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Freelance Hourly Rate Chart(hellobonsai.com)
8 years ago from Moe Amaya
Joe Shoop, 8 years ago
Most likely students, people just getting into design, people without much experience, doing it on the side, etc.
When I was in high school, and people bragged about making $10/hr wrangling carts at costco, getting paid $20/hr for design seemed like ton.
Cihad Turhan, 8 years ago
Might not be in US
Dustin Cartwright, 8 years ago
Starting out, I charged $15/hr. Didn't really raise my rate until a year or two later either. I grew up with a family where making $20/hr means "you've made it" so to speak. I've since grown, but it took a while to get used to the idea of making that much and not feeling like I was cheating some part of the system at the time haha.
Santiago Baigorria, 8 years ago (edited 8 years ago )
January this year, I started freelancing for the 1st time ever. I begun with a rate of $20. Once I got work to show and maybe some reputation, I dropped the super cheap price and I'm now asking for $60 per hour. After seeing this chart I will probably consider beginning 2016 with an $80 - $100 hourly rate.
Although, I'm not really still working for hours. After all, we designers are not the hours we work.
Manny Larios, 8 years ago (edited 8 years ago ) Sounds like I’m in the same boat you were this past January. A little bit of context: I went to a private art school, racked up student loans and couldn’t get work anywhere as a Graphic Designer. I didn’t let that discourage me and continued self education (you could say I’m self taught). Work at Apple Retail and was given the opportunity to work in Cupertino with Retail Marketing on some internal projects (mostly UI and iconography). I decided to go part time at Apple Retail and full time as a UX Designer to pursue a career. My only professional experience was Apple Inc., which looks great on a resume, but wan’t enough to a lot of potential clients. I needed a company that would take me in and give me an opportunity. Because of that, I’m currently charging $28 an hour as a UX Designer. Yes: that might seem relatively cheap to a lot of you out there, but again, I needed a company that would take me in and allow me to continue building my portfolio. Located in the mid-west, if that makes a difference rate-waise.
My contract with my current company comes up at the end of January, and I'm considering bumping up my price. I've been with said company for almost a year now. This is my second contract that will run out. I didn't raise my hourly rate when it was time to re-sign due to fear that they might let me go. You could say that the first time they offered to resign me validated my work. If they offer me a third contract, would it be insane to charge more? How much more? It’s something that I struggle with as time goes by. Another question: what’s considered work experience? Time you’ve worked for a major company? Time you’ve freelance? Am I technically one year in or 7 years in: the time since leaving school in 2008 and doing work here and there.
Anyways, it’s nice to see people share their salaries on a sites like hellobonsai.com and Designer News. Helps someone like myself get a better picture of what people are charging.
Manny, asking for more money is tough when you are already in a business relationship with someone. That happened to me a lot and of course you risk a lot. My view is, never settle for less if you're sure you can get more.
After all, it's just business.
Take what I say carefully though. You might wanna talk to more people for diverse opinions...
Manny Larios, 8 years ago Thanks for the feedback.
Olivier F, 8 years ago (edited 8 years ago )
Manny Larios, 8 years ago WOW! Thats scary. I'm guessing that $5 in places like Thailand or Pakistan can go a long way.
Nah. Who are all of these designers supposedly charging $20-$40 per hour? $0-$20, even?