Off topic: average income of freelance translators and the average life expenses in the UK Thread poster: Ömer Maraş
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Ömer Maraş
Türkiye
Local time: 11:19
German to Turkish
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Hi folks,
I'm wondering what the average income of freelance translators and the average life expenses in the UK are... What do freelancers earn per month, and what is the average monthly costs of living in the UK (rent included and excluded)...??
Just wondering....
Any answers???
Thanks in advance!
regards
Omer
| | | | | 34 years of experience ... | Jan 23, 2022 |
... and you still don't know what your average income for freelance translating is? And per month? Or per hour? I wonder if any here could answer that question. In my 14 years as a freelance translator, I only was able to assume a certain trend, how my annual income year will be, after 6 months and then again after 9 months. Costs of living in the UK: In 2007 I had to spend a term abroad in the UK, and I had to pay € 400 for a single room in Portsmouth with a shared bath and kitchen, and I won... See more ... and you still don't know what your average income for freelance translating is? And per month? Or per hour? I wonder if any here could answer that question. In my 14 years as a freelance translator, I only was able to assume a certain trend, how my annual income year will be, after 6 months and then again after 9 months. Costs of living in the UK: In 2007 I had to spend a term abroad in the UK, and I had to pay € 400 for a single room in Portsmouth with a shared bath and kitchen, and I wonder whether that price hasn't risen since then.
[Bearbeitet am 2022-01-23 13:25 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Baran Keki 
Türkiye
Local time: 11:19
Member
English to Turkish
| I'd ask that question | Jan 23, 2022 |
specifically to the Turkish translators living in the UK, assuming by freelancing you mean working as a translator in your language pairs, and not as a web designer or programmer or something else.
Personally, I wouldn't fancy my chances in the UK or EU with an unpopular and oversaturated language pair like English to Turkish...
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... and I'm not sure that averages will be very helpful as both will vary so widely. For example, housing costs in Stoke on Trent will be massively different to London or Oxfordshire and income will vary between language combinations and depend on how many hours someone puts in or how good a marketer they are.
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| The only thing we can say for certain is… | Jan 23, 2022 |
… freelance translator incomes are above the cost of living. Otherwise we wouldn’t do it.
| | | | | And for what language combination? | Jan 23, 2022 |
Ömer Maraş wrote:
I'm wondering what the average income of freelance translators and the average living expenses in the UK are...
No freelance translator will make a higher or lesser revenue when she/he lives inside or outside the UK or any other country. You will earn the same revenue in London in your language combinations as you would in Istanbul or in Kutluca. The same applies to your question in the German branch of this forum: https://www.proz.com/forum/german/355610-durchschnittliche_einkommen_freiberuflicher_übersetzer_durchschnittlichen_ausgaben_in_deutschland.html
And I wonder whether any colleague would share his/her annual income in the public (apart from the few boasters who reached more than 100 k in USD per year for their first time).
[Bearbeitet am 2022-01-23 18:17 GMT]
| | | | Ömer Maraş
Türkiye
Local time: 11:19
German to Turkish
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TOPIC STARTER | "in general" | Jan 23, 2022 |
thanks for all your replies (also in the other language forums)
Dear Matthias
I asked in general. I just wondered if it is "just make do" in other countries as well. And I heard that the cost of living in EUR countries is higher than our average, so I wondered if freelancers in EU countries have it more difficult than us here..
I guess, it's "to each mountain its own snow"...
regards,
Omer
| | | | | When it comes to your ... | Jan 23, 2022 |
... language combination and to living expenses, then I assume (apart from other reasons), that you are already living in the best of countries, as a native speaker, who translates into his native language. And you shouldn't forget income taxes and certain kinds of insurance, which are or can be mandatory in some countries (like income tax and health insurance in Germany). And if you have to leave or will leave your country because of certain reasons, then translation work may be at least cover ... See more ... language combination and to living expenses, then I assume (apart from other reasons), that you are already living in the best of countries, as a native speaker, who translates into his native language. And you shouldn't forget income taxes and certain kinds of insurance, which are or can be mandatory in some countries (like income tax and health insurance in Germany). And if you have to leave or will leave your country because of certain reasons, then translation work may be at least cover the most important expenses you may have the first time before you look for any other or additional sources of income (translation work as it used to be 10 years ago won't be the same in your language combinations too any longer, I assume, because of DeepL and the associated business change to more "post editing" jobs etc.). ▲ Collapse
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Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:19
Member (2008)
Italian to English
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[Edited at 2022-01-24 07:21 GMT]
| | | | Daryo
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:19
Serbian to English
+ ...
| Not even that is certain | Apr 28, 2023 |
Ice Scream wrote:
… freelance translator incomes are above the cost of living. Otherwise we wouldn’t do it.
That would be a reasonable assumption. But Homo economicus is more a theoretical fiction than reality. There is number of bored housewives who don't care much about "making a living", and a number of retired people who don't care much either about "making a living". Not to forget a number of people who can't get their numbers straight (a.k.a. "incapable of the most basic cost-benefit analysis"), and keep working at loss when they should be looking for alternatives.
Short version: "in general" is ways too vague - it could be anything between "making a very decent living" and "high time to get out and cut your losses".
[Edited at 2023-04-28 02:28 GMT]
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:19
Member (2008)
Italian to English
| From today's news: average monthly rents hit £2,500 in London and £1,190 for rest of UK | Apr 29, 2023 |
Assuming that your rent should not be more than on third of your income, if you live renting in London your monthly income, on average, should be £2,500 x 3.
Outside London it should be £1,190 x 3.
Draw your own conclusions!
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