The low average purchasing power of literary translators

The low average purchasing power of literary translators

The CEATL 2008 survey found that the average purchasing power of literary translators was much lower than that of the average worker in the manufacturing and services industries. Considering only basic income, in only three countries (Denmark, France and Croatia) did the net income of literary translators sometimes reach three quarters of the per capita purchasing power standard (PPS), and in 13 countries the maximum net income did not even reach two thirds of the PPS. Overall, in 2008, in 20 out of 23 countries, the average purchasing power of literary translators amounted to less than 60% of the PPS.

CEATL’s 2021 survey shows that there has been some development over the last 13 years; however, it is generally not in the right direction. The initial findings demonstrate that, in many countries, fees have stagnated, meaning that even if, for instance, the actual pay per page is slightly higher than as recorded in 2008, it is still far from catching up with the general indexation of costs of living.

Evolution of the average rate of pay per page, according to the 2008 and 2021 CEATL surveys

In 2008, and again in 2021, CEATL surveyed translators in Europe on payment and working conditions with the aim of, among other things, calculating their purchasing power and comparing it with that of other professions. Both surveys were carried out among all CEATL’s member associations, the respondents being both members and non-members of these associations.(38)

In the 13 years between the 2008 and 2021 CEATL surveys, the average rate per page (1 page = 1 800 keystrokes) did not change substantially in most individual markets.

For instance, there were modest increases in Croatia, from EUR 7 to EUR 7.60; in Italy, from EUR 11.35 to EUR 12.60; in Denmark, from EUR 16.05 to EUR 18.84; in Austria, from EUR 21.60 to EUR 24; and in Czechia, from EUR 5.50 to EUR 7.45. However, the average rate actually decreased in many countries: from EUR 13.50 to EUR 11.14 in Spain, from EUR 30.96 to EUR 25.20 in France, from EUR 7.25 to EUR 6.25 in Slovakia, from EUR 21.90 to EUR 21.60 in Germany (albeit a relatively small decrease) and from EUR 21.60 to EUR 21 in the Netherlands.

The greatest increase in rate over the period, from EUR 31.08 to EUR 39.02, occurred in Norway, which, in terms of living and income conditions, is considered the best-regulated and best-paid market for translators in Europe.

It is worth noting that all the above figures are non-indexed fees, meaning that, for the most part, even the increases will be ‘eaten up’ by inflation and the general increase in cost of living. Keeping in mind that the 2008 survey showed that, in 20 out of 23 countries, the average purchasing power of literary translators was 60% (or less) than that of the average worker in the manufacturing and services industries, the above data from 2021 are somewhat disheartening, to say the least.