Freelance Writing Rates—Industry Benchmarks

Freelance writing rates define the compensation writers receive for producing content for various clients, including webmasters, businesses, academic institutions, magazines, newspapers, and independent websites.

One of the most challenging aspects of being a freelance writer is setting your writing rates. Many freelance writers are competing for the same work, and the temptation is to undercharge for your services. After all, you don’t want to miss out on a job opening because someone else is charging a lower rate than you.

Additionally, newbies are often unsure of the going rate for writers, leading to stress and anxiety when pitching to clients. The pitifully low rates paid by content mills often lead to new writers accepting low pay rates. Failing to set an appropriate rate and charging too little for your work impact your income and can leave you feeling undervalued and lacking in confidence. 

In this article, I examine what factors determine your freelance writing rates, explain pricing models, and show you how to calculate your ideal rate. I also cover client negotiations and other considerations when setting a suitable rate for your work.

So, continue reading this freelance rate guide to learn how to put yourself in a better position financially and professionally.

What Factors Determine Your Rates?

The factors determining freelance writing rates include your experience level, the type of writing, the project scope, and the location.

Experience Level

Writers with proven experience and a track record of working in the industry as professionals can command higher pay rates than beginners, as can those with formal qualifications in creative writing, English, and journalism.

Writers with additional qualifications can command a higher freelance writing rate since their work will likely be of higher quality and require less editing.

Type of Writing

Freelancers creating generalized blog posts receive a lower pay rate than certified, experienced copywriters. That’s because a copywriter is skilled in using SEO to drive traffic through a website, encouraging readers to buy products or services. This generates income via affiliation schemes with sites like Amazon, eBay, etc.

The types of freelance writing work you could pitch include:

• Blog posts
• Copywriting
• Technical writing
• Academic writing
• Creative writing
• Ghostwriting

Industry and Niche Specialization

If your experience is specialist and sought-after, you can command a higher pay rate, especially if you work in a specific industry or niche, including:

• Medical/Health 
• Legal
• Science
• Technical
• Finance
• Marketing 
• Education

Client Expectations/Project Scope

A project’s scope refers to the work required to complete, the degree of complexity involved, and the timescales the client demands. Client expectations refer to the quality of work you are expected to deliver, including additional research and revisions. 

For example, if your client asks you to write a 1,500-word blog post entailing extensive research and multiple revisions, you can charge a higher rate than you would for a 500-word article with minimal research and no revisions. Similarly, if a client sets a tight deadline or expects you to work on weekends, you can charge a premium rate for your time and effort.

Location

Where you live can also have an impact on your freelance writing rates. 

If you live in a big city, your cost of living will be higher, so you might need to charge your clients more to maintain a comfortable standard of living. However, if you live in a low-cost-of-living area, you can charge less for your writing and still make a good living.

How to Determine Pricing Models

Below, we break down the factors you must consider when determining your pricing model, including the pros and cons of different approaches.

Per-Hour Rates

So, when should you charge per-hour rates?

It is appropriate for projects with an unclear scope of work that could change over time. This pricing model can also work for clients wanting to work closely with you and have frequent check-ins to see how you’re doing. 

Examples:

• Beginner:  $20–$30/hour
• Experienced with specialized knowledge: $75–$100/hour 
• Copywriter skilled in SEO: $50–$75/hour 
• Technical writer specialized in complex topics: $100–$150/hour

Per-Word Rates

Examples: 

The following rates are just averages, and your rates may vary based on your experience, niche, and specific project requirements. 

• Blog posts: $0.10–$0.25/word
• Copywriting: $0.25–$1.00/word 
• Technical writing: $0.50–$1.00/word
• Academic writing: $0.05–$0.20/word
• Creative writing: $0.15–$0.50/word

Per-Project Rates

To estimate a per-project rate, you should consider the following factors:

• Project complexity
• Timescales
• Your experience
• Industry standards for similar projects

Value-Based Pricing

Value-based pricing focuses on the value of the work being done for the client rather than the time taken to complete the tasks or the number of words used. Put simply, instead of charging your clients based on an hourly rate or a set fee per project, you consider the client’s benefits from your service and calculate your price accordingly.

