Salary Range of a Freelance Writer
Unlike salaried employees who receive consistent paychecks, a freelance writer's income is often variable and sporadic and doesn't cover benefits such as health insurance, Social Security and retirement. On the plus side, however, the potential salary range of a freelancer is limited only by the amount of time the writer can invest, the quality of her work and her imagination and perseverance to seek out high-paying markets.
Other People Are Reading
-
Payment Types
-
Freelance writers are paid on the basis of an hourly rate or a per-project fee that is agreed upon in advance between the author and the entity making the purchase. Payment for freelance work written on speculation, however, is not negotiated or paid for until after the project is accepted. Academic credentials, expertise in subject areas, complexity of projects and delivery expectations all factor into what constitutes a reasonable and competitive rate. Hourly fees can be anywhere from $15 to several hundred dollars. Per-project payments are generally based on word count, page count or a flat fee regardless of the time or length required to complete it. Word-count assignments range from 2 cents to $2 per word; page-count assignments average around $10 a page, and freelance writing for projects such as media materials garner a flat rate range of several hundred to several thousand dollars.
Ghostwriting
-
Freelance ghostwriters are the silent partners of clients who do not have the talent, time nor resources to compose their own articles, term papers or books. Fees are based on whether the material is to be composed entirely from scratch or developed from an existing outline or rough manuscript. Short projects such as thesis assignments, web content, newsletters and blogs average around $10 per page. Novels, memoirs, theatrical scripts and screenplays average approximately $18,000, with half paid upon signing the contract and the balance due upon completion of the project. The ghostwriter receives no share of earnings from the published work.
-
Copywriting
-
Many companies outsource copywriting assignments to freelancers as a way to manage overhead by reducing expenses such as employee health benefits, workers' compensation insurance and the provision of on-site workspace, office supplies and equipment. Depending on geographical region and the company's scope of influence, a copywriter with at least five years of professional experience and a degree in communications, journalism, English or marketing can earn between $45 and $95 an hour creating materials such as annual reports, advertising content for web and print, brochures, newsletters, trade show presentations and user guides.
Grant Writing
-
The ability to compose effective grant and proposal packages for ongoing and future funding opportunities make freelance writers invaluable to nonprofit organizations, private institutions and government agencies. In addition to a college degree in English, communications or business management, a freelancer with at least five years of grants and RFP experience can earn between $65 an hour to over $100. Excellent research skills are also required to identify potential funding sources and factor into the hourly fees. Nonprofits typically pay low-end fees or a flat rate to develop a grants template that can subsequently be modified in-house.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit keyboard and fingers image by Mykola Velychko from Fotolia.com
