What Should You Charge as a Freelance Translator in India?

These are the actual rates Langixy pays certified translators for live projects, broken down by service type.

Rates paid by Langixy, an ISO 17100:2015 certified language service provider.

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Getting Paid: Rates, Clients & Brand: rate cards, agency and direct clients, and running translation as a real income.

Questions

• How much do freelance translators charge per word in India?

  Rates vary widely by experience and specialization, generally ₹0.50 to ₹2 per word. Langixy pays certified translators ₹1.25 per word for standard translation work.

• What is MTPE and how is it paid differently from translation?

  MTPE (machine translation post-editing) means correcting AI-generated translation rather than translating from scratch. It typically pays less than full translation since less original work is required. Langixy’s MTPE rate is ₹0.90 per word.

• How much do subtitlers earn per minute in India?

  Subtitling is usually billed per minute of video rather than per word, typically ₹80 to ₹150 per minute depending on complexity. Langixy pays ₹125 per minute.

• Do certifications actually affect translator rates in India?

  Yes. Clients and agencies pay a premium for translators who can prove language proficiency and subject-matter training, since it reduces revision risk. ISO 17100 certified agencies in particular screen for this before assigning work.

• How can I qualify for these rates?

  Langixy screens candidates with a language-pair proficiency test and pays certified translators its standard rate card on ongoing projects. Langixy Academy’s courses are built around what that screening actually tests.