Poll: Does your income as a freelancer generally increase each year? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Does your income as a freelancer generally increase each year?".
This poll was originally submitted by tilakahuja. View the poll results »
| | | neilmac Spain Local time: 00:11 Spanish to English + ...
AFAIK, it more or less stays the same. I don't actually pay much attention to stuff like that, as long as my rent and bills get paid on time. For what it's worth, I've just had a look at my records and it seems my income underwent a significant drop from 2008 to 2009 - almost 40% - probably due to the global economic crisis. I can't tell you quickly how my earnings fared in 2010 or 2011, as that's when I started calculating things quarterly and it would take me about 20 minutes to... See more AFAIK, it more or less stays the same. I don't actually pay much attention to stuff like that, as long as my rent and bills get paid on time. For what it's worth, I've just had a look at my records and it seems my income underwent a significant drop from 2008 to 2009 - almost 40% - probably due to the global economic crisis. I can't tell you quickly how my earnings fared in 2010 or 2011, as that's when I started calculating things quarterly and it would take me about 20 minutes to work out the annual totals... but by 2012 my income was almost back to 2008 levels. Then in 2013 it was a little lower, about 3000 euros less, but still enough to get by. So far, this year feels about the same as last year... But I've just checked it out and I've actually earned quite a bit less than in the same period last year. If things continue this way, I could easily be back to the same level as 2009... It all depends on whether I work much during summer... But then again I'm not terribly bothered.
[Edited at 2014-05-28 08:46 GMT] ▲ Collapse | | | Tim Drayton Cyprus Local time: 01:11 Turkish to English + ...
I have a graph of my annual earnings for the years 2005 - 2013, during which I have been freelancing full-time as a translator, and the overall trend appears to be steady in monetary terms. The cost of living has gone up a lot over the same period where I live, so this translates into a gradually declining standard of living. In fact, the trend was sharply upwards over 2005 - 2007, then it fell to a lower trough in the crisis years of 2008 - 2012, with a degree of recovery in 2010 - 2011, but la... See more I have a graph of my annual earnings for the years 2005 - 2013, during which I have been freelancing full-time as a translator, and the overall trend appears to be steady in monetary terms. The cost of living has gone up a lot over the same period where I live, so this translates into a gradually declining standard of living. In fact, the trend was sharply upwards over 2005 - 2007, then it fell to a lower trough in the crisis years of 2008 - 2012, with a degree of recovery in 2010 - 2011, but last year things picked up and my annual earnings slightly exceeded those for 2007. The secular trend appears to be sideways. ▲ Collapse | | |
I should have said generally yes, though with a few peaks and valleys along the way: right at the beginning (one year later), I made the cardinal sin of having all my eggs in on basket (the Belgian agency I was working with lost their main client): I learned at my own expense a very valuable lesson! Circa 20 years later, I felt a slowdown as the economic crisis deepened, but these last three years have been pretty good… | |
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There has been an overall rising trend over the past 22 years, though two years saw decreases. | | | Michael Harris Germany Local time: 00:11 Member (2006) German to English
yes, if I work more, no if I do not;-) | | | I don't work full time | May 28, 2014 |
I have recently graduated from University and, though I have done several translations and transcriptions in the past, I still don't work full time (even not part time... just sporadic assignments). Therefore I can't live on translation. | | |
On my smoothed 1-year sliding window income (which automatically adjusts for seasonal variations), my income rose steadily until October 2011 and has been dropping more or less steadily ever since. | |
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I've been seeing an increase of roughly 33% each year as I find better clients and improve my processes. This year looks even better, to be honest. Our expenses will drop about $1,000 a month once we move | | | DianeGM Local time: 01:11 Member (2006) Dutch to English + ...
My bottom line is rising slowly and steadily but there has been a huge explosion in cost of living here in Greece .... | | | Ventnai Spain Local time: 00:11 German to English + ...
Much as I try, it always seems to stay the same for one reason or other, even though I am actually working with agencies which pay more. I have had more slow periods than in the past and maybe took to much holiday last year | | | Julian Holmes Japan Local time: 08:11 Member (2011) Japanese to English
Like Triston & Gaby, I'm always improving my skills and processes, which means I can get more done in a progressively shorter time. I'm also continually acquiring new knowledge. Let's face it. We're in the knowledge business - we are selling our know-how and expertise. The more we know, the more we can handle content-wise. Coupled with better skills and faster translation capabilities, our income should (touch wood!) increase proportionally. However, one thing is certai... See more Like Triston & Gaby, I'm always improving my skills and processes, which means I can get more done in a progressively shorter time. I'm also continually acquiring new knowledge. Let's face it. We're in the knowledge business - we are selling our know-how and expertise. The more we know, the more we can handle content-wise. Coupled with better skills and faster translation capabilities, our income should (touch wood!) increase proportionally. However, one thing is certain. I've seen the number of bottom-feeder LSPs asking translators to work at Walmart cut-price translation rates increase with each year, too. Grrrr Added a little more venom in last time Grrrrrr
[Edited at 2014-05-29 09:41 GMT] ▲ Collapse | |
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EvaVer (X) Local time: 00:11 Czech to French + ... Over what period? | May 29, 2014 |
As others, I have had ups and downs. It has been growing lately, but without inflation, it would be about the same as in the 1990s, or lower for certain years. | | | Gina W United States Local time: 19:11 Member (2003) French to English
It varies from year to year. Some years are busier than others, that's the nature of being a freelancer. | | | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Poll: Does your income as a freelancer generally increase each year? Anycount & Translation Office 3000 | Translation Office 3000
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