Wow..how does that work. Your making $5 an hour. Didn't minimum wage go up? If you pay or line co
Posted By: Scared mom on 2007-09-02
In Reply to: Experienced MTs- Rescue me pls! - Kit Fountain
does not go up, I'd probably move on. I understand right now your probably just getting the experience but you work a whole day and make $40??? I'd be tempted to change jobs soon. I know personally I could not survive on $5 an hour.
Complete Discussion Below:  marks the location of current message within thread
- Experienced MTs- Rescue me pls! - Kit Fountain
- Wow..how does that work. Your making $5 an hour. Didn't minimum wage go up? If you pay or line co - Scared mom
The messages you are viewing
are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select
the boards given in left menu
Other related messages found in our database
Can you afford to work for minimum wage for SM
a year or more? AFTER your schooling. That is the reality. Even when you get proficient, you won't be making more than $15/hour for a few years after that also. Do you call that profitable? You will also be responsible for supplying your own internet connection every month and possibly your own equipment.
No minimum wage here.
I have been at this for 2 years. Yes, my first year was slow and lean, and god bless Mom who lent me $$ to keep the wolves from the door. I make substantially more than minimum wage now, however. There are a number of MT's on this board who will say the same thing.
The constant negativity on this board is overwhelming sometimes. If you're only making minimum wage, you need to reassess the company you work for or your work habits. Sorry, but that's my view. If I can AVERAGE $20 an hour after less than 2 years in this business, anyone can.
Minimum wage in my state is 5.15 and
some days I don't even make that transcribing. I have two transcription accounts, heavy VR. If I only looked at this with respect for the money I made, I would be depressed. I also needed a career change (and made fair money before MT). But, I consider MT a trade off. These are some of the added benefits as I see them beyond the pay:
No to and from work commute (I save two hours daily). Not having to drive in inclement weather (that just scares me, I don't miss that). No work clothes or uniforms to buy or keep up (how do I calculate that?). No eating out for lunch or even packing a lunch for work (save money there). No office politics or drama to deal with (priceless). Being able to schedule MD appointments and other things that come up and work around those without begging my "boss'" permission (again, priceless). Not having a job where I am standing on my feet all day (I'm too old for that anymore). Saving a bit of money on taxes using my home office for work (always a help). Being home and able to keep up with the laundry, housework and have a homecooked meal on the table at a decent hour (pretty close to priceless to me). Being able to watch TV or DVDs in the evening with my husband again and have family time and even keep my grandchildren for the whole weekend if I want (priceless to me). These are some of the things that make MT a better trade off for me than what I had before when I made better pay, particularly on those days when I don't. There is value to all of that to me.
Just my opinion.
I started at minimum wage.
When I started working as an MT, I was only making minimum wage(was an employee and they had to pay at least minimum wage if I didn't make my line count). I could have started working at the local hospital for $15 an hour, but I chose to stay home with my son and not have to put him in daycare, even if it meant I would make a little less. I am glad I did. Now after 11 months, I make $17 an hour and do not have to pay daycare, commute costs, or spend a lot on clothing (love to working in my sweats). I knew the minimum wage was temporary and that if I focused on my speed, I would get to where I needed to be financially. So while you may start out making minimum wage, you don't have to stay there.
200 lines an hour is way beyond minimum expected
s
That wage per hour is a crock, no matter what! Look at the 3 recommended
s
I remember my first job quite a few years ago and making about $2 an hour until I learned...sm
the account, got used to the doctors, learned how to efficiently research etc. I also needed to create my own expansion program as the system I worked in back then would not allow an outside expander. Keep at it and good luck, it will get better.
Minimum line requirements
I am wondering if any employers offer transcription opportunities where there are no minimum line requirements expected of the transcriptionist. I know if you are employee status then you probably have the 10-12,000 line requirement for a pay period, but what about IC status? Or part time? Can someone please let me know if any MT employers offer "situations" where a transcriptionst has no minimum line requirement?
Thank you.
I didn't ask about finding work.
I asked if anyone knew anything about Gatlin Education Services.
...in our line of work. You NEED to know the terminology
z
part time with a national will put you at the end of the line for work sm
and give you the crappiest accounts. Only way to work for a national is full time. Good luck!
She didn't say she didn't have the skills. She said she didn't have the experience.
x
Gross line means anything on a line is a line, even if just one word
it is counted as a line. Not sure what exactly you are asking, but if you are comparing gross line to the usual 65 characters plus spaces gross line is better. If you make 7.5 cpl per gross line that equals approximately 9.5 cpl based on 65 characters.
I didn't find it rude that you didn't agree with me. That doesn't
matter. We don't have to agree. What I found rude and condescending was the way you hammered away at how you had to have training, saying that anybody with common sense would know that you had to go to school to be an MT; things like that are what I found rude. Some of us did just what you said couldn't be done. Like I said, it doesn't matter if we agree or not. We all have our opinions and are entitled to them. Just don't try to tell me that what I, and others, have already done is not possible. 