This model is especially powerful for freelancers since it focuses on the value that the client will receive. Instead of undervaluing your work or engaging in price competition with other writers, you can set rates based on the true worth of your services. 

For instance, you are asked to write an article for a client. The client wants the piece to generate more traffic to their website and increase audience engagement. So, you could quote a price based on the increased traffic and engagement the post will generate.

How to Calculate Your Ideal Freelance Writing Rate

1. Start by working out all your basic living expenses.
2. Calculate all your business expenses.
3. Now, work out what you want to earn annually.
4. Calculate how many hours per week you can realistically work.
5. Divide your desired annual income by the number of annual billable hours you calculated to give you your hourly rate.
6. Finally, factor in your business expenses and any other factors that could affect your pricing. Remember to allow for your annual income tax bill. You might need to adjust your hourly rate to make enough money to cover your expenses and meet your desired income goals.

How Do I Negotiate Rates with Clients?

Confidence in your approach is critical when negotiating payment rates with prospective clients. If you undersell yourself and your abilities, you could give the client the impression that you’re desperate for work. 

Strategies for Handling Client Pushback

• If a client hesitates about the rate you’re quoting, provide examples of your work to demonstrate your skills and experience. It’s also helpful to offer testimonials from past clients and any relevant qualifications or certificates you hold.
• Explain how your skills and expertise can benefit their business and give examples of successful past projects.
• Try offering a payment plan or suggesting a slightly lower rate for an initial, smaller project. That will help build trust and earn you more work in the future.

When to Walk Away from a Low Offer

You should walk away from a low offer if:

• The rate doesn’t cover your expenses.
• The client is asking for a large amount of work but is unwilling to pay a fair rate.
• The client is very demanding or unresponsive.
• The payment offered is well below the industry standard for your experience and qualifications or significantly lower than other freelancers charge for similar work.

What Are Some Additional Rate Considerations?

Some other considerations when negotiating and calculating freelance writing rates include rush fees, retainers, and packages. 

Rush Fees

You can charge rush fees to your clients when shorter turnaround times are demanded for projects. These compensate you for the extra time and work required to finish the work quickly and prioritize the client’s needs over your other work. 

The rush fees are typically calculated as a percentage of your original quote or your hourly rate. For example, if you charge $50 per hour, you might add a 20% rush fee for a project with a 24-hour turnaround time, making your total hourly rate $60. 

Retainers and Packages

A retainer is money the client agrees to pay the freelancer monthly in exchange for a set amount of work. Retainers can be agreed upon for a set number of hours per month or a set number of deliverables.

Packages are pre-set bundles of services a freelancer offers clients for a set price. 

You can offer packages for various services, such as blog post writing or social media management. For example, you might offer a monthly retainer of $1,500 for ten blog posts and four social media posts per month or a package of five blog posts for $1,000. 

Raising Your Rates Over Time

Living costs keep rising, so you must regularly evaluate your rates and consider raising them to keep pace with your rising bills.

Here are some tips on how to go about raising your rates:

• Compare your current rates to industry benchmarks and those of other writers with similar experience and expertise.
• You can charge higher rates if you’ve gained more experience or expertise in a particular niche or type of writing. 
• Before raising your rates, communicate with your clients and let them know about the upcoming change.
• Your clients’ monthly outgoings are increasing too! Don’t suddenly increase your rates dramatically, as that could cause your clients to go elsewhere. Instead, make small increases over time. 

Conclusion

One of the biggest challenges for freelance writers is setting and negotiating your rates. However, you must value your work and expertise, not undervalue your abilities.

When determining your rates, consider factors like your experience level, the type of writing you do, the industry or niche specialist areas you can work in, client expectations, project scope, and your location.

Be sure to communicate your rates clearly and confidently to potential clients and be open to negotiation. Remember that undercharging for your services can ultimately make you feel undervalued and is a sure way to destroy your confidence. So, don’t be afraid to set a fair, competitive rate that reflects the quality of your work and is in line with current market rates. 

By following these guidelines, you can put yourself in a better position financially and professionally as a freelance writer.