Pay Rate Survey compiled by Sarah Beattie in 2016.
Our Pay rate Survey is a useful reference when pitching for work, especially if you are moving into a less familiar field, such as styling or home economy work, if previously you’ve only written copy. It was compiled from the responses of members who supplied information on the wide range of fields in which we, as food writers, work. It reflects the great disparities that exist and has tried to show not only the average rate but also the range.
The general consensus in 2016, was that rates are the same or lower than three years before, although there was a small minority who had experienced an improvement. One member said: ‘I think there is plenty of work about – paid – but you have to market yourself well, be prepared to change to offer what people want and to stick to your guns and know your worth.’
But more typically people were gloomy, ‘Rates have not gone up & you are expected to do much more. There are also a lot of unqualified people out there doing a lot for little pay which in these hard times is taken up on. Plus I have had to correct a lot of poor/incorrect recipe work written/devised by other ‘professionals’ who were probably paid more than I was to correct it for them/the publisher. Can be disheartening, but keeping the faith.’
Someone else said, ‘Although some rates have increased a little, some rates have gone down because bloggers are prepared to work for very little or nothing. In real terms pay rates have dropped. Some companies are reluctant to pay for the hours worked.’
Unhappiness with people who work for free was a recurring theme: ‘Far too many still asking for work for free and when say no, they say there are plenty of bloggers who will do it. Also amazed on a press trip all bloggers and only two legitimate food writers. The bloggers all said they work for free but accept trips and freebies in lieu.’
‘Blogging has had a serious impact. Most emails are ignored and some say they love my ideas but have no money for freelancers.’
The curse of the book extracts has not gone unremarked either, ‘Many publications no longer have budget and use book extracts. But new avenues have opened up.’ Being flexible seems key.
Members noted that styling, photography and editing could often attract better rates than for the writers of the recipe and this is borne out when looking at the rates. However, when the writer has to perform all these functions, it seems no extra income is derived, in general.
Many members reported frequently being undercut when they asked / quoted what they felt was a reasonable rate. ‘I find if one quotes more, they give it to someone else!’
There were pleas for discussion over the issue: ‘Yes, we should encourage members not to work for free. There’s strength in numbers and if we made it clear that our work has value, then we all benefit. I think it is very important for colleagues to keep their fees on the high side, and not to undercut the going rate. I have had several experiences over the last 3 years where ‘cheap’ has been the choice over quality and experience. I find you really have to stick to your chosen pay rate as closely as possible, with some room for negotiation and compromise. Better to do fewer well-paid jobs than a multitude of underpaid commissions.’ ‘We are never going to get anywhere until we get over the taboo about talking to each other about what we get for our work. Especially authors without agents need to know what the going rates are, and they can only find that out from other GFW members. I say – let’s have an ongoing discussion about this. (Our equivalent of the Society for Authors.) It’s the rich-get-richer syndrome. Up at the celebrity end of the market, rates continue to rise, but down below among the peasants, rates are decreasing. You have to be rich to be a food writer or live very frugally (my approach).’
As food writers we are facing an exceptionally difficult future and times have never been so tough. Editors, under pressure to spend less, are seeking to get more for less. They will probably want more rights, more copy, more hours and you will probably get less money, less expenses and fewer commissions. What’s really noticeable is that a great many members are now reporting that they must supply images with articles. Some are asked to do web-based extras for no extra money for print media commissions. Others report commissions that are unpaid with a freebie trip abroad. ‘I am now getting paid 25-50% of what I was getting 15-20 years ago. Every year, publications expect more for their money.’
‘I am paid £475 to complete my two pages in a national newspaper. If I commission anything it comes out of that pot. This has remained unchanged in 4 years.’
Problems persist with late payment with some delays of more than 6 months reported although one member warned, ‘My knives are very sharp.’
In this climate make sure you are getting everything that is due to you. Register for PLR (from library borrowings) and ALCS (from photocopying): it may not be a fortune but every little helps. Check out the Society of Authors’ Fair Book Contract. Read about and support campaigns for fair dealing at festivals, by publishers and by websites. www.alcs.co.uk/ALCS-News/2016/March-2016/The-Price-Still-Ain-t-Right
And, most importantly, ensure that you do as you would be done by. As Professional Issues Secretary I hear not infrequent reports of editors and other writers using members’ ideas, recipes, photographs etc without due credit, let alone payment. Sometimes ‘borrowings’ are unconscious or coincidental, other times they are not. It is unsettlingly common to hear members complain that pitches they have sent to publications have been used by regulars – this too may be sometimes be coincidental but it’s unfair and unjust when it’s deliberate. In the previous survey and in this one, a couple of members’ role is to source and rewrite recipes for a particular publication (‘no new content’). A certain amount of recycling is going on. I hope the original originators of the content are credited and recompensed. Just because a recipe is online does not mean it is not someone’s work; it is not available for ‘free use’.
I wish I brought better news. Don’t shoot the messenger. I guess we all keep on keeping on, hoping that the adage ‘cream rises’ will turn out to be true, in the end.
