Your numbers
What a translator should include in expenses
Typical costs include translation memory and CAT tools, dictionaries, certifications. Add your own and keep receipts for tax time.
Where unbilled time goes
Translators commonly lose billable hours to file formatting, terminology research and quality checks. Count these when choosing your billable hours per week.
Pricing models
Common choices are per word, per page, or hourly for editing.
Tip: Set minimum fees per job so very short files remain worth taking.
The math
Gross revenue = ($60,000 + $3,500) ÷ 0.72 = $88,194. Billable hours = (52 − 5) × 22 = 1,034. Minimum rate = $88,194 ÷ 1,034 = $85 per hour. See the methodology. Example inputs are illustrations, not market data.
General hourly rate calculator · Tax set-aside · Retainer pricing · All professions
Frequently asked questions
What should a translator charge per hour?
It depends on your target income, costs and billable time. With $60,000 take-home, $3,500 expenses, a 28% tax set-aside, 5 weeks off and 22 billable hours a week, the minimum comes to about $85 per hour. These are example inputs, so enter your own.
How many billable hours does a translator really have?
Many freelancers bill fewer hours than they work because of file formatting, terminology research and quality checks. The example uses 22 billable hours a week; track your own time to find your number.
How should a translator price work?
Common models are per word, per page, or hourly for editing.
Is this the rate I should quote?
No. It is the minimum that meets your targets. Add margin for demand, specialty and risk.