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We've been looking over the submissions that come in & trying to find patterns. One thing that jumped out was the immense disparity in rates for the same kind of work.
It's what we're calling the wiiiiiiiiiiiiide diviiiiiiiiiiiide: A Thread 1/
It's what we're calling the wiiiiiiiiiiiiide diviiiiiiiiiiiide: A Thread 1/
Ahem- An *illustrated* thread!
Litebox proudly presents
The Wiiiiiiiiiiiide Divide Between Wages: Editorial Edition
2/
Litebox proudly presents
The Wiiiiiiiiiiiide Divide Between Wages: Editorial Edition
2/
For Editorial Web Headers, the numbers were as follows:
Highest: $1000
Average: $485
Lowest: $135
With numbers this disparate, it's no surprise that recent art school grads:
A) Often have Q's around pricing their work
&
B) Get taken advantage of
3/
Highest: $1000
Average: $485
Lowest: $135
With numbers this disparate, it's no surprise that recent art school grads:
A) Often have Q's around pricing their work
&
B) Get taken advantage of
3/
The print world isn't much better. For a Quarter Page you can fetch
Highest: $1000
Average: $525
Lowest: $250
Does anyone really think the lowest paid illustrator deserved to be paid 4x less than another worker? Was the higher paid worker's piece somehow 4x more valuable? 4/
Highest: $1000
Average: $525
Lowest: $250
Does anyone really think the lowest paid illustrator deserved to be paid 4x less than another worker? Was the higher paid worker's piece somehow 4x more valuable? 4/
For Half Page Print rates we see the top rates rise a little, but wait- what's this? The low rates fall a little too.
Highest: $1250
Average: $620
Lowest: $100
Now we've got people working on quarter pages earning more than those working on half pages
5/
Highest: $1250
Average: $620
Lowest: $100
Now we've got people working on quarter pages earning more than those working on half pages
5/
But there's gotta be SOME money in this game, no? It is COMMERCIAL illustration, no? As in pay-me-money for this drawing?
For Full Pages in Print we saw
Highest: $2000
Average: $1447
Lowest: $200
Guess you can eek out a living on those rare full pages, IF they have a budget 6/
For Full Pages in Print we saw
Highest: $2000
Average: $1447
Lowest: $200
Guess you can eek out a living on those rare full pages, IF they have a budget 6/
On the bright side, at least 76% of these commissions were paid within 30 days. Which is great because landlords only expect rent on time 76% of the time anyway. 7/
This is why we are ADAMANT about the fact that WORKERS, not media companies, should set the Industry Standard for wages.
If they can get away with commissioning a full page for less than minimum wage, THEY WILL. 8/
If they can get away with commissioning a full page for less than minimum wage, THEY WILL. 8/
So how do we raise wages in an atomized freelance marketplace where every publisher has their own budget & some value freelance artists more than others?
I'm glad you asked 9/
I'm glad you asked 9/
We START by using our highest shared collective wages as the LOWEST price we will accept for certain kinds of work.
If some of your peers are earning $1000 a quarter page, you should too. 10/
If some of your peers are earning $1000 a quarter page, you should too. 10/
Of course, not all media companies will be able to meet this ask- An Alt Weekly or your favorite non-profit likely won't. 11/
But if you treat whatever price we have in our collective rate sharing data set as the LOWEST you will accept-Even if it's low, you can ask for $200 more than what someone else was paid by the same publication.
You might not get it, but just asking, opens the door a crack
12/
You might not get it, but just asking, opens the door a crack
12/
If 10 illustrators ask an AD at a publication that typically pays $300, for $500- *consistently* it can become a daily headache common enough for them to build a case to try & get a larger budget the next time that conversation with higher-ups arises. 13/
This is a big ask. Not everyone is comfortable asking for more. Many of us are riddled with self-doubt & fear of rejection. If this is you, that's OK. In just citing the rates in our dataset as the LOWEST you will accept, you are doing your part & holding the line. 14/
For those who are socialized with a little more confidence or who have a little more privilege- it's important to USE that confidence & privilege to crack that door open a bit for others & LIFT THOSE WAGES. It's a team effort! 15/
In summation:
Our highest rates at a publication should be the lowest rates we accept for work.
When possible ask for $200 more than what the cited data shows.
Stay hydrated, rinse, lather, repeat.
& always stay cute.
16/
Our highest rates at a publication should be the lowest rates we accept for work.
When possible ask for $200 more than what the cited data shows.
Stay hydrated, rinse, lather, repeat.
& always stay cute.
16/
Disclaimer: The rates used for this thread were collected in early April & are submitted anonymously by contributors. These numbers SKEW LOW because our audience skews young. If you are a veteran illustrator earning more PLEASE contribute & help the next generation 17/ END
