a good living
Posted By: RNsusan on 2005-09-10
In Reply to: being able to make 40,000 year without a college degree is pretty good. I'm happy. - just my 2 cents
Sounds like you are quite successful. Please share with me what is involved in actually earning this level of income. Have you been at it for a long time? How many hours/week do you work? Thanks. I'm strongly considering MT but I hear such variables on the pay.
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What do you consider a good living?
I'm thinking of work from my house instead of the office, changing careers.
How do people make a living in ....
this business? I'm new and realize how lucky I am to have a MT position in which I can work from home. I was hired by a MTSO who needed people on a new account she was getting. Now I am not needed on the account because it's just not rolling in all the work it was suppose to (maybe that is how is going to be or maybe just cause of the holidays). She continues to give me as much work as she possibly can and is constantly stating how amazed she is by my ability to catch on quick to the new doctors she throws at me. However, I am lucky to make $100 every two weeks. I am looking for a second MT job. Does anyone have any suggestions? I am wonder if even a second job is going to bring in enough money though. I actually just have to bring in around $500 (rent because my husband can pay everything else) but of course to be financially comfortable I would like to bring in more. Is it worth getting a second job or will I eventually have to get a third? I really want to stay working as an IC for the MTSO because she is so nice and it lets me be more flexible than a national would. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
why do you think living is Belgium is that expensive?
(disregarding their fame to being the diamond wholesale capital of Europe?) Shoot, if my family can make a living there, why not you or I? Euros are worth more than US dollars anymore.
do you live close to anyone who transcribes for a living?
Maybe you can find a mentor who can help you out. It is very hard to get into this field. It would be beneficial if you could find someone to QA your work for you.
Okay, but most people have a hard time living
in a different state from their family, let alone another country.
Yes, and these were people trying to make an HONEST living
nm
That is an ignorant statment...I am living proof!! -sm
It must ruffle your feathers to think someone could teach themselves your trade, but unfortunately I have to say you are WAY off base there...speaking as a nurse and self-taught MT with impeccable work, thank you very much.
Good. The lab book was a good choice.
Be sure you look through each book when you get it. Put tabs on sections you will want to refer to quickly. I know my lab book (not Stedman's) has all kinds of extra sections. I think my next purchase would be the cardiac book. Then neuro or OB-GYN after that, depending on which you are getting more of in your work.
that's good to know
At least there's a little hope for me
Good for you!! - nm
.
Good for you!
.
I know a good MT when I see one - regardless of
credentials, school or references. One run through the grammar screening knocks most of 'em right out of the ballpark...
good for you, 10/cpl is good
/
That is good
That is great to hear that someone else was exactly where I am now. Where did you land your first job, not the MTSO, the other one?
I do not think I am TOO GOOD.
companies that pay these low wages are taking advantage of new MTs that don't know their value yet. The MTs that received this offer had all spent thousands of dollars and a lot of time learning to become an MT. I just don't know why anyone would sell themselves short for 5 cpl ($10 an hour is generous by the way as most new MTs won't get to 200 lph). As I said, there are companies out there that pay better. If you are trying to help, steer the newbies to these companies, not the companies that have a reputation for not respecting their MTs. If you take the time, do your research, and graduate from a good school, you should have no problem finding a good job. I had 4 offers before I even got my final score. My first company paid 7 cpl and after 6 months, I took on my own client making just about double that.
good to know!! Thank you!
good to know!! Thank you!
Good For You!
My late Mother did the same thing. We didn't do homeschooling, but she did it all and did it exceptionally well. She was brilliant but never acted like it. She was a taxi to more than the 6 kids in our family. She taught piano, voice, directed the church choir, wrote plays (we were in them), was busy in RNC fund-raising, and on and on.
We just called her "Mother."
So good luck to you. It really warms my heart to hear stories like yours. As for the MT thing, it sounds like you could teach yourself. That's what I did.
Good luck!
Appy anywhere and everywhere. There are a lot of companies who say they require at least 2 years experience, but you would be surprised at how many will give someone who has just graduated a chance. If you pass their test they will hire you, 2 years or not. I know from experience. I graduated last year and I applied to every ad that had a 2 year minimum, before I graduated. I got hired 1 week before I graduated, and I have been working ever since. Good Luck!
Nothing is good for a newbie.
