Editorial Rates |
The median rate ranges below are based on data generated by a survey administered to EFA members from November 2023 through mid-January 2024. One thousand respondents, representing 30.3% of the EFA’s membership, answered questions about the editorial services they provided and the rates they charged for those services during the 2023 calendar year. Because members were instructed to respond only to questions applicable to their own work, the number of responses for each question varied widely.
Please note that this chart uses the industry standard of 250 words per manuscript page.
As a member association, the EFA neither sets rates nor advises members on what rates or rate types to use. Individual members’ rates may vary considerably, depending on multiple factors, including type of work, turnaround time, degree of expertise, local cost of living, training, and years of experience. |
|
CONSULTING |
PER WORD |
PER HOUR |
PER PAGE |
PAGES/HR |
FLAT FEE |
|
|
(250 words) |
|
Mean |
Median |
Coaching |
|
$70.00–90.00 |
|
|
$740.25 |
$100.00 |
Query Letter Coaching |
|
$65.00–80.00 |
|
|
$196.11 |
$145.00 |
Marketing and Promotion |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electronic media (non-social) |
|
$50.00–100.00 |
|
|
$ 89.00 |
$100.00 |
|
Print media |
|
$52.50–75.00 |
|
|
$2,074.17 |
$115.00 |
|
Social media |
|
$50.00–75.00 |
|
|
$74.00 |
$75.00 |
Project Management |
|
$60.00–85.00 |
|
|
$850.94 |
$65.00 |
Other Consulting (see No. 1, below) |
|
$72.50–112.50 |
|
|
$1,091.00 |
$142.00 |
|
NOTE: Consulting rates vary greatly and depend on project type and duration. The greater the difference between the mean and the median, the wider the range of rates. |
DESIGN |
PER WORD |
PER HOUR |
PER PAGE |
PAGES/HR |
FLAT FEE |
|
|
(250 words) |
|
Mean |
Median |
Graphic Design |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Book covers |
|
$50.00–65.00 |
$20.00–40.00 |
5.0–15.0 |
$199.29 |
$50.00 |
|
Books and print media |
|
$50.00–60.00 |
$5.00–12.00 |
5.0–15.0 |
$32.50 |
$32.50 |
|
eBooks and electronic media |
|
$50.00–55.00 |
n/a–n/a |
2.0–4.0 |
$475.00 |
$475.00 |
|
Signage |
|
$50.00–50.00 |
$3.00–5.00 |
5.0–10.0 |
$40.00 |
$40.00 |
|
Swag |
|
$45.00–50.00 |
$5.00–10.00 |
10.0–10.0 |
$45.00 |
$45.00 |
|
Websites |
|
$45.00–60.00 |
n/a–n/a |
n/a–n/a |
|
|
|
Other media |
|
$47.50–85.00 |
n/a–n/a |
n/a–n/a |
$3,000.00 |
$3,000.00 |
Layout |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Books and print media |
|
$45.00–60.00 |
$4.00–8.00 |
5.0–20.0 |
$278.13 |
$275.00 |
|
eBooks and electronic media |
|
$45.00–55.00 |
$0.50–0.75 |
6.0–20.0 |
$262.78 |
