atw: Re: hourly rate for writing and editing

Hi Christine

How very strange, no responses?

I would have expected this audience to offer up some healthy ballpark
numbers for you in a trice.

Seems not.

My quick thought and suggestion is that you need to propose an hourly rate
no different to any other contractor taking on a writing role in
government.  In other words, your normal billing paradigm doesn't apply in
this situation, so resist the urge to compare apples with camels.

At a minimum you should be quoting $50 p/h.  Depending on the nature of the
work and the department, you could go up to, say, $75 p/h, but if going that
high, always make it clear that you're prepared to be flexible with the rate
... unless you're not.

A momentary digression:  the government continues to pay significantly less
than private sector, although not always - there are hidden sweet spots in
gov't, very few.

Don't know if you are working on site, going through an agency in the normal
manner, or contracting directly with the department.  If the latter, you
might consider higher rates.  The price points that I have suggested assume
a normal contract role and a normal 40 hour week.

If you're wondering how low gov't pays for highly skilled people, at worst
you might find that their budget only stretches to $35 p/h, which would be a
tad insulting, but they make such offers with great enthusiasm and a genuine
belief that the position offers "$$$$$ Rates!!I", as recruitment agencies
like to express it.

Best
Caz

On Thu, Dec 18, 2008 at 12:40 PM, Christine Kent <c.bkent@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>wrote:

>  Hi guys
>
>
>
> I need some advice and current prices.  Outside contract-ville, editing
> work is done on a per word or per page rate.  However, I am looking at doing
> some work for a government department where they want an hourly rate, mostly
> editing but also some writing.  Is there anyone out there working in
> Canberra who knows what hourly rate would be considered competitive in the
> current market by a government department?
>
>
>
> Regards
>
> Christine
>



-- 
Carolyn Hart

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