We can help with:
Accelerate your career
Join us today
Book an event
A unique 3-minute opportunity to pitch to publishers & agents
Do you want to know how to nail your pitch to publishers?
We advocate for members
Stay in the know
Stay in the know with industry news and ASA views.
Search our resources
Find ASA members
FAQs on publishing and more.
Member only guide to the Australian book industry.
We publish benchmarks on recommended rates of pay for writers and illustrators because fair remuneration is vital.
When festivals, schools, journals and other organisations agree to a fair rate of pay, they make it possible for creators to make a living. We’ve created these benchmarks by consulting with industry organisations, individuals, authors and illustrators.
All rates exclude GST
I would like information on:
Book Illustrations
The following rates are based on A4-size projects. Rates can be increased depending on detail required, research involved and conceptual input required. For ‘one-off’ or single illustrations paid on a flat fee without royalties add 20 per cent; for online usage, a limited time agreement of a maximum of two years and an indication of the type of access should be specified.
Black and white
$68
Colour
$99
Quarter page or chapter head
$222
Half page
$352
Full page
$471
Double page spread
$595
$311
$492
$699
$932
Cover
$1346
Book Illustration rates were reviewed and updated in December 2020. The next review will take place in December 2023.
Comics
Click below to open a PDF with ASA guidelines on rates of pay for comics:
Comics rates were reviewed and updated in Jan 2022. The next review and update will take place in January 2025.
Freelance Writing
Freelance rates of pay vary considerably, depending on a variety of factors including the type of organisation commissioning the work and the level of experience of the writer.
Please note that these rates are applicable to short-term, one-off freelance writing projects only. They are not intended as a benchmark for sustained periods of independent writing.
The below rates are estimates only and do not seek to represent actual market conditions – some commissioning editors may be able to offer more than this and some may offer significantly less.
MEAA recommends the below rates:
Per day
$1028.00
Per half day
$685.00 (2/3 day rate)
Per hour
$257.00
100 words or less
$1045.00 then $0.96 per word.
For current market rates, check out RATE TRACKER on MEAA’s website. This rate tracker has real data updated by freelancers based on their own experience of who pays what.
Freelance Writing rates were reviewed and updated in December 2021. The next review and update will take place in December 2024.
Poetry
Poetry rates of pay depend on factors such as how the poem was initiated, where it appears and if a reading takes place.
Refer to the categories and relevant recommended rates below:
Journals
For submissions to poetry or literary journals.
$60 – $130 per poem
Print and/or digital
Print (excluding journals)
For example, inclusion in an anthology of poetry in print/digital
Up to $430 flat fee for a maximum of 135 lines
$500 – $800 flat fee for a suite of poems regardless of length
Commissioned
$300 regardless of length where the poem is commissioned for publication/reading but does not include any other activities.
$500 regardless of length where the poem is commissioned for publication reading and also includes a reflection (feedback), prompt (what inspired the poem), and video and audio recording.
For corporate partner commission, up to $1,000
Readings
Rates are variable depending on the following: emerging poet/published poet, online reading/face to face reading, live reading/pre-recorded reading, recording/no recording, print/no print, length of time of reading.
Recommended range: $100 – $230
For example, a pre-recorded, online, 10-minute reading by a published poet where the poem isn’t shared exclusively in print would attract a rate of the low end of the range, perhaps around $100
Festivals
Rates for festival appearances depend on a number of variables such as: emerging poet/published poet, online appearance/face to face appearance, live appearance/pre-recorded appearance, recording/no recording, print/no print, length of time of reading and if part of a panel.
Recommended range: $100 – $750
$100-$200 is a basic reading fee, $100 being for a single poem; then $200-$750 being for extra responsibility/time/preparation etc.
Education
Rates for a school appearance depend on a number of variables such as: emerging poet/published poet, online appearance/face to face appearance, live appearance/pre-recorded appearance, recording/no recording, print/no print, length of time of presentation and if it’s a workshop taking considerable preparation time.
See school appearances.
NB – A poet is considered emerging when they are unpublished, have 1 collection or less and/or have less than 5 years of experience doing workshops, performances running a professional practice.
Poetry rates were reviewed and updated in December 2021. The next review and update will take place in December 2024.
Public Appearances
Based on consultation with festivals, libraries and authors, as well as recent survey results, the recommended rates of pay for non-school public appearances such as festivals, libraries, clubs, community groups are:
These cover all types of appearances including virtual/online presentations.
In conversation appearances (1hr or less)
$313 as interviewee/subject $469 as curator/interviewer
Recommended fee for a 1:1 appearance includes live streaming of the appearance and recordings made public for an agreed period of time.