$250.00 |
|
Websites |
|
$45.00–62.50 |
n/a–n/a |
n/a–n/a |
$2,000.00 |
$2,000.00 |
|
Other media |
|
$55.00–85.00 |
$50.00–50.00 |
3.0–3.0 |
$296.67 |
$250.00 |
Other Design (see No. 2, below) |
|
$102.50–250.00 |
n/a–n/a |
n/a–n/a |
|
|
EDITING |
PER WORD |
PER HOUR |
PER PAGE |
PAGES/HR |
FLAT FEE |
|
|
(250 words) |
|
Mean |
Median |
Copyediting |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Academic, humanities (student) |
3.0–5.0¢ |
$40.00–50.00 |
$7.50–12.50 |
4.0–8.0 |
|
|
|
Academic, humanities (faculty, publication) |
3.5–5.0¢ |
$45.00–60.00 |
$8.75–12.50 |
4.0–8.0 |
|
|
|
Academic, STEM (student) |
3.6–5.5¢ |
$45.00–60.00 |
$8.88–13.75 |
4.0–7.3 |
|
|
|
Academic, STEM (faculty, publication) |
3.8–6.0¢ |
$50.00–60.00 |
$9.50–15.00 |
4.0–7.0 |
|
|
|
Academic, other |
3.5–5.0¢ |
$50.00–60.00 |
$8.75–12.50 |
4.0–8.0 |
|
|
|
Business/marketing |
3.0–5.0¢ |
$50.00–60.00 |
$7.50–12.50 |
5.0–10.0 |
|
|
|
Fiction |
2.0–3.0¢ |
$40.00–50.00 |
$5.00–7.50 |
5.0–10.0 |
|
|
|
Graphic novels |
3.0–3.5¢ |
$38.00–55.00 |
$7.50–8.75 |
9.5–15.0 |
|
|
|
Legal |
4.0–14.8¢ |
$50.00–65.00 |
$10.00–36.88 |
5.0–7.0 |
|
|
|
Medical |
4.9–5.0¢ |
$50.00–65.00 |
$12.33–12.50 |
3.0–6.0 |
|
|
|
Medicolegal |
6.0–8.0¢ |
$40.00–50.00 |
$15.00–20.00 |
5.0–10.0 |
|
|
|
Memoirs |
2.5–3.5¢ |
$45.00–55.00 |
$6.25–8.75 |
5.0–10.0 |
|
|
|
Nonfiction |
3.0–4.0¢ |
$45.00–60.00 |
$7.50–10.00 |
5.0–8.0 |
|
|
|
Technical |
4.0–6.0¢ |
$50.00–60.00 |
$10.00–15.00 |
4.0–7.8 |
|
|
|
Other |
4.0–6.0¢ |
$50.00–62.50 |
$10.00–15.00 |
5.0–7.0 |
|
|
Developmental Editing |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Academic, humanities (student) |
4.0–6.0¢ |
$50.00–60.00 |
$10.00–15.00 |
4.0–8.0 |
|
|
|
Academic, humanities (faculty, publication) |
4.0–5.0¢ |
$56.50–70.00 |
$10.00–12.50 |
4.0–7.0 |
|
|
|
Academic, STEM (student) |
5.0–7.0¢ |
$50.00–65.00 |
$12.50–17.50 |
3.0–7.0 |
|
|
|
Academic, STEM (faculty, publication) |
5.0–6.0¢ |
$55.00–70.00 |
$12.50–15.00 |
3.5–5.0 |
|
|
|
Academic, other |
4.0–6.0¢ |
$55.00–76.50 |
$10.00–15.00 |
4.0–7.5 |
|
|
|
Business/marketing |
4.0–6.0¢ |
$55.00–72.50 |
$10.00–15.00 |
4.0–10.0 |
|
|
|
Fiction |
3.0–4.0¢ |
$50.00–60.00 |
$7.50–10.00 |
5.0–10.0 |
|
|
|
Graphic novels |
3.3–5.0¢ |
$50.00–70.00 |
$8.25–12.50 |
10.0–15.0 |
|
|
|
Legal |
5.0–6.5¢ |
$70.00–82.50 |
$12.50–16.25 |
4.0–6.5 |
|
|
|
Medical |
5.5–7.0¢ |
$60.00–75.00 |
$13.75–17.50 |
2.5–4.5 |
|
|
|
Medicolegal |
n/a–n/a |
$45.00–75.00 |
n/a–n/a |
3.5–10.5 |
|
|
|
Memoirs |
3.7–5.0¢ |
$55.00–65.00 |
$9.25–12.50 |
4.0–8.0 |
|
|
|
Nonfiction |
4.0–5.0¢ |
$55.00–70.00 |
$10.00–12.50 |
4.0–7.0 |
|
|
|
Technical |
5.0–7.3¢ |