Ya, I think I won't take the job because it may be a little difficult. That's real smart.
I have not heard anything good about it.
If you are looking for a quality MT education, the gold standard training comes from Andrews and M-Tec. Some graduates of Career Step have had good luck in finding and keeping employment also. The top schools turn out job-ready MTs. Employers are eager to hire them. The cheaper schools do not turn out graduates that employers are eager to hire.
good point
Knowing that pay=production can be a great motivator, especially if you are working for a company that provides consistent work flow and good HR relations.
Thanks for your input.
Good point!
Peggy, what excellent advice! I had not heard it put that way, and after thinking about it, I know you're right! thanks for opening my eyes to think "bigger".... better to be excellent, and more "employable", than to be somewhat limiting. I do plan to study in such a way as to be excellent! That's just the way I'm "built"! :) thanks again for your post.... -Anne (amh) :)
This is a good start for you (sm)
In light of the fact that you are new, this is an excellent rate of pay with a reasonable (generous, really) production requirement, even though you may not be able to meet it at first.
Add 20-25% to it for the benefits and you'll be making more on the lines of $13.08. As an on-site employee you will not have to pay self-employment tax or overhead.
When people scoff at this rate of pay, remember that everyone starting out in a new career field starts at the bottom. You have to work your way up. As an MT, your value lies in your ability to produce quantity work while maintaining high quality. Newbies aren't able to produce much while maintaining quality.
The incentive pay makes this better, and if it has good benefits, then you're doing well.
The most important thing about this job is that it will give you experience. You NEED that experience. If you can get it while being paid hourly, so much the better.
Unless someone scoffing at this can produce a job for you which pays better, do not listen to them.
If you do not have a job and you need a job, you are in no position to be turning one down because it doesn't pay top dollar. Take this job and do your best with it.
Yes, this is still a good field!
Hey Porr - Welcome! First of all, you have come one of the most negative MT sites on the internet. If you are easily discouraged or depressed, I would advise you NOT to come to this site. I have been an MT for over 30 years and every time I come to this board, I leave so dejected, I wonder if I have wasted my life doing MT. I have finally realized that this board drags me down, so I don't come here very often. The people who do come on here legitimately, come to relieve their frustrations, get advice, vent about work situations, etc.... we are not all this stressed out all the time  But there are a lot of really good people on here, too, and you can get a lot of valuable knowledge, you just have to learn who the "trolls" are and ignore them (easier said than done at times!) The MT world is undergoing a lot of changes these days. A lot of work is being sent offshore and now they have the voice recognition platform that they are working on. The nationals make you feel very unappreciated, but I have worked for doctors, hospitals, clinics and had my own service for a while, and there are a lot of people out there who will appreciate your skills, just not the large nationals. Stay away from them until you are more seasoned, then, if you feel like tackling one of them, I say go for it. They have their negatives, but you will gain valuable knowledge and you will be able to get a job just about anywhere with one of the nationals on your resume.
This is a great field, just keep your nose to the grindstone and stay away from negative websites (). Do not let the comments you read here sway you one way or the other. I find this to be a personally rewarding field to work in. I hope that you do, too! Hang in there and don't give up!
Good luck!
You can't give up hope if this is the field you want to work in. I had been doing my job for 17 years and needed something new. I did a lot of research and liked the opportunites that being an MT provided. I'm sure it would not be for everybody, but I love what I do and have great docs to transcribe for. Plus, perhaps more important, it is an ongoing learning process. I like to stay challenged and this job certainly does that. Good luck to you!!
Good point..lol
nm
another good response!!!
nm
Good schools??
How do you determine what is a good reputable school and which one is a waste of money & time?
Thank you!
The Good Schools
Andrews and M-Tec. Career Step is also considered to be a good school. Andrews and M-Tec are the gold standard, the Harvard and Yale, of MT training. Their graduates have no difficulty finding work because employers know those schools turn out job-ready MTs.
It has good advice.
Good luck!
Is this a good field to go into?
Does this line of work have a future? Is it a good field to go into? I welcome your opinions.
Good News
Finally, some good news for a change!!
That is pretty good.
That is a lot better than what I am making. I am making only 3.0 cents per line independent contractor status, which is ridiculous. This should be a crime to pay an MT this low of a rate. I am currently in the process of looking for a new job.
