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How much do you make per year doing MT and do you work PT/FT and

Posted By: Just curious. on 2006-05-18
In Reply to:

for a company or have your own clients?  Just wondering how I compare.  I work for both and made just over $24,000 last year.


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I *only* make $40K a year for full time work. Now I find that isn't decent is or fair?
nm
how does one make 50K/year?

I mean really, please let me know your secrets. 


There is no other job where I could make 60K per year sm

and do it in my pajamas.  I love my job.  Hope you found something good.


Unfortunately, MT does not work for everyone.  If it didn't work for me, I would try something else, too.  You have to have certain skills, a certain mindset, etc., or you just cannot make it. 


I make about $24,000/year, and that's -
:(
I make about $6K more per year with my CMT.
:)

I will make just over $40K this year sm
Actual, I am typing, hands on the keyboard time is about 8 to 9 hours a day. I work as an employee at 8.5 cpl and as an IC for 10 cpl and I do some QA for $16 an hour. The QA is a courtesy to my IC company and really cuts into my typing time there where I can do $30 an hour or better. QA is only about 5 hours a week, except when I am training an MT, and I am training 2 right now. It was 8 hours so far this week.

You ask about normals and expanders. I use an Expander with a lot of shortcuts, as in many thousands. Normals, I have some. The system at my employee job has some in it, I have made a few (less than 50). The IC job I have made a few too (less than 25). Most of my normals are shells of headers and the few things they always say. All I do it is acute care, primarily OP notes and yes, I don't have that many normals. When your pool has about 2000 doctors in it, normals are a challenge to find and make.

I have oh, reasonable work habits. I take frequent short breaks because I have to. I do work a split shift, which really helps me make it through the day, and the IC is catch as catch can, and about 6000 lines every 2 weeks. I usually spend about 2 or 3 partial hours a day typing at top speed, like an athlete. The rest of the time I do the best I can. I have stellar days and days when I feel I like I need to eat every hour! And I do it too.

Yup, I do the laundry and the dishes while I am working. I always have the TV or a DVD in, but music on Saturday mornings.
I also make many gifts throughout the year....
and spend alittle on the grandkids. This year I'm making a collage of pictures of my mom and dad (both deceased) for my sister, and my 3 sons. Friends get baked goodies and candies.

Grandkids will each get a toy (yes "A" toy), and a couple of small books (I'm the "Book Gran"). I'll make stocking for my 3 sons, my DIL and my 3 grandkids, just trinkets, etc that I find at the dollar store, and fruit and candies (like M&M's). And that's it.

Christmas isn't about GIFTS, its about love, hope, and faith.
Shut the h*** up. I make $75K a year doing this with BIG nationals.
I get full benefits. I'm not gutless in any way and I'm NOT having my "rights" taken away from me.

They're not doing anything to me I don't want them to do.

If that's YOUR situation, then make that STUPID statement about your own idiot self.

I'm doing just fine financially, Granny. I doubt YOU make the money I do. Not many do, they're not willing to sit their butts down and actually WORK for more than a few minutes at a time without running here and complain to all the other 'children' about 'school'.

I don't take s*** off anyone, not individuals and certainly not places I work -- there are too many of them out there to work for and if I don't want to do that, I can work for myself.

I kinda like the fact that I bring home more than THREE times what it takes for me to live, AND have insurance, AND a TSA, AND choose my work schedule.
Now you know why a lot of chefs make $75,000-100k a year!

It will be interesting to see the final episode tonight. 


KD, are you on crack - very few people make $50,000/year - sm
I make about $58,000, but I work my butt off doing it, have 18 years experience. You sound like a Sally Struthers ad when you make a comment like that! Next thing you know, you will be telling this woman that she can breastfeed her child while she is transcribing and have another one sitting on her lap!!

I do love this job, but I tell people to expect to make at least $25,000-$30,000/year.
are you the same Laura E who did not even make 12k last year? That doesn't
sound like plenty of work. It sounds like PT and that does not mean that there is enough for FT.
Right. You would have to be sicko to make $100K a year on 8 cpl.
x
Anybody make less than $12,000/year, part time - sm
I know at just part time (minimum 25 hrs a week) I won't be pulling in a ton of $, but I thought it would be a little more than that.  Am I alone?
Low wages? I make approx $60K a year at
nm
Who ARE these people who make this stuff up every year charge $ for it??
I could make one up every year myself.  Why do they think they are an authority.  I have never understood this, and will never buy another one.  I bought one in my life for $75.  What a waste of money to read someone's "made up rules for this year."
40-year-olds tend to make much better students
than 20-year-olds!