$58.00–65.00 |
$12.50–18.13 |
3.5–6.5 |
|
|
|
Other |
4.0–6.0¢ |
$60.00–70.00 |
$10.00–15.00 |
4.0–7.5 |
|
|
Formatting |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Academic, humanities (student) |
|
$45.00–50.00 |
$40.00–50.00 |
7.0–11.0 |
|
|
|
Academic, humanities (faculty, publication) |
|
$50.00–60.00 |
$45.00–52.50 |
7.0–10.0 |
|
|
|
Academic, STEM (student) |
|
$45.00–55.00 |
$50.00–50.00 |
4.0–10.0 |
|
|
|
Academic, STEM (faculty, publication) |
|
$50.00–60.00 |
$50.00–55.00 |
4.0–10.0 |
|
|
|
Academic, other |
|
$50.00–60.00 |
$30.00–50.00 |
6.0–10.0 |
|
|
|
Business/marketing |
|
$50.00–65.00 |
$45.00–55.00 |
7.0–12.0 |
|
|
|
Fiction |
|
$50.00–60.00 |
$2.50–3.50 |
15.0–18.0 |
|
|
|
Graphic novels |
|
$51.25–66.25 |
$5.00–25.00 |
n/a–n/a |
|
|
|
Legal |
|
$75.00–90.00 |
$5.00–n/a |
8.0–14.5 |
|
|
|
Medical |
|
$55.00–60.00 |
$13.75–15.00 |
1.0–4.0 |
|
|
|
Medicolegal |
|
n/a–n/a |
n/a–n/a |
n/a–n/a |
|
|
|
Memoirs |
|
$50.00–65.00 |
$2.50–5.00 |
7.0–12.0 |
|
|
|
Nonfiction |
|
$50.00–65.00 |
$2.65–5.30 |
7.0–11.0 |
|
|
|
Technical |
|
$61.25–75.00 |
$7.50–12.80 |
6.5–11.0 |
|
|
|
Other |
|
$70.00–76.50 |
$3.90–5.60 |
8.0–9.0 |
|
|
Line Editing |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Academic, humanities (student) |
4.0–5.0¢ |
$45.00–60.00 |
$10.00–12.50 |
4.0–8.0 |
|
|
|
Academic, humanities (faculty, publication) |
4.0–6.0¢ |
$50.00–65.00 |
$10.00–15.00 |
4.0–7.3 |
|
|
|
Academic, STEM (student) |
4.0–6.5¢ |
$50.00–60.00 |
$10.00–16.25 |
4.0–7.5 |
|
|
|
Academic, STEM (faculty, publication) |
4.0–6.0¢ |
$50.00–60.00 |
$10.00–15.00 |
4.0–6.5 |
|
|
|
Academic, other |
4.0–6.0¢ |
$50.00–65.00 |
$10.00–15.00 |
4.0–7.3 |
|
|
|
Business/marketing |
4.0–6.0¢ |
$50.00–70.00 |
$10.00–14.88 |
5.0–8.0 |
|
|
|
Fiction |
2.5–4.0¢ |
$45.00–60.00 |
$6.25–10.00 |
5.0–8.0 |
|
|
|
Graphic novels |
2.5–4.0¢ |
$40.00–55.00 |
$6.25–10.00 |
10.0–15.0 |
|
|
|
Legal |
5.0–15.5¢ |
$60.00–75.00 |
$12.50–38.75 |
5.0–8.5 |
|
|
|
Medical |
4.0–6.0¢ |
$50.00–65.00 |
$10.00–15.00 |
3.0–6.0 |
|
|
|
Medicolegal |
7.0–9.0¢ |
$40.00–57.50 |
$17.50–22.50 |
5.0–10.0 |
|
|
|
Memoirs |
3.0–4.1¢ |
$50.00–60.00 |
$7.50–10.25 |
5.0–8.0 |
|
|
|
Nonfiction |
3.5–5.0¢ |
$50.00–65.00 |
$8.75–12.50 |
4.0–7.0 |
|
|
|
Technical |
4.0–6.0¢ |
$50.00–65.00 |
$10.00–15.00 |
4.0–7.0 |
|
|
|
Other |
4.0–6.3¢ |
$50.00–70.00 |
$10.00–15.75 |
4.0–6.0 |
|
|
Proofreading |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Academic, humanities (student) |
2.0–4.0¢ |
$40.00–50.00 |
$5.00–10.00 |
7.0–10.0 |
|
|
|
Academic, humanities (faculty, publication) |
2.0–3.4¢ |
$40.00–50.00 |
$5.00–8.53 |
7.0–10.0 |
|
|
|
