So, you want to become a freelance translator in Japan – the next question is, what about your income? Let’s have a look at:
- How freelance translation projects in Japan are invoiced
- How much you should charge as a freelance translator in Japan
- Other tips
The Difference Between Translation and Interpretation
In short, translators deal with the written word, whereas interpreters work with the spoken word.
If you’re interested in this kind of work, have a look at our guide to becoming a freelance Japanese translator here. If freelancing as a Japanese interpreter is more appealing, we also tell you how here.
1. How Freelance Translation Projects in Japan Are Invoiced
As a freelancer, you will most likely be working on individual projects. These can be invoiced based on:
- Word count or,
- Per hour
Word Count
Based on the document you’re translating from (or the source document), this is perhaps the most common way to invoice for translation work. In Japan, you can usually expect to make 10-15 yen per word. However, make extra sure that you and the client are on the same page, as there may be confusion about which document the word count is taken from, and what constitutes a word – after all, Japanese and English are two very different languages, and differ in how many words are needed to express an idea.
Per Hour
Although it’s less common to invoice per hour, it’s easier to do so if you’re checking or proofreading rather than writing. Keep in mind that the minimum wage in Tokyo is around 1000 yen per hour, so you should not accept anything less.
2. How Much You Should Charge as a Freelance Translator in Japan
Determining how much you should ask depends on a number of factors, such as:
- Cost of living
- The demand for the languages you can translate
- The technical difficulty of the work
Cost of Living
This is correlated to the cost of the languages you work with. As the cost of living in Japan (and Tokyo in particular) can be high, you’ll expect to be paid more than, for example, a Mandarin Chinese translator in a smaller Chinese city with a much lower cost of living. If you are just starting out, charging less is the best way to get clients, but as we’ve already mentioned, the minimum wage in Tokyo is around 1000 yen per hour, so it’s best not to go any lower.
The Demand for the Languages You Can Translate
If you can fill a niche, you can charge more. This is also true when it comes to translation. There are, for example, many more qualified Spanish translators than there are Zulu ones, which means hiring a Zulu translator will be more expensive. Japanese may not be as common as Spanish, but it is certainly more common than Zulu, so expect a somewhat competitive market.
The Technical Difficulty of the Work
If you have specific, technical knowledge (think engineering, healthcare, law, and so on), you should charge at least 50% more. Even native speakers may not be familiar with industry-specific jargon, much less in two different languages, so it’s a highly marketable skill that involves a lot of research and studying.
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- Fully remote options – Work anywhere you want.
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3. Other Tips
We also advise you to take the following steps to ensure a healthy income as a freelance translator:
- Join an organization
- Take on regular clients
- Place value on your own time
Join an Organization
No man (or translator) is an island. Joining a reputable organization such as the Japan association of translators will help you network, find jobs, exchange ideas, and give you a better idea of how much to charge.
Take on Regular Clients
Of course, flexibility is one of the major selling points of freelancing. However, it can also mean that your income fluctuates. Having at least one client that pays you an agreed-upon amount on a monthly basis, even if it’s just a portion of your salary, can make a big difference.
Place Value on Your Own Time
When first starting out, you might be willing to go above and beyond to keep clients happy. Although you surely want to have satisfied customers, you should also not let it affect the quality of your work. Charge more for rushed jobs and set realistic boundaries around how much time you need to finish a project.
Our ultimate guide has more useful information for freelancers in Japan.
Get Advice as a Freelancer in Japan
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