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made more money 15 years ago than I do now. nm.

Posted By: Mimi on 2006-10-17
In Reply to: You are right - melissa

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really? made more money as an MT?

Wow, you must have had your own accounts independently then, right? It seems with some of today's trends in the MT field, that the pay will be not as good as it was, or harder to make equal to or close to what an RN would make. 


I have made SO much money doing MT,

if I were doing it over again I would have finished my degree (which I am doing now).  I have been an MT for 25 years, as a hospital MT and an MTSO.  The money has been very good.  Being able to be home with my kids through the years was good.  But in other ways being home has been bad - for one not being able to walk away from work and leave it at the office.  I feel like I should always be working because there's always more money to be made.  I know over the years I have thrown 100% into my business and home/family have suffered.  I really think that other than being physically available for my kids, my home life was better when I worked in a hospital - because then when I was off work, I was off.  I came home and started dinner and cleaned the house while it was cooking and settled in for a relaxing evening.  Now I am often still working at 6 or 7 p.m., fast food dinners, house not cleaned, etc.  Yes, it's POSSIBLE to organize yourself so that you take care of those things too when you work at home, but I think for a lot of us we get into a rut.  I feel psychologically healthier getting out of the house, etc.  Which I am doing now that I am back in college and I will never go back to just being at home full time again.


Another downside - weight gain from being sedentary!


there is still money to be made in this sm
business. But, after over 30 years as an MT, I would suggest that you PLEASE work in-house in a hospital for 2-3 years before you ever come home to work on production. The schools are not telling the students this information and they are doing their students a great disservice.
I made my best money doing ER. Granted,

I got 13 cpl.  But the doctors said the same things over and over and there were I think only 6 or 7 ER doctors for that hospital.  I worked 4 hours a day, 7 days a week, and made $1000 a week.  Loved it!


T-chart changed all that. 


While I have made great money doing MT,

if I had it do over, no I would not go into MT.  I would have finished college and gotten my degree instead.  I am back in college now to get my degree, but it would have been so much better if I had done it years ago.


I agree with the MT who says after 25 years she is working harder and making less.  It's the same for me.  I am getting burned out after all these years, I can't type the long hours I once did, I can't see doing this for another 20 years.  If the money was there like it used to be, that might be different.


Is there "bad" money to be made?
Just wondering in this economy if anyone would say, "Oh no, sorry, that's bad money." Unless, of course, it's the world's oldest profession which sometimes I think pays way higher!
Oh my goodness! They should quit then - if no money is to be made.
......
I did secret shopping......made some money but it
nm
The most & easiest money I ever made typin'

was for a hospital that had all these kickass "normals" for OP notes.  The docs would say, "Please use my _____ template" and that was it.  Some ortho templates were an instant 100+ lines and they took mere seconds to zap in!  Those days are long gone for me but I remember them fondly.    



 


I knew they made good money...
I used to work for Kaiser in California. I really wanted to get on with the transcription department but there was NEVER an opening. I really miss working for Kaiser. I have not been able to find a hospital like that since I left. I now live in GA. The Kaiser here is not the same -- much smaller operation here. But I knew it, I knew it!

:)




I charged by the gross line and made more money that way.

So if someone isn't rolling in money, they have made a life choice mistake
and are living in squallor?  Uh, I don't think so.  If you're not an MT, why are you even here?  You certainly aren't a very helpful or happy little elf.
Sickest thing, I made more money my first year as MT as I do now, for working
zz
Made more 10 years ago
Better dictators back then and the company/facility you worked for didn't give with one hand and take with the other.
Ive been doing this for 4 years and made
37,000 in 2008...A lot of hard work though to get that.
How many MTs made more per line 10 years
nm
Like I am saying, what I made years ago and what I make now
sooooooo much different. I do not have to raise a family though now and my quest towards making money is not like it was at 1 time. IF I HAD TO support a family, I definitely would not go into this business now or I would plan on working as I did in the past, 2 full time jobs, then I could make ends meet. I am so glad money is not the #1 thing anymore that drives me.
15 years ago I made 75 thousand
a year, but not anymore. To do that, I had a very good paying FT job, and a home business. I worked 7 days a week, sometimes 12 hour days. Now I just work regular, and sometimes PT. I doubt I could make that again unless I want to be a workaholic.
Yes. I made that my first couple of years.
Now it's at least twice that when I'm lucky enough to have a half-decent account. (Those are getting fewer and farther between.)
Waited 6 years to buy one could have made
and now I can't imagine living without it. I took a job recently and I could not use Smartype on their program, they had an Expander but with nothing in it LOL and I thought I was going to die!!! Get one...it is NOT faster typing it.
You're okay making LESS than you made 10-20 years ago?
I'm not. No, every "job" doesn't work itself DOWN the ladder of success. I'm working to earn a living, I'm working to have goals, to better myself and my way of life. I would never settle for a job that keeps paying less and less. Sorry, but I disagree with you but to each his own.
Same for me, I made more 10 years ago. It depends so much on account, SM
work type(for me), and expanders. I find it hard to stay motivated when report after report is ESL and a work type I can't make money on. The above poster likes radiology, I like OPs. It is easier to stay motivated when you have that.
I've been at it for 30+ years. 'Back in the day', I too made
about $42,000/year (gross). But the accounts keep getting crappier, and the pay keeps going lower. Meanwhile, I saw gas a $4.10/gallon on the interstate Sunday evening, and I'm slowly becoming a forced vegetarian because I can no longer afford to buy meat or fish.

