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Question for Independent Contractors - mtmt

Posted: Sep 13, 2014

To the independent contractors out there...How much do you usually average per hour when being paid per lines? I just recently took a job a new company, what they offered in cpl seemed to be decent, but once I got working the software they use is extremely hard to get a good line count. It seems I just keep typing (and/or edit for the SR) away, but the lines take forever to add up. I think we are paid 72 characters for line, no spaces, no headers/footers, and you have to enter all that stuff in cause it doesn't automatically pull it in...

ANYWAYS to the point...I am averaging about 9.00/hour give or take a few on some days but now after deducting for all the taxes, plus extra I have to pay as an IC, my take home pay is close to nothing. I can either pay bills or pay taxes, but am definitely not making enough for both. I want to ask for more money, but I wanted to see what other IC contractors are working for first.

Just FYI..I'm not a new MT, been doing this for 20+ years, so I'm seasoned and not a slowpoke... I'm just new at IC.

The problem seems to be line length and SM - Old Anon

[ In Reply To ..]
no spaces; 72 characters is a long line and with no spaces to boot, it's going to take longer to accumulate your line count. Did the client "tell" you this was how they paid at the outset, and did you have a chance to negotiate a better line rate? I'm not a contractor for an MTSO, but have my own client, so what I make will have no bearing on your issue; but usually line lengths are 65 characters with spaces with or without headers/footers. Hopefully some others will weigh in on their IC rates. Sorry to say though, I think you got a bum deal, and I hope you can renegotiate a better rate considering the line length/no spaces.

question for you - icmt

[ In Reply To ..]
If you are an IC, why would you agree to a 72 cpl with no spaces, headers/footers, etc? That's INSANITY. They'd have to be paying you 11-12 cpl MINIMUM for you to begin to make money.

IMO, you're better off spending that nonproductive time job hunting. Most retail places pay more than that.

DO NOT WORK FOR NO SPACES - RIP OFF

[ In Reply To ..]
I am making 20.00+ an hour as IC. They do pay for spaces and when I look at lines for each report, metrics give me lines with and without spaces, it is a HUGE difference. I would never work for a company that does not pay for spaces as that is a character that we are punching down on the keyboard!! I would definitely look for something else! You will get nowhere!

So about every 6 lines you lose a whole line and - more with no spaces. nm

[ In Reply To ..]
sad.

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