atw: Re: What does a technical writer cost?

Stephen
Short answer:  public service and private sector tend to offer radically
different rates.

Public sector rates are often very low, that is, typically the $45 ph mark,
but there are always small pockets of exception, in select departments that
pay real money.

The lower the rate the more likely it will be an hourly billing.

At the higher end it's most often a fixed day rate, that is, the pay looks
attractive, but you'll work whatever hours needed, with no overtime.  This
is actually quite fair, after all, if someone is paying you a thousand
dollars a day and you religiously watch the clock for the magic eight hour
mark, then, let's face it, they hired the wrong person and you're not
earning your keep.   You get paid the big dollars for a reason, not for
working 9 to 5 every day.

BTW - in roles with a fixed day rate, everyone knows - you and your boss -
that the hours on the timesheet are the "pretend" hours, that is, only 8
hours a day, which might or might not be the real hours you worked.  Of
course, the upside with the sheet-filling is that you don't have to care
what time you arrived or left, because you're just going to toss down some
times that add up to eight each day.

FYI

Caz

On Wed, Mar 19, 2008 at 10:36 AM, Stephen Nason <snason@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Can anyone tell me what the going rate is nowadays to a engage technical
> writer of good experience (hourly/daily/weekly?).
> Does the rate change by industry, or is it pretty much the same across the
> board.
>
> Many thanks in advance for any advice.
>
> Steve
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-- 
Carolyn Hart


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