Years ago you didn't need a certificate, didn't even
need experience, but things have changed. Unless your mentor is going to sit by your side 24/7 I would recommend finishing the class, because you need to have a knowledge base in place. I have seen recent posts though where companies willing to hire newbies will not hire those who has taken from the program that you are taking.
Are you getting your line count from your program or can you use the line counting software to do
s
fair wage for newbie
I would start as low as 5 cpl just to gain some on the job experience.
Minimum of 6 cpl would have been better. Dunno about how they
s
Most platforms are 1150 per day minimum
x
Career Step grads - what was your starting wage?
Career Step grads - what was your starting wage? What were you offered in cents per line? How many offers did you get? How long did it take you to find work?
Thanks : ) -MKJ
I hope you're being paid a decent wage and not being
taken advantage of, which happens a lot.
Most places offering PT want minimum of 600 lpd. 1000-
s
Used to do QA for $20 an hour -
Would not even consider less than that because I can make that much doing straight transribing and have a lot few headaches.
It is true. Those have tested and meet AAMT's minimum requirements
The Approval Process does mean something to me. It means that those schools have been tested and at least meet the minimum requirements, according to AAMT's standards. It doesn't say if they have gone over and beyond those minimum standards, but people in the industry know that already.
How much lines per hour?
Thanks everybody for providing me information few days ago, but I still dont get it how a new MT can type 75 to 100lph because I am able to type hardly 350 lines in 8 hours, this is after the correction i mean grammer, trying to find drug names, etc.
How *many* lines per hour...do you have a
nm
you can make up to $40 per hour.....
if your speed is good and you have a good expander. anyone who types less than 70 words per minute, will probably have a hard time earning over $20 per hour. Those who are making $5 to $9, well that's just crazy. Terrible account, terrible dictators, terrible expanders...something is definitely wrong.
$12 to $13 an hour are poverty wages
x
For a newbie $10 an hour is good I would say - sm
granted if you have always typed 175+ cpl then it is not good of course. But say you get .07 line-65 cpl then 175cpl would come out to be $12.25 an hour. Starting out I made about $7/hour at .07/line, now I make average about $12/hour, but do about $9-16/hour depending on the dictator. I do not get paid for spaces as well so that cuts into the bottom line as well. I would think after a year they should bump you up to at least $12. Where I work the higher the line rate you make means you get the harder dictators, so that hurts too when you are on payment by the line, but where hourly pay would "pay" off.
$9 an hour starting is really good for a new MT.
As the poster said below, most new MTs do not start that high. It took me months to get to $9 an hour.
You are still making typos
I hate to burst your bubble, but this is a tough field. Any smart client is going to ask you how much experience you have. In fact, they may not have to ask, they will know by talking to you or by your email or correspondence to them that is filled with typos. You need to get a job first and get some experience behind you first.
I do not have to run after children, etc. so making a
schedule is just great with me. This is a place where I was up and running right away with the work because it was work I have done for the past 16 years. I was so happy to find who had the acct when the other service lost it, just luck in that a person from MTs told me who had it. I love op notes and was working a 12-5 p.m. and guess what, that is exactly what they wanted so see we fit just like a glove. I am so lucky to be able to choose what I want now. They wanted those, I wanted those. I think the IRS could care less as long as they get their money. I have yet to find out much I need to sit aside but again will have to talk with my tax person pretty soon. I just started at this new job at the end of November. By the way, read on this post about how others are treated in their jobs with QA, etc. This job is a DREAM. They leave you the heck alone. Anything coming from QA in an email and really constructive criticism and taken as such. I love my job and my life. Happy, happy!!
Missa, I'm making 5c
And it is depressing. But like you say, you have to pay your dues. Just finished my first year of MT. I was getting 3c at Sten-Tel for VR, but that's IC.
I guess you don't mind working for $5-10 an hour.
I don't feel 5 cpl is worth my time. Even doing 200 lph (it took me 7 months to get to that point), I would only be making $10 an hour. Why would anyone waste their time? Their are companies out there that offer new MTs much better rates. But if you don't feel you are worth more than that, by all means, go ahead and accept minumum wage.
I was lucky if I made $1 an hour my first week! sm
It was horrible! After a month, I am now up to $8 an hour.(I know that is still not much!) I would look up every single drug and doublecheck the dosages. Now, I am familar with many of them and it feels good not to have to look them all up. It is great that your company thinks you are doing good work!
i am. i've done this 25 years and making top $
newbies, however, who get all puffed up about how much they've mastered, omg i am laughing here trying to type this, are quite the funny.
