Poll: Has your income increased over the years of career, disregarding occasional downturns? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Has your income increased over the years of career, disregarding occasional downturns?".
View the poll results »
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 20:45
Spanish to English
+ ...
Yes, it has. Although it's really nobody else's business but my own.
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I started business in 1985 in Brussels, things went fine for a while with a steady increase and then I had a big dip, followed by a stable period. I decided to move back to Lisbon in 2015 for family reasons and though I was afraid this could have a negative impact, the exact opposite happen and 2017 was an extraordinary year work-wise (two very big projects from a well-known human rights organization). Since then, things went back to normal in 2018 and it has been increasing since. I haven’t b... See more I started business in 1985 in Brussels, things went fine for a while with a steady increase and then I had a big dip, followed by a stable period. I decided to move back to Lisbon in 2015 for family reasons and though I was afraid this could have a negative impact, the exact opposite happen and 2017 was an extraordinary year work-wise (two very big projects from a well-known human rights organization). Since then, things went back to normal in 2018 and it has been increasing since. I haven’t been hit by the Covid-19 pandemic: I just had two slow months but nothing that hasn’t happened before… ▲ Collapse
| | | | Marjolein Snippe 
Netherlands
Local time: 20:45
Member (2012)
English to Dutch
+ ...
I had noticed this before and was wondering why, when I realised that I seem to have a natural tendency to take more days off when I feel I have earned enough. What's the use of earning more if you don't take the time to enjoy it?
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IrinaN
United States
Local time: 13:45
English to Russian
+ ...
| What is this obsession with other people's income and spending? | Aug 6, 2021 |
If Proz wants to offer a meaningful poll reflecting economic situation in our business, here is one:
If you began to translate professionally within the last 3 (maybe 5) years, what was the first per word rate you secured and accepted:
1. 1-4 cents
2. 5-7 cents
3. 8-11 cents
4. 12+
Completely anonymous, of course. No one is asking to spill your guts and subject yourself to any criticism.
The second one could contain some ques... See more If Proz wants to offer a meaningful poll reflecting economic situation in our business, here is one:
If you began to translate professionally within the last 3 (maybe 5) years, what was the first per word rate you secured and accepted:
1. 1-4 cents
2. 5-7 cents
3. 8-11 cents
4. 12+
Completely anonymous, of course. No one is asking to spill your guts and subject yourself to any criticism.
The second one could contain some questions about future rate increase, sustainability, remaining in business or quitting it, in whole or in part, mandatory supplemental non-translation income to survive etc. Again, it does not have to be followed by soul-baring stories and actual numbers. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Elke Fehling
Local time: 20:45
Member (2005)
English to German
+ ...
There are simply ups and downs with no visible trend.
But I also got more "arrogant" in the course of time and work less für more money.
| | | | Yaotl Altan
Mexico
Local time: 12:45
Member (2006)
English to Spanish
+ ...
Yes, mainly becuase of the international clients I have.
| | | | Arianne Farah
Canada
Local time: 14:45
Member (2008)
English to French
| Unless you follow a cohort, the question is pointless | Aug 6, 2021 |
Because of survivorship bias.
Those of us who are still at it after years or decades have obviously seen our income increase and those who didn't manage to create a thriving translation business are no longer in the field.
But like Marjolein, I've also cut down and now work 4 days a week because I reached a point where my income was well beyond my needs and I decided to dial down work a bit and enjoy my time off more!
[Edited at 2021-08-06 18:43 GMT]
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My rates have gone up considerably, but I am no longer working full-time and overtime. I'd say I'm working about 70% as much as I used to. I've been in the business more than 50 years. Much as I enjoy translating, there are other things I want to do. As a result, I'm turning down jobs at rates that I might have accepted in the past.
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 20:45
French to English
I wouldn't call Covid an "occasional downturn". My best ever month was Feb 2020 (to be honest some of the work billed then had been started in January), so it definitely felt like I was on an upward curve.
More importantly, from practically the moment I went free-lance, I have been earning more than when I worked in-house, and it certainly feels like I've been spending less time working than when I had to work set hours.
Since I'm specialised in everything that has been shut down d... See more I wouldn't call Covid an "occasional downturn". My best ever month was Feb 2020 (to be honest some of the work billed then had been started in January), so it definitely felt like I was on an upward curve.
More importantly, from practically the moment I went free-lance, I have been earning more than when I worked in-house, and it certainly feels like I've been spending less time working than when I had to work set hours.
Since I'm specialised in everything that has been shut down due to the pandemic (music art theatre cinema...) I've been working a whole lot less since then, although touch wood things do seem to be picking up again. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:45
Member (2008)
Italian to English
| What a strange expression | Aug 22, 2021 |
..... "years of career"....
| | | | Nina Demidova
Russian Federation
Local time: 21:45
English to Russian
+ ...
| Hoping 2020 was an occasional downturn... | Oct 15, 2021 |
Yes, if 2020 may be regarded as an occasional downturn (hope my further "years of career" will allow me to do so )
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| Career Effects Of Graduating In A Recession | Oct 16, 2021 |
In the first ten years of work, individuals experience 70 percent of their overall wage growth, change jobs frequently, and often settle on a particular line of business or industry. Those college graduates who enter a robust job market are often considered lucky because more job opportunities are available to them. Those who graduate during a recession have more difficulty finding a job that fits.
| | | | S_G_C
Romania
Local time: 21:45
English to Romanian
No. My market sector is overloaded with translators with the same language combination and specialization. Which pulls rates down.
| | | | Abba Storgen (X)
United States
Local time: 13:45
Greek to English
+ ...
| Lots of strange things | Oct 19, 2021 |
Tom in London wrote:
..... "years of career"....
I agree. I will add that translating is not a career, it's a job.
Perhaps the biggest failure in professional orientation nowadays, is the inability of most people to differentiate between a "business", a "career", and a "job".
In a certain period this job was more profitable and comfortable than traditional careers, so it was deceptively attractive. However, many (not all, but more than half) of those who stayed in the slow ship of traditional careers, benefited a lot more in the long run.
There's also the issue of income definition.
Income before, or after taxes and insurance? The latter is particularly critical in countries such as the USA, where the cost of health insurance has skyrocketed in the last 6-7 years.
There are plenty of factors which make me regret that I remained in this industry after around 2007-8, instead of going back to a slower traditional (and actual) career. I wish I had time to correct this mistake.
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