In four years you will be 42 years old either way. Do you want to be 42 with or without your Batchelor's degree? :oD


I LOVE freezer jam - make it every year with our berries!
NM
What about benefits? I make 50k a year working for a company
out of my home full time. No gas money, no traveling, no printing, faxing, and I get full benefits. How is making 50000 as an MTSO good money? I really just don't get it!
Basically, you make a projection of what you think you will clear for the year.
Then figure what the tax due on that amount would be and break it into four payments. There is a worksheet out there from the IRS the helps you to do this. Your state income and local taxes should also be paid quarterly and would be based on the same $$ amount.

The first year of IC is the hardest to guess because you will have deductions that you may not even be aware of but I would strongly encourage you to go IC!! I love it, despite the drawbacks as some posted below.

As a true IC, you decide when to work, how much you charge and don't let anyone else tell you that the clients you do work for have the right to dictate your work hours to you. Some have referred to working for a company or companies; if that's what you do and they dictate to you your hours, you're NOT an IC but an employee and therein lies the problem with scheduling.

There are way too many people out there who apparently think they are ICs when, in fact, they are employees. The companies that are telling them when to work, how much they will pay, are flat out wrong if they think they can call these people IC and then dictate the above parameters. Just make sure that the advice you are receiving regarding IC is actually from someone who really knows and understands what an IC is.
I make photo calendars featuring snapshots from last year
Birthday celebrants featured in each month; group photos for holidays. Made my files using the hp activity center, saved on my computer, then printed them using the recommended paper, which I ordered from the same site and was shipped overnight for free. Draw-back: time- and ink-consuming (good thing we refill our cartridges).
8 and 9 year olds do not have the maturity to make decisions like this. That's why they have pare
x
Well, ya can't make $50k a year unless you're willing to give up your life and be chained to S

you PC 12+ hours a day.  I can't recommend any particular school as I didn't go to one of the "online" schools.  I learned in an actual classroom which I recommend over any of these online schools.  Another thing I recommend is working in an office for at least six months, but more like a year, because there is a gigantic learning curve once you actually get a job.  There are just things that schools can't or don't teach, things that can only be learned on the job from other MTs who have been doing it longer than you.


Don't get me wrong.  It's great to be able to work from home.  Personally, I don't think newbies should be allowed to work at home right out of the gait.  There is some much they don't know.  They need help.  They need to be able to ask questions and one of the best things about working in the office as a newbie, is being able to ask the seasoned MT next to you to listen to something for you.


Having said all that, I think MT is slowly dying.  It's become difficult to make a decent living in this profession.  I'm one of the few lucky ones.  I work at-home for a hospital.  I get paid hourly, get incentive, and have all the benefits of being a FT employee.  Oh, and they can't take my benefits away if I don't make my quota.


You can't support a family on 7 or 8 cpl or even 9 cpl when the dictation is the crap they won't send to India.  I would suggest finding another profession.  The trend in medical coding is that all coders will be working from home soon what with everyone going to the Electronic Medical Record.  I would go into coding.  You may end up working in the office for a while, but I don't see coding being outsourced to India any time soon.  


Good Luck.


