Transcription Rate & Factors that Affect Your Cost (2024)

You may be looking to outsource your transcription because there's no time to do it yourself. Transcription rates can seem all over the place, even within the same industry or field. Knowing which rate will get you the most bang for your buck can be challenging.

Here's how to make sure you're comparing rates appropriately in your search. We'll also discuss why you might want to consider opting for an hourly or per-minute rate instead of one flat fee.

What is Transcription Rate?

Transcription rate is the number of words someone transcribes in a given time frame. A common misconception is that the rate you pay depends on skill level, but it doesn't.

The time it takes to complete work has more to do with external factors. It is less about the transcriber's ability or experience. However, the skill may still be a factor.

The rate will depend significantly on factors that may be out of your control. Let's look at some of these, and you can decide for yourself.

Per Audio Minute

Transcription rates per audio minute vary. The pay that someone would receive for transcribing one minute of audio can range anywhere from $0.50 - $3. The best way to figure out what rate you should pay is by looking at the type of transcription you will need.

An audio file with lots of noise and crosstalk may be more expensive. The transcriptionist will have to rewind it to figure out what people are saying. They may charge a higher per-minute rate for this type of audio.

Per Work Hour

This transcription rate is what someone gets paid for an hour of work transcribing audio. This rate can fluctuate more depending on experience, unlike the other rates. You can pay someone $15 - $25 per work hour to transcribe your audio.

If you pay someone $20 per hour, you will pay the same amount no matter how many audio minutes they transcribe. They might transcribe one audio minute or 60 audio minutes in an hour. You'll still pay the $20. It's essential to choose someone you know will produce a steady amount of work if you pay this rate.

Per Word

Transcription rates are also sometimes priced by word. You can quickly figure out how to calculate your transcription rates with this type. A 10 cents per word rate means the transcriber would charge $10 for every 100 words.

A 30 cents per word transcription rate would be $30 for every 100 words. A 50 cents per word transcription rate would be $50 for every 100 words.

In some cases, there will also be a base fee or minimum fee that the client agrees to pay the transcriber up front. This fee could be anywhere from $25 to $100. It would depend on the project's complexity and how long they expect it to take.

Transcription rates vary depending on demand and experience level. It can be hard to compare apples to apples.

Per Page

The more words per page, the higher the transcription rate. Rates typically start at .25 cents per page and go up from there, with typical rates as high as $2.50 per page.

For instance, you should pay lower if you have a video with simple language. You may pay higher if the video has terminologies that need researching.

Factors That Affect Transcription Rate

When you need a fast turnaround, you want to do your best to eliminate factors slowing down the process. There are things to be aware of to get the best out of transcribing services.

Audio Quality

The quality of the audio file affects how quickly your transcription gets done. Poor-quality audio files might take more time to transcribe.

The sound quality isn’t high enough to transcribe without mistakes. It takes more time to make out words than higher-quality recordings. It's especially true for older recordings, where the sound quality is likely degraded.

Turnaround Time

It isn't easy to give an accurate turnaround time because every job is different. Transcription agencies do their best to create a general guideline.

It's best to contact them with your specific needs. They'll do their best to get back to you with a more accurate answer.

Complexity of the Material

The other main factor is the complexity of the material you're transcribing. More complex materials take longer and require more concentration than transparent materials. Medical and legal transcriptions may take more time than others.

Experience of the Transcriptionist

Suppose you happen to be using a new transcriptionist. In that case, the rep may need more time to familiarize themselves with their tools. This growth period means it will take them longer in the beginning. However, growing with a new transcriptionist may save you lots of time and money in the long run.

How Fast the Speech in the Recording is Going

Your transcription speed can also depend on how fast the person speaking is talking. It is also dependent on if they are understandable or not. People who babble can make it difficult for someone transcribing to keep up. Those who tend to do this should speak at an average pace that is easier for others to follow.

Thick Accents in the Recording

Likewise, people may mumble or use accents or phrases that are unfamiliar. All of these factors can cause slower transcription speeds. It takes time for transcribers to figure out what you're saying before moving forward.

How to Reduce Your Transcription Rate

Apps like Notta use AI to get near-perfect transcriptions in minutes. Instead of paying someone an hourly or per minute rate, you can sign up for Notta for free.