Panel appearances for 1hr or less
$239 for panellists$271 (chairperson)
Recommended fee includes live streaming of the appearance and recordings made public for an agreed period of time.
Workshops/One-off presentations
$374 1 hour$625 Half day$938 Full day
Workshops take considerable preparation time and include authors’ intellectual property. If a recording of the workshop is continually made available online, the ability of an author to book future income producing workshops may be undermined. Therefore, we recommend authors negotiate an additional fee for recordings based on the length of time the recording is made available. For example:- an additional 10% on top of the appearance rate for each week the recording is available.
Podcasts or permanently available audio/visual recordings
Increasingly, live appearances are subsequently made available as podcasts. In this instance, we recommend the presenter be paid an additional 20% on top of the appearance fee for the podcast or recording to be publicly available indefinitely.
Keynote (1 hour)
$1563 +
The flat rate will depend on the presenter’s speaking experience. An additional rate is recommended for recordings made public and podcasts. See Podcasts.
The ASA recommends rates of pay for public appearances, strongly believing authors must be fairly compensated. Organisers of festivals and events wanting to employ authors should have viable business plans that allow for proper fees. This includes fees for keynote speakers, featured authors or authors and moderators on panels, who spend many hours in preparation time. When smaller and/or volunteer run organisations struggle to afford the rates, authors can assess the fairness of rates offered, taking into account the size of the event, other inclusions offered and the personal benefits of appearing.
Public Appearance rates were reviewed and updated in July 2021. We are commencing our review, which should be complete by December 2023.
As we will every year, a WPI increase has been applied (September 2022.) We appreciate it may take organisations a budget cycle to update their own rates.
Primary and Secondary School Appearances and Workshops
These minimum rates of pay are designed for established, professional, freelance authors covering their own sick pay, holiday pay and superannuation. They include preparation and, appearance time, as well as travel to and from the venue but not extended regional or inter-state travel.
As with all such recommended rates of pay, the location and size of the school, your need for the work and your level of skill and experience will all play a part in the way in which you negotiate these rates. Highly experienced and skilled presenters may charge higher fees.
Please note that authors visiting schools must check if they are required to have a current Working with Children check and their own Public Liability Insurance. ASA members can access comprehensive insurance cover including public liability, cover at a special ASA rate. Please click here. https://www.asauthors.org/services/insurance
The following rates are for virtual (online) appearances at primary and secondary schools. They are a guide only. They are subject to negotiation on a case by case, needs basis and may be tailored to fit the school brief and budget, and experience of the author / illustrator. All rates are ex-GST.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we anticipate rapid development of online initiatives. These rates will be subject to continuous review as further feedback is obtained and strategies for remote learning develop.
1. Virtual Talks/Presentations – (live)
The following rates assume a virtual live presentation by an author / illustrator (the presenter) on the following conditions:
Recommended rates
1 x 60 minute session: $313
Add a 2nd session on the same day total: $442
Add a 3rd session on the same day total: $650
Size of student group
Recordings of Presentation
2. Online Workshops – (live)
The following rates assume an online live workshop by an author / illustrator (the presenter) on the following conditions:
Recommended rates:
1 x 60 minute session: $339
Add a 2nd session on the same day: total $469
Add a 3rd session on the same day: total $677
3. Pre-recorded Talk/Presentation
The following rates assume a pre-recorded presentation by an author / illustrator (the presenter) on the following conditions:
Recommended Rates
Single access to file: $291
Single School Session – presentation or workshop
$339 – 1 x 60 minutes
$417 – 1 x 90 minutes
Audience for presentations to be no more than 110 students.* Surcharge of $100 for every 50 students in excess of 110
Extended workshops/presentation incur a surcharge.
Workshops are for class-size groups.
Half-day
$469 – 2 x 60 minutes
These sessions are to be consecutive or with no more than a one-hour break between sessions. They must not be timetabled at either end of the school day.
Full-day
$677 – 3 x 60 minutes
$677 – 4 x 45 minutes
180 minutes of contact time
Extended Day – additional hourly rate
$188 Per hour (only if in addition to full day rate)
To be negotiated by author
Weekly Writer Residencies
To be negotiated by the author.
Rates vary widely depending on the preparation involved and level of customisation required in the sessions.
Extended travel
$63 Per hour in excess of 1 hour for a one-way trip
Fee covers petrol and extended travel time.
Travel & Accommodation – working away from home **
Full travel costs and accommodation should be provided. In addition, a minimum per diem of $81 per day should be paid to the author to cover food and incidentals.
*Please note that for children in K to Yr3, audience sizes need to be smaller and the session times shorter.
** Please go to the Australian Tax Office site if you would like more information on travel related expenses. https://www.ato.gov.au
School Appearance rates were reviewed and updated in April 2021. The next review will take place in July 2024.
