 Getting
Started > Hourly Rates and Salaries
Hourly Rates
TASK/GENRE |
HOURLY RATE |
| Technical
Writer (computer h/w, s/w) |
$40-$75 |
| Technical Editing |
$35-$55 |
| Senior
Technical Writer (computer h/w, s/w) |
$50-$85 |
| Web Authoring and Design |
$40-$100 |
| |
|
| Corporate Newsletter |
$40-$100 |
| Corporate
Reports |
$40-$100 |
| White Papers |
$40-$90 |
| Online Publishing |
$35-$100 |
| Marketing Communications |
$35-$100 |
| Medical & Biology |
$35-$100 |
| Copy Editing |
|
General |
$30-$100 |
Corporate |
$45-$65 |
| Proofreading |
|
General |
$25-$50 |
Corporate |
$25-$60 |
Science |
$25-$100 |
| Grant Writer |
$25-$75 |
Source:
NWU 2002
Salaries
There area a number of credible resources available to
help keep you abreast of salary trends, not the least being at www.winwriters.com.
Women interested in a career in this field might want to take note of
the 2001 management portion of this salary survey.
As you might expect, salaries vary considerably based on
location. For example, the median salaries in high-cost areas such as
CA, NY, NJ, DC/MD/VA are $15-20,000 higher than offered in areas such
as AL, WI, MI, IN, OH and CO. Hourly rates are subject to the same kinds
of factors. If you are dealing with an agency and are not familiar with,
or actually in, the locale, be extremely cautious about the hourly rate
you accept and do not forget to ask for per diem rates.
The surveys should only serve as a guide. There are many
sites on the Net that have tools for comparison of salaries
by state or area – some found on the job boards. If you have in mind becoming
a “road warrior,” be sure to use these tools before accepting
a contract.
I’ve looked over various surveys and believe the following are representative
of salaries currently being offered. Typical median salaries
by employment level are in the following ranges:
| •Entry
Level |
$26,000–32,800 |
| •Mid-level |
$48,300–51,000 |
| •Senior-level |
$54,600–59,600 |
| •Supervisor/Manager |
$58,500-78,400 |
| By education
level: |
|
| •Bachelor’s
Degree |
$49,500 |
| •Master’s
Degree |
$53,900 |
|
|