Goodie for you for making the decision SM
to not use your degrees and stay home with your babies...but in the REAL world most women do not have that option if they want to be able to feed and clothe their children. You really CAN'T live on love. I had to put my oldest son in daycare at 6 weeks old. I hated it, but he certainly couldn't stay home by himself! It had nothing to do with "social skills" or "convenience." It was "necessity." I was fortunate enough to be able to stay home with my other 2 children (as my paycheck would have just barely covered the cost of 3 kids in daycare, so it wasn't worth it).
You really shouldn't be so judgmental and self-righteous. There are 2 sides to every story...not just YOUR side.
Seriously.
Chickadee
Try making a handwritten list as you have to look up
the drug names. I have a lot of experience, but I also get stuck on drug names sometimes. That is my weakest point as well even though I hate to admit it, but one thing that helped me is to handwrite on a piece of paper that sits next to you all of the new drug names and their correct form (whether to cap or not), and then for some odd reason (it worked for me) when I'm transcribing I'll think to myself, oh wait, I know that one is on my list. Googling is good too, but you have to watch the sites as not all are consistent or may not be correct. Googling can pull up all forms of that word being used, so just be careful there. You'll get there, and happy MT'ing... 
I'm making that after 19 years of experience
It would depend on what you're doing in three years as far as a job or having your own clients. I wouldn't expect to make $40,000.00 after three years. I think it will take a lot longer than that to build up to that kind of money; however, if you work 2 or 3 jobs, you could probably come close. You'll just always be transcribing and you'll have no time for anything else especially if you plan to work for a national.
Making decent money here.
I was one of those stay-at-home moms that wanted to make my own hours and earn a good living and I am doing just that. I have been an MT for 2 years now. I work at home while caring for my 3-year-old son. Yes, it is not easy, stressful even, but I make more money at home (close to $20 an hour) than I would make at a B&M job and I don't have to pay $1000 a month for daycare anymore. I have a completely flexible schedule and I work early in the morning while my son sleeps and during his nap times. If I have to, I work again in the evening to finish up work.
This profession is difficult and takes a lot of work, but what career that pays a decent salary doesn't. It is possible to make more than $4-8 an hour. It does not take years and years. I was up to $12 an hour after 6 months, comparable to what I made in my previous position, where I had been employed for 3 years.
Just because you can't make it in this industry is no reason to discourage others from trying.
But that 1 hour of dictation could take you 3-8 hrs to do depending on clarity, the setup, etc. nm
s
No way to tell. Is the software easy to use? Will you be looking up addresses? Making a log? Having
s
you are making an assumption (a dangerous thing to do)...sm
you are assuming chiropractic care and chiropractic adjustments are the same thing and I don't think you can make that assumption. For example, he may be thinking of doing some myofascial release under chiropractic care and then specifying adjustments. I would put "chiropractic care, (the other treatments,) and chiropractic adjustment.
a) he probably won't even notice what you consider a redundancy, if he reads it all
b) why would you want to take OUT words from a dictation - you get paid for them, don't you?
In the healthcare field, we don't make assumptions.
I personally did not incorporate until I was making over $50K a year because
of the added fees (paying CPA for one thing), corp taxes, etc. MT services carry so little liability I don't think incorporating to install a corporate shield is really necessary, especially since they go after deep pockets anyway. But incorporating if you are making $50K or more per year is a very important tool for income tax savings. If you are sending work out to other people and they are doing the work, then you turn around and send it in to the client, essentially YOU are not doing the typing, YOU are not earning the money, YOUR BUSINESS is. Therefore you should not be paying social security tax on earnings that are not YOURS but YOUR BUSINESS'S. If you incorporate you can pay yourself a reasonable salary for any transcription you do, plus shuttling the work back and forth. Let the rest of the earnings ride as the company's earnings. You will pay income taxes on them as any profit flows through to your personal taxes but you will save on that big 15% bite from social security. Other advantages though of incorporating are to set up your 401K and let your business make contributions to it. Again, though, that's something that's not likely to happen until you are making a lot of money. As you are a newbie, I don't see that in the near future...
&that rate is experienced MT. Figure you making
x
20$ an hour?!!! I couldn't make this as a nurse where I live! You are VERY blessed! nm
s
Thanks all for your input! It helps alot in my decision making! nm
Who are you?? I think at this point someone is making up names to post. Get a life! nm
xx
OOhhhh - they have basket making classes? Too bad they don't offer a class on maturity.
**
flat hourly wage, hourly + volume, and stricly volume based pay ?
I have heard there are companies that pay flat hourly, some that pay hourly plus volume pay, and then strictly per production. Anyone have any experience with these different pay structures? Know which companies do which (and will take new grads)?
Thanks : )
I didn't go to any of the BIG 3
And I did not have a problem either. I worked hard, got extra practice dictation and did a lot of extra work on my own. I got my first job, stayed there until I moved. They gave me such a good reference letter that I have had no problems landing clients since. Every single one has their own style and requirements, so the learning curve is always going to be there anyway. I interviewed a person who went to one of the top 3, and she didn't have a clue, by the way. It is all in how seriously you take the work, just like anything else.
|
