Income from Interpreting: A comparison matrix
	Full Time Employed (Staff Interpreter)			Full Time Employed K-12 Educational Interpreter			Interpreter in Private Practice
Itemized Income and Expenses	Employee		Comments	Public School		Comments	Self Employed		Comments
Salary
Per Year							2080		260 work days per year (not including Sat/Sun) x 8 hrs @ day
Hours	2080		40 hrs @ week x 52	1260		180 days x 7 hrs	1560		billable 6 hrs @ day x 52 weeks
Holiday	-80		8 hrs x 10 days			n/a	-30		estimated 5 days x 6 hours UNPAID
Vacation	-80		8 hrs x 10 days			n/a	-30		estimated 5 days x 6 hours UNPAID
Sick Leave	-80		8 hrs x 10 days	63		1 day @ mo.	-30		estimated 5 days x 6 hours UNPAID
Travel Time	250		Estimated 30 min each way	180		estimated 30 min each way	-500		1 hr @ 3 hrs billable (non portal-to-portal paid)
Administration/Office Hours							-255		21.25 days @ 1 hrs
							715		Available working hours (weekday only)
Total Hours	2090	174.16667	Averaged hours @ mo	1503	167	Avg hours @ month	715	59.583333	Estimated $25.00 per hour****
Estimated Average Salary	30,000.00	$14		$23,000	$15.30		$17,875	$25.00
Monthly	2,500.00			$2,556			$1,490	$25
		Averaged
Insurance		Monthly							Independent Contractor
Health	185.00		Covered by employer	185.00		Covered by employer	-185.00		out-of-pocket expense for self only (monthly)
Disability	25.00		Covered by employer	25.00		Covered by employer	-25.00		out-of-pocket expense for self only (monthly)
Professional Liability	25.00		Covered by employer	25.00		Covered by employer	-25.00		out-of-pocket expense for self only (monthly)
Dental	25.00		Covered by employer	25.00		Covered by employer	-25.00		out-of-pocket expense for self only (monthly)
Life	10.00		Covered by employer	10.00		Covered by employer	-10.00		out-of-pocket expense for self only (monthly)
Retirement, 401K, Deferred Comp	166.67		Employer contribution	166.67		Employer contribution	-166.67		Based on $2000 deposit annually
	436.67			436.67			-436.67
Tax
SS	200.00		Covered by employer	200.00		Covered by employer	-400.00		Estimated
Car
Payment	-300.00		estimated	-300.00		estimated	-300.00		estimated
Maintenance	-10.00		averaged monthly	-10.00		averaged monthly	-50.00		averaged monthly
Gas	-15.00		averaged monthly	-15.00		averaged monthly	-130.00		averaged monthly
Insurance	-50.00		averaged monthly	-50.00		averaged monthly	-75.00		averaged monthly
Property Tax	-10.00		where applicable	-10.00		where applicable	-10.00		where applicable
Tolls	-16.00		where applicable	-16.00		where applicable	-25.00		where applicable
Parking	0.00		employer provided	0.00		employer provided	-85.00		esimated monthly
Tickets	0.00		reduced driving	0.00		reduced driving	-15.00		increased driving
	-401.00			-401.00			-690.00
Professional Development & Education
Tuition	41.00		Covered by employer	41.00		Covered by employer	-41.00		averaged monthly
Fees	50.00		Covered by employer	50.00		Covered by employer	-50.00		averaged monthly
Time off (Average 3 p.d. days per year/12 months)	28.00		Covered by employer	42.50		Covered by employer	-37.50		averaged monthly
Lodging	50.00		Covered by employer	50.00		Covered by employer	-50.00		averaged monthly
Travel	31.00		Covered by employer	31.00		Covered by employer	-31.00		averaged monthly
Meals	30.00		Covered by employer	30.00		Covered by employer	-30.00		averaged monthly
	230.00			244.50			-239.50
Equipment, Maintenance/Repairs & Charges**
Computer	70.00		Provided by employer	70.00		Provided by employer	-70.00		Based on $2500 computer purchased every 3 years
Fax	15.00		Provided by employer	15.00		Provided by employer	-15.00		Based on $500 fax machine purchased every 3 years
Answering Machine	2.00		Provided by employer	2.00		Provided by employer	-2.00		Based on $75 answering machine every 3 years
