Comments on: Freelance 3D – How to Determine an Hourly Rate

By: Adam

Adam — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 07:58:21 +0000

Wow. Thanks a million. This was hands down the most useful information I’ve ran across in the search to servive as a contract artist. You’re making the whole industry a better place even if it’s only one freelancer at a time

By: Jonny

Jonny — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 06:00:49 +0000

Thanks Leonor, I’m glad it was useful for you.

I honestly couldn’t say regarding your rate, it’s an field outside my knowledge, and I haven’t worked with NY based companies. You could ask them what rate they would prefer and negotiate from there.

I’ve found that happens quite often though, people just not getting back to you after you give them your rates. I figure if they don’t even get back to you to negotiate, then they’re probably not worth pursuing, but then I’ve never understood that behavior either.

By: Leonor

Leonor — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:53:18 +0000

Hello I found your post incredible helpful. It made consider things that I took for granted, like the software updates and things we have to do to be up to date.
I am a recent masters graduate and I interned at a place where they asked me to be a freelance, but I sent them my rate and they never got back to me. It was $44 mostly what I do is interior design for booths or events. I wonder if it is too high, I am also in New York. What do you think?

By: Jonny

Jonny — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:43:47 +0000

Thanks for your comment Sarah,

This isn’t about getting everyone to raise their rates, that doesn’t help anyone. It’s about giving freelancers the knowledge to set realistic and sustainable rates so they can afford to keep working.

I’ve been on both sides of the coin, a freelancer and an employer. It certainly can be difficult to determine what individual employees or contractors are worth, but in the end it all comes down to negotiation by both parties. This article gives the freelancer somewhere to move within that negotiation and the security of having a cut-off rate, knowing when the offered rate is too low for them to afford.

Once someone has been in the business for 10 or 20 years this article is less useful. Partially because they’ll have a good idea by that time of their worth, and because by that time a bunch of other factors come into it such as skills, experience, leadership qualities, etc. But if less experienced artists expect the same pay as experienced ones, then they’re perhaps being given bad advice somewhere along the line…

By: Sarah Cloutier

Sarah Cloutier — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:01:25 +0000

There’s such a difference in skills of individuals so it can be difficult as an employer to ascertain who is ‘worth’ paying more. For example, someone with 20 years ‘doing the work’ would not automatically get more money that someone with 10 years experience who’s a naturally great artist. It’s about making a balanced team within the budget, including trainees … and I feel that most employers will pay the money for the right people … the problem with getting everyone to raise their rates is that less experienced artists come into the market with unrealistic pay expectations … and you’re right Dylan, it’s not personal!

By: Jonny

Jonny — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:01:27 +0000

Thanks very much Dylan, and you’re absolutely right

By: Dylan Neill

Dylan Neill — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 03:16:37 +0000

Great post mate. I’m going to pass it around for sure. This info needs to get into the hands of more 3D guys because so many of them undercharge. From experience most companies will complain that you’re expensive no matter what your rate (unless its super super low) because everyone is just trying to save a buck. Its not personal, it’s just business.