Why Conference Interpreters Don’t Charge by the Hour – And What You’re Really Paying For
Why don’t conference interpreters charge by the hour for online assignments? The short answer: because our work starts long before the microphone is switched on. And the long answer reveals why hourly billing simply doesn’t reflect the expertise, preparation, and full-scope service required for multilingual communication.
In this post, we’ll unpack why conference interpreters don’t charge by the hour, what clients are truly investing in, and how package-based pricing ensures clarity, flexibility, and quality for everyone.
1. Preparation: The Invisible Work That Makes Success Possible
Before any event, a significant amount of specialist preparation takes place. Interpreters research the topic, review materials, build glossaries, and get familiar with your company, organisation, industry, products, and services.
This stage doesn’t show up on camera, but it is the foundation for accurate, culturally informed, high-quality interpreting.
2. Performance: Real-Time Decision-Making at High Intensity
Interpreting is not simply repeating a message in another language. It is deep, rapid, cognitive work. Every second, we make hundreds of micro-decisions:
- What is the speaker’s intention?
- Where is the argument heading?
- Which nuance conveys the message best?
3. Professional Setup: Technical Readiness and Full Availability
For online events especially, a reliable professional setup is non-negotiable. Interpreters typically log in 30–60 minutes before the participants, test the platform, check audio quality, coordinate with colleagues, and ensure flawless technical performance.
Behind the scenes, this requires:
- backup equipment
- spare microphones and cables
- stable internet redundancy
- platform familiarity
- contingency planning
Clients rely on interpreters not only for linguistic excellence but also for technical reliability and continuity.
4. Why Packages Make Sense: Predictability, Flexibility, and Quality
Instead of hourly billing, conference interpreting services are offered as packages: half-day, full-day, or event-based arrangements. These packages reflect:
- the preparation time
- the performance itself
- the technical setup
- the need for full availability if the event overruns
- the mental load involved
Package pricing ensures that clients know exactly what to expect while allowing interpreters to maintain the focus, readiness, and professional standards your event deserves.
Conclusion: Communication Doesn’t Fit Neatly into Hourly Slots
Conference interpreting is a complex, preparation-intensive, and cognitively demanding service that spans far beyond the minutes spent speaking. Our work doesn’t fit neatly into hourly slots because effective communication never does.
