Poll: In comparison to the averages declared by ProZ.com users ( https://search.proz.com/employers/rates )
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Jun 12, 2018

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "In comparison to the averages declared by ProZ.com users ( https://search.proz.com/employers/rates )".

This poll was originally submitted by Jenn Mercer. View the poll results »



 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 09:58
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Other Jun 12, 2018

My rates are higher for most of my clients, with the exception of three regular clients to whom I've been applying an average rate.

 
Marjolein Snippe
Marjolein Snippe  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 10:58
Member (2012)
English to Dutch
+ ...
higher Jun 12, 2018

These rates for Dutch do not look very realistic to me.

 
Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 10:58
Member (2003)
Danish to English
+ ...
I never, ever, go below Jun 12, 2018

I offer a professional service, and assume that the average includes everyone, professional or not.

In my language pair the average is definitely not high, though it might be viable as an absolute minimum for beginners who have to break into the market.

I refer agencies to it when they make unacceptable offers - and tell them the rate I would charge for the job. I let them know that I am usually busy working for clients who pay the rates I ask for.


 
neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 10:58
Spanish to English
+ ...
Low to average Jun 12, 2018

I'm fed up with people, like some divas on certain FB sites, telling me how low my rates are. I think I charge enough for the services I provide and my clients are happy with that. Moreover, I think that some people may be suffering from wishful thinking when they claim to be charging, for example, 50% more than my own basic rate. In other words, that is what they would like to charge, not what they actually take home at the end of the day.
And If I earned any more than I currently do, I w
... See more
I'm fed up with people, like some divas on certain FB sites, telling me how low my rates are. I think I charge enough for the services I provide and my clients are happy with that. Moreover, I think that some people may be suffering from wishful thinking when they claim to be charging, for example, 50% more than my own basic rate. In other words, that is what they would like to charge, not what they actually take home at the end of the day.
And If I earned any more than I currently do, I would have to pay even more tax than I do now, as I would be in a higher bracket.
I do understand that my rates may appear to be lower than what others in the same pair claim to be charging, but I don't do discounts for repetitions or fuzzies etc unless I think it's warranted, so that probably evens things out a bit.
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Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 10:58
Member (2003)
Danish to English
+ ...
An important point! Jun 12, 2018

neilmac wrote:
I don't do discounts for repetitions or fuzzies etc unless I think it's warranted, so that probably evens things out a bit.


I do normally give discounts if there are enough repetitions to justify them, and this should always be taken into account.

I have just accepted a job from a favourite client who, on the face of it, pays an average-to-low flat rate - his choice - regardless of repetitions. Sometimes his jobs are hard work for that rate, but very often they are not too difficult, and over the years I have collected quite a lot in my TM that simply needs checking or adjusting slightly. All the terminology is there, and his fixed slogans etc. If I applied the same rates and reductions to his jobs as other agencies do, on average I would not charge him more.


 
Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 06:58
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Average, and lower for some local clients Jun 12, 2018

There are two things to consider here:

1. The average rates shown in this page are not the market averages whatsoever. They are an average of the rates of the users who stated their rates in their profiles. The vast majority of the users do not state their rates in their profiles. But curiously enough, those who charge below the average usually do state their rates publicly, sort of like a SALE or Promotion kind of thing. That brings the average down, of course.

2. In m
... See more
There are two things to consider here:

1. The average rates shown in this page are not the market averages whatsoever. They are an average of the rates of the users who stated their rates in their profiles. The vast majority of the users do not state their rates in their profiles. But curiously enough, those who charge below the average usually do state their rates publicly, sort of like a SALE or Promotion kind of thing. That brings the average down, of course.

2. In my case, the rates practiced in the northern hemisphere are X, but the rates practiced in my country are 0.5X or lower. Although only 20% of my income is from local clients, that still brings my average down. So, my average in Europe and North America are within the average, but my rates in Brazil are way below.
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Christopher Schröder
Christopher Schröder
United Kingdom
Member (2011)
Swedish to English
+ ...
Way higher Jun 12, 2018

I generally charge twice as much and deliver twice the quality

 
John Fossey
John Fossey  Identity Verified
Canada
Local time: 05:58
Member (2008)
French to English
+ ...
Low to high Jun 12, 2018

My rates vary depending on whether the client is a translation agency (average to lower) or an end client (high to very high), and whether they are local (high) or overseas (average).

 
Daniel Frisano
Daniel Frisano  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 10:58
Member (2008)
English to Italian
+ ...
Get real Jun 13, 2018

$0.11/wd as the average rate for EN>IT is nothing but wishful thinking.

 
Julian Holmes
Julian Holmes  Identity Verified
Japan
Local time: 18:58
Member (2011)
Japanese to English
Other Jun 13, 2018

I have no idea because I don't check other translators' rates any more as I have found them to be totally unrealistic (read 'wishful thinking' thank you, Daniel) in the past.
Besides, what's good for me might not be good for others, and vice versa.

I also agree with Chris as you get decently translated, well-written and comprehensible technical documents from me.


 


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Poll: In comparison to the averages declared by ProZ.com users ( https://search.proz.com/employers/rates )






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