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Again, there is no average. Too many variables. As for

Posted By: days off, etc., you can ... sm on 2008-09-03
In Reply to: What's the average an IC makes an hour? sm - mama4

work it out with your client or clients or find someone to cover for you. Or you can have them find someone to cover for you, but if that person is faster, nicer, or better in some way in their eyes, you run the risk of losing the work. I always provide backup if any extended time off or just work double the next day after a single day off.

You can set forth your TAT, but if the client doesn't like it, you won't get the work. I typically ask what kind of TAT the client expects and if it doesn't work for me, I don't have to take their work.

Perhaps just finding a place other than MQ would solve your problem better, though. Having your own clients doesn't always equate to more money. You might get a better per-line rate but there's a lot more involved so you end up working more hours, etc., as stated below, and don't always end up on the profitable side.


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There are just too many variables...
in this business to answer these types of questions. Line rate, platform, work types, experience, definition of a line, employee versus IC, etc. It's like comparing apples and oranges sometimes. I've personally known MTs to earn anywhere from $5 an hour to over $50 an hour. $1000 a week is NOT impossible.
Too many variables to say --

When I worked for MQ, I was on 2 primary accounts that were SR.  The dictators on these accounts were pretty good and I generally got 300 lph, sometimes more or less depending on the dictators.  MQ paid 70% of your line rate for SR and paid for spaces but not demographics.  Some companies only pay 50%.  A lot will depend on the platform, the dictators, your SR rate of pay, what the company pays for (ADT, spaces, etc), and how many accounts you are on, in addition to what your general MT capabilities are.  Generally speaking, I type about 200 to 250 lph.


You might get a better idea if you state which company/platform you are talking about. 


There's a lot of variables

There's a lot of variables
Especially if you're a relatively new hire, you're probably just getting up to speed on the account they hired you for and so they may not have the personnel to change that right now. As to adding it as a secondary, they're usually pretty good about doing that as long as it's in the same 'difficulty' level. They're not real keen on having the top tier transcriptionists getting paid at the top of the scale for typing no-brainer stuff. But your best bet is to talk to your supervisor. It may be that the spot you have now can be easily filled by anyone, and if you've got skills that would work well with what sounds like a new account coming on-board, they may be more than happy to switch you over.

Of course, like everything, be careful what you ask for.
Depends on SO many variables.
I have seen 6-8 cents for a 65-character count line for acute care. There are many variables here. It might be more with incentives, if you can attain them as a newbie. I am sure others will weigh in with what they know. Good luck!
There are HUGE variables
Formulas that MT companies give as average are usually based on average work that a MT is well versed in - which companies do not always make available to MTs then act surprised. Duh. Connections, software, familiarity, accents, account types, etc., etc. are huge variables for production and should be considered. Left on the same work for awhile I used to be capable of producing 2,000-2,500 lines, but that changes if my work is changed or if I'm put on a subspecialty I'm not familiar with. It's why companies that have people on a zillion accounts and are not rewarded for it have unhappy MTs. People making huge counts are usually people who are happily typing away at familiar work. Been there, not there now, and am miserable and burnt out.

With all the variables as to what could be lurking
that dictated minute, your guess is as good as mine. Do you have an offer? If so, what is it? Is this for an IC job? PT? FT? No real way of knowing uness you take the plunge, do the dictation and see what you come out of it with. IMO, sounds like more smoke and mirrors.
Lots of variables.
I do tend to agree with the poster that a lot of it has to do with the type of work. Like her, I had an account that paid 9 cpl but because of the nature of the work, I was lucky if I could break 125 lines/hour.

I recently chucked it for an account that pays 8 cpl, have my weekends back, sit down, do my much easier work, and walk away...no more sitting at the computer from morning to midnight hoping to get enough money to get a living line count. I'm getting line counts in five hours that it would take me 12 to get at the 9 cpl place.

