Topic: 3D Freelancing Rates? (Page 1 of 1)

I just got an opportunity to work for a really good company in my area (Pennsylvania) doing 3d but I will be starting out doing Contract work instead of full time (temporarily). My question is, what are the average rates to do 3D freelancing and what do you guys charge? Also, is there anything else I should be aware of when doing contract work? Again, they really like my work and this is just an intro for me to get used to the processes that they do but I just wanted to know incase I had to negotiate a hourly rate.

$50-300/hr. depending on your experience, knowledge, and work ethic.

Saving bandwidth...

well, contract != freelance so i'd say that's a bit high. if a project was bid out to you freelance then those rates are a good ballpark, if you're going to be working in-house on a contract basis something more in the range of $25-35 is prob closer to the going rate.

chris


KAIROSinteractive | tangent oriented

Indeed. As a freelancer you have your own overheards (food, electricity, software aquisition and so on) to cover, and that's why freelancers are allowed to charge more. If you're working in-house you don't have those overheads to cover, but the company you're working for does, so your payrate is lower. It's a give and take relationship. You give, they take

Part of it also depends upon where you are and the arrangements of the employement.

Here in St. Louis, I occassionally use a contractor to fill in for the things I can't find time to do. I don't have need for a full-time guy, but I sometimes have more than I can handle. He does 3d (LightWave), animation (Flash) and some 2d still stuff (Illustrator, Photoshop). He works (mostly) out of my office, my computers, my software, my phone lines, etc...
My company does not cover this gentleman's health insurance, 401(k), nor can he participate in any education reimbursement program, nor any other "benefit" offered full-time employees.
He is also NOT guaranteed 40 hours/week (nor any other amount/time frame). We call him when we need him.
He has approx. 5 yrs doing this sort of stuff, mostly for local clients. He has a university degree.

For all of this, I pay the guy $40/hr, and consider it a good deal.
Back when I was interviewing (18-24 months ago), I was finding guys wanting between $35 and $100/hr.

(Edited by mobrul on 09-08-2004 15:13)

Yes, fringe and legally required benefits do factor into it too. And frankly I'd take ability, talent and experience over a University degree any day. I don't want a piece of paper telling me somene can do something, I want their work to tell me that.

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Skaarjj said:

Indeed. As a freelancer you have your own overheards (food, electricity, software aquisition and so on) to cover, and that's why freelancers are allowed to charge more. If you're working in-house you don't have those overheads to cover, but the company you're working for does, so your payrate is lower. It's a give and take relationship. You give, they take

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Everyone has to eat :P You shouldnt count food as an overhead =). Its a living expense which is different.. But yeh electricity/software/the cost of your pc farm etc, all needs to be considered.

I have a company currently wanting to contract me out to another company doing 3D design work for automated machinery... Its pretty much a 2 day /week job, and I am charging $45 AU for it. Which is pretty reasonable. The company contracting me will be charging the company 60 - 65$/hour so they get a bit of a cut out of it.

While earning more would be great i think the rate is reasonable, and earning in 2 days what i used to earn in a week is a good thing. The bad old days...

The things to consider that will effect what you can charge are:
-Your level of skill
-How fast you can apply this level of skill (i.e efficiency)
-How saturated is the market? If you are the only person in the country.. name your price... etc.
-How urgently that company needs the work done.

.H. out

How do you guys go about figuring out how long a said project will take?

How much character animation is acceptible for a days work, in general?