Is this a good start
I've heard Sten-Tel is a good starting company, is that true? I need to gain experience. I recently finished up an internship, but need 1-2 yr experience to be able to work in clinics or hospitals in my area. So I thought if I could work online at home PT or FT(I need to make around $400/mo to pay all my bills) for a year, then I could start applying again at the hospitals... anyone have any good leads?
Good advice. LOL!!!!! nm
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I agree! Good for you!
with a mother's day out program for a few hours a week if you feel your child needs social interaction. That is someting I would do for your child if you felt they really needed it, but not for you though. I agree, and I have worked daycare years ago. You really are not the one raising your child if they are there all day. You feed them, bathe them, and put them to bed. The struggles in life and how you handle them are what make you, you... and your child is watching every move you make and will one day likely repeat them. Us moms only have one chance, we have to make it count! I am glad you made this decison and you sure won't regret it!
good question..
i was told it takes at least 2-3 years to really feel comfortable. its been about 5 now for me, and although i feel pretty comfortable (except for ops), i still consider myself a newbie, plus i am the baby of my company as far as experience, and i still have a lot more to learn.
on the good side (for me), there are 2 others whom i work with, who have 19 and 18 years, but, because they chose to cherry pick, they didnt qualify to work at home because they were not comfortable doing a lot of things they should have been comfortable with by now.
you may consider yourself a newbie, but motivation, initiation, and all that other good stuff can put you ahead of others.
good luck
GOOD POINT
I'm glad that this was brought up. I have often wondered myself. What encourages me is that there is always something new to learn. Even the MTs who have been in this for years admits it themselves.
I am still a newbie but being an IC helps a lot in learning different areas in this field. I am thankful that my contact "feeds" me work from a new field gradually when she thinks that I am already catching on with the one she gave me prior. I say "catching on" because I can get comfortable with surgery and here comes a new case with totally different words that I need to research on.
Just like a former professor of mine said - "the more you know, the more you realize that there is still much to learn."
Good attitude! You will go far. (nm)
(nm)
I agree - if you have a good
MT education and are any good, you won't HAVE to accept a job at such an insulting line rate.
Good company?
I am a well trained and experienced professional MT and have been for 13 years now. I have been looking at several of the work-at-home companies out there. Does anyone out there work for ImageStat Corporation and are they a good company to work for?
I would start with PT. Good way to
get your speed up, familiarize yourself with macros. Easy work - no drugs or labs, usually no ESL, lots of repetition. Start with PT and then go from there.
Good school
A really good course that is taught online is Janet Stiles electronically taught transcription. You can get more info at www.settinc.com
Good luck
I am sorry they are attacking you too. I too got a "tip" about my grammar. I misspelled on word. I would normally spellcheck everything I post unfortunately this forum doesn't offer that option. I worked for a few year with any MT training. I had gone to premed school. I have moved and haven't found a local company yet, I have to say for a new MT that is the way to go. Don't get too down on yourself.
Is MT A Good Career?
Is MT a good career to get into?
Unless you prove you are very good
and a valuable asset. Really good MTs are hard to find and worth keeping - and worth giving good raises to.
Cannot say enough good things about M-TEC!
You get what you pay for! :-)
Yes, you need a GOOD school ...
the one you went to is considered a "matchbook" school. Many companies will not even let you take their test if they know you went to that school, because you were not taught the stuff you need in order to pass tests.
I recommend Andrews or M-TEC.
Good luck.
No, it is not good, and companies know it...
and will not test people who go to that school. They used to have another name, they changed it to Allied because word got out that they are a cheap school that does not adequate prepare you for this career.
You need to check into Andrews School or M-Tec. Employers will waive the 2-year experience requirement if you graduate from those two schools, and you will be able to get a job.
GOOD GRIEF
I didn't learn even 1/20 of what I needed even in a community college setting and paid a heck of a lot more than any online course is charging. You just don't learn it all in class. You study, study and study some more and then you dig in and work hard, research your work type and build up your expander.
GOOD LUCK
in your pursuit in this. Just a thought but are there any physical therapy groups in your area? I have a private account where the physical therapists dictate on microcasette tapes, I pickup, type them on my machine at home and print them on their letterhead and sticky paper and then return them and pick up the next batch. PT is not really hard and just added their terms to my Expander and even made my own templates. Charge enough (like 10-11 centes a line) but you can deduct your mileage and supplies.
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