| Back to Home > Bulletin Board > Media Issues > Topic: freelance content editor--pay rate question |
Topic: freelance content editor--pay rate question
| Author | Message |
| Wordy McWord | Posted – 2/7/2008 5:39:22 PM | show profile | email poster Hi all, I've been working as a freelance content editor for a company that develops educational materials for publishers. I have tons of experience in educational publishing (over 17 years) as an editor and writer but just started freelancing full-time a year ago, so I'm unsure about appropriate rates for freelance work in education. This company (no contract has been signed) has asked me to work for them for 25 hours a week for a project that ends in late Feb. for $40/hour. I've been working for them for several months, doing heavy content editing, which has often involved writing from scratch when some content is particularly awful. They said this was a very competitive rate for education. However, last week they inadvertently sent me the invoice of another freelancer and I saw that they are paying her $65/hour. What's the best way to handle this? Should I just finish out my project and ask for a raise if they come back to me with more work? Is $65/hour more in line with developmental editing? What would you suggest as an hourly rate for writing? Thank you in advance for your help! |
| pob | Posted – 2/7/2008 9:02:04 PM | show profile Have you already accepted the $40 rate? I'm always skeptical when one has to start out in a position where you've been asked to work for a certain amount before you have a chance to give a rate. (It's always better to be proposing your rate first rather than reacting to theirs.) This usually means the company is cheap and/or very inexperienced in dealing with (reputable) freelancers. I think $40/hour is low for this work. It may be "educational," but I'll tell you what in my experience people are making money hand over first publishing educational materials. $65/hour sounds about right as a starting off point. It's probably what I would charge; I definitely wouldn't go lower. If you hope to get to $65/hour after this project and you accept the $40/hour now, you've got quite an uphill battle to fight there. The difference is just too great. You'd be better off fighting now for more, even if it doesn't get you all the way to $65. Do you think they are counting on you? Do they want to work with you? It has to seem to them that you're willing to walk away if they stick with $40, and a good way to do that is to tell them you have other work you bill at $65, and so it will be hard to give their work priority. You should always be starting out these types of conversations by saying "My rate for this type of work is $xx/hour." Then you are stating a fact, rather than offering. If you are willing to go lower to make the job work, that's a delicate matter. That's when you say "OK, yes, while my normal rate is $XX/hour, I'm willing to work for $XX/hour, but if X happens, we'll need to have a discussion about further compensation or a change in rate." X can be anything. X can be if they require rush turnaround, X can be if any of the work involves writing from scratch, etc. X can be if weekend work is required. Whatever you want. Make it a bargaining chip where once you're in the door, that thing will be likely to occur eventually and be at a point where it will be easy for you to have the conversation. "As discussed, I just wanted to alert you that for this turnaround time we had talked about a different rate. Do you still want me to proceed with this editing for Monday morning?" I hope this helps. Good luck. |
| Wordy McWord | Posted – 2/8/2008 11:26:51 AM | show profile Thank You Thank you so much for your thoughtful response. It's really helpful. I need to think more about what I'll do in this situation, but clearly I need to come up with a sort of rate sheet that I can use as a reference when talking with publishers in the future. |
| sauerkel | Posted – 2/19/2008 11:22:42 AM | show profile | email poster Freelance content editor-pay rate change I was asked to work on a site as a full time freelance content editor.I would be writing a weekly newsletter, short features and producing video. When the hiring manager asked what my hourly rate was I said $35/ hour. I realized now, I should have asked for $45/hour and will be signing a contract later this week. How can increase my rate from what I originally asked for? |