I will also point out that a lot depends on what company it is. Some of the same people saying that there was no way in hello they would work for 7 cpl, yesterday said they would work for even less for a small mom-and-pop American company to help get it going.

So, in a nutshell, if it was one doctor, one account, plenty of work, free-form schedule, for a small company, yes, I would do it for 7 cpl.
Variables in cost of living
Some states sound good, but then check out the taxes - real estate tax, personal property tax, sales tax, cost of heating/cooling, transportation, license plates, insurance, etc. A lot of it balances out in the end. Some states have outrageous license plate fees, (I paid over $600 for my car last year). I also get a personal property tax bill each year for everything including my dishes and silverware. State income tax is out of sight. Cost of heating in winter is unbelievable. I have to have 2 sets of tires for the car, 1 for winter, 1 for summer. I have to have 3 complete wardrobes for the weather changes.
Something is missing here. Please answer a few ??ing variables here. Please sm.
I'm not affiliated with Landmark, but have perused enough archives to see that not paying their employees is not a common practice with them. The majority of posts regarding LM are very positive. No MTSO has 100% positive info, especially on this forum.

I'm not taking sides here, but to quote a poster below, there is a lot of missing information.

There are always two sides to every story, which is the reason for my questions.

1. How long were you employed with Landmark?

2. Have you returned any and all of their equipment?

3. Is nonpayment why you quit? If not, did you give the customary 2 wks notice?(Not that this justifies holding back pay, just trying to find ALL the answers.)

4. Were you in breach of contract in any way?


Whether your statements are true or not, they are still considered slanderous/libel. You may want to be prepare yourself in case you need to back them up.

Good luck!
Part of the problem with variables, and where we are today -sm
is because of how isolated we are, not only from the managers in the hospitals and MTSOs who don't have to see and get to know the people whose incomes & healthcare they're grinding down, but also because other than boards like this, for the most part we're isolated from each other. I'd venture a guess that of however many MTs there are working in the US nowadays, only a rather small percentage read this board or ones like it, and it's nearly impossible for MTs to function as a single, large entity that would get more respect from hospitals, MTSOs, and even our elected government officials.

I don't know if it's actually possible, but I still carry the hope that someday, somehow, this powerful communication tool, the Internet, can be used to once again get MTs what they deserve - even if it's just a small portion of the financial pie. The more money the employer makes, the more the employee should made, as they are the cogs driving the wheel, and it's the squeaking wheel that gets the grease.
Do they count spaces? If not then it would be a lot less. Find out what the variables are from your
Good Luck. Had the same problem with a job I had to leave. I got half the lines I used to. Now with another job same thing, just a little more than half of what I used to. Still looking for a company with the fair line count (65 with spaces, headers, footers, etc). Tired of looking but still trying. Good luck to you.
Many variables affect work load
Sometimes I have run out of work.  Sometimes my accounts are swamped with OT, while other accounts are caught up.  Some platforms have more work/accounts than others.  Some specialties are overstaffed, some are understaffed.  Its pretty much the same at other companies.  Its just that people speak in absolutes on this board about their experience.  You have to take it all with a grain of salt.  I have come to understand that everyone's situation is so different that maybe we all should put a disclaimer that my situation is this and not make blanket statements using words like always and never, nor argue with one another about who's reality is valid - they all are.
Sounds good to me, but lots of variables. Employer stability, for one. nm
x
Too many variables to count. A lot depends on shift, accounts, what types of work you do. (sm)

I can be totally out of work on my 2 accounts and pull up backlog report and see some accounts have OT offered. 


Every company has some employees totally satisfied with amount of work and some who run out totally. 


Like I said, many, many variables to be figured in.


It's all the variables that can make it difficult - lousy software, mangling ESLs, inaudible dic
s
Average pay
Just curious. What would be considered average as far as pay?

