10-15%15% or moreOther.I rarely or never raise my rates.

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Poll Update

The poll is still open and you are encouraged to vote if you haven’t already done so, but so far the clear majority of responses indicate that many people work as translators but have no training to do so. In other words, the majority of respondents have not studied in a translation program or a language program. Perhaps they are people who found themselves living in another country and learned the language so well that they were able to work as translators, or they simply enjoy language, or found it difficult to find another sort of job, or… What’s your reason? How did you get into translation? And do you think your training (or lack of specific training for translators) affects you and your skills? Let me know; I’m interested in hearing other translators’ stories.

A Poll on Training

The last post looked at training for translators. I've now created a poll so we can see what kind of training various translators have. Please answer the poll and ask your translator colleagues to do so, too, so we can get as large a sample as possible. The results will be interesting, and the next step will be to find out whether and how your training helped you in your career as a translator.

How did you train to become a translator?
	I attended a translation program.
	I took one course in translation.
	I specialized in another field, such as law, and then transferred my skills to translation.
	I attended a language program.
	I have some other sort of applicable training.
	I worked with/for another translator first.
	I work as a translator, but I have no specific training.
	Other.
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