Rates for subtitling Thread poster: Patrick Cenci
|
|---|
Hi everyone
I've just started translating subtitles for a US customer and their rate per minute video is $2.32.
Although I find the experience challenging and interesting (I don't have a lot of experience in subtitling), I think the rate is way to low.
Any thoughts?
Regards,
Patrick
| | | | | Can you comfortably live? | Apr 10, 2019 |
My standard rate for English to French subtiling is 5.10 EUR per source minute and I can't even consider going under a 4.50 EUR per source minute if I want to make ends meet. Don't forget your business is supposed to pay everything in your life, including your rent, car gas, insurances, mortgage, taxes, food, clothes, health bills, furnitures, retirement pension plan, professional association and forum memberships, workstation hardware and software upgrades, marketing (if any), even ... See more My standard rate for English to French subtiling is 5.10 EUR per source minute and I can't even consider going under a 4.50 EUR per source minute if I want to make ends meet. Don't forget your business is supposed to pay everything in your life, including your rent, car gas, insurances, mortgage, taxes, food, clothes, health bills, furnitures, retirement pension plan, professional association and forum memberships, workstation hardware and software upgrades, marketing (if any), even leisure. Is my rate high? For a number of potential clients, it's just insanely high. But others do make the choice to call for me, sometimes for really weird reasons ("because I'm a French based in France"? what does it even have to do with my skills and experience in subtitling?). Sooo… Yeah. For me that 2.32 USD is darn low, but if you can comfortably live with it, sure, go with it. Just don't forget you'll never be able to raise this rate in the future because your client usually don't see the point of paying more for the same service. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Sarper Aman 
Türkiye
Local time: 09:06
Member (2019)
English to Turkish
+ ...
Hello Patrick,
If you're in Euro zone or USD zone, rate seems kinda low. But you may see it as a training board, a place to get experience. I've been subtitling for 3 years and from what I experienced, 30-40 minutes of translation (6-8 hours) is tops you can do in a day, properly. Of course job frequency is another thing to consider in this case, will you get jobs frequently? And then you do the math in the end of month, like Michel mentioned. You may need to think to find other c... See more Hello Patrick,
If you're in Euro zone or USD zone, rate seems kinda low. But you may see it as a training board, a place to get experience. I've been subtitling for 3 years and from what I experienced, 30-40 minutes of translation (6-8 hours) is tops you can do in a day, properly. Of course job frequency is another thing to consider in this case, will you get jobs frequently? And then you do the math in the end of month, like Michel mentioned. You may need to think to find other clients when you get some experience and build a portfolio. Hope you enjoy it. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Jan Truper
Germany
Local time: 08:06
Member (2016)
English to German
Any thoughts?
This rate is ridiculously low.
| | |
|
|
|
2.32 USD is way too low. Even without much experience you should be able to find companies paying at least 4-5 USD fairly easily (which is also too low, but perhaps more bearable).
| | | | Patrice
United States
Local time: 23:06
Member
French to English
+ ...
Double that would still be low pay, compared with other types of translation. It depends on whether you can afford to take the work or not (or how badly you need it). And I must say, I have subtitled some really interesting TV shows and films.
| | | |
Subtitling is, unfortunately, a line of work that is criminally underpaid, but even with that in mind, 2.32$ per minute is way too low. I don't know how much is the cost of living in Italy, but if it's anything like France, even the "standard" offered by the majority of agencies (4$ per minute) is still way too low to make a living. Always negotiate your rates. Agencies and clients will -always- try to propose the lowest of the low, and you have to confront them on that.
There are many art... See more Subtitling is, unfortunately, a line of work that is criminally underpaid, but even with that in mind, 2.32$ per minute is way too low. I don't know how much is the cost of living in Italy, but if it's anything like France, even the "standard" offered by the majority of agencies (4$ per minute) is still way too low to make a living. Always negotiate your rates. Agencies and clients will -always- try to propose the lowest of the low, and you have to confront them on that.
There are many articles on the web on how to calculate you (realistic) ideal rate. Always try to propose higher and "concede" on it. Even then, you'll often have to settle for lower than that, because rent and food won't pay themselves, but always negotiate. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Sylvano
Local time: 08:06
English to French
| Don't know if it helps, but... | Apr 12, 2019 |
Don't know about US standards (not really interested, either), but I'm French, living in France, and I wouldn't consider accepting any subtitling job under 10€ per minute (and double that for corporate jobs).
| | | | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Rates for subtitling | Anycount & Translation Office 3000 | Translation Office 3000
Translation Office 3000 is an advanced accounting tool for freelance translators and small agencies. TO3000 easily and seamlessly integrates with the business life of professional freelance translators.
More info » |
| | Wordfast Pro | Translation Memory Software for Any Platform
Exclusive discount for ProZ.com users!
Save over 13% when purchasing Wordfast Pro through ProZ.com. Wordfast is the world's #1 provider of platform-independent Translation Memory software. Consistently ranked the most user-friendly and highest value
Buy now! » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
Translation news
