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Getting started as in Spanish to English Translation in the UK
Thread poster: Sian Anderson
Sian Anderson
Sian Anderson
United Kingdom
Jul 11

Hi everyone,

I'm a Spanish language graduate based in the UK and am considering retraining as a translator. I'm really interested to learn from other translators about the following and would be grateful for any insight you can give:

- How long it took you to get set up as a translator/to earn the equivalent of a full-time salary
- How much money a typical translator can earn
- How easy/difficult it is to maintain a work/life balance
- The best specia... See more
Hi everyone,

I'm a Spanish language graduate based in the UK and am considering retraining as a translator. I'm really interested to learn from other translators about the following and would be grateful for any insight you can give:

- How long it took you to get set up as a translator/to earn the equivalent of a full-time salary
- How much money a typical translator can earn
- How easy/difficult it is to maintain a work/life balance
- The best specialisms for my language pairing

Many thanks!
Sian ▲ Collapse
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 01:54
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
@Sian Jul 11

Answers to your questions:

Q1. How long it took you to get set up as a translator/to earn the equivalent of a full-time salary?
It depends on what you mean by earning the equivalent to a full-time salary? The amount of a full-time salary can vary significantly based on factors like job type, location, experience, industry. As a freelance it took me circa one year to earn enough to support myself and my children (I already had one client when I started).
Q2. How much mone... See more
Answers to your questions:

Q1. How long it took you to get set up as a translator/to earn the equivalent of a full-time salary?
It depends on what you mean by earning the equivalent to a full-time salary? The amount of a full-time salary can vary significantly based on factors like job type, location, experience, industry. As a freelance it took me circa one year to earn enough to support myself and my children (I already had one client when I started).
Q2. How much money a typical translator can earn?
There’s no such a thing as a typical translator. There are huge differences in the cost of living between many European countries. What I earn each month is extremely variable, on a very good month I may earn 10 or more times than on a bad one…
Q3. How easy/difficult it is to maintain a work/life balance?
It’s never easy, but then again it depends on several factors: Are you married? Do you have children? How many? What age? What is your spouse’s profession? Can you get aid from your family?
Q4. The best specialisms for my language pairing
The ones you like. As I said on another similar thread (https://www.proz.com/forum/getting_established/368413-market_needs_what_are_the_areas_of_specialization_that_have_the_most_demand_eng_spa_fr.html) spending a lot of time hunched over a computer translating material that doesn't mean a thing to you is not a life worth living! ▲ Collapse


Jorge Payan
Chris Says Bye
 
Steve Robbie
Steve Robbie
United Kingdom
Local time: 01:54
Member (2017)
German to English
+ ...
What do you already know about? Jul 12

You said you're considering "retraining". That suggests that you've already had a different job. If you have, why not specialise in that? You'll have a head start, and your practical experience will help you grasp the meaning of your Spanish source texts (and spot things that the bots get wrong).

I'm an ex-accountant and I specialise in finance. It's not a coincidence

Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
 
Joakim Braun
Joakim Braun  Identity Verified
Sweden
Local time: 02:54
German to Swedish
+ ...
Replies Jul 12

Sian Anderson wrote:

- How long it took you to get set up as a translator/to earn the equivalent of a full-time salary


I've always combined translation with other work (employment or freelance). Having a part-time job while working up a customer stable for a year or two is a good idea.

Sian Anderson wrote:
- How much money a typical translator can earn


No idea. My hourly translation pay varies from worst-case around 35 EUR (something has to be seriously wrong then) to around 120 EUR (sworn translation of document types I've done before).

Sian Anderson wrote:
- How easy/difficult it is to maintain a work/life balance


Like most freelance work it's an on/off situation. We work very hard when there's work, and take time off when there isn't. If you want work/life balance and a predictable work rhythm, don't become a freelancer.

Sian Anderson wrote:
- The best specialisms for my language pairing


Finance, legal, pharma and tech are always good subjects.

Jorge Payan
 


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