When I started freelancing 5 years ago, my hourly rate as a writer was $5 to $10 per hour. Looking at the current rates many local online freelancers charge their foreign clients, this may seem like a huge amount. Every time I visit Pinoy forums, I see local freelancers charging $1 to $5 per hour – sometimes even less.
Well, what can one do? Sometimes people can be desperate about having extra income that we’re willing to take any amount of money, no matter how small.
But let’s take a look at the average hourly rates of freelancers who took part in a survey by FreelanceSwitch.com:
Source: Freelance Switch Survey
If you can’t believe your eyes, I’m telling you that I know from personal experience that these rates (and higher) are possible. Even for us Filipinos.
In fact, especially for us Filipinos. The freelancers among us are generally well educated and have above average English skills. We can deliver quality work. At the same time, we don’t pay at least $500 on rent alone like our “First World” counterparts. Living here is much cheaper.
If you don’t want to start charging $50 per hour, you can at least charge something a little lower than what the freelancers from developed countries are charging, but aren’t slave wages either. Why not start charging $20 or $30? Then, adjust accordingly as your expertise becomes more in demand and you’ve proved your work to be worth those rates.
But you’re the first and most important person who has to believe that your work is worth more. If you don’t believe it, there’s no way you can convince your clients to believe it themselves.
So how do you convince yourself and your clients that you’re worth the higher rates? Stay tuned for the second part of this post tomorrow, where I’ll address that question.
Hi Celine!
Like you, I browsed also some freelance sites scouring for potential jobs. It is just distressing to see rates such as $1 or $1.5 per 500 word or 50$ for 120 articles of 500 words.
Well, as you said everyone have their own reasons for taking such low pay jobs.
Now, I learned how to value my work and time. I only grab writing gigs that will commensurate my set rates.
Looking forward the part II.
Cheers,
Miles
Hi!
I am one of those people who took jobs with meager rates. Honestly, I need some extra money aside from my day job. And since it’s my first online job and I do not have the “experience”, I accepted it. Probably I was overwhelmed with my “first” online job.
Upon reading your article, my first thought was “OMG!”. Really I could earn such amount? I do hope that I can UP my wage in no time.
Thanks for your helpful article. I find confidence in my part-time work.
[...] This is Part 2 of a series on raising freelancer rates. To read Part 1, please click here. [...]
Hi Celine,
I happen to come across the remote DBA rate per hour last year. I’m charging my client $6 less. I think the only difference I have is that I’m really working 40 hours per week as to what I have been doing when I was in an office setting.
I don’t know how salary increases work for contractors like me. Should I be negotiating an increase yearly or every 2 years? My contract is good for as long as I want to give them my DBA service. It only terminates by notice only.
Regards,
Kaye
I don’t know much about DBAs (as I’ve never done that kind of work, and I can’t recall any colleagues with database experience) so I can’t say for sure which is better, yearly or every two years.
I did look up something interesting:
“In addition, specific positions, which tend to be difficult in terms of hiring and retention, also can merit higher raises. These include database administrator, system architects, ERP (enterprise resource planning) programmers, Web application programmers…[etc.]”
Click here to read the full article. If the article is right, then you have something to bargain with (but take this with a grain of salt since I can’t say this for sure bec. it’s not my industry).
Since you work for around 40 hours a week for that specific client, you’re actually closer to a full-time employee in terms of your relationship with them, rather than just a contractor who gives them 8 hours of work per week. Because of this, you have to approach your raise as if you were an employee. Do you have a track record of great performance? Can your employer see this? Will you be able to justify the raise?
Also, because you work with them by the hour (and for 40hrs/week at that), your client probably thinks that they’re the only client you have (which may or may not be true), so they might be able to hold that against you in the sense that they know you’re not going to quit. They probably think that they’re your main/sole source of income.
You’re the only one who can say whether you can negotiate a raise yearly or twice a year – since you know your client better than I do. Also, you know the value that you’re providing for the company.
But as your business expenses rise, remember that you have to ask for a raise. If you’re the one setting your own rate, tell your client at least a month beforehand so that they can adjust to the idea.
I hope I was able to help even if I don’t know much about DBAs specifically.
-Celine
Hi Celine,
Thanks for your input and the research. I appreciate it.
It’s hard to get another client or do another part time work since we’re doing on-call rotations. The only advantage I have over regular employees is that I can charge my overtime.
Regards,
Kaye
“you’re the first and most important person who has to believe that your work is worth more”
You are very right on this.
Another great post, Celine. Hope you’ll have a break from your projects so you can post more meaningful content such as this.
I’ve been working as virtual assitant for 3 mos now and i have to admit that i’m accepting just $2 per hour. I accepted it to gain experience because i am a newbie doing internet jobs. It is better to have an extra pay aside from what i’m receiving from my regular job.
Looking for coreldraw/illustrator masters! I pay $3 for a 15-20 minutes task! My YM is endofall289
Thx!