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What's the going rate for editing gigs?
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PAzine



Joined: 22 May 2007
Posts: 45
PostPosted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 5:28 pm    Post subject: What's the going rate for editing gigs? Reply with quote
I've stumbled into a "name your price" sort of scenario, but I have no idea of market rates.

Does anyone know what is a decent rate for smoothing and polishing business document translations?
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Henry_Cowell



Joined: 27 May 2005
Posts: 3352
Location: Berkeley
PostPosted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 7:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I just compiled, edited, and formatted a multinational company's annual technology report. I charged them US$80/hr. It was also a name-your-price situation, so I'm sure that US$100/hr wouldn't have been out of the question. I've never billed higher than US$90/hr for editing, but there are those who do.

In the U.S., you'll find places paying no more than $15/hr -- but what sort of editing will they get?? Wink
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PAzine



Joined: 22 May 2007
Posts: 45
PostPosted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 12:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Henry_Cowell wrote:
I just compiled, edited, and formatted a multinational company's annual technology report. I charged them US$80/hr. It was also a name-your-price situation, so I'm sure that US$100/hr wouldn't have been out of the question. I've never billed higher than US$90/hr for editing, but there are those who do.

In the U.S., you'll find places paying no more than $15/hr -- but what sort of editing will they get?? Wink

Thanks Henry. Your numbers are little out of my league, if that's what the going rate is.

I have an associate working as an editor at the China Daily, and he makes 13,000 RMB/month, plus an apartment. That's the yardstick I've been going by. I'm about at his level, in terms of qualifications and experience.

There's no way I could justify asking for $80/hr here. Or even $50.

The gig in question is shaping up to be a long term regular thing. With a few months of solid work and relationship building, I foresee a situation where I'm assured a steady income from any location with net access. I cooked a deal like that in Taiwan last year and it was sweet.

My home was my office, I had a lot of free time, I worked at my own schedule, etc.

I'm not looking to break the bank with my rates here.

**********************************

Given that additional context, what would be a good number to start with? One that doesn't rip myself off, while still being low enough to make the source feel happy and comfortable?
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Kurochan



Joined: 01 Mar 2003
Posts: 944
Location: China
PostPosted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 3:12 pm    Post subject: What city are you in? Reply with quote
I was paid 150 an hour for editing in Shenzhen, but I've heard the usual rate is like 100 an hour in Shanghai, just because there are so many foreigners here that you can't ask for as much money.
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Henry_Cowell



Joined: 27 May 2005
Posts: 3352
Location: Berkeley
PostPosted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 3:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
You didn't say what the job is or where it's located. If it's in China, if it's an important enough "business document" for a big company, and if your skills are superior to the local talent, you can still name your price. If it's just somebody's correspondence or otherwise simply one employee's writing, then you of course can't go too high.

Who is paying you? A company? An individual employee?
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Mister Al



Joined: 28 Jun 2004
Posts: 840
Location: In there
PostPosted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 3:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
OP

Charge by the page. Y5 to Y10, something like that. Will be easier for future negotiations.......there won't be any. Smile
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PAzine



Joined: 22 May 2007
Posts: 45
PostPosted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 5:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Kurochan wrote:
I was paid 150 an hour for editing in Shenzhen, but I've heard the usual rate is like 100 an hour in Shanghai, just because there are so many foreigners here that you can't ask for as much money.


Cool. That gives a good idea of the landscape I figure I'll be dealing with.

Henry_Cowell wrote:
You didn't say what the job is or where it's located. If it's in China, if it's an important enough "business document" for a big company, and if your skills are superior to the local talent, you can still name your price. If it's just somebody's correspondence or otherwise simply one employee's writing, then you of course can't go too high.

Who is paying you? A company? An individual employee?


I'd rather not yet say the location, expect for the fact that it's a major city that is neither Shanghai or Beijing. It is a translation company that serves corporate clients.

According to the person I've been dealing with, their problem is not in finding a foreigner to do the work, but rather in finding someone able to deliver the quality of results that they need.

They seem to think that I'm their man, and I agree. In the last communique, I was asked to name my terms and conditions. Soo... I'd like to set this up right.

Mister Al wrote:
OP

Charge by the page. Y5 to Y10, something like that. Will be easier for future negotiations.......there won't be any. Smile


That sounds good.

Has anyone ever charged by page? What's a good number?

Thanks again for any and all ideas!
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william wallace



Joined: 14 May 2003
Posts: 2869
Location: in between
PostPosted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 2:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
In around 2001-02 I edited a series of books(10) and was paid 1000 USD per two books(about 200 pages total)
In 2005 I ghost wrote a manual on iBT TOEFL (40 pages) and was paid 4500 RMB. I also ghost wrote stuff on IELTS for about 400 RMB per hour.
Good luck
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Kurochan



Joined: 01 Mar 2003
Posts: 944
Location: China
PostPosted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 3:45 pm    Post subject: No by page Reply with quote
I'd never want to be paid by page because sometimes you get a document that's so bad you spend like an hour and a half for just one. By the hour seems fairer both for you and the client -- if the document is good and easy for you to go through, they pay less, if it's lousy and it's hard work for you, you get more.
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