Are you a writer or interested in hiring one for your business?

Then you need to understand the average rates for related to services to have a good idea of what to charge or pay.

There are many different factors that play into writing rates, including experience, skill level, ROI, portfolio, and more.

Today we will be going over the averages in various industries, so you have a solid understanding if you’re a freelance writer or an entrepreneur interesting in hiring one.

Freelance copywriter rates

Copywriting is the practice of writing sales copy, which can include material like:

  1. Brochures
  2. Advertisements
  3. News releases
  4. Scripts
  5. Sales letters
  6. Landing pages
  7. More

According to the Professional Writers Association of Canada, copywriters producing this type of material for their clients should earn $350 to $500 per page, $750 to $1,000 per project, or bill at $75 to $150 per hour on average.

Since copywriting tends to result in sales, leads, and has a clear ROI, freelance writers can charge a premium. As a business owner, if you paid $10,000 for copy that generates $100,000 in sales, it’s safe to say that it was a good investment.

Advertorials are very similar. These are articles that are commissioned by advertisers, and once again according to the PWAC, the standard rates include $0.40 to $2/word, $100 to $3,000 per article, or $40 to $100 per hour.

No matter the service, you can also expect to charge or pay more for ghostwritten work. This is because the writer receives no credit, so typically a premium is charged to make up for it.

Some copywriters also charge a royalty fee, which usually falls in the 1-3% range for direct sales copy.

Email marketing remains as one of the most effective channels to reach customers, so copywriters with newsletter writing skills can expect to earn $0.30 to $1.50/word, $500 to $6,000 per issue, or $50 to $80 per hour.

Freelance editor rates

Desk with items

Editing is a very underrated skill. Without it, content will be ridden with spelling and grammar mistakes. This can lessen the user experience, credibility, and other factors that play into conversion rates.

Depending on the exact project and publication, freelance editors will normally charge $30 to $60 per hour or $500 to $20,000 per project.

Freelance proofreader rates

Proofreading is similar to editing, but shouldn’t be confused with it. Proofreading comes after the editing process to ensure that quality is satisfactory, and the original goal of the copy is kept in tact.

Please see the above freelance editing rates to get an approximation of how much to charge/pay for this service.

Freelance content writer rates

Content marketing has experienced a massive increase in exposure within the last few years. Brands are beginning to realize that offering free value and educating customers is the most effective way to grow a business.

As a result, companies are producing more content than ever, and require high quality writers to help scale their operations. According to PWAC, web content rates vary from $1 to $3/word or $50 to $100 per hour.

While you can find writers for much cheaper rates on websites like Upwork or ProBlogger, the quality is sub-par. High level writers have experience with SEO, lead generation, CRO, and other skills that allow them to write content that generate results.

Anyone can research and produce a blog post, but it takes an expert to write one that drives organic traffic and leads.

Freelance journalist rates

Pencils on yellow background

Writing for magazines can be some of the most lucrative publications a writer can contribute towards. General interest and consumer magazines tend to pay approximately $1 to $2/word, $500 to $10,000 per article, or $400 to $1,500 per column.

Trade and special interest magazines that are more focused on a small niche some times will pay more, as the demand for relevant experts is higher.

Freelance technical writing rates

Technical writing is producing content that instructs customers on how to use a product or service. It requires writers to be very practical and thorough, thus rates are typically $1 to $2/word, $300 to $12,000 per project, or $50 to $125 per hour.