Academic, STEM (student) |
3.0–5.0¢ |
$42.50–55.00 |
$7.50–12.50 |
6.0–10.0 |
|
|
|
Academic, STEM (faculty, publication) |
3.0–5.0¢ |
$40.00–50.00 |
$7.50–12.50 |
6.0–10.0 |
|
|
|
Academic, other |
2.0–4.1¢ |
$41.50–55.00 |
$5.00–10.25 |
6.0–10.5 |
|
|
|
Business/marketing |
2.0–4.0¢ |
$45.00–57.50 |
$5.00–10.00 |
7.0–10.0 |
|
|
|
Fiction |
1.2–2.0¢ |
$35.00–45.00 |
$3.00–5.00 |
8.0–14.0 |
|
|
|
Graphic novels |
1.5–2.8¢ |
$35.00–40.00 |
$3.75–6.88 |
9.5–17.5 |
|
|
|
Legal |
2.0–3.8¢ |
$40.00–51.00 |
$5.00–9.38 |
6.0–10.0 |
|
|
|
Medical |
5.0–5.0¢ |
$45.00–60.00 |
$12.50–12.50 |
6.0–10.0 |
|
|
|
Medicolegal |
n/a–n/a |
$37.50–65.00 |
n/a–n/a |
n/a–n/a |
|
|
|
Memoirs |
2.0–2.5¢ |
$35.00–47.50 |
$5.00–6.25 |
8.0–12.0 |
|
|
|
Nonfiction |
2.0–3.0¢ |
$40.00–50.00 |
$5.00–7.50 |
7.0–11.0 |
|
|
|
Technical |
2.5–4.0¢ |
$45.00–57.00 |
$6.25–10.00 |
6.0–10.0 |
|
|
|
Other |
2.0–3.3¢ |
$36.00–51.00 |
$5.00–8.28 |
6.5–10.0 |
|
|
Other Editing (see No. 3, below) |
1.3–2.0¢ |
$48.75–62.50 |
$3.31–5.00 |
16.3–23.5 |
|
|
PUBLISHING |
PER WORD |
PER HOUR |
PER PAGE |
PAGES/HR |
FLAT FEE |
|
|
(250 words) |
|
Mean |
Median |
Book Proposal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Book |
6.0–9.0¢ |
$60.00–90.00 |
|
5.0–6.0 |
$3,335.71 |
$575.00 |
|
eBook |
4.5–5.5¢ |
$55.00–77.50 |
|
1.0–3.0 |
$5,250.00 |
$5,250.00 |
|
Other media |
n/a–n/a |
$55.00–80.00 |
|
n/a–n/a |
|
|
Indexing |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Book |
2.0–3.0¢ |
$50.00–60.00 |
|
5.0–10.0 |
|
|
|
eBook |
1.8–1.8¢ |
$50.00–80.00 |
|
8.0–n/a |
|
|
|
Website |
n/a–n/a |
$50.00–60.00 |
|
n/a–n/a |
|
|
|
Other media |
15.0–20.0¢ |
$57.50–90.00 |
|
n/a–n/a |
|
|
Permissions |
|
$50.00–75.00 |
n/a–n/a |
|
$48.00 |
$48.00 |
Research and Fact-Checking |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fact-checking |
|
$55.00–72.50 |
$4.00–4.00 |
2.0–4.0 |
|
|
|
Research |
|
$57.50–75.00 |
$4.00–4.00 |
2.0–4.0 |
|
|
Self-Publishing Assistance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electronic |
|
$50.00–60.00 |
|
|
$185.91 |
$200.00 |
|
Print |
|
$50.00–75.00 |
|
|
$253.18 |
$200.00 |
|
Other media |
|
$50.00–61.25 |
|
|
$227.78 |
$200.00 |
Other Publishing (see No. 4, below) |
n/a–n/a |
$32.50–62.50 |
n/a–n/a |
1.0–10.0 |
$347.50 |
$347.50 |
READING |
PER WORD |
PER HOUR |
PER PAGE |
PAGES/HR |
FLAT FEE |
|
|
(250 words) |
|
Mean |
Median |
Beta Reading |
0.8–1.2¢ |
$31.00–45.00 |
|
10.0–17.5 |
$208.70 |
$150.00 |
Manuscript Assessment/Evaluation |
1.5–1.5¢ |
$40.00–54.00 |
|
11.0–17.0 |
$855.56 |
$600.00 |
Sensitivity/Authenticity Reading |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Authenticity |