Yes, unfortunately you do have to make a pest of yourself to make it work, but.....
as the years went by that is why I stayed away from those type of companies.  BTW, Noni is a fabulous product, I absolutely do not care for the "marketing techniques" they use.  One of the facts of this type of industry is you cannot just recruit to make it, you have to retail.  Ever since I "overhauled" my techniques and system...I never had to ask another person to some on board again.  Well, nuf for now.  Take care and have a blessed week!!
One year at work.. we all dressed as
we all wore striped jail outfits and hats.. and, considering where I work, it was definitely true!  We wore handcuff and had chains.. it was funny!
I always have more work this time of year
I have my own office account and patients try to get in their yearly appointments before their yearly deductible is due in January again so my work always picks up this time of year. January is usually a little slow for me but it picks back up by February normally and stays quite consistent the rest of the time.
Sounds like where I used to work year ago! - sm
My mom and I worked together at a research and analytical lab/supply co. We had to arrive at 7:45 (regular hours were 8-5 with an hour for lunch) and my mom had to "clock" in everybody to check that they came in on time and submit it weekly to the boss/owner. You had to give blood to get OT and you had to do above and beyond your job about 200%. The company "rules" were pretty stupid the things we were not allowed to do. If you got a personal call (and I do agree work is not the place for personal calls but emergencies do happen) it was "logged in" and you had to sign a slip saying you received a personal call, its nature, if it was an emergency, etc. As for raises, rarely, once every 4-5 years if you were lucky. If you asked for one he would tell you to go find another job, a real sweethart. Morale sucked there to say the least. I wore so many "hats" it wasn't funny. I made peanuts too in comparison to all that was expected of me. After I quit (left to get married and move to another state) my replacement was hired at twice my salary (she was about twice my age too but she was the boss's right arm's wife) and did about a 10% of my job (nice for her). My mom stuck it out for about 5 more months before she quit. The boss was just a plain jerk and took it personal that I quit (I'd been there PT and FT for 13 years) and also threatened a law suit when I moved and got a job with a "competitor" (a much smaller lab/supplies company). The law suit fell through of course after he saw the confidentially agreement I signed which made no mention of working for competitors.....he quickly revised that of course screwing future employees...we are not talking about a multimillion dollar company (not even a million a year). So as much as the above is a joke, there are bosses/companies out there like that.....
Work with only a year experience

Well I'm looking for work .. I have a year experience, my current company is 3 cents a line ... ICK but I needed the experience..


HELP any hints....


Need a decent company...


I'm actually training my 14 year DS on MT work...
his grammar is much better than many MT's who took my grammar screening and he is developing quite an ear. I sit beside him and overlook what he is typing and man is he doing great! At 3 cpl he makes anywhere from $3.33 an hour to $5 an hour and will soon be due a raise, doncha think? Oh and B4 someone starts screaming about patient confidentiality, he signed the confidentiality form and contract and is now a bonafide IC.
I got some last year and frankly, don't seem to work...sm
for me.  I think they would probably do better with boots on, but that isn't going to happen.  They seem to just heat in the toes and really not very much.  Don't keep me any warmer than heavy socks.  I also have some socks that are to microwave.  They have beads all through the bottom of the sock.  Not bad, but very temporary and tough to walk with. 
ICs, anyone work part of year as
and then change over? I have become totally spoiled. Started IC late in the year so about 2 months total but now is a new year and I am pondering about going to a part-time employee rather than me having to do the tax but wondered if I could wait just a littleeee longer before I have to give you know who all my money???
May be so but don't forget they don't work all year

Road construction is done in the summer (no vacation if you want to make money). Then you must keep some of that money for winter when you don't work. If there is no road construction, you don't work, either.


Hubby only worked 70 days this year. Road construction is down the tubes for the next 5 years. It's also hard, back breaking work if you're a laborer. You're out in the hot sun all day long and some places don't give any breaks. If the schedule is screwed up and they get behind, they have to work extra hours to get back on schedule.


On some jobs, my husband would work 12 hours or more a day plus an hour to and from the job. That's long hours, but you have to go where the jobs are. They're never in your backyard.


He's not a laborer. He's a tri-axle owner/driver. He makes somewhat more than $30 and hour, but still makes less than I do after all expenses, especially with the cost of fuel nowadays.


You went unemployed for a year to settle for IC work
So you pay huge amounts for your own taxes, benefits, etc. No PTO, no sick time, no holidays.

Good job on holding out there! Way to go!


