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Editorial Rates

About these rates

The median rate ranges in the 2024 rate chart below are based on data from 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 rates they charged for those services during the 2023 calendar year. Please note that because members were instructed to respond only to questions applicable to their own work, the number of responses for each question varied widely.

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.

This site offers two ways to interact with the editorial rates reported in the 2023 EFA survey:

  1. Use the editorial rate estimator to obtain an estimated cost for a specific project.
  2. Refer to the 2024 rate chart to see an array of rates across a range of work types and genres.

Editorial rate estimator

This tool helps you estimate the cost of hiring an editorial professional for your job. It is designed to give you an idea of what the cost of a given project may be based on 2023 data we collected from our members. The estimated range you obtain may not be indicative of a given editorial professional’s rates, and those rates will vary, depending on years of experience, training, and multiple other factors (see “About these rates” for examples).

To use, click on “Per word” or “Per hour” for the type of estimate you want. To obtain your estimate, select the type of service you are seeking (editing, publishing, reading, consulting, etc.) and type or genre of your project (academic, fiction, nonfiction, etc.), and enter your total word count. Please note: The median value is determined by the median rate provided to us by members as part of our rate survey. The upper and lower estimates are determined by a percentage based on the average variations from the median rates.

✳️ Need to convert between different rate types (per hour/page/word)? Use the rate converter tool located below the rate chart.

⚠️ Remember: a median rate is the rate exactly in the middle of a given range, meaning that there is an equal number of values above and below the median value.

2024 rate chart

Download this chart: PDF | PDF (landscape)
Don’t understand the difference between different kinds of editorial services? Review our editorial service definitions.

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. 		 EFA logo  
 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 

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Office Closed Monday April 8.

The EFA Offices will be closed Monday, April 8, 2024. We will reopen on Tuesday, April 9. Job postings, discussion list subscriptions, and other customer service requests may not be responded to until then.

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