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

No $ to be made as an MT anymore - Sally

Posted: Sep 03, 2010

Just thinking out load, so please bear with me. I took the summer off to evaluate how I feel about restarting back to work into the MT field. I have many bitter-sweet feelings.

Over 24 years ago I started in the MT industry and have done this working out of my home. I have raised my kids basically alone working a job that I absolutely thrived and loved doing. Now, it doesn't even pay us minimum wage for our Years of knowlege and skill sets we have aquired over the years. I've owned and operated my own company for years then moved to strictly mentoring new MTs out of school and management, which I absolutely loved doing as well.

If we truly sit back and evaluate our industry it's just sad. We are reduced to less than 65 character count not to mention which line counting program the company your working for has their system set up in order for them to make more of the money you worked so hard to earn. It's truly sad to think that if we really had to work and make some serious money anymore we cannot do that in this industry unless we work 24/7. and guaranteed if you need to work that much your QA audits will reflect that.

I refuse to dumb myself down working for a larger corporation as a greeter or behind the deli counter just to have a job. It seems that once in the MT industry it is our passion, just at a significant price which is our intelligence and pride.

I'm done complaining, thank you for reading along. I doubt I will be back in the MT industry transcribing. Hopefully somewhere out there there may be some sort of mentoring position or similar, otherwise I will find something else.

Have a great holiday and thanks again for listening.

I wish I could get out of this field - lovnlife

[ In Reply To ..]
I have been trying for months, but no one will hire me without experience and I have been working at home for 15 years. You are so right!! I am barely making minimum wage. This is the only career I know of where pays goes down or stays the same rather than rising with experience. Very sad!

I wish I could get out, too. The only difference is, - I"m HATIN life these days. nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Same here! Luckily (or not depending on how you - lovnlife

[ In Reply To ..]
look at it), I was offered a minimum paying job at a local fast food place. I am taking it. Very sad.

Pay is less than half what it used to be.... - MTinNC

[ In Reply To ..]
I agree, it's sad. I have been at this just 'almost' 10 years and am making half what I did starting out. The difference for me is that this is still good money for my situation. I homeschool, I do not have to depend solely on my income, and I can't flip burgers for $18 an hour. Here, $18 an hour is unheard of for 'clerical' type work, which you would have to have a decent wardrobe and gas/lunch money to do, so there's even less per hour clear money. And, I still do enjoy my job, so I'm sticking it out. By the time my son is through high school and college, about another 6 years, I will be looking for a different field, but right now, it's the best option I have. I think many of us feel 'stuck' in this field (for lack of a better word).... decent paying jobs are scarce these days. But if you girls are burnt out on MT, then I certainly understand - happiness is worth much more than $18 an hour.... it's priceless.

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