You can get started transcribing your files with very high accuracy. Notta also includes an audio recording. You can sync the transcript to timestamps in the audio. This feature allows you to achieve perfect and professional documents very quickly.

FAQ

How Long Does it Take to Transcribe 1 Hour of Audio Manually?

On average, it will take about 4 hours based on the abovementioned factors. It's essential to remember that every transcript is unique. Each will require a different amount of time.

How Long Will it Take to Transcribe an Interview of 30 Minutes?

A 30-minute interview will take about 2 hours to transcribe. If there isn't much complex language and minimal crosstalk, it may take less time. It will take the transcriber longer to transcribe the interview if more people are in the room. Avoiding crosstalk while recording the audio will give your transcriber an easier time.

How Do I Get Started with Transcription Services?

You can take a few different routes if you're looking for someone to do your transcription.

The first is to hire a freelancer on sites like Upwork. It will usually come at a higher cost than if you were to use a transcription agency. Generally, hiring freelancers costs between $12.50 and $60 per word. The average is around $18 per hour.

A second option is using an online transcription agency. They will usually return your transcript within one business day. It costs between $0.50 to $3 per minute of audio recording.

How Can I Work as a Freelance Transcriber?

Transcribing can be tedious, and the pay is sometimes worth it. You can make anywhere from $15-25 per audio hour and up. Your actual payment would depend on the complexity of the text (among other factors).

Plus, transcription skills are in high demand. You'll find work everywhere if you're looking for it. The best way to get started as a freelance transcriber is to apply on sites like TranscribeMe! and Rev.

Are There Free Options Available?

There are some free choices available, such as Notta. This app uses AI to create transcripts with very high accuracy.

Final Thoughts

The transcription rate will vary a lot depending on which company you use. Though we discussed many types, most rates you'll find will be per audio minute. It's essential to compare prices by the number of minutes required for your project. Of course, other factors can affect your cost as well.

Of course, you can skip all of this ambiguity by using Notta. Notta is advanced voice-to-text software that will give you professional transcripts within minutes. Save time and money by letting Notta do the work for you.

Transcription Rate & Factors that Affect Your Cost (2024)

FAQs

What are the rates of transcription? ›

So, what are some typical transcription costs? The standard transcription cost per hour of audio in the U.S. and Canada is around $90, or $1.5 per audio minute. You'll expect to pay this minimum transcription hourly rate for high-quality and accurate transcripts.

How do you calculate transcription rate? ›

You can quickly figure out how to calculate your transcription rates with this type. A 10 cents per word rate means the transcriber would charge $10 for every 100 words. A 30 cents per word transcription rate would be $30 for every 100 words. A 50 cents per word transcription rate would be $50 for every 100 words.

What is the rate of transcription per page? ›

Document typing (transcribing from another text document rather than an audio file – also known as copy typing) is typically billed per typed page. However, it can also be billed per word or per hour. Typical costs for copy typing range from $4-15 USD per typed page, where 350 words is a standard page length.

What are the challenges in transcription? ›

Overlapping speech. Mispronounced words. Jargon. Unintelligible words. Inaudible speech due to too much background noise.

What are the best rates for transcription jobs? ›

Their typical rates are $1.00 per audio minute or $1.50 per audio minute for rush orders (same day or overnight). They claim that most professional transcriptionists can make $20 – $30 per hour of work based on these rates.

How much does transcribe cost per minute? ›

Pricing. Expect pricing for general transcription services to run between $1.50 and $5.00 per audio minute. Factors determining actual price include the number of speakers and/or volume of minutes, audio quality, the turnaround time required and unique needs and situations.

How much is translation with transcription fee? ›

Since human translation rates can range from USD $0.10 to $0.30 per word (depending on the language pair), you are looking at approximately $22.50/minute for translation (plus the $3-10 per minute transcription costs, depending on whether you use our AI services or not).

How many words per minute is good for transcription? ›

While most transcriptionists can type at around 50 words per minute (WPM), make it your goal to type at least 60 WPM. By improving your typing speed, you can get more work done in less time, which seriously increases your earning potential!

