Six-Figure Freelancer Blog

How much to charge for work

Wouldn’t it be nice if the corporate world paid one rate for writers so we wouldn’t have to figure out what to charge? If that rate was set at $100 per hour, the writers who earn $250 per hour wouldn’t think it was such a hot idea. You have to figure out what you are worth and what you need to charge, and how to quote on a job by defining the scope of the project — as explained in detail in The Six-Figure Freelancer . However, here is some information to help you establish rates for corporate and periodical writing and corporate training:

• Articles in general interest/consumer magazines: $1 to $2 per word. $500 to $10,000 per article; $400 to $1,500 per column (depending in large part on word count).
• Articles in trade/special interest magazines: $0.30 to $2 per word; $500 to $4,000 per article; $300 to $1,000 per column.
• Articles in large daily newspapers: $0.30 to $1.00 per word; $250 to $2,500 per article; $330 to $1,250 per column.
• Articles in smaller community newspapers: $0.10 to $0.50 per word; $75 to $1,000 per article; $75 to $500 per column.
• Online/website writing: Varies widely; “business” sites pay higher; $1 to $3 per word; $60 to $100 per hour.
• Advertising material – copy/scripts/media releases: $75 to $150 per hour; $350 to $500 per page; $750 to $2,500 per project for brochures.
• Advertorials – articles commissioned by advertisers: $75 to $150 per hour.
• Corporate/business writing – Reports/Marketing Plans/Technical Writing: $1.00 to $5 per word; $500 to $15,000 per project; $75 to $150 per hour.
• Government Writing – News Releases/Studies/Reports: $2.00 to $5 per word; $3,000 to $15,000 per project; $60 to $200 per hour.
• Newsletters Writing; layout extra: $1.00 to $2.00 per word; $400 to $8,000 per issue; $75 to $150 per hour.
• Scripts – Radio: Highly variable. $75 to $150 per minute of script.
• Scripts – Television: Highly variable. $100 to $150 per minute of script.
• Speech Writing: $1,000 to $10,000 per speech; $100 to $150 per hour.
• Ghost Writing: Negotiable, based on the publishing and writing experiences of the author/co-author/ghost.
• Editing: Varies according to publication/company/project. $50 to $100 per hour; $10 to $50 per page.
• Translation/Adaptation – Literary: $0.50 to $1.00 per word.
• Translation – Business: $0.25 per word; $80 to $150 per hour.
• Teaching/Instruction: Varies according to experience and subject. $30 to $150 per hour; $500 to $2,500 per half-day or full-day session.

Far more information on rates and how to quote on projects in The Six-Figure Freelancer.