Where translators earn online
Translators work through translation platforms that test them once and feed them jobs, through agencies and freelance marketplaces, and as interpreters on video calls.
Also for: interpreter, localizer, subtitler
How translators earn online
- Per-word translation jobs on translation platforms
- Direct clients and agencies through freelance marketplaces
- Remote interpreting and subtitling
Tip: Rare language pairs and specialisms such as legal or medical pay far more than common pairs.
What translators earn in the US
- Median pay a year
- $60,170
- Median pay an hour
- $28.93
- Range (10th to 90th percentile)
- $37K–$104K
- Employed in the US
- 52,100
US employees in the closest official occupation (SOC 27-3091), from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Freelance rates online vary widely by country, experience and platform, so treat this as a benchmark for what the work is worth, not what a platform will pay.
The top 12 platforms for translators, compared
| Platform | Type | Fees | Pays via | Who can join |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Gengo |
Translation platform | Per-word rates set by the platform | PayPal, Payoneer | Worldwide |
 Smartcat |
Translation platform | Freelancers set rates | Bank transfer, PayPal | Worldwide |
 TextMaster |
Translation marketplace | Legacy per-word rates by level | — | Worldwide |
 Stepes |
Translation marketplace | ~$0.05-0.14/word | PayPal or Stripe | Worldwide |
 TranslatorsCafe |
Translation community | Free basic, paid Master membership, no commission | Direct payment from clients | Worldwide |
 Lionbridge |
Localization company | Per-project rates by language and task | Bank transfer, PayPal | Worldwide |
 ProZ |
Translation community | Membership - clients pay directly | Direct payment from clients | Worldwide |
 Unbabel |
Translation platform | Per-task rates | PayPal | Worldwide |
 Rev |
Transcription platform | $0.40-1.10/audio min transcription, $0.54-1.10/min captions | PayPal | Worldwide |
 GoTranscript |
Transcription platform | ~$0.60/audio min average | PayPal, Payoneer | Worldwide |
 TranscribeMe |
Transcription platform | $15-22/audio hour starting | PayPal | Worldwide |
 Scribie |
Transcription platform | $5-20/audio hour | PayPal | Worldwide |
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Translation platforms
12 for translators
GengoA crowd translation platform where translators pass language tests and work on short business content. Part of Lionbridge, with steady task flow in major language pairs.
Fees Per-word rates set by the platformgengo.comSmartcatA translation platform combining AI translation with a marketplace of human linguists for editing and review. Freelancers register free and get paid through the platform.
Fees Freelancers set ratessmartcat.comTextMasterA platform where vetted translators and copywriters take on paid content jobs.
Fees Legacy per-word rates by leveltextmaster.comStepesA mobile-first translation platform where translators take on paid localization jobs.
Fees ~$0.05-0.14/wordstepes.comTranslatorsCafeA long-running community and job board for translators and interpreters, where clients post jobs and translators apply directly.
Fees Free basic, paid Master membership, no commissiontranslatorscafe.comLionbridgeOne of the largest localization companies, hiring freelance translators, interpreters, and testers worldwide for enterprise projects.
Fees Per-project rates by language and tasklionbridge.comProZThe largest community and job board for professional translators and interpreters. Clients post jobs and translators win work through profiles, with direct payment.
Fees Membership - clients pay directlyproz.comUnbabelAn AI-plus-human translation service where bilingual editors polish machine translation for enterprise customers. Editors work flexible hours from anywhere.
Fees Per-task ratesunbabel.comRevThe best-known transcription and captioning platform, paying freelancers per audio minute with weekly PayPal payouts. Subtitle translators earn the highest rates.
Fees $0.40-1.10/audio min transcription, $0.54-1.10/min captionsrev.comGoTranscriptA transcription company with fully open hiring, paying around 0.60 dollars per audio minute, with projects across 130 languages.
Fees ~$0.60/audio min averagegotranscript.comTranscribeMeA transcription platform where typists start at 15-22 dollars per audio hour working on short clips, with promotion paths to higher-paid teams.
Fees $15-22/audio hour startingtranscribeme.comScribieA transcription service with a four-step process where freelancers start on short files and progress to reviewer and proofreader roles.
Fees $5-20/audio hourscribie.comTutoring platforms
5 for translators
PreplyAn online tutoring marketplace where tutors teach languages and school subjects over video. Anyone can apply to tutor, set an hourly rate, and build a student base.
Fees Commission from 33% down to 18%preply.com
italkiThe largest language tutoring marketplace, with professional teachers and community tutors across 150+ languages. Teachers set their own rates and schedules.
Fees 21% on single lessons, 15-19% on packages, 30% on group classes, trial lessons commission-freeitalki.com
TutorooA platform connecting students with native-speaker language tutors for in-person and online lessons.
Fees Direct pay from studentstutoroo.co
AmazingTalkerA Taiwanese language and tutoring marketplace strong across Asia, where tutors set prices and students book trial lessons. AI matches students to tutors.
Fees Commission on lessonsamazingtalker.com
VerblingA language tutoring platform owned by Busuu, where qualified teachers run lessons in its built-in video classroom. Teachers set their own rates.
Fees Commission 15%verbling.comFreelance sites
2 for translators
UreedA MENA-focused freelance marketplace strong in Arabic-English language services, content, and translation. Connects clients in the Gulf and wider region with regional talent.
Fees 20% commission on all project paymentsureed.com
BionlukTurkey leading freelance marketplace, founded in 2014, where freelancers sell design, software, translation, and content services in Turkish.
Fees ~20% commission on completed ordersbionluk.com