Working Conditions of Audiovisual Translators in Europe

Kristijan Nikolić, Mirjana Tonković & Jorge Díaz Cintas

Titre
Working Conditions of Audiovisual Translators in Europe

Résumé
Research on the working conditions of audiovisual translators has historically been fragmented, often confined to single-country studies and limited in scope. Empirical data on remuneration, contractual frameworks, and social protection remain scarce, despite mounting concerns about deteriorating conditions in the industry. This article presents findings from a large-scale online survey conducted between June and September 2022 among 1,966 audiovisual translators across Europe. The analysis offers insights into income levels, employment practices, rate negotiation, and professional identity within an increasingly globalised and platform-driven sector. The results reveal significant disparities across countries, persistent precarity despite high educational attainment, and the limited correlation between experience and income. Nevertheless, the data also point to the potential benefits of collective organisation and professional advocacy. By providing the first Europe-wide overview grounded in empirical evidence, this study contributes to ongoing debates about the sustainability of the AVT profession in the twenty-first century.

Mots-clés
Audiovisual translators, subtitling, dubbing, working conditions, freelance translators, Europe
 

DOI 10.17462/para.2026.02.02