Phone	5.00		Not necessary for business	5.00		Not necessary for business	-35.00		Extra line estimate plus long distance
Cell Phone			Not necessary for business			Not necessary for business	-75.00		Estimated monthly
Pager	10.00		Provided by employer	10.00		Provided by employer	-10.00
Day Planner	2.50		Provided by employer	2.50		Provided by employer	-5.00		Averaged monthly
Computer Printer	15.00		Provided by employer	15.00		Provided by employer	-15.00		Based on $500 printer purchased every 3 years
Copy Machine or Service	10.00		Provided by employer	10.00		Provided by employer	-10.00
TTY	2.00		Provided by employer	2.00		Provided by employer	-2.00
Miscellaneous Equipment Repair	10.00		Provided by employer	10.00			-10.00
	141.50			141.50			-249.00
Professional Services
Attorney			Provided by employer			Provided by employer	-50.00		Averaged monthly
CPA	-40.00		1040-EZ (no tax planning)	-40.00		1040-EZ (no tax planning)	-300.00		Schedule C and Business filing + tax preparation services
	-40.00
Marketing
Yellow Pages			Not necessary for business			Not necessary for business	-200.00
Business Cards			Not necessary for business			Not necessary for business	-10.00
Internet	20.00		Provided by employer	20.00		Provided by employer	-20.00
Web site			Not necessary for business			Not necessary for business	-30.00
	20.00			20.00			-260.00
Bad Debt Expense
Estimated at 2% of Gross Revenue			Not applicable			Not applicable	-750.00		Lost income + time spent to pursue bad debt
Supplies	25.00		Provided by employer	25.00		Provided by employer	-25.00
Paper	5.00		Provided by employer	5.00		Provided by employer	-5.00
Pens	2.50		Provided by employer	2.50		Provided by employer	-2.50
Computer Ink	5.00		Provided by employer	5.00		Provided by employer	-5.00
Copy/Fax Toner	5.00		Provided by employer	5.00		Provided by employer	-5.00
Postage			Not applicable			Not applicable	-20.00
Envelopes			Not applicable			Not applicable	-2.50
Maps			Not applicable			Not applicable	-2.50
	42.50			42.50			-817.50
Home Office Expenses
Furniture & Misc office needs other than supplies/materials			Not applicable			Not applicable	-25.00		Averaged monthly expense
Utilities			Not applicable			Not applicable	-50.00		Averaged monthly expense
							-75.00
Banking Fees
Checking Account Fees (business account)			Not applicable			Not applicable	-10.00		Second business account
Miscellaneous
Professional Dues (National, State & Local)	12.50		Paid for by employer	12.50		Paid for by employer	-12.50
Subscriptions	10.00		Paid for by employer	10.00		Paid for by employer	-10.00
Credit Card Interest			Not necessary for business			Not Necessary for business	-5.00
	22.50			22.50			-27.50
Totals***	$3,152	$18.10	After benefits included	$3,262	$19.53	After benefits included	$14,670	$20.52	Totals after expenses deducted
Notes:
* Estimatations based on a national average of interpreters having worked in the community 5+ years and have RID or NAD/state assessment at the 4 or 5 level
Items are included per need of the job. Example: While it is recognized that a vehicle is needed for full-time employed; however it is not a requirement for work
to the extent working in the community requires such.
** Based on the notion that employees typically take advantage of the office equipment and supplies for minimal personal reasons; therefore, not needing to purchase at home
*** Total Estimate Annual Salary and Average Per Hour rate (based on salary divided by number of hours worked or unpaid time and lost wages)
**** This calculation (5 days @ 6 hrs per day) was used to show a true comparison of similar time involved. The deduction follows that for interpreters in private practice to make a livable wage, they must work nights and weekends (and most do.)
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