Working from Home as a Interpreter

We've heard it over and over again.  Work from home and earn a decent wage.  For interpreters this is very true. In fact, if you are a freelance interpreter you can earn more per hour from home than working at a hospital on a per diem basis.  Furthermore, what do you do when you don't have an assignment?  The answer is simple, work for a company that provides phone interpreting or even video remote interpreting and never leave your home.

Yes, we have for many years said that we did not like the video system, but think again, working for them will get you better pay than working for a hospital. Most hospitals around the country under pay interpreters and blame it on their budget or lack there of.  The real problem is that hospitals have not yet learned the real value of an interpreter.

Many interpreters are well educated holding baccaloriate or masters degrees, apart from their certifications.  Yet, many hospitals and other healthcare providers do not want to provide steady full time employment for interpreters.  Thats right, they rather hire on a per diem basis, for 10 to 32 hours per week in order to avoid paying benefits.  This in part is because health insurance, vacation pay, sick days, etc., is costly.  Well, they will have to contend with a shrinking work force that will inevitably demand more pay and full time work.

In the mean time don't waste your time driving to and from a hospital to earn your wages.  Stay home and work for a video remote interpreter provider, phone interpretation, or any other company that hires interpreters to work from their homes. The pay is a little better and you won't have to spend on gas, public transportation, lunch, laundry and more.  I would not have known this if not for a colleage who at a meeting stated she was being paid $ .40 cents per minute for over the phone interpretation and that was more than many interpreters in the field are paid.  Do the math, that $24.00 dollars an hour.   So, if you are looking to work as an interpreter where do you think you should look first? Thats right!