No one can help you unless you have an average
line rate.  If you were doing 1000 lines/day then the answer would be easy, but if you have no experience and little education you're not going to be making that number of lines for months.   You will be making minimum wage or less for a while. 
Average pay

I hope you mean per week not month. 


Yes, I average about 250 LPH and they do have some ESL
physicians. Many of their accounts are bad. I like the work though, the people and my team
Actually $1.10-$1.25 is the going average.
I work for a small MTSO at $1.10 a report and make more now than I did working for MDI-FL at $1.15 a report and another company at $1.25 a report. The work is steady and I easily get 200+ reports in 8 hours with no weekends. I don't think $1100+/week is bad pay but others might disagree.

If you get $1.25 a report but are unable to get over 100 reports - you are not making any money. Do the math and do what works best for you. Good luck!
$1.10 seems to be average...
Altho I make $1.50 and was just offered a job for $1.70, so if ya look around you can make more than the standard $1.10.
I don't know what the average is, but (sm)
can add my own past to the bucket. I had a base of 35K, and made bonuses on top of it. The bonuses were paid in chunks based on how long the MT stayed. So unlike some negatives I've read here, many times a recruiter only gets paid a bonus if the MT they hired stays with the company so many months. A very good year netted me 55K.

The work was stressful and long hours. Very stressful was coming on the Internet and seeing your name slung through mud on the bulletin boards. Some MTs would say that they weren't told things, when you absolutely KNEW they were because you kept a checklist as you talked.

Perhaps the most stressful part was being told one thing by the supervisors and owners about what accounts were like, what the shape of the company was, etc., and then relaying that publicly, only to find it wasn't true. The recruiter takes the fall for things like that in the MTs' minds. Unfortunately, as a recruiter, you only know so much and only control so much.

There are recruiters who will say anything to hire an MT. There are also honest ones. I am no longer a recruiter, but I'm proud that I always told the MTs the absolute truth and was the most successful recruiter for my national. It proved that you could be honest and still successful. Oh, and it helps to have been an MT before. I would never trust a recruiter who hadn't been an MT for a national!

Sorry so long. :) The pay can be good, but NEVER take a recruiting position that is commission only. There are too many factors out of your control, and those who hold the money will have too much control of your pay. Only accept one with a base pay that you would live on without assuming you'd make any bonuses.

Good luck!
Right now, I average about
275 lines an hour, but we are switching platforms, and I've heard bad things about it!!  I don't know if I can post who I'm working for, but there's a whole forum for them ;)
$1.25 seems to be the average (nm)
.
average

Do you mind telling me what you average on Meditech then??   I'm not the cherry-picker.   I'm the person who started this post?  Thanks.  Just don't wanna get sucked into a bad situation - again.


Average
Average would be about 15. Nothing great!
Is it below average?
and do I need any equipment or do they supply everything. Thanks to all for information.
that's average
nm
Does anyone know what the average is??? nm
My friend get 4-1/2 cents and I thought I was doing good at 3-1/2. What is a good average?
Not the average
This is certainly not the average. I would have to work 2 entire 8 hour shifts to average 3000 lines on my account. The highest I ever got was 1500 lines and that was because I happened to get a lot of template dictations that day. Ordinarily get maybe 1 or 2 a day, sometimes none.
Their pay is average if not more than what is being
Isn't that what the OP asked for a supplement?  If you don't want a strict schedule, then sometimes you have to settle for a little less money unless you want a strict schedule and to work your life away. 
15 cpl - way above average. nm
x
HUH? 319 LPH was my average

doing rad for a local hospital. (That's 2392 lines in an 8-hour shift with 0.5 off for lunch.)


That was in Word Client, based on a 65-character line, black characters and spaces counting.


Using your typing shortcuts (ESP in WC) should make that goal a piece of cake.


