Rates, 2026
What should a captioner or transcriptionist charge in 2026, working remote?
About $275 a day for a captioner or transcriptionist who is working and booked in remote work for US clients. $200 in the first years, $325 when senior. Captioning a piece runs about $150. Also called: transcriptionist, subtitler.
Other markets: New York or LA · a major city · a smaller market
First years
$200
a day · $25 an hour
Working, booked
$275
a day · $35 an hour
Senior, sought after
$325
a day · $40 an hour
The rate card, working level
- Day rate$275 per day
- Hourlyfor anything that does not fit a day$35 per hour
- Captioning a piece$150 per project
Sold a project fee, by the hour. The outcome is the unit; the day rate is for when a client wants your time instead.
What to charge for each thing
Ranges for remote work for US clients: the low end is the first years, the high end is senior. Working and booked sits in the middle.
- Captions, per video minute$2 to $4.5 per minute
- Transcription, per audio minute$1.5 to $3.5 per minute
- Translated subtitles, per video minute$5.5 to $15 per minute
- Rush, same day50 to 100% of the fee
How the number is made
Captions, subtitles and transcriptions at this level in this market day at about $275 ($200 to $400 in New York and LA). Put in the year you actually want on the perfect price page and the number moves with it.
Captioning a piece runs $50 to $300 and takes about 2 hours of your time; at your hourly that is $75. The number is the higher of the two, because the client is buying the outcome, not the hours.
Questions
- What is a fair day rate for a captioner or transcriptionist in remote work for US clients?
- About $275 a day for someone working and booked, $200 in the first years, $325 when senior and sought after. Half days usually run 60% of the day.
- How much is captioning a piece?
- $150 at a working level in this market. The client is buying the outcome, so the price is the higher of what the market pays for it and what your hours in it are worth.
- Are these rates a rule?
- No. They are US 2026 ranges for the role, placed by level and moved for the market. What a client actually paid you beats all of it. The tool has a box for that, and it wins.
Your number, in five seconds.
Pick your level and market, get a card you can send the next client who asks. Then RostrLab quotes, papers, invoices and chases every job with it: free for 14 days, $29 a month, never a cut.
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