Rates of pay for transcription work

[TatterdemalionAspie]

I've been doing some transcription work for the past year or so, and charge £1.10 per audio minute for focus groups, and £1.00 pam for one-to-one interviews. I deal directly with the people/companies concerned.

I've just been offered some work by an established transcriptionist, and she's offering £36 for an hour file (I assume this is one-to-one interview), so 60p per audio minute. Is this around the standard pay when getting work via a third party (ie, though an agency, effectively)?

I was a bit shocked!

[chinni10]

hi all
I am starting medical transcription with an agency . they say 30 p per ,minute of audio.
how long does it take to transcribe 15 minutes?
can I increase the charge in due course?
thanks

[happyinherts]

That's terrible. Having you over a barrel. I'd charge £1 per audio min. 15 mins takes an experienced typist an hour

[Janis11]

I've been doing Transcription work
for 30p per minute. I can't see me making anything out of it. I worked with the NHS for 10yrs as a Medical Secretary. So many templates and ways to lay things out! Has anyone else found this?

[Janis11]

I think this is awful 😖

[Janis11]

Im the same it's shocking. Looks good until you get into it. I'm a good medical typist and it took me a lot more than 20 minutes to transcribe 11 letters! Can't see me sticking with it but good luck

[happyinherts]

So.... For a very experienced transcriber, fast and without the need to keep changing template and other distractions - one hour of speech should take around four hours.

That one hour of speech, 60 minutes, based on 30p per minute, will earn you £18.00. You have thus earnt less than £5 per hour.

More than likely 60 mins of speech will take more than an hour because it's not straight monologue speech. It's new documents, new templates, the need to Google spellings or terminology, etc.

And this is for an experienced transcriber.... Peanuts, pure peanuts. Really isn't worth the stress.

[chinni10]

thank you .

[chinni10]

£5 per hour is very demotivating . I wonder how they get people work for this rate. I dont think that I will be accepting this work. thank you all for your responses
regards

[happyinherts]

People don't always understand. They may not realise that transcription takes at least x 4 the length of recording. Simple to think 30p a minute. I'll get £18 an hour, and that's good for work from home. When you factor in it will take four or five hour to earn that - you're looking at between £4 and £5 per hour. I won't work for less than £1 per min for this kind of niche transcription.