Meanwhile, the suits at the big hospitals that whine about a 1-cpl increase in the cost of MT have six-(and some seven)-figure incomes.
They (AAMT) made the rules for years until the internet
and those of us who had been isolated in the past got to know each other on line.  We started to discuss this and other issues, and figured out that AAMT is a bunch of bottom feeding scheisters ripping us off while enjoying themselves in Hawaii at their "convention" most likely being paid for at least in part by the dues, fees, and other drummed up charges for useless crap they've gotten out of us before we figured out what a huge money-grubbing hoax their "organization" is.
I haven't made that kind of rate for at least 20 years
Don't know where you live. In my area, that is not good money at all.
Fresh out of school 13 years ago I made 8 cents gross/clinic/no ESL

x


I just left after 16 years of marriage. Hardest decision I've ever made, but something that I ha

My husband doesn't want to work.  Never has and probably never will and it took me 16 years to figure out that nothing was ever going to change.  He has been in and out of college over the years with a number of different majors and when he is on the verge of actually finishing something, he up and quits, because I believe he doesn't want to actually go out and get a job.  He loves the going to school part, the studying, etc., but the actual finishing and putting his education to work, that's too overwhelming.


For years I made excuses for him, supported him, and actually believed that as he got older he would mature and finally find his way.  He's 42 now and runs off every day with one of his unemployed friends to play frisbee golf or go hiking or water skiing or fishing while I'm sitting at home at my desk typing until my nose bleeds!


I was one of those women afraid of being by myself.  I recently had a major depressive snap where I cried nonstop for three weeks.  I found a great doctor who became a great friend and she helped me find the right medicine to get my head clear and then she helped me realize that I don't have to be afraid of anything.  I was already supporting myself and my kids without anyone elses' help.  What was so frightening about leaving my husband behind?


So quietly I made my plans to leave.  I let my husband know that I was going to move back home to the area where all my family still lives when school let out this summer.  He didn't believe me because I had said it all before.  So I just made sure he knew I was thinking about it again.  Then May came along and miracously a job opened up at the hospital in the small community I wanted to move back to.  This hospital never has openings because they virtually have no employee turnover whatsoever.  Everyone's been there at least 5 or more years.  I took it as a sign and made my move.  Within two days of submitting my resume, I had an interview set up.  Without even waiting to see if I had the job, I packed up my kids and our stuff and told my husband "I'm going.  I love you, but if you want to be with me you need to get a job and actually be my partner not one of my kids."  And I left.


I got the job, thankfully.  I've been here a month and I know without a doubt that it was the best thing I've done in a long time for me and my kids.  My teenage son had built up a lot of resentment towards his father and their was a lot of anger and tension between the two of them before we moved.  Now, my son is happier than I've seen him in years.  He's more social, made a lot of friends, and even has a girlfriend now.  My daughter misses her dad, but she has always been remarkably wise for her young age and is very open about saying how calm everything is up here.


So there's my story.  I would never encourage anyone to divorce or leave their husband, and I haven't actually taken the step to file for divorce yet myself.  But sometimes separation is liberating and therapeutic.  It has been for me.  I can't remember the last time I felt so peaceful.


As someone who lost their husband almost 2 years ago, I can tell you that no amount of money could

ever replace my best friend and husband.  Yes, I have tried the dating thing, but to tell the truth here, it's not the same and I don't think anyone could ever replace the father my children lost at such an early age. 


 


By the way. he had just turned 34 when he died, so I suppose you might want to give your hubby a big hug tonight for thinking of your future without him, especially when we truly do not see ourselves leaving this world so soon. 


 


Hugs to you and yours!!!


Decent money won't be there until you've had years of practice. Maybe do
s
Thirteen years ago made 9 cents gross/clinic straight out of school

i don't send stuff to editing. i have been doing this for years. it's easy money and my QA r
And I got all my hair and my BP is fine.
Haven't heard in years. Supposedly making it harder to get money
xx
Money, money, money, mmonnneyyy. Singing the Apprentice song.
:+
i made $15/hr before and didn't stay long because i made so much more on production. sm
that was with full benes too. i wouldn't do it for less than $20, but i think even with $20, i'd want benes. are you in-house?
Make money? I'm not making any money because of my decision. You read my reasoning
You can agree with me or not, but don't make false assumptions please.
You're working to make money, not to spend money.
These people should be ashamed of themselves taking advantage of people this way!
I also blew some money signing up with Quixtar... The only way to make any money is to bug everyone

you know into signing up.  I felt like a snake oil huckster.  I hated it.  I was flushing money down the toilet from the moment I handed over my money. 


