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Rates of Pay

You deserve to be paid fairly.

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

Rates of pay

Show me the rates for:

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.

Roughs

Black and white

$69

Colour

$100

Black and white book illustration

Quarter page or chapter head

$224

Half page

$355

Full page

$475

Double page spread

$600

Colour book illustration

Quarter page or chapter head

$313

Half page

$496

Full page

$705

Double page spread

$939

Cover

$1357

Book Illustration rates were reviewed and updated in December 2020. We are commencing our review which should be complete by March 2024.

As we will every year, a WPI increase has been applied (October 2023.) We appreciate it may take organisations a budget cycle to update their own rates.