1.5–3.8¢ |
$50.00–55.00 |
|
10.0–22.5 |
$933.33 |
$500.00 |
|
Sensitivity |
1.5–2.0¢ |
$50.00–60.00 |
|
10.0–15.0 |
$580.00 |
$300.00 |
|
Sensitivity and authenticity |
1.0–2.8¢ |
$40.00–52.50 |
|
10.0–30.0 |
$600.00 |
$600.00 |
Other Reading (see No. 5, below) |
1.0–2.5¢ |
$50.00–59.00 |
|
10.0–15.5 |
$875.00 |
$525.00 |
TRANSCRIPTION |
PER AUDIO |
PER HOUR |
PER PAGE |
AUDIO |
FLAT FEE |
MINUTE |
|
(250 words) |
MIN./HR |
Mean |
Median |
Transcription |
$1.25–1.38 |
$40.00–55.00 |
|
32.5–37.5 |
|
|
|
NOTE: Transcription is charged in terms of per-audio minute, per hour, and audio minutes per hour |
TRANSLATION |
PER WORD |
PER HOUR |
PER PAGE |
PAGES/HR |
FLAT FEE |
|
|
(250 words) |
|
Mean |
Median |
|
From English |
12.0–19.5¢ |
$57.50–75.00 |
$30.00–48.75 |
2.0–3.0 |
|
|
|
To English |
12.0–17.0¢ |
$50.00–70.00 |
$30.00–42.50 |
2.0–3.0 |
|
|
WRITING |
PER WORD |
PER HOUR |
PER PAGE |
PAGES/HR |
FLAT FEE |
|
|
(250 words) |
|
Mean |
Median |
Curriculum Development |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Curricula, primary school |
5.2–7.8¢ |
$84.00–100.00 |
n/a–n/a |
4.0–6.0 |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Curricula, secondary school |
52.6–1.04 |
$78.00–78.00 |
n/a–$260.00 |
3.3–4.5 |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Curricula, undergraduate |
5.2–7.8¢ |
$78.00–78.00 |
n/a–n/a |
4.0–6.0 |
$1,000.00 |
$1,000.00 |
|
Curricula, graduate |
n/a–n/a |
$67.50–75.00 |
n/a–n/a |
1.0–3.0 |
$4,000.00 |
$4,000.00 |
Ghostwriting |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Articles/essays |
20.0–24.0¢ |
$60.00–97.50 |
n/a–n/a |
1.5–3.5 |
|
|
|
Blog posts |
20.0–24.5¢ |
$60.00–100.00 |
n/a–n/a |
1.0–3.0 |
|
|
|
Business/marketing |
27.5–1.00 |
$75.00–100.00 |
n/a–$250.00 |
1.0–3.0 |
|
|
|
Fiction, full-length |
9.0–11.5¢ |
$55.00–110.00 |
n/a–n/a |
3.0–5.5 |
|
|
|
Graphic novels |
n/a–n/a |
n/a–n/a |
n/a–n/a |
n/a–n/a |
|
|
|
Journalism |
33.0–35.0¢ |
$60.00–95.00 |
n/a–n/a |
1.0–3.5 |
|
|
|
Legal |
25¢–$1.00 |
$55.00–85.00 |
n/a–$250.00 |
n/a–n/a |
|
|
|
Medical |
n/a–n/a |
$82.50–110.00 |
n/a–n/a |
1.0–3.0 |
|
|
|
Medicolegal |
$1.00–2.00 |
n/a–n/a |
$250.00–500.00 |
n/a–n/a |
|
|
|
Memoir |
16.7–20.0¢ |
$75.00–100.00 |
n/a–n/a |
2.0–4.0 |
|
|
|
Nonfiction, full-length |
20.0–27.0¢ |
$75.00–110.00 |
n/a–n/a |
1.5–4.0 |
|
|
|
Nonfiction, short-form |
20.0–29.0¢ |
$70.00–110.00 |
n/a–n/a |
1.0–3.0 |
|
|
|
Scientific |
24.0–24.0¢ |
$80.00–100.00 |
n/a–n/a |
1.0–3.5 |
|
|
|
Short story |
9.5–13.5¢ |
$60.00–95.00 |
n/a–n/a |
2.5–5.0 |
|
|
|
Technical |
20.0–26.5¢ |
$77.50–100.00 |
n/a–n/a |
1.0–3.5 |
|
|
|
Other |
17.0–58.5¢ |
$85.00–105.00 |
