Pages Per Week/Month

[Jackie]

Can anyone give me an estimate of how many pages you take per week or month? I am trying to get a feel for what is somewhat "normal" for that average time period. I know that it can vary based on region as well, so could you tell me also where you're located? I understand that some months are slower than others as well, but just a ballpark average would be great!

My husband and I are attempting to do some number crunching before we make some big financial decisions and it is hard to do when I haven't the slightest idea about the work load I will get! Thanks in advance for your responses!

[Kyung]

Are you slow or busy
You might want to check out the above discussion. Although it does not give pages, it does address the question of whether people are busy or slow around the nation. Of course, this is a subjective question. Some people might think they're busy, but they only work part-time. Others are slower than they were last year, but that could still be busier than some reporters who only go out once a week.

If you're trying to figure out your finances, realize that as a new reporter, it might take you a longer time to do the same amount of pages as someone who's been out there 5 years, 10 years, 20 years. Also, it also depends on rate. I could be doing a 350 pages per week and making $4/page whereas someone else could be making $3.50/page. It adds up. Some of these reporters are doing realtime or video or doctor. They can get fewer pages and make more. So it's not just about pages. There's lots of things to add into the equation.

[Veronica Kubat]

I've always based my anticipated income on a low estimate of 100 pages per depo, not considering length (lumping all-day depos with 1-hour depos - it averages out) and how many depos or days of work are available to obtain. This is as opposed to trying to figure out the amount of pages I can get. You never know how many pages a depo is going to be, so using another criteria is probably more accurate, that criteria being actual jobs obtainable and averaging low. That way you know how many depos you need to try to obtain.

It does depend on what you go after. If you actively try to obtain more work, you will get more work.

I know this is a vague answer, but I can't see any other way to figure the expected income. You can expect what you can actively obtain in terms of depos. The pages are out of your control. I find I work as steadily as I can until I have make myself unavailable for some time to produce transcripts. Then I have to obtain more work. In other words, set a page amount you want to obtain and seek jobs until you have reached that amount, if you have an income goal per month. Frankly, I take as much as I can handle and hope it keeps coming. Because the next month may be very slow.

I guess the answer is focus on obtaining the jobs at a full-time pace and slow down if you have to to produce transcripts. If it is slow, it is slow. Then you have to actively market yourself. It's kind of a leap of faith the work will be there, but there are things you can do to get work even when it is slow.

Veronica

[Jackie]

Thanks, everyone, for your responses. I know that it is a hard question to answer and I appreciate your efforts. Kyung, I have been following that discussion and things seem to be fairly steady in my area (DC). I have been in contact with an agency that is ready to send me out working once I pass the last of my speed tests that I need, and have a few friends that work there who say that they are never slow and if a reporter wants work they will get work. I am ready to work as hard as I can and take as much work as they will give me! Thanks again!

[Jennifer G. Torres]

First of all, all the info that I'm going to telling you is something that I've learned. I'm not knowledgeable about anyone else's workload. I've noticed that for each hour of depo, I get about 40-50 pages. Now, keep in mind, this depends on the deposing attorney's way of questioning. If he is slow, you might get less. If he's shooting questions left and right, you might get 50. I can't give you a weekly or monthly approximation. "Normal" may be dependent on how much you can work or how your firm schedules you for work. For me, personal injury depos usually last about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. If you get an expert, it might take you longer. If you're new to the industry, I've noticed that firms schedule you for personal injury depos.

Here in San Diego, I've noticed that our slow months start from the Thanksgiving Holiday and goes on until the middle of January. There are other slow months but it has varied during the past few years.

When I first started, I was also told that there is plenty of work, but I realized that this information comes from reporters who have been working for the firm for a long time; therefore, their schedules are always consistent. I was the new reporter; the firm wasn't going to give me a full load until I had proven myself to be competent in turning in my transcripts on time.

Again, take this information with a grain of salt. My experience isn't the same as everybody else, and yours will be different from mine. My advice to you is to take it slow in the beginning. I've heard that a lot of new reporters get jaded because they're not getting enough work or get scheduled a very difficult depo, and then they quit the profession. Personally, I was a little worried when I first started because I wasn't getting scheduled enough days, but I've never regretted going into this profession. Hang in there and good luck!