A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

no $ for newbies - poor house

Posted: Dec 06, 2011

How long is one considered a newbie? I'm currently working as an IC for .055 ppl and have been for about 6 months.... I really need to work for a better paying company.... is it normal to have such a low-paying job for the first year?

its normal to have a low-paying job the rest of your life - if your an MT anyway

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15 years experience, I am making 7 cpl as an IC.

wow. my previous instructor insisted I should make - poor house

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at least .07 cpl as a newbie, IC status. I read so much about how newbies shouldn't take such low paying jobs, that there are good jobs out there, but where are they? I'm shocked you don't make more with 15 years exp...

right. - im shocked too

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Acute care, I type everything, used to make 40,000 a year part time, and now I am working for 7 cpl as an IC.

Can someone give me a car and a garage and a bottle of Benadryl?

No $ Newbies - Better now

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I was a newbie with DTS America who sold out to Transcend. They started me at 4 cpl. As I proved myself in QA, they raised to 6 cpl. In another couple of months they raised me to 8 cpl. If you are maintaining the QA standard which for most is 98% (don't know about your line count), you should ask them to raise you. I could not make the line count, so I worked part time. They did not know how much time I spent to make my line count.

I don't get any feedback at this point so - poor house

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I'm not sure if I'm maintaining 98% or better. I'm assuming I am since they are not on my case about anything ever. They only feedback I get is when I pend a job for review. Otherwise, I never hear from anyone which is kinda nice!! I have no line count to worry about and I'm PT as well... I have been thinking about asking for a raise. Being new to the industry I have no idea if it's appropriate to ask for a raise after 6 months on the job..... So you are still with Transcend?

No $ Newbies - Better now

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No. I have worked 3 places since DTS. You should ask for review and raise until you are paid their standard rate of pay.

Requirements for Part-Time Positions - mwhit06

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In reply to "I don't get any feedback," how are your hours set since you are part time? Is it common procedure for part-timers to not have line count requirements? Also, are you still required to work nights? I recently was ready to sign up for medical transcription training, but then I became worried after seeing so many negative posts, in addition to the requirement of night work. Night work would be hard since I have kids to take care of. Any insight would be appreciated.

Pay for new MTs - A seasoned veteran

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I think that they are trying to bring women into this profession and are not being honest in the way the schools advertise that "you can make upwards of $60,000 a year as an MT." In today's MT world that is a pipe dream and often unobtainable. I started out over 30 years ago making more than I make now, and up until 10 years ago this profession paid a halfway decent pay, but not now. I now make 9 cpl and 4 cpl doing VR. Anywhere you go now you can expect starting out at 7 cpl or less when you are new, and you can always ask for a raise, but that happens rarely. I worked with Transcend for awhile a few years ago, and we were supposed to get reviewed once a year and expected a raise from that...it never happened the entire time I worked there. The only time I got a raise was when I worked in a hospital setting. I have worked for about 5 major MT companies, and none of them really came through with their promises, and they basically all operate the same way. You can work your fanny off, and give them everything they want, even get great reviews, but that does not mean a thing. I am not saying this always happens, but for the major companies, especially the ones that are offshoring, you can forget the benefits and the nice things we once had. I remember about 5 years ago getting great incentives, not so anymore. I don't mean to be discouraging, but the schools that train MTs put the rosy glasses on the students and promise them everything when they get out, but they also want their money to train you, so why wouldn't they make it seem like everything will be wonderful once you have finished your training. I know this happens, because I was once a supervisor for MedQuist many years ago, and they did pay great then, well they don't anymore. They just want your hands on those keys and your nose to the grindstone, no excuses and no perks.

Why would an experienced MT work for 7 CPL? Ridiculous!!! - Whywhywhy

[ In Reply To ..]
This is why our profession is in trouble and why companies get away with dropping our wages lower and lower. Diskriter offered me 7.5 cpl WITH bennies and I turned them down flat!! I'm worth more than that!!

I have, however, accepted a position with Webmedx for a little more, but they do offer a phenomenal incentive plan starting at a low line rate, with the ability to make up to 1 cpl easily, plus a shift differential.

There are jobs out there making more than 7 cpl IC! I left a job making 9 cpl for this job!!!

As far as I am concerned, any experienced MT is choosing to make 7 cpl; it's not because you have to.

Nice - why indeed

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People do what they have to do. I've been an MT for nearly 10 years and if the only job I could find was one that paid 7 cpl then I'd damn sure take it.

