There are just too many variables...
Posted By: AL MT on 2006-07-12
In Reply to: I was just curious because I have had some people tell me they make over $1000 every week and that - Susan
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.
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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.
Again, there is no average. Too many variables. As for
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.
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
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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
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