74K solid year income + MT work
I saw in the Education Website a 74K package + some MT work that could get you into 90K a year after taxes. Is it worth it?
Mine avg. around $2K a year that is it -- all work via the internet- sm
I cannot see how anyone can write off $10K unless they are fudging things or have a very large office area in a very expensive house with a BIG mortgage---and drive back and forth delivering tapes, print outs, etc. I do not do the mortgage/office deduction so I am sure I could write off another $1K if I did that, but as I don't know when we are moving (planning to one of these days) I don't want the hassle so I just eat that one. As for my write offs I deduct anything remotely used or needed for work, electricity, paper, ink for my printer (print patient lists), my fax service, internet, FTP, any programs/upgrades, virus protection, reference books, any equipment (did my computer a couple years ago), phone line for work, etc. I am sure there is more (i.e. a new desk, chair, etc.). If you use it for work, write if off. --From the sounds of it though your accountant is right.
I've been wearing them for a year while I work with no....sm
problem.  They aren't that strong.
Totally agree. My husband has been out of work for 1 year. sm.
In that time he has graduated college. We have applied to close to 100 places with NO responses. I work two jobs (one of which just got cut back). Its tough but I don't ask for help. It drives me to the point of wanting to hit someone when they say "Tell you husband to just get a job". I just took out 30,000 in student loans to help him get a "career" because that is what they tell us to do in a recession but guess what..NOBODY IS HIRING. If you have a job, your lucky, keep it. If you quit your job just because you want state aid, your a fraud and a liar and a poor parent. HOW could you teach your child values, responsibility and work ethic, if you have none yourself.
Last year we went to Disney and I work on a laptop so I brought it and didn't
take any time off so I could work. After much probing, calling, and trying to set up my internet (I made sure the hotel had wireless or I wouldn't book it), I finally got on line, but it was the night before we had to leave anyway.
I absolutely love my Dell laptop because of the flexibility and I can work on the dining table, office, kids room, etc. I can't imagine ever going back to a desktop PC.
But, you never know when you travel if 100% you will be able to get online.
Been at home for over a year now and I switched to night shift. I work for a national. Started out
working the night shift and sleeping in shifts during the day. My kids are way older but that doesn't mean they don't interrupt me. Besides, there the phone issue, more interruptions, the dogs bothered me a lot, too. Love them dearly but, oh so spoiled. It was taking me 10 hours to do what I can do in 8 on nights, plus I manage to get more sleep, if you can believe that. I still get supper on the table, vacuum, laundry, etc. So far it is working pretty good, so I think I will put in for permanent night hours for awhile. No sense in working 10 when I can work 8.
I make that much and work...
for a hospital, from home. My colleagues at the other hospitals in this area also make in that range as well.
I work for 2 companies and make
0.0825 cents per 65 character line with spaces at one and 0.10 cents per 65 character line with spaces at the other so it just goes to show it varies.
Depends on who you work for as to how much you make..
The first online company I worked for, unfortunately, found out later they were India-based. Anyway, I work in Escription and made SQUAT. It would take 12 hours or more to make $100. Now, I work for another company that uses Escription and I can make up to $26 an hour doing VR. I think these companies set something up in the line count as how to count it and also it depends if they pay for headers, footers, etc. I definitely got ripped off the first go round. I like the company I work for now and like Escription. You can make money on this platform, although I am paid more than 3.5 for VR. That is ridiculous.
I need computer help. How do I make PRD work

PRD is on my old MQ program, but I can't seem to get it moved over to my Microsoft Word page.  I can't seem to get my Stedman's Spell check over there either.


Help.


ICs - how much do you make per line and do you work for ...sm
a large company, small company or have your own contracts?
I work at MQ, live in MI and make less than 10.5 cpl.
x
Make Word 03 and 07 work together!

First of all, I appologize for the LONG message, but well worth reading if you use Word.  I asked this question on the Microsoft Discussion Board on 11/7/08.  Here are the posts:


  >>>> DeviousRedBaron wrote:
>>>>> I am running Word 2007.  For work, I download a template created
>>>>> in Word 2003, then type my document in Word 2007.  After this, I
>>>>> have to import header/footer info that I believe is created with
>>>>> Word 2003. This takes a long time and at the bottom of the screen
>>>>> the message "Word is replacing ..." appears.  Is there any way I
>>>>> can speed this up, or avoid it all together?  I love Word 2007 and
>>>>> would like to continue to use it.  I do have Word 2003 also.  I
>>>>> cannot change the info that I have to download.  I access it
>>>>> through the intranet and it is different for each report.  (I am a
>>>>> medical transcriptionist.) Speed is important in my line of work!
>>>>> Thanks in advance!!!!!


>>> "Graham Mayor" wrote:
>>>
>>>> You will need to tell us more about the importing of the
>>>> header/footer. How? From where?
>>>> What is the exact sequence of steps used to create a document. At
>>>> what point does the message appear?
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> <>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
>>>> Graham Mayor -  Word MVP
>>>>
>>>> My web site www.gmayor.com
>>>> Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org
>>>> <>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>


