When I started freelance writing, I ran into a lot of mixed messages about freelance writer rates.
Some experienced writers claimed to make six figures a year. Other writers lurked in Reddit forums lamenting their inability to earn more than a few dollars for their work.
Plus, surveys on the subject tend to rely on averages, which tells you almost nothing—except that some freelancers are super-rich and others are super-broke. Maybe a few are middling!
After more than seven years of freelance writing, here’s what I’ve learned about freelance writer rates that I think is worth considering.
Freelance Writer Rates Vary Based on A Long List of Factors
The bottom line with freelance writer rates is that your mileage may vary, and tons of factors influence what rate is fair to you, reasonable for your client, and what makes sense for the content.
Here are a few factors to consider.
How Fast Can You Type?
The ability to type fast doesn’t necessarily make you a better or more efficient writer. But if you’re able to read, research, and type fast, this is an important variable.
What is Your Hourly Rate Goal?
Freelancing is far different from an hourly wage job with a set schedule (read: predictable income) each week or month. Think about your per-hour goals and then do the math carefully to determine what your per-hour rate needs to be.
Remember to factor in self-employment tax, freelance-related expenses, and administrative tasks.
How Much Experience You Have
More experienced writers typically earn higher per-word rates. Whether this is because their names precede them is debatable… Maybe they’re good at knowing their worth and asking for raises, or they struck it rich thanks to wealthy clients.
The takeaway here is to not expect the equivalent of $200 per hour when you first start freelancing (though some people might make that!).
How Much Research is Needed
Many freelance writers underestimate the need for research in their writing projects (I know I have). Especially for clients that want to rank for SEO, research and good-quality links/sources are crucial.
Good research takes time, especially if the depth of the subject means your mental computer is an insufficient reference.
In contrast, if you’re writing opinion articles about celebrity drama, that requires little to no research (or surface-level consumption of various gossip sites, at most).
Who You’re Working with (& Their Budget)
Though everyone hopes to land clients with big budgets, there will be prospective clients who opt out of working with writers due to cost.
Let’s be real: some people are plain old cheapskates. Others are operating on a modest budget and aren’t intending to scam you out of your rightful earnings.
And sometimes, you’ll hit the jackpot with a client who will pay almost anything, if they like your work.
Content Purpose and Style
Rates (and expectations) can also vary widely depending on content purpose and style.
For example, website copy often fetches a higher paycheck because it’s super valuable (nay, essential) for your client’s website. The writing keeps working long after it’s posted to their site.
Blog content, on the other hand, typically sells for fewer cents per word because its value is a bit lower. Sure, a blog can earn a client a ton of money, but it’s not as integral as website copy.
There’s also copywriting, which is generally sales copy and is in sort of a niche of its own.
I’ve done copywriting, but it’s not my favorite thing, but there are writers who swear by it at high per-word rates.
How to Set Your Freelance Writing Rates
As much as I would love to reply “IT JUST DEPENDS” to people who ask how much they should charge as freelance writers, I know how hard it is to get real answers from real writers.
So, here’s my advice for setting your rates, with an example from my own writing career.
Know Your Capabilities
Most freelance writers I know aren’t great at math (yeah, that would be me…). Words are our specialty, right? But it’s important to know your capabilities, and for that, you need some math.
Practice writing different types of articles and time yourself. Figure out how much time it takes you to write a 500-word blog post (with research time).
You might need to do separate sets of calculations, too, depending on the subject matter.
For example, if you’re an expert on dog behavior, you might be able to crank out 1,000 words as fast as your fingers can fly with no research or hesitation.
In contrast, if you’re writing about something you have no clue about, it’s harder to get the words flowing.
After some ‘tests,’ calculate how long 1,000 words will require, including sourcing images and adding links.
For example, let’s say writing 1,000 words takes you two hours exactly. That means you write 500 words per hour, so you need to make enough money from 500 words to pay yourself a decent wage for that hour.
When you have those calculations ready, it’s time to set an hourly rate.
Set Your Hourly Rate
I don’t recommend taking on writing gigs at an hourly rate, so this figure is for your eyes only. The point is to set a wage that you feel comfortable with (and one that pays your bills) as a reference point.
For my purposes here, I searched for some information on what constitutes a liveable wage in the United States. World Population Review lists wages per state, and the highest (in DC) is just over $23 per hour, so I’m using that here.
To make $23 per hour, with the 500 words per hour rate discussed above, you need to charge at least 4.6 cents per word.
For higher-value copy like website content or shorter pieces like product descriptions, I do recommend charging more per word. Most writers offer website copy in a package deal (again, do your math), and I’ve done product descriptions in a package as well.
The reasoning behind this is that web copy and product descriptions are two higher-value but somewhat shorter content forms that clients are often OK with paying more for. Value your time, and adjust your wage accordingly!
Raise Your Rates Regularly
One piece of advice that I do agree with in regard to rates is raising them on a regular basis.
When you work with an individual client on a contract basis, it’s simple enough to shoot over an email saying you’re raising your rates and why, and asking to extend your contract.
Yet with many freelance gigs, you might not have this option. If you work for a company, they may not be able to negotiate with you (I couldn’t when I hired writers for a business).
In that case, inquire about other possible roles and opportunities. You might get a rate increase for a different initiative, get offered a bonus for volume, or even find out about editing or other openings.
The Takeaway on Setting Freelance Writing Rates
The freelance writer rate that works for you depends on how fast you can write, what type of content you’re writing, and who you’re working with.
Truly, the answer to how much freelancers should charge is so individual and nuanced. Hopefully, the info here has given you some insight into how rate setting really works for freelancers, especially newbies.
FAQs
How Much Should I Charge as a Beginner Freelance Writer?
My recommendation is to reverse-engineer a per-word rate based on how fast you write and what hourly wage you want to make.
But if you’re not a numbers person and don’t want to dedicate time to plotting this out before you start writing/applying for gigs, I advise that you start at five cents per word.
The reasoning is that two hours is a pretty sizeable chunk of time to write 500 words, in most cases. That means you’ll hit $23/hour easily enough, which according to statistics is a decent wage.
How Much Should a Freelance Writer Charge for 1,000 Words?
Given the above regarding hourly rates, I would say to charge $50 for 1,000 words, a freelance writer rate of five cents per word.
But I do recommend doing the math and giving yourself a strong start based on your unique skill set and writing habits!