How I chose my editorial rate

Being newly self-employed as a freelance editor, figuring out what I would charge for my editorial services was stressing me out. I don’t have editing credentials, but I do have a knack for the trade. As a novice editor, I was recommended and referred among research scientists and university professors. I started to take my knack more seriously, enrolled in editing courses, and fixed myself up with the tools of the trade-The Chicago Manual of Style is like my bible. I was growing my skill set and the editing requests came more frequently. I had a successful side hustle, and one that I loved.

Still, though, how would I set a rate for my services, for my knack? In an informational interview with an experienced freelance editor, I was told I should charge at least $50 an hour. Holy smokes. She said that this is a base charge, and that it accounts for the non-billable hours in your average workday as a freelance editor. Still, holy guacamole.

I decided to do some research with this rate in mind. In one of my editing classes at the University of Washington, we were assigned a reading about setting your rate as a freelancer. It came from the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA), a reputable online community for freelance editors, writers, proofreaders, coaches, and other specialists. I revisited their site and saw that the first topic listed under their resources tab…