Hourly ranges by discipline
| Skill | Entry | Mid | Specialist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web development | $25–45 | $45–90 | $90–180 |
| Data & analytics | $30–55 | $55–110 | $110–200 |
| Graphic design | $20–40 | $40–75 | $75–160 |
| UX / product design | $30–55 | $55–110 | $110–200 |
| Content writing | $20–40 | $40–75 | $75–150 |
| Copywriting | $25–50 | $50–110 | $110–250 |
| SEO | $25–50 | $50–100 | $100–200 |
| Video editing | $20–40 | $40–75 | $75–150 |
| Social media management | $20–35 | $35–65 | $65–120 |
"Entry" is roughly your first ten projects. "Mid" is one to three years with a defined niche. "Specialist" means a narrow position and at least one case study with a result attached.
Typical project and retainer figures
Small business website: $2,000–8,000. Brand identity: $2,500–20,000, and considerably more for funded companies. Landing page copy: $1,000–5,000. Long-form article (1,500 words): $250–1,500. SEO retainer: $1,000–5,000/month for SMBs, $5,000–15,000 for larger sites. Social media retainer: $800–3,500/month. YouTube long-form edit: $150–600 per video.
What actually determines where you land
The client's size and budget line. Bigger factor than experience, by some distance. The argument in full: choosing a better buyer.
Your specialism. A general designer and a packaging designer for supplement brands are in different markets.
Whether you can point at a result. One number changes everything downstream.
Region. Both yours and the client's. Remote work has narrowed this gap, not closed it.
How to use these numbers
Find your row. If your current rate is below the entry column and you've done more than ten projects, raise it on your next enquiry. If you're at the top of mid, the next move isn't a percentage increase — it's narrowing your position, which is lever five in the eight income levers.
Quote projects rather than hours wherever possible, and keep the hourly figure private as an internal check.
What this page isn't
It isn't income. Billable hours are roughly half of working hours once pitching, admin and revisions are counted, and tax takes another quarter. For what that leaves, see real earnings ranges.
Ranges reviewed quarterly. Last review: August 2026.