Forum: Subtitling
Topic: [Subtitling Rates] per minute rates
Poster: BlanKspaCe
Post title: I see...
[quote]jbjb wrote:
Yes, French is the most expensive language together with German, also Scandinavian and a few others. USD 3 per minute is what big international companies are trying to push all languages down to. It is not a livable wage for a translator in France and can be accepted either because of interest (i.e. you would be willing to translate fan subs for free anyway, so why not get at least some money) or by housewives/husbands who just have a lot of time to spare.
The rates for most French-based (or Europe-based) companies are much better due to trade union pressure and make French one of the last languages in the world where professional translators can still make a living with subtitles. Scandinavia is an example where the rates have become so low across the board that an 8-hour working day with regular speed as a subtitle translator gives you just about the minimum wage of the country. So subtitle translation has become the work of mostly students, not professional translators. And of course there are people, if given a choice between dishwashing and subtitle translation for equal pay, would pick translation.
The way to make money with USD 3 per minute or minimum wage is to work more - as a subtitle translator, you can work 12 hours a day and 7 days a week and earn more than a dishwasher who is usually bound by the 40-hour working week.
Or you can be fast. Translate 2 films a week? It is entirely possible to translate 4-5 films or more with good quality. Really. Not all people can do it. The translators who cannot, say the rates have become too ridiculous and give up subtitling. The others adjust and work faster. It may be impossible for old generation subtitle translators who have become used to working on one film for a week to learn how to do it in 1-2 days.
As a newbie you have a choice - get better-paying jobs from France or accept low international rates (not necessarily USD 3, also USD 5-6 per minute would be considered unlivable for anyone working with French rates) and learn how to translate fast. [/quote]
I guess I will go for the second option as a newbie!
I may not be confident but I have pride in my work and I aim for a perfect balance between quality and quantity. I better get started then and learn fast! Thank you!
Topic: [Subtitling Rates] per minute rates
Poster: BlanKspaCe
Post title: I see...
[quote]jbjb wrote:
Yes, French is the most expensive language together with German, also Scandinavian and a few others. USD 3 per minute is what big international companies are trying to push all languages down to. It is not a livable wage for a translator in France and can be accepted either because of interest (i.e. you would be willing to translate fan subs for free anyway, so why not get at least some money) or by housewives/husbands who just have a lot of time to spare.
The rates for most French-based (or Europe-based) companies are much better due to trade union pressure and make French one of the last languages in the world where professional translators can still make a living with subtitles. Scandinavia is an example where the rates have become so low across the board that an 8-hour working day with regular speed as a subtitle translator gives you just about the minimum wage of the country. So subtitle translation has become the work of mostly students, not professional translators. And of course there are people, if given a choice between dishwashing and subtitle translation for equal pay, would pick translation.
The way to make money with USD 3 per minute or minimum wage is to work more - as a subtitle translator, you can work 12 hours a day and 7 days a week and earn more than a dishwasher who is usually bound by the 40-hour working week.
Or you can be fast. Translate 2 films a week? It is entirely possible to translate 4-5 films or more with good quality. Really. Not all people can do it. The translators who cannot, say the rates have become too ridiculous and give up subtitling. The others adjust and work faster. It may be impossible for old generation subtitle translators who have become used to working on one film for a week to learn how to do it in 1-2 days.
As a newbie you have a choice - get better-paying jobs from France or accept low international rates (not necessarily USD 3, also USD 5-6 per minute would be considered unlivable for anyone working with French rates) and learn how to translate fast. [/quote]
I guess I will go for the second option as a newbie!
I may not be confident but I have pride in my work and I aim for a perfect balance between quality and quantity. I better get started then and learn fast! Thank you!