Was 600 - 700 lph your average?
Was 600 - 700 lph your average?
What could you average per day on that?
NM
My average LPH is at least 200 or so,
or I should say, it is when I put my head down and go for it, and not goof off with my e-mail and blog and watching baby panda bears live online, and other time-wasters.... :)

So if you calculate your own average LPH and do the math with your per-line rate, you can figure out how many lines it will take you to reach that magic minimum figure. Of course, it depends a great deal on your individual per-line rate....

Yesterday I spent waaaay too much time goofing off, and barely cracked 1000 lines for the day, which is just miserable for me....

A whole lot is going to depend on how low the workload actually is, and how much time you sit there staring at the screen (and surfing the net) while you wait for the next one. On the platform I work on (which is NOT Transcend's own) the new jobs pop in automatically, depending on what work pools I am assigned to; the next available job goes to the next available queue. I have no idea how it works on other platforms; if you have to keep manually checking, that really stinks, big time.

I hope this at least gives you some idea how it works--at least, this is how it works for me, on my team, the TRS transplanted DEP platform team. Can't speak for how it works for anyone else. My supervisor and leads are very good about keeping us informed several times a day about the workloads and the backlogs, and when there's no work (which is VERY rare), we are usually given the option to flex our time for that day, i.e. just leave early and perhaps try back later, especially if we check our e-mail and see by the latest backlog report that the workload has picked up; or we can switch to working on our usual day off; any way we can get in our time and our lines. They work very hard to make sure the workloads and the staff are distributed as best as possible.

But as I have said before, usually we do not run into the low-workload problem; in fact, it's most often the opposite. I wish I had a dollar for every Sunday morning I have gotten home from church to find an SOS message on my answering machine....
Average QA wages
Here are some known QA wages, starting out.

OSi - around $13.50
Transcend - around $13.50 - $14.00
Spheris - Mostly start at $12 - $13
MQ - $12
Sten-Tel - $12

In my opinion, a good QA should get 16-19, true, but that is just not the industry standard. It is lower than that.
Definitely lower than average. nm
s
Average salary for MT

Hello,


 not sure if it matters from state to state but i live in NY and would like to know what the average income might be for a MT thinking of going to school for this so I'm not sure what the variables would be as far as income. I know that some work for hospitals or private practice would like to get a round about figure for the average.


TIA.


Oops...the pay was average...sm
as I recall, and was between 0.075 cpl and 0.085 cpl and based on productivity. I know they were hiring a new director recently too. Don't know where the other one went, but she is no longer there. Their base of operations changed too. I believe they're trying to put some distance between themselves and the health system, as it was deemed a conflict of interest. Good people though...
Not based on average..
PTO is based on 1200 lines, not by an average.
My average at Medware

is about 6500 per week and I work 32 hours per week, so I am a little over 200 per hour.  That is an average as one week I did 7100.  I am on a hospital acute care account.


They offshore, pay is average. nm
 
Just figure out average of how much (sm)
you have made per hour for the last, say 24 weeks.  If you consistently make under $15, I'd go for the salary.  If I was over most of the time, I'd go for production.  Figure out what would be a fair amount of time to go back.  Good luck. 
In my opinion, yes, this is average for
You are not likely to get more, unless you find one of those rare mid size MTSOs who have a high pay range.
Anybody have any idea what the average
Very curious. I would love to be a recruiter yet never see any posted opportunities. I was wondering what a ballpark salary might be.

I have been given misleading information by 2 recruiters in the past. I would never do that. They should see that their little lies always backfire. Some of them remind me of used car salesmen.
I average btw 400-600 lph on escription. nm
nm
It is IC. They said the average report
is 1.0-1.5 minutes so maybe there will be some lines with that, hopefully! Thanks for your help.
Less than average school
But why would someone settle for a less than average school? Do they want to be content with producing less than average work? As a businessperson, that is what I would be concerned with in hiring such a person. I would want someone who cared enough to get the best education out there from one of the big 3.
Not really. I think the average is higher than that. That's on the low end.

I would not take less than 1.25. Just my opinion though.