| Back to Home > Bulletin Board > Beginner Issues > Topic: rates for freelance copy editing?? |
Topic: rates for freelance copy editing??
| Author | Message |
| firefaery | Posted – 1/2/2008 11:59:05 AM | show profile | email poster can anyone please help me get an idea of the rates I should charge for freelance copy editing? I have already begun freelancing for a local magazine, Memphis Health & Fitness. I wrote my first piece, and he and I both also want me to copy edit. He told me to tell him what I would charge, and he'd be glad to send me some pieces. (In fact, I already missed my shot at 2 jobs b/c i don't have a computer set up at home yet, and no internet connection--i only have access to all that at my work right now.) I have seen charges by the word, the page, the hour.... This guy's pieces tend to be shorter, so I don't know what would be the best. And, this IS my first freelance position. I work full-time at a local newspaper as an editorial assistant, and I have a BA in journalism from the U of Oregon. So I do have credentials and experience, but I have not freelanced before. Does anyone have any advice as to what I should charge?? I have seen several different rates from $15/hour to $55/hour, to by-the-word rates, etc. Someone please help? |
| booklove | Posted – 1/2/2008 1:22:29 PM | show profile I charge $.02 to $.03 per word, which works out to about $50/hour for me. Some might suggest going higher than that, though. ------ www.MelindaWrites.com |
| can't say | Posted – 1/3/2008 12:49:24 PM | show profile I don't think you'll get $50 an hour from Memphis Health and Fitness! How much experience do you have as a copy editor? |
| Marie | Posted – 1/3/2008 6:55:24 PM | show profile The rock-bottom rate in NYC for magazines (books are lower) for strictly copyediting is $30/hour. And now most places pay more. I've finding the average rate around $35-$36/hour. I imagine in would be lower in Memphis, but this is a gauge. |
| wineaux | Posted – 1/4/2008 2:00:20 PM | show profile Like Marie, I'm in the NYC area and I'd agree w/ her rate. I charge a little higher, but have gone as low as $25 an hour if I felt the client would give me consistant work. I am guessing in TN the rates are much lower, however. Maybe, say $20 an hour? |
