How to Figure Out Your Rates as a New Freelance Writer (2024)

How to Figure Out Your Rates as a New Freelance Writer (2)

Today I am tackling freelance writing rates, and I am not going to lie.

Freelance rates are all over the place and can be super touchy for some. My goal is to help all writers, especially the new ones figure out their rate.

When I first started, I quoted $.04/word! Can you believe that?

Luckily, my first real freelance writing gig paid me $.10/word! Phew

A quick way is to look at what the industry’s standard is and also get input from other websites, but a good freelance rate is one that is fair to you.

If you truly want to write for $50 an hour, then I am not going to tell you that you need to charge more.

However, if you do want to charge in a way that is consistent with other successful freelancers, then I suggest your starting rate is between $50–100 an article.

This is very beginning rate. I don’t want you lingering in the beginning rate for long. Build up a few clients at this rate and then move on to greener pastures.

A good intermediate rate is $125–200 per article.

For experts, $250+ per article is better. For articles that require a lot of research, interviews, and are longer, you need to charge $500 and up.

As I mentioned I started on the low end but I made $400 that first month as a new freelance writer. The next month? Over $1k!

With a few “easy” writing gigs under your belt, you’ll have the confidence to charge more and gain better clients for you!

How to Figure Out Your Rates as a New Freelance Writer (3)

A common mistake I see with new writers is that they want to replace their work pay with freelance writing work.

The problem is that if they get $20 per hour in an office, then they are over the moon charging that for their writing. There are so many issues with that rate though.

How to Figure Out Your Rates as a New Freelance Writer (2024)

FAQs

How to Figure Out Your Rates as a New Freelance Writer? ›

The average freelance writer makes about $29 per hour, and the average freelance writing rate per word ranges from $0.05-$0.10 for beginner writers, $0.30-$0.50 for intermediate writers, and $1-$1.50 for experienced writers.

How much should I charge as a beginner freelance writer? ›

The average freelance writer makes about $29 per hour, and the average freelance writing rate per word ranges from $0.05-$0.10 for beginner writers, $0.30-$0.50 for intermediate writers, and $1-$1.50 for experienced writers.

How to set rates as a freelance writer? ›

How To Price Your Freelance Writing (And Start Earning More)
  1. Research the going rates.
  2. Figure out how much money you need to make in a month.
  3. Choose the type of rate you'll use. ...
  4. Determine how quickly you can comfortably write on average.
  5. Decide on your monthly commitment.
  6. Calculate your base rate.

How do I calculate my freelance rate? ›

Determine Your Baseline Freelance Rate

Start by dividing your desired annual salary by 52 (for a start). That gives you the dollar amount you need to earn per week. Then, take that amount and divide it by 40. That gives you the hourly rate you need to charge clients.

How do I price myself as a freelancer? ›

How to price yourself as a freelancer
  1. Research freelance rates. Research common freelance rates in your area. ...
  2. Consider your expenses. ...
  3. Factor in taxes. ...
  4. Review the project scope. ...
  5. Assess the client. ...
  6. Consider the value you provide. ...
  7. Choose a method. ...
  8. Determine your availability for work.
Feb 3, 2023

What is the hourly rate for a beginner writer? ›

Here's a breakdown to help you gauge your per-hour rate based on your experience level: Entry Level — $15 to $30 per hour. Intermediate — $35 to $60 per hour. Experienced — $65 to $100 per hour.

How much does a 500 word article cost? ›

When determining how much to charge for a 500 word article, you should consider various factors: Experience: Beginners can charge between $3 to $25, while more experienced writers may charge $30 to $150 or even more, depending on their expertise and research level.

What are good freelance rates? ›

To further emphasize the importance of work experience, these are all the average wages for all kinds of freelancers in 2023 across all age groups:
  • 18-24 years – $16/hour.
  • 25-34 years – $19/hour.
  • 35-44 years – $24/hour.
  • 45-54 years – $27/hour.
  • 55-64 years – $36/hour.
  • 65+ years – $34/hour.

How do you charge freelance hourly rates? ›

Step-by-step guide to setting your freelance rates
  1. Ask yourself these basic questions before you start. ...
  2. Set your annual salary goal. ...
  3. Consider the number of billable hours you need to work. ...
  4. Incorporating freelancer expenses into your price. ...
  5. Know the market rate for your services. ...
  6. Understand your value.

How much can you realistically make as a freelance writer? ›

As of May 22, 2024, the average hourly pay for a Freelance Writer in the United States is $23.27 an hour.

How do I tell someone my freelance rate? ›

TEMPLATE FOR QUOTING YOUR RATE:

In regards to your [type of assignment] project with a deadline of [due date], my fee would be [$Fee]. Of course, I'm open to a conversation about this. So, if you have any questions or anything else you want me to be sure to be consider, I'm all ears.

How do I calculate my rate? ›

First, determine the total number of hours worked by multiplying the hours per week by the number of weeks in a year (52). Next, divide this number from the annual salary. For example, if an employee has a salary of $50,000 and works 40 hours per week, the hourly rate is $50,000/2,080 (40 x 52) = $24.04.

How do I negotiate my freelance hourly rate? ›

Freelancing: 7 Tips for Negotiating High End Rates
  1. Determine Your Minimum Acceptable Rate (MAR) Any freelancer should know where their bottom line is. ...
  2. Charge Per Project. ...
  3. Negotiate Based On Their Perception of Value. ...
  4. Get Them to Name a Price. ...
  5. Start High. ...
  6. Give Yourself Wiggle Room. ...
  7. Seek a Mutually Agreeable Outcome.

What to charge for hourly rate? ›

Desired profit amount + desired salary + operating costs / number of income producing hours = your hourly rate. For example: Desired profit of $16,500 + desired personal pre-tax salary of $83,500 + operating costs of $30,000/1040 income generating hours = $125 per hour.

How do I bid on freelancer for beginners? ›

Just below the project details, you can place your bid. (1) Enter your bid amount, (2) enter the number of days for delivery, (3) describe your proposal, (4) list milestones or tasks and set a Milestone Payment® for each task, (5) choose an optional upgrade if you wish, and click Place Bid.

How to rate a freelancer? ›

In order to accurately reflect your working experience with a freelancer, be honest with the review that you will leave for them. This will properly set the expectations of the clients that your freelancer will work with in the future.

How much should a beginner writer write? ›

Build Your Writing Muscles

Right now, a realistic goal for you could be writing 500 words each day. In six months time, those 500 words might have become 1,000. In a few years, you could be producing 2,000 words that you're happy with, every single day.

How much should a beginner charge for content writing? ›

The answer depends on several factors like quantity, quality, and volume of the content. It can also vary from agency to agency. For example, an entry-level freelancer can charge between ₹0.30 to ₹0.50 per word for a blog, whereas an entry-level writing agency can charge between ₹1 to ₹3 per word for the same.

How much should a beginner freelance artist charge? ›

Hourly graphic design rates vary based on experience and design specialty. Typically, more experienced graphic designers will charge between $65 to $150 per hour. In contrast, more entry-level freelance design rates range from $25 to $50 per hour.

How much can a beginner writer make? ›

Average Salary for Writers. Most writers are self-employed, and their experience directly impacts their salary. An entry-level writer with less than one year of experience can earn an average compensation of $50,215. As they gain more experience (1-4 years) are expected to earn an average of $52,945.

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