>> DeviousRedBaron wrote:
>>> Hi Graham,
>>>  I open my transcription program (created by the transcription
>>> company that I work for) and download my reports over the intranet.
>>> These are voice files and .doc information (that ends up in the
>>> header/footer).  I double click on the report I want to type up and
>>> a template box pops up.  I choose the .dot template that I need and
>>> it automatically opens Word in compatability mode with part of the
>>> header/footer info already in the document.  This is usually the
>>> hospital/clinic address and phone number, or what ever info that
>>> particular company has requested.  On some reports, there are
>>> headings that are loaded into the body of the document as well.
>>> This process is usually pretty quick, depending on my company's
>>> server.
>>>
>>> Now, I type up my report in the body of the document.  When I am
>>> finished, I have to apply the demographics to the document.  This is
>>> the information about the patient, clinic/hospital numbers, doctors'
>>> names, cc info...that is also downloaded with the report from the
>>> intranet.  Some of this info goes into the header/footer as well.
>>> Some of this info is "attached" to the document so it is sent to the
>>> correct departments/doctors....  Once I apply the demographics, I
>>> have to wait for Word to replace .....something.  (The message on
>>> the bottom of Word flashes from a long message to a short one very
>>> rapidly, making it impossible to read the entire message!)
>>>
>>> I have read a little bit about writing a code (macro) so that
>>> everything opened with Word is opened in 2003 format.  I do not
>>> start Word, it opens with my company software, so I never get to
>>> choose a template in Word.  I have also tried to set the
>>> compatibility for all documents to 2003 and this does nothing.
>>> Also tried to set it up to save as a 2003 document, as well as a
>>> .dot and this does not make any difference.
>>>
>>> I am at a loss!  Thanks for your quick response, it is greatly
>>> appreciated!


> "Graham Mayor" wrote:
>
>> It is the application of demographics - presumably by a macro that
>> appears to be the issue. This was obviously created by the
>> transcription company with Word 2003 in mind. Whether it would be
>> possible to improve that code is impossible to say without seeing it
>> - and really that is a job for the company that provided it, so I
>> will stick to attempting to make the function use Word 2003 rather
>> than 2007.
>>
>> http://www.gmayor.com/Toolbars_in_word_2007.htm demonstrates how to
>> set Word 2003 and 2007 to share the same platform without
>> reconfiguring the registry each time one of them is run to grab the
>> shared settings for itself..
>>
>> You should then be able to associate doc and dot files through
>> Windows Explorer > Tools > Folder Options > File Types - DOC >
>> Advanced  > Open > Edit and change the application used to perform
>> the action to Word 2003, which by default should mean entering
>>
>> "C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOFFICE11WINWORD.EXE" /n /dde "%1"
>>
>> in that space.
>>
>> Repeat for DOT, though this time edit the action for NEW - the
>> application used to perform the action should be
>>
>> "C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOFFICE11WINWORD.EXE" /n /dde
>>
>> and the DDE message should be
>>
>> [REM _DDE_Direct][FileNew("%1")]
>>
>> In both examples if Word 2003 is installed in some other location
>> than the default shown, change the paths to reflect that other
>> location.
>>
>> --
>> <>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
>> Graham Mayor -  Word MVP
>>
>> My web site www.gmayor.com
>> Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org
>> <>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>


DeviousRedBaron wrote:
> Thanks so much, Graham!
>  I have followed your instructions, but have not yet tested it with my
> company's software.  I am going to test it out tomorrow.  If there
> are any gliches, I will repost.  If all goes well, would you mind if
> I pass this info on to my fellow MTs? (Medical transcriptionists.)  I
> am sure there are numerous woman, and a few men, who could benefit
> greatly from your advise.  I will await your response.
>
> Once again, thank you!!!!!


If it works for you, feel free to share with your colleagues. If double
clicking a doc or dot file opens Word 2003 and not 2007 it should work with
the company software - depending on how the company software calls Word.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor -  Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>


I hope this will help everyone!  I know it helped me.  I love typing in Word2007, but for now, I will have to type in Word 2003 until my company's software is compatible with it.  At least I can have both programs running at the same time!  The info on his web page about creating a toolbar is not necessary, unless it is something you need to do for Word 2007. 


I work for NTL and make .12 line
nm
Their pay is way low and you work like a dog to make minimum lines.
x
Hard 2 make money with no work.

I can flex some, but I cannot make up an entire day of nearly no work!
:-( They do not want any excuses as to why people cannot work, but those of us who are here and WANT to work have nothing to do. Really makes me feel loyal to them, 'ya know????
not stretching. I work about 12 hours a day and make--sm
on average of 3500 gross lines a day. disbelieve if you want, but my money is in the bank. It is possible if you want to do it badly enough. ppfffttt.
Because MTs in the US become the "editors" to fix their work and make them look good. nm
;