What is the average size of a transcription factor? ›

Abstract. Genetic information, which is stored in the long strand of genomic DNA as chromatin, must be scanned and read out by various transcription factors. First, gene-specific transcription factors, which are relatively small (∼50 kDa), scan the genome and bind regulatory elements.

How long does 1 hour of transcription take? ›

When it comes to individual transcribers, the average time to transcribe one hour of audio is approximately four hours. But, some transcribers quote four hours as the minimum since it can easily reach 10 hours. Transcription time by audio hour varies so much mostly because each audio file is different.

How many lines can you transcribe per hour? ›

Manual Transcription Earning Potential

Manual transcriptionists are expected to average 150 lines per hour, as almost every national service vendor requires staff to deliver 1,200 lines per eight-hour shift to be considered a full-time employee.

How many pages is a one hour transcript? ›

Generally speaking, hour-long episode scripts can be anywhere from 45-63 pages, although a majority of the time you want to stick with 50-55 pages. The basic sense of it is that one page equals one minute, and with a 60-minute show, you obviously need to account for commercial breaks.

What affects transcription factors? ›

Various factors control how much a gene is transcribed. For instance, how tightly the DNA of the gene is wound around its supporting proteins to form chromatin can affect a gene's availability for transcription.

What are two examples of transcription factors? ›

Mechanistic
Examples of specific transcription factors
FactorStructural typeBinds as
Heat shock factorBasic zipperTrimer
ATF/CREBBasic zipperDimer
c-MycBasic helix-loop-helixDimer
6 more rows

What is most important for transcription? ›

The main enzyme involved in transcription is RNA polymerase, which uses a single-stranded DNA template to synthesize a complementary strand of RNA. Specifically, RNA polymerase builds an RNA strand in the 5' to 3' direction, adding each new nucleotide to the 3' end of the strand.

What is the hourly rate for a beginner transcriptionist? ›

A transcriptionist's salary is generally around $19.02, while an advanced transcriptionist earns around $25 to $30 per hour. With this rate, you can easily earn an average of $1141.2 every month if you work 2.5 hours per day for 24 days. According to PayScale, the median transcriptionist's salary is $16.59 per hour.

What type of transcription pays the most? ›

High Paying Medical Transcription Jobs
  • Transcription Coordinator. ...
  • Medical Transcription Supervisor. ...
  • Radiology Transcriptionist. ...
  • Transcriber. ...
  • Medical Scribe. ...
  • Transcriptionist. Salary range: $28,000-$38,000 per year. ...
  • Scribe. Salary range: $27,000-$37,000 per year. ...
  • Pathology Transcriptionist. Salary range: $28,500-$28,500 per year.

How can I be a good transcriptionist? ›

Top transcription skills:
  1. Typing.
  2. Language, spelling, and grammar.
  3. Copy editing.
  4. Research.
  5. Careful listening.
  6. Communication.
  7. Good memory.
  8. Attention to detail.
Dec 20, 2022

How long should it take to transcribe 20 minutes of audio? ›

That means you should expect any audio that is less than 15 minutes to be transcribed within an hour. Some experienced transcriptionists can transcribe files much faster. It's not unheard for experienced transcriptionists to transcribe 20 to 30 minutes of audio in one hour.

How long does it take to transcribe 2 hours? ›

Transcription Speed for the Professional Transcriptionist

For professional transcriptionist, the average time to transcribe one audio hour ranges from 2-3 hours. Some of the most qualified transcriptionists can transcribe up to 30 minutes of audio in an hour.

How long should it take to transcribe 30 minutes of audio? ›

Various factors affect how long it takes. As a very broad rule of thumb, many transcribers say it takes four hours for every one hour of audio. Obviously, if you're wondering how long to transcribe 30 minutes of audio file, around two hours.

How do I price my translation services? ›

Here are 7 ways pricing is determined for translation projects:
  1. The Number of Source Words. Document translation charges are usually based on the number of words in the source material. ...
  2. Time-frame. ...
  3. Language Combination. ...
  4. The Complexity of the Subject Matter. ...
  5. Beware of Hidden Fees. ...
  6. TEP Process. ...
  7. Translation Software Tools.

How is translation cost calculated? ›

Per-Word Rate

In most cases, the costs of translating content are calculated based on the word count. It's a clear and simple indicator. However, the number of words may be different depending on the language. Some have a lot of articles and prepositions, others are more concise.

