Unfortunately, there isn’t much reliable, comparable data on freelance-translator income worldwide. In the absence of robust stats, there are two ways to estimate earnings:
United States (ATA survey, 2023): average around $57,000.
France (SFT, last available 2012): freelancers reported about €46,000 per year.
(These figures are indicative only; markets differ widely.)
Assumptions: native writing level in the target language, strong command of source(s), standard pro tools, and not beginners.
Throughput and days worked
Typical daily capacity (today, mostly MT post-editing + translation): 8,000 words/day.
Workable days/year after weekends, ~1 month vacation, public holidays: 225.
Idle days with no billable work (~15%): −38.
Admin, accounting, IT, invoicing, conferences (net extra): −10.
Sick/personal leave: −4.
Effective billable days: 173.
Rate assumption and revenue
Example average rate: €0.05/word (adjust to your market).
Annual gross revenue: 8,000 × 173 × 0.05 ≈ €69,200.
Costs
Typical annual business expenses (software, hardware, accounting, insurance, training, office, travel): ≈ €15,000 (varies by country).
Estimated profit (before income tax/social charges)
€69,200 − €15,000 ≈ €54,200.
Reality check: results vary more than in most professions. Full-timers can net as low as €15k (or quit altogether) and, at the other end, many established specialists easily exceed €100k—especially in higher-rate markets.
© 2025 Alejandro Moreno Ramos, www.ingenierotraductor.com