Some thoughts on graphic design rates

 Posted by on July 1, 2010
July 1, 2010
May 16, 2019
 

I recently found quite a few angry posts on craigslist which were posted in response to ads offering graphic design jobs with high qualifications and experience requirements – and they were only offering $8-$10 an hour.

Lowball OfferMany graphic designers seemed to be offended by this, as they should be. Real graphic designers are talented, knowledgable and professional. To be fair to cheapskate employers, however, there are too many recent tech school grads who may have some talent, but very little knowledge and experience who will work for very low wages. But you get what you pay for and will end up paying a professional to fix the mistakes. This can be extremely costly – especially when dealing with print media. You can’t change ink on paper on thousands of printed pieces!  New, $9 designers may know something about design and they may have a little hands on experience with the appropriate software, but think about this:

Your neighbor or nephew knows something about dental hygiene and teeth. He also knows where  he can buy a bunch of dentist’s tools. You don’t want to pay your overpriced dentist. For half of what you pay your dentist, he can do your next root canal.  You probably wouldn’t go for that, and will likely end up at the real dentist eventually.
So why should your business be any different? Bad design can hurt and you’ll end up paying much more to fix it!

 

If you have already learned some of this the hard way, Ker Communications can help with 20 years of fixing rookie mistakes in the printing industry. If you are looking for graphic design that will look great, get your message across, AND will work properly, contact Ker Communications.

 

What follows is one of the posts I found on craigslist which, in addition to a well reasoned rant, also contains proper suggested rates for graphic design work.
These are not Ker Communications rates as we prefer to quote on a per-project basis.

$9 an hour?? When will you people learn? Seriously!

Here’s a very serious breakdown for you of fair market rates for freelance design services in the Greater Pittsburgh region:

$20-35/hr 0-2 years experience (entry-level)

$30-45/hr 3-5 years experience (junior-level)

$40-55/hr 5-7 years experience (mid-level)

$50-65/hr 7-10 years experience (senior-level)

$60-75/hr 10+ years experience (director-level)

If you’re looking to hire full-time, the rule is half the contract rate times 2000 hours per year. Can’t do the math? No problem:

$20-35k/yr 0-2 years experience (entry-level)

$30-45k/yr 3-5 years experience (junior-level)

$40-55k/yr 5-7 years experience (mid-level)

$50-65k/yr 7-10 years experience (senior-level)

$60-75k/yr 10+ years experience (director-level)

At no time in a qualified designer’s career is $9/hr a fair market rate for services rendered.

You job seekers out there, take notes! This is how you should be pricing yourselves. Consult the AIGA or any qualified professional in our industry, and he/she will tell you the same.

These are not Ker Communications rates as we prefer to quote on a per-project basis.


Like this? Please help spread the word!