What pays more transcription or translation? ›

Translators are paid higher on average than transcriptionists, as translation is more time-consuming and more complex. This is mainly because a translator must be an expert bilingual to succeed, which requires plenty of time and effort.

How long does it take to transcribe 1000 words? ›

How long does it take to transcribe 1,000 words or more? An average typist can transcribe 1,000 words in about 25 minutes. However, a professional typist can achieve this same feat in less than 13 minutes with 99% accuracy.

How fast is the average transcriptionist? ›

Transcription speed for an average person

An amateur transcriber typically types between 40 and 60 words per minute. As a result, it takes the average person about four hours to transcribe one hour of audio. However, the complexity of the transcript can make this time estimate vary significantly.

How long does it take to transcribe 4000 words? ›

Writing 4,000 words will take about 1.7 hours for the average writer typing on a keyboard and 3.3 hours for handwriting. However, if the content needs to include in-depth research, links, citations, or graphics such as for a blog article or high school essay, the length can grow to 13.3 hours.

How long do transcription factors last? ›

We find that in a nondividing cell, two transcription factors that bind to their specific DNA sites can remain for several hours or days and that this largely resists competition from similarly specific DNA sequence (or chromatin).

How do you identify transcription factors? ›

DNA BINDING ASSAYS USED TO STUDY TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS. The principal strategy in identifying and characterizing transcription factors is based on their ability to recognize and interact with specific DNA sequences present in the promoters of eukaryotic genes.

What is a transcription factor footprint? ›

Transcription factor (TF) footprinting allows for the prediction of the precise binding location of a TF at a particular locus. This is because the DNA bases that are directly bound by the TF are actually protected from transposition while the DNA bases immediately adjacent to TF binding are accessible.

How much can a transcriptionist make in a day? ›

Average Daily Transcription Transcriptionist hourly pay in the United States is approximately $56.38, which is 224% above the national average.

How do you transcribe faster? ›

Let's have a look at these tips to get a faster transcription.
  1. Make use of an Autocorrect Tool.
  2. Practice Typing to perfection.
  3. Making use of High-Quality and noise cancellation headset.
  4. A comfortable and quiet environment.
  5. Type Smartly.
  6. Get your hands on a good transcribing software.
  7. Take Breaks.
  8. The final word.

What are the four major skills needed for transcription? ›

In order to transcribe audio or a conversation accurately, you need these skills:
  • Active listening. Active listening is the ability to focus on a speaker and hear everything they say. ...
  • Typing skills. ...
  • Communication. ...
  • Computer skills. ...
  • Research.
Mar 10, 2023

How much do freelance transcribers make per hour? ›

How Much Do Transcriptionist Jobs Pay per Hour?
Annual SalaryHourly Wage
Top Earners$45,500$22
75th Percentile$38,000$18
Average$33,773$16
25th Percentile$28,000$13

Can you make a living transcribing? ›

Transcription jobs are lucrative ways to make extra money, especially if you speak and write in more than one language. Here are the best work-from-home transcription jobs. Transcriptionists are in high demand.

How long does it take to transcribe 100 pages? ›

Writing 100 pages will take about 20.8 hours for the average writer typing on a keyboard and 41.7 hours for handwriting.

How hard is it to transcribe audio? ›

Transcription work sounds easy since it only involves listening to audio files and typing. In reality, however, transcription is quite complicated. It takes commitment and full involvement in the job to ensure that you produce excellent work.

How long does it take to transcribe 15 minutes of audio? ›

It takes a trained transcriptionist about an hour to transcribe 15 minutes of standard quality audio. If you have an hour-long audio file, it will take a minimum of four hours to transcribe.

Do transcripts need timestamps? ›

Include timestamps only when useful.

In many cases, including timestamps would be unnecessary clutter. If you do include them, they usually don't need to be as granular as the captions, and do not need to include end times.

What are the three types of transcription factors? ›

After that, transcription factors can control transcription by either recruiting RNA polymerase to initiate mRNA synthesis (turning the gene on), or by blocking RNA polymerase function (turning the gene off). There are 3 types of transcription factors: general, specific, and regulatory transcription factors.