There aren't tons of jobs out there. Good for you leaving a happy high-paying job and scoring another one. That makes you LUCKY.

As far as I'm concerned, any MT who looks down on an experienced MT for taking a lower paying job because it's the only one she can find is not very nice. And I hope said MT is never in a position where she has to "lower herself".

I wasn't looking down on anyone! - Seemessage

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The person didn't say it's all they could find. There are companies that have ads up all the time needing help. People do what they have to do! I know I do!! I don't have a gravy job working day hours M-F whenever I want!! I work when the company needs coverage in order to get the pay I need to pay my bills. People can't have it both ways. Don't complain about what companies pay if you limit your availability. That's not mean - it's honesty. It's not LUCK - it's flexibility.

13 yrs experience; today I accepted a 7 CPL gig - CareerMT

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My new gig is only part time so it's my secondary gig, not primary.

It's doing radiology, which is my favorite. Rad is an incredibly easy, repetitive specialty, plus the account has tons of normals/macros/templates.

The main reason I took it is because there is PLENTY of work, unlike my 9 CPL primary gig, which is overstaffed like the rest of that company's accounts. Since I can seriously crank out some lines that 7 CPL isn't such a big deal because the volume will make up for it.

If there are so many jobs that pay more than 7 cpl - yochana

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then why aren't other MT sharing the info with their fellow MTs? The higher paying cpl is not the norm.

Why people don't share cpl rate - Oldie

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I treasure how much I make, and I don't want others knowing about it because I don't want anything to change. I am making what I do after years of experience and working to find the best employer. To expect anyone to let you simply ride in on their coattails is not very realistic. It takes research, and I don't believe any MT is going to volunteer openly that she makes a good amt per line because then everyone would flock to that employer and pay would inevitably drop. It's bad enough with the offshoring threat. Just being realistic.

Oldie - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
I am on the same page with you. The last company I worked for as an MT had a clause in the contract stating that we were not to disclose cpl. (It was 9.5 for me, and they came after me to recruit me to work for them; I did not solicit them.) Anyway, they hired me, and I worked for them for several years. They specifically requested that I NOT mention their name on any boards. They have less than 500 employees and their HR did not want to have to deal with newbies at all. The company prefers to recruit its own MTs, which it does. I mention these things just to show folks that while there ARE many jobs that pay over 7 cpl, many companies do not want to be inundated by newbie apps. (This company requires a minimum of 7 years of experience--and a lot of ESL experience-- to interview.) I feel sorry for the newbies. I think their cause is hurt by so many inferior schools out there. Many MTSOs just got tired of dealing with newbies who were not prepared. This hurts the newbies from schools that are legit. My heart goes out to everyone in this field right now, and, if I may be honest, I am glad I am done!

Does Webmedx offer IC status or - poor house

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only employee status? I currently need PT IC status. At this point I would be happy with 7 cpl. Sad, I know...

My note read I work for 9 cpl - Another MT

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I think I did say in my note that I work for 9 cpl and make 4 cpl when I do VR. Thanks:)

Would you name the schools that claim $60,000? - sm

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It would be helpful to know which of the schools say you will make $60,000 so people can avoid them. Are these the matchbook schools or the huge ones like one I saw this week that charged 30,000?

Unfortunately... - Christine

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I used to recommend MT to people I thought would be good at it. Not any more! I've been an MT for almost 20 years. My line rate now is less than what it was 20 years ago. I'm an IC, making 8-9 cpl (65 characters including spaces), depending on the account I'm working on. My income has gone down, living expenses have gone up. I've tried VR, which is a total joke. I'm a fast typist, so most of the time I could type a report myself in about the same amount of time it would take me to edit it, and I got paid half of my MT rate (i.e. 9 cpl MT, 4.5 cpl VR editing). The MT companies just want to make more money, so VR is just one way for them to pay their MTs less.

Granted, MT services now have to charge the docs less than they could 20 years ago, thanks to having to compete with offshore rates. In addition, a LOT more MT companies are in existence, so the competition for contracts is much more fierce than it was 20 years ago.

That said, 5.5 cpl is a disgrace even for a newbie, but I think 7 cpl would be pushing your luck unless you are a truly exceptional newbie. I would certainly look around for another job, now that you have some experience under your belt. Good luck; I hope it works out for you!

Thank you - NM

[ In Reply To ..]
xx

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