In December 1986 the ITI commissioned a survey of the rates charged by freelance translators and interpreters, as well as salaries earned by staff translators. This paper analyses the figures reported and discusses the reasons why some people are able to ask much higher rates than others. UK staff translators were seen to be relatively poorly paid by comparison with other UK graduates, but staff translators who had emigrated were found to be earning high salaries in international organisations. The figures are discussed.