n/a–n/a |
3.0–4.0 |
|
|
Work-for-Hire |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Articles/essays |
30.0–87.5¢ |
$60.00–75.00 |
n/a–n/a |
1.0–3.0 |
|
|
|
Blog posts |
20.0–30.0¢ |
$50.00–79.00 |
n/a–n/a |
1.0–3.0 |
|
|
|
Business/marketing |
22.5–69.5¢ |
$62.50–100.00 |
n/a–n/a |
1.0–4.0 |
|
|
|
Fiction, full-length |
9.5–14.0¢ |
$50.00–92.50 |
n/a–n/a |
2.5–6.0 |
|
|
|
Graphic novels |
n/a–n/a |
$50.00–75.00 |
n/a–n/a |
n/a–n/a |
|
|
|
Journalism |
50¢–$1.00 |
$60.00–82.50 |
n/a–$250.00 |
1.0–4.0 |
|
|
|
Legal |
n/a–n/a |
$50.00–55.00 |
n/a–n/a |
5.0–6.0 |
|
|
|
Medical |
57.5–1.00 |
$70.00–85.00 |
n/a–$250.00 |
1.0–3.0 |
|
|
|
Medicolegal |
55.0–1.00 |
n/a–n/a |
n/a–$250.00 |
n/a–n/a |
|
|
|
Memoir |
22.5–39.5¢ |
$75.00–90.00 |
n/a–n/a |
2.5–6.0 |
|
|
|
Nonfiction, full-length |
22.5–65.0¢ |
$75.00–90.00 |
n/a–n/a |
1.0–4.0 |
|
|
|
Nonfiction, short-form |
30.0–81.0¢ |
$65.00–85.00 |
n/a–n/a |
1.0–3.0 |
|
|
|
Scientific |
$1.00–1.12 |
$80.00–100.00 |
$250.00–280.00 |
1.0–4.0 |
|
|
|
Short story |
10.0–12.0¢ |
$60.00–75.00 |
n/a–n/a |
2.5–6.0 |
|
|
|
Technical |
27.0–69.5¢ |
$67.50–97.50 |
n/a–n/a |
1.0–4.0 |
|
|
|
Other |
21.0–62.5¢ |
$55.00–72.50 |
n/a–n/a |
3.0–5.0 |
|
|
Other Writing (see, No. 6, below) |
33.8–41.5¢ |
$62.50–92.50 |
n/a–n/a |
4.0–6.0 |
|
|
OTHER SERVICES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. Other Consulting |
Examples include brainstorming, dissertation development, grant writing, pitch development, proposal development, strategic communications, writing workshops |
|
2. Other Design |
Examples include desktop publishing, handouts, magazines, mapmaking, newsletters |
|
3. Other Editing |
Examples include 508 accessibility, audiobooks, competitive analyses, picture book, plain language editing, resumes, white papers |
|
4. Other Publishing |
Examples include coaching, distribution assistance, journal submission management, picture research, press/market research, publisher research, reference checking and formatting |
|
5. Other Reading |
Examples include accessibility to non-academic readers, chapter guidance, cold reading, conceptual clarity, submissions reading |
|
6. Other Writing |
Examples include book reviews, children’s board books, devotionals, exhibition materials, grant writing, press releases, query letters, screenplays/scripts, social media posts, speechwriting |
|
7. Other Editorial |
Examples include communications strategy, oral history interviews, production editing, query letter guidance and editing, research, resume writing/coaching, web architecture/taxonomy |
Copyright © 2024 Editorial Freelancers Association |
Updated 3/19/2024 |