Poll: Is translation work your main source of income?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Aug 12, 2015

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Is translation work your main source of income?".

This poll was originally submitted by Luna Jungblut. View the poll results »



 
Muriel Vasconcellos (X)
Muriel Vasconcellos (X)  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 19:17
Spanish to English
+ ...
Only source of income - sort of Aug 12, 2015

I also have a pension from my years as an in-house translator, but since I earned it through translation, I think it's fair to say that it counts.

 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 03:17
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Yes! Aug 12, 2015

My full income comes from translation: roughly half from a pension (for 20 years I was a member of the permanent staff of one of the EU institutions) and the other half from my freelance work.

 
tilak raj
tilak raj  Identity Verified
India
Local time: 08:47
English to Punjabi
+ ...
Yes Aug 12, 2015

Translation is main source of my income. I have been doing it from 14 years.

 
Natalie Soper
Natalie Soper  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 03:17
French to English
+ ...
Second job Aug 12, 2015

A few evenings a week, I work in a theatre. I've had that job for 8 years, and it's really enjoyable with flexible hours, so I decided to keep it!

 
Paul Stevens
Paul Stevens  Identity Verified
Local time: 03:17
Spanish to English
+ ...
Repeat question Aug 12, 2015

This is now at least the 4th time that this (or a similar) question has popped up on the polls. I found these previous instances from a quick search:

See more
This is now at least the 4th time that this (or a similar) question has popped up on the polls. I found these previous instances from a quick search:

http://www.proz.com/polls/archived?poll_id_link=46

http://www.proz.com/polls/archived?poll_id_link=7355

http://www.proz.com/polls/archived?poll_id_link=209


[Edited at 2015-08-12 11:10 GMT]
Collapse


 
DianeGM
DianeGM  Identity Verified
Local time: 05:17
Member (2006)
Dutch to English
+ ...
90% Aug 12, 2015

I freelance as a translator and journalist - about 90% of my income is from translation.
Same answer as last time


 
Jose Arnoldo Rodriguez-Carrington
Jose Arnoldo Rodriguez-Carrington  Identity Verified
Mexico
Local time: 21:17
English to Spanish
+ ...
So what? Aug 12, 2015

Paul Stevens wrote:

This is now at least the 4th time that this (or a similar) question has popped up on the polls. I found these previous instances from a quick search:

http://www.proz.com/polls/archived?poll_id_link=46

http://www.proz.com/polls/archived?poll_id_link=7355

http://www.proz.com/polls/archived?poll_id_link=209


[Edited at 2015-08-12 11:10 GMT]


I do not know why so many of my colleagues seem to be bothered so much by "repeat" questions". I am sure that posting a new question every single day must become increasingly difficult, and I do not mind a question that is similar or even the same as a previous one, unless it has been made recently.

A repeated question might provide new information about any changes that might have occurred, and besides, it might be a "new" question to many of us.

[Edited at 2015-08-12 15:50 GMT]


 
Triston Goodwin
Triston Goodwin  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 20:17
Spanish to English
+ ...
Yes Aug 12, 2015

I've been translating for about eight years now, but I'm finding more work in web design and this app that I've been working on. I have two projects lined up right now that would pay out more than I made last year.

I also make about $10 per month through YouTube ^_^


 
Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 00:17
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
It used to be the secondary source Aug 14, 2015

And I still think you should have a secondary source of income when you can, for an emergency. You never know what will happen in the market tomorrow.

In my case, however, translation became my only source of income two years ago, when I was demobilized from my last project, at the age of 46, which means the labor market became quite a challenge for me now. There are jobs available, but they will no longer pay half as much as I can earn as a translator.

Nevertheless, i
... See more
And I still think you should have a secondary source of income when you can, for an emergency. You never know what will happen in the market tomorrow.

In my case, however, translation became my only source of income two years ago, when I was demobilized from my last project, at the age of 46, which means the labor market became quite a challenge for me now. There are jobs available, but they will no longer pay half as much as I can earn as a translator.

Nevertheless, it was an excellent decision. I realize that not having working hours, a boss and a board of directors determining the (wrong) way you should work offsets by far not having the benefits of an in-house job.

So, yes, it's my only source of income now, and it will likely remain as such until I retire.
Collapse


 
Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 00:17
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Need a job? Aug 14, 2015

Paul Stevens wrote:

This is now at least the 4th time that this (or a similar) question has popped up on the polls. I found these previous instances from a quick search:

http://www.proz.com/polls/archived?poll_id_link=46
http://www.proz.com/polls/archived?poll_id_link=7355
http://www.proz.com/polls/archived?poll_id_link=209




It took you so much longer to find all these old posts than it would have taken you to just make a fast comment... or to do nothing, which would anyway not look so inappropriate.

[Edited at 2015-08-14 18:30 GMT]


 


To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator:

Moderator(s) of this forum
Jared Tabor[Call to this topic]

You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request »

Poll: Is translation work your main source of income?






Trados Business Manager Lite
Create customer quotes and invoices from within Trados Studio

Trados Business Manager Lite helps to simplify and speed up some of the daily tasks, such as invoicing and reporting, associated with running your freelance translation business.

More info »
CafeTran Espresso
You've never met a CAT tool this clever!

Translate faster & easier, using a sophisticated CAT tool built by a translator / developer. Accept jobs from clients who use Trados, MemoQ, Wordfast & major CAT tools. Download and start using CafeTran Espresso -- for free

Buy now! »