What controls transcription factors? ›

The activity of a transcription factor is often regulated by (de) phosphorylation, which may affect different functions, e.g. nuclear localization DNA binding and trans-activation. Ligand binding is another mode of transcription-factor activation.

How many transcription factors are there? ›

According to recent data, the human genome encodes about 1500 regulatory sequence-specific DNA-binding factors (transcription factors, TFs) [7–9]. TFs constitute a large functional family of proteins directly regulating the activity of genes.

What is a positive transcription factor? ›

A positive transcription factor controls the differential expression of two 5S RNA genes. Cell.

How does transcription factors work? ›

Introduction. Transcription factors (TF) control gene expression by binding to their target DNA site to recruit, or block, the transcription machinery onto the promoter region of the gene of interest. Their function relies on the ability to find their target site quickly and selectively1.

What is a negative transcription factor? ›

Negative autoregulation, where a transcription factor regulates its own expression by preventing transcription, is commonly used to suppress fluctuations in gene expression.

What are the names of transcription factors? ›

Genes contained within subgroups: 39
HGNC ID (gene)Approved symbolApproved name
HGNC:11551BRF1BRF1 RNA polymerase III transcription initiation factor subunit
HGNC:11588TBPTATA-box binding protein
HGNC:4664GTF3C1general transcription factor IIIC subunit 1
HGNC:4665GTF3C2general transcription factor IIIC subunit 2
37 more rows

Why is transcription work important? ›

Key Benefits of Transcription. Transcribers are tasked with the delicate job of converting audio files into written content. Here they can be dealing with speeches, conference calls, legal proceedings, business meetings, interviews, and so on. Accuracy is one of the most important aspects of transcription.

What is a transcription factor made of? ›

The general transcription factors (GTF) include the TATAA box binding protein (TBP), a number of TBP-associated factors, and the RNA polymerase II enzyme, which synthesize mRNA strands from the genetic information.

What are the transcription rates of RNA? ›

Most genes have transcription rates of between 2 and 30 mRNAs/hour and less than 1% of yeast genes have >1 RNA polymerase molecule/gene. Histone and ribosomal protein genes are the highest transcribed groups of genes and other than these exceptions the transcription of genes is an infrequent phenomenon in a yeast cell.

How long does it take to transcribe 1 minute of audio? ›

Transcription speed for an average person

An amateur transcriber typically types between 40 and 60 words per minute. As a result, it takes the average person about four hours to transcribe one hour of audio.

How long does it take to transcribe 1 hour of audio? ›

When it comes to individual transcribers, the average time to transcribe one hour of audio is approximately four hours. But, some transcribers quote four hours as the minimum since it can easily reach 10 hours. Transcription time by audio hour varies so much mostly because each audio file is different.

What are transcription factors and what do they do? ›

Transcription factors are proteins involved in the process of converting, or transcribing, DNA into RNA. Transcription factors include a wide number of proteins, excluding RNA polymerase, that initiate and regulate the transcription of genes.

What maximizes the rate of transcription for a gene? ›

Transcription factors such as activators and enhancers helps in increasing the rate of transcription of a gene by binding to their specific sites. Activator binds to the adjacent to the promoter region of the gene and increases the transcription rate.

What is the rate of DNA translation? ›

The rate of translation varies; it is significantly higher in prokaryotic cells (up to 17–21 amino acid residues per second) than in eukaryotic cells (up to 6–9 amino acid residues per second).

How fast should a transcriber be? ›

While most transcriptionists can type at around 50 words per minute (WPM), make it your goal to type at least 60 WPM. By improving your typing speed, you can get more work done in less time, which seriously increases your earning potential!

How long to transcribe 20 minutes? ›

That means you should expect any audio that is less than 15 minutes to be transcribed within an hour. Some experienced transcriptionists can transcribe files much faster. It's not unheard for experienced transcriptionists to transcribe 20 to 30 minutes of audio in one hour.

How much do freelance transcriptionists charge per audio hour? ›

Standard rates for professional transcriptionists (especially those professionals from North America) range from $1.5 to $3 per audio minute or $90 to $180 per audio hour. If your project has extra requirements, such as a quick turnaround time, you may be forced to pay more to have the job done.

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