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

MT field - Shelley

Posted: Oct 27, 2009

Don't you wonder why when you were in school you were told about how many jobs there were out there, how your income was endless and depended on how much work you wanted to do? I do have a job, not one that I can live off of, I earn about $200 every other week, but still, at least I have a job. I look at the job board and see how many people have viewed each job and wonder...at least it is just not me, where is the work? I wish that when I was researching school and such that they would have been obvious up front and said the first couple years can be hard as many companies would prefer to have to years experience. All I ever heard about was the hard workers (which I am) who are making anywhere from $50.000 to $75,000 a year. Even 1/2 of that would be nice. I am really disappointed and feel rather lied to about the whole field, how hard it is to find a job, and how 50-75 thousand is NOT a normal income.

Shelley

Hate to break the news but - Been around a long time

[ In Reply To ..]
The prices you were quoted are very unrealistic, even for people who are have done this work so long they could almost do it blindfolded. Very experienced people, most can transcribe all day without having to even think about breaking a book open or googling anything. For most in this work some are barely eeking out a living with maybe around $20,000 a year if that much. The pay has dropped instead of rising, the raises are never, you are suppposed to produce more if you want more pay, some people having to work 2 or 3 jobs to be able to live, feed and raise a family. The pay you speak of happened years ago and then you really had to be a go getter in order to make that much. You might see a few on here who say differently, but I am saying the majority fall into this category.

money - 7DayMT

[ In Reply To ..]
possible to make the 50-75K but I would say most people have to put in a large amount of hours to do so - leaving not much time for a life.

MT money reality - Shelley

[ In Reply To ..]
I completely understand that the numbers quoted at school were completely unrealistic; but until you get out in the field (and maybe get hired) you have no way of knowing they are lying.
I just think too many people are getting tricked into thinking that is fact; thus they are quitting their corprate jobs and trying this and losing their asses. I just want to work.

Shelley

How depressing! - Smiley

[ In Reply To ..]
I am a new MT but not new to the medical field. Are there any MT's that use to do coding. Are you able to get work faster? To go to school and get trained, and then to hear this news about people barely making it can be depressing. Is it because of the economy currently? Was it like this before the recession hit?

Truths - Been around

[ In Reply To ..]
I have been doing this for many years. I personally contacted a training school the other day 1 person on here told me she had graduated from and was not able to get work. I was so shocked to see what I was reading. One thing was you could type 54 wpm and do 300 lph. Unbelievable this would be on the web site. I also read there most of us worked an average of 30 hours per week and made just as much as full. Smoke was coming from my ears. I read where some independents received all these perks, saying full benefits are provided for paid vacation, sick leave, health insurance, retirement plans. I am independent and I would say most independents know very little, if anything about these perks being given out. I contacted them and let them know most here work 2, 3 and more jobs just to eek out a living, how wages have fallen rather than increased, never a raise and this is how I feel, most in this field being offered the same 8 cents for straight typing, 4 cents for VR, some paying even less. It is not a good field now to make a living and raise a family. I have just looked back on the website and found they have changed some of their wording, have increased what you need as far as typing speed and to make such and such lines per hour you need expanders, etc. No wonder people are being hooked into these schools. Sounds really good, huh?

Sad but true - Ginger

[ In Reply To ..]
People have to realize that schools are businesses and trying to make a profit. Sad that they don't have any morals about it, but it seems it is that way now. (This goes for most schools and not just MT training.)

These companies should be stopped...sm - elaine

[ In Reply To ..]
I think you should look into filing a complaint with the state, the chamber of commerce, the federal trade commission - whomever the accountable body might be.

I think lots of people fall prey to the false claims made by these MT schools, and this should be legislated against.

Possible MT students do your research! - AnotherMT

[ In Reply To ..]
Ever heard of if it sounds too good to be true it probably is? All of you ladies thinking about going into this career because you can make so much money need to go to the actual US Bureau of labor statistics website and look up the average salary for an MT in your state. I'm from the midwest, so even though I have seen the claims about 50,000 or more a year I know the average where I live is $28,000. Which most likely means as a newbie a person will fall below the average until they get a few years experience.

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