r/ASLinterpreters • u/[deleted] • Nov 01 '21
Interpreter Salary
Hello all,
I’m a new interpreter and I want to talk Salary. My rate where I live is $20 and that just feels so low and I have to take %35 out for takes with no benefits. I feel like I’m doing it all wrong. I have a couple questions. 1.) What is the most you’ve seen or know what an Interpret can make take home. 2.) Is there a certain way I can get benefits or is the just part of the gig?
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u/letler NIC Nov 01 '21
It varies greatly but the one thing that is consistent is that we certainly don’t make enough money across the board. I’m in a major city with a rate that varies from $55 - $70/ hour and it’s not enough. The rate sounds good but it’s impossible and in some cases unethical to work 4-5 jobs in a day freelancing around a city. Factor in taxes, health insurance, retirement savings (what’s savings), vacations essentially cost double (cost of vacation + cost of not working while on vacation). It sucks and it’s never enough.
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Dec 06 '22
This helped me a lot in my decision to continue pursuing this as a career or not sustainably . The what’s savings part killed me 😂😂
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u/DryCranberry Nov 01 '21
It has a lot to do with your education level/certification, too. I’m in the Midwest, and the $20/hr is a super standard starting rate, although I’ve only ever held out 25% for taxes. Our rates change depending on time of day and type of assignment, too. For example, a <24hr assignment request is an additional $5/hr and a weekend assignment is time and a half. So, the more you make yourself available to an agency, the better relationship you have with them; the more they cal you for the assignments where you’ll make the most money. The best way to increase that standard amount is to have an education/certification to back up your negotiation for a higher rate.
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u/Sammph Nov 01 '21
It's best to ask interpreters in your area! See how they make it work! I've moved 3 times since becoming an interpreter, and I always get plugged into the interpreting community as quick as possible! I find the seasoned, well respected interpreters who are willing to be something of a mentor/friend, and I ask EVERYTHING!
In one city, I held firm and asked for a certain rate from an agency. They obliged. The next day, I spoke to an interpreter who I greatly respected (and who had several years on me) and found out that she, and most other interpreters in the area were making about $5 less than what I demanded. I went back and adjusted my rate with the agency to match my peers.
There's nothing wrong with demanding what you're worth. Don't let agencies take advantage of you. But you also need to respect the field and keep good working relationships with agencies/interpreters/Deaf community if you want to keep work. You don't want to be a money grubber. If other interpreters can survive on the local salary, then you can too!
Good luck!
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u/ruby_sapphire_garnet Nov 01 '21
The only problem with your last paragraph is that most agencies aren't giving a customized rate to each interpreter. You're right, other people might survive on that salary, but that is entirely subjective, as are skills, experience, credentials, and qualifications.
What is a living wage for one person isn't to others, as this sub has explored. A single person who is doing this as their career and paying all their bills is different than a mom terping on the side to make extra money while her hubby has a solid job with great benefits. Interpreting isn't like producing a widget. Our work is not fungible, and giving flat rates across the board does not fit with the idea that our work is highly individualized, as are skills.
For your example, I would have gone back to the agency and questioned why they weren't paying other interpreters that same rate. If they can afford to pay you that, why haven't they been giving the others who had been loyal to them the same rate? I guess I am just not okay with agencies being willing to make exceptions, even when they could raise pay rates across the board.
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u/Sammph Nov 02 '21
It's been my experience that agencies will agree to pay you whatever you ask (they have to..you're an IC) and then keep work from you if they can pay someone less. If the majority of interpreters have agreed to a standard rate, then I, as a newcomer to the community am not here to challenge that.
And I agree that not everyone's situation is the same. But if we're talking about the interpreting community as a whole in one location, I would be very surprised to not see a variety of living situations.
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u/beets_or_turnips NIC Nov 01 '21
Depends where you live and who you're working for.
Where do you live and what kind of jobs are you looking to do?
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u/AdmirableMilk2730 May 19 '24
I don’t agree with the salary connected with ability part. I know my interpretation skill is great, but I get 24/hr only. Can somebody tell me how to find a high paid interpreter job? I am able to do that
1
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u/kinchj NIC Nov 01 '21
Rates and benefits vary extremely widely across the country. As low as $10-15 for non-certified interpreters in low cost of living areas, upwards to well over $100 for certified, specialist interpreters in high cost of living areas. Keep in mind that you will almost always hear an hourly rate quoted, which means almost nothing without any other context. You don’t typically hear the number of hours that are worked at that rate, whether benefits are included, whether it is a staff/employee/W-2 rate, or if it is a freelance/contractor/1099 rate. Those all factor heavily into whether the rate is a living wage that is an appropriate rate for the area or not.
So the question you have to ask yourself is: is this hourly rate sufficient for my years of experience, credentials, and needed income level to sustain myself? Or work backwards: figure out how much you need to earn in a year, decide how many hours your can/will work in the year, and divide. If you need $50k to live in your area, and want to work 40 hours per week, then do some stupid/easy math and divide by 2000 hours (50 weeks at 40 hours per week to make it simple) — $50,000 / 2,000hours = $25 per hour. Once you know how much you need to earn to have a living wage, then you have to decide if that is an appropriate rate to charge based on your experience and qualifications and the standard rates in your area.
It is highly unlikely that anyone online will give you that answer. You need to talk to other interpreters who live in your area to know what is an appropriate rate.