[rdgraffix]

After seeing how usefull the listing of comic artist industry rates are (see this thread.) I thought it might be beneficial for the professional artists here to post the sort of rates they consider standard for various industries and projects.

After all, there's few things more damaging (to themselves and other artists) than new artists not understanding what they should charge for professional work. They often either grosly overcharge and miss out on otherwise profitable work, or charge way too little, hurting themselves (when they discover they cannot make ends meet on the rates they've become known for) and other artists (who are then put in a position of having to justify their otherwise reasonable rates). Naturally there are a lot of factors to consider, but I think that a better understanding of acceptable industry rates would greatly benefit this community. It would also be a great resource for new artists starting out.

So what have you come to see as reasonable rates for the fields you work in? Book cover illustration, web/logo design, concept art, character portraits, winnebago airbrushing ... anything. In whatever fields you have knowledge, share your experience, I'm sure many here will find it of great use.
_________________
Rowan Dodds
inksplat studios
www.inksplat.net

[Inspector Lee]

I do primarily storyboards and presentation artwork (comprehensives) for advertising, and I charge a flat hourly rate of $65. I also charge an additional $300 to $500 for a RUSH job, depending on the size and the turn-around time. I'd be interested to know how much illustrators charge in the game industry. How much for say a box cover, or concept art. Are there very many freelance jobs in the game industry?
_________________
Smokey, this is not 'Nam this is bowling. There are rules.

[Eric Pommer]

This is a good topic. I know that in the RPG industry, $50 per page for interior b&w work is considered in the lower-average range. I would love to hear about covers and such, though.
_________________
-=-=-=-
Mindplaces: Artwork by Eric Pommer
http://www.mindplaces.com

[Ian Jones]

I'm being told, as a student graphic designer in Australia, that an industry standard freelance rate is something like $55-70 hourly. In America I guess the equivalent would be around $105 / hour (rough estimate). I don't know whether this is right or wrong, and I can't figure it out...

Rowan, what do you reckon?

ps.. I can't get my scanner up an running for those comic illustrations. Sorry, but it may turn out to be a hollow promise

[rdgraffix]

The advertising agency I work for charges clients $150 per hour for work.
Rates from outsources the agency uses are more like $125/hour for retouching, $100/hour for finished art, and around $100-$150/hour for illustration.

From info from Illustrators I know in the field, a standard freelance range is $100-$150 per hour for advertising based illustration, but if you want to look at illustrating for publishing (childrens books etc.) you'll probably be looking at getting more like $50-$75/hour for those projects.

The rates seem high when you first hear them, but when you look at the finances, equipment, insurance and the standard ratio of searching for work vs paid work, $100/ph will leave you with enough money to keep your business running, pay rent and live on canned food and instant noodles - of course, if you make a name for yourself over a few years and you manage to have a high rate of paid work you can live a bit better.

Anyway, I hope that helps.

BTW, don't sweat about the scans Ian - it just means that if my site updates turn out to be empty promises too ( which I assure you they won't ) you can't hang too much shit on me.

[edit]
As always rates vary greatly with geography - the numbers I've named are obviously more appropriate to Australia. As I currently have fairly little info on US rates, I'd love to hear from anyone how they compare on a project or hourly basis.
[end edit]
_________________
Rowan Dodds
inksplat studios
www.inksplat.net

[Ian Jones]

I'll hold you to that RD.

I guess your right about all the overheads you have to pay. Thx for the info, it was very helpful.