RUN, do not walk away!  I do an entirely different side business now that I really love (in addition to my MTing, which I also love!)  Find something you're good at and that you truly love doing.  Then make a business out of it.  That's the best way to have a side business.  Selling discount toilet paper through Amway/Quixtar?  Not so much. 


The CMT exam is overrated. Don't waste your time & money. Use that money on
paid anymore just because you have it.  There are a few CMT cheerleaders that post to people like you but they are pretty well sucked up into that association.
Yeah, money, that's it. I paid $20.00 for my dog. Money is NOT THE ISSUE
walk him daily, play ball daily, he sleeps in my office daily while I work. Yeah, I got a lot of money, NOT HARDLY. And, my dog is HORRIBLY HORRIBLY ABUSED because he wears a collar around his neck. It's people like you that make me sick. I am done defending my use of the shock collar. I am going to continue with it and my dog will continue to be pampered , educated, fed, kept warm, and love me for everything that I do for him even when I remind him that his barking needs to stop. So, with that said, I will not respond to any more of your CRAP in reference to the shock collar.
Money is money and most people will do whatever it takes when in need. sm
if you do bring it to the attn of the office manager, why not offer her a raise to compensate. it is obvious she just needs or wants more money than your office is paying her. I agree, it is a free country and although it seems odd, unless you had it outlined in contract, she can work for whomever or whereever she pleases on the side. at least she is typing and not at a strip joint, lol. I see no conflict of interest, she has experience obviously in whichever field you are in and what is wrong with doing extra in that field. i agree with MYOB "nicely" and concentrate on your reports than looking at older reports and seeing who they are typed by.
I don't know how it made such a small diff in your invoice... made a $100 diff in mine! (sm)

If it were only adding up to three bucks, I wouldn't sweat it. $100? Yeah, that's baseball registration for my son for this year. I am not giving tabs, returns, etc. away free when it adds up to that much difference!  Why should I charge less for a Return than I would for a"K"?


 


 


No need to wonder..It always means less money for the MT and more money for MQ.
z
Money, honey, money!!!!!!.
nm
One year and you make decent money? What is decent money to you?
k
58, AHP/self-taught, trained at hospital 5 years, now with 2 of my own accounts for 10 years, employ
Also worn out 2 keyboards in 4 years. I will never retire. DH will come home some day from work and I'll be slumped over my keyboard. I put in 14 hours a day 7 days a week.
Pack years = packs smoked per day x years of smoking - sm
25 pack-years = 25 years of 1 pack a day, or 12-1/2 years of 2 packs a day.

I don't think pack-years applies to someone who smokes only cigars. But I don't know for sure.
I worked for Cbay for 3 years. I was also part of their lay off back many years ago. sm
Even though I got stuck in a lay off era, I still love the company. They paid well then. The people were nice (exception of 1 person) and if I had the opportunity I would go back again. Fortunately (or unfortunately - depending on how u look at it), I have a great paying job right now, so I am not looking for a change. I do know that at one time, they asked management to accept late paychecks, but never sure of the reason why. My check was never late.
I know it used to be 5-10 years back, but the laws changed within the last 2 years. They can only g
x
6 years legal then switched to medical 17+ years ago. sm

I don't mind doing legal and will do it now from time to time, but be prepared to be totally bored out of your mind.


At least that's the way I feel.  I love to transcribe, learned legal in college, went on to get my paralegal degree, etc., etc., but I did temp work when the kids were younger, which was about 90% medical and I would never go back to legal except for once in a while.


Booooooring.


 


 


Only 3 years away from reaching total years for retirement
but if I had to do this and raise a family, would feel exactly like you do. The pay is terrible compared to what I used to make. I work 32 hours a week, hope to be able to continue even after full retirement age. I have worked on VR now and unless places get to where they really do not care about how their reports look, think they will need MTs. I very seldom do a report and it is 100%, just cannot remember 1 like that and most take a lot more editing. Working now because want to, not have to anymore, thank goodness!!
I dumped my ex 20 years ago, but got lucky 13 years ago

It would take me all night and pages and pages to describe what a bad person my ex-husband was.  After six years of putting up with his OCD, verbal abuse and alcohol, I left him the house, took the kids (5 and 1) and didn't look back. That was 20 years ago.


I wasn't looking to get married again, but I did.  After 13 years I only complain when hubby doesn't see things my way. :) 


My older kids, who were 5 and 1 when I left, are married and have kids of their own now.  My husband gets the Father's Day cards.  Their "real" father sits alone in the perfect little house I left behind and let him have and he drinks himself into oblivion every night because nobody is "perfect" enough, including his kids and his grandkids that he never sees. 


Sad, but true.  So glad I smartened up and got  out of there when I did.