Translation fees on subtitling | There is NO standard whatsoever

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Translation fees on subtitling
Poster: José Henrique Lamensdorf
Post title: There is NO standard whatsoever

There is no standard on fees, nor there are no standards in quality in video translation.

First, there are several different baselines including, but not limited to:
a) Nothing but the video is provided;
b) Video provided, plus similar material previously translated (e.g. other episodes/seasons in a TV series);
c) Video & original (prior to final edit) script provided;
d) Video & final transcript provided;
e) Video & pre-broken time-coded subtitles provided (aka "template").

Second, there are different requests, including:
a) Plain text "concise" translation only;
b) Broken subtitles up to XX chars per line translation only;
c) Time-spotted subtitles in "popular" file format (SRT, SSA, ASS, etc.);
d) Time-spotted subtitles in $$$$ expensive software proprietary file format;
e) Burnt subtitles on SD video;
f) Burnt subtitles on HD, FHD video (rendering takes longer);
g) Authored DVD or Blu-Ray with switchable subtitles.

Third, there are other variables:
a) Technical subject (e.g. "medical" or "legal" TV series, corporate video);
b) Heavy constraints on chars per line, CPS, up&down shifts; switching languages;
c) Quality required (if you watch cable TV, you'll see this varying immensely).

On top of all this, you have specific language pair offer/demand factors.

So my advice is that every individual should check their per-hour "worth". Check how long it takes you to do whatever is requested from you. Do the math, and find out how much in average you should charge. If you can sell your subtitling for this or more, do it! If not, find another endeavor.