Food writing – Non Recipe led
| Market | Rate |
| Newspapers – National | 25p – 50p per word. £350 per day average. £400 per 1,000 words. Often required to supply own images. |
| Magazines – National | £150 – £700 per 1,000 but as little as 3p per word or £80 per page. In one case overseas trip but no payment. |
| Regional press/Small interest magazine | 8p – 50p per word. £85 – £500 for series/regular columns. |
| PR | £150 – £2,000 per day. £2,000 per launch. £40 per hourFlat fees from £90 – £150. |
| Books | Flat fees £1,400 – £30,000. Advances from £2,000 – £14,000. Royalties up to 50%. Entries in Guide Books: £10 per 100 words / £20 – £30 per hour / £200 per day. |
| Website | £175 – £200 per day. £20 per hour. £50 per blogpost. £50 – £500 per article with average £250. Some unpaid. |
| National Radio/TV | TV:£80 – £1,500 per appearance. £100 – £500 per day. Radio: Much unpaid. £36 – £120 per appearance, average £50. Presiding over panel £700, panellist £325 |
| Regional Radio/TV | No information |
| Supermarkets | £250 – £500 per day. 35p per word. £350 – £750 per 1,000 words. |
Food writing – Recipe led
| Market | Rate |
| Newspapers – National | Unpaid for book promotion. 50p per word. £20 – £100 per recipe. £600 per 6hrs + photo. |
| Magazines – National | £25 – £250 per recipe with introduction + sometimes photos. £42,000 per annum. £350 per day. |
| Regional press/Small interest magazine | £100 – £185 per recipe often with photo. £225 per 1,000 words. |
| PR | £50 – £175 per recipe. £250 per day. |
| Books | £20 – £115 per recipe. Ghosting flat fee £13,000. Advances £2,000 – £25,000 + royalty (average length 120 recipes). |
| Website | Paid per click, some earned £0 but one earned £243. £40 – £500 per recipe. |
| National Radio/TV | £90 – £300, nothing if book mentioned, average £120. |
| Regional Radio/TV | £50 – £100 per appearance. Much unpaid. |
| Supermarkets | £50 – £350 per recipe + photo usually, average £100. £300 – £500 per day. |
Food Styling
| Market | Rate |
| Newspapers – National | No information |
| Magazines – National | £250 – £375 per day |
| Regional press/Small interest magazine | Some unpaid |
| PR | £250 – £600 per day + expenses, most between £375 – £400 |
| Books | £250 – 375 per day |
| Website | No information |
| National Radio/TV | No information |
| Regional Radio/TV | No information |
| Supermarkets | £250 – £400 per day + ½ day prep @ £175 |
Home Economist
| Market | Rate |
| Newspapers – National | £300 per day |
| Magazines – National | £200 – £350 per day |
| Regional press/Small interest magazine | No information |
| PR | £130 – £600 per day, average £350 |
| Books | No information |
| Website | No information |
| National Radio/TV | £350 per day |
| Regional Radio/TV | No information |
| Supermarkets | No information |
Recipe Testing
| Market | Rate |
| Newspapers – National | No information |
| Magazines – National | £150 per day. £25 – £35 per recipe. Some expenses, some not. |
| Regional press/Small interest magazine | No information |
| PR | £50 – £75 per recipe. £300 – £375 per day. |
| Books | £35 – £75 per recipe. £6,000 for 100 recipes to include editing. £350 per day. Some unpaid. |
| Website | £60 no expenses. £375 per day. |
| National Radio/TV | No information |
| Regional Radio/TV | No information |
| Supermarkets | £80 per recipe. £350 – £375 per day. |
Recipe Development
| Market | Rate |
| Newspapers – National | No information |
| Magazines – National | £1,000 for 5 recipes. £350 per recipe. |
| Regional press/Small interest magazine | £65 – £75 per recipe + expenses |
| PR | £250 – £400 per day. £175 – £500 per recipe including photo. |
| Books | £45 – £85 per recipe. £75,000 for book. |
| Website | £15 – £25 per recipe ‘untested’. £150 – £400 per recipe + photo. £375 per day. |
| National Radio/TV | £115 per recipe. £8,000 per series. £400 per appearance. |
| Regional Radio/TV | No information |
| Supermarkets | £75 per recipe. £8,000 – £40,000 packages of recipe development. £265 – £300 per day. |
Recipe Rewriting /Editing
| Market | Rate |
| Newspapers – National | No information |
| Magazines – National | £2,500 for 72 page magazine: source and rewrite, no new content/ copy. Sub-editing £17 – £25 per hour. |
| Regional press/Small interest magazine | No information |
| PR | No information |
| Books | Editing £20 – £25 per hour. £12.50 – £70 per recipe. £6,000 – £7,500 per book. £3,000 – £4,000 per guide book. £185 – £300 per day. Proof reading £18 – £19 per hour. |
| Website | No information |
| Supermarkets | No information |
Americanisation/Translation
| Market | Rate |
| Newspapers – National | No information |
| Magazines – National | No information |
| Regional press/Small interest magazine | No information |
| PR | No information |
| Books | £60 – £400 per recipe |
| Website | No information |
| Supermarkets | No information |
Workshops /Demos / Tours
| Market | Rate |
| Newspapers – National | £100 – £600 per event |
| Magazines – National | No information |
| Regional press/Small interest magazine | No information |
| PR | Museum tours £80. £600 for ½ day. |
| Books | Unpaid – £200 – £375 per day. |
| Website | £250 workshop |
| National Radio/TV | Unpaid – £500 per day. |
| Regional Radio/TV | No information |
| Supermarkets | £375 – £500 + prep £375 |
Blog
| Market | Rate |
| Newspapers – National | £80 per post. 5 x Unpaid. |
| Magazines – National | No information |
| Regional press/Small interest magazine | No information |
| PR | No information |
| Books | No information |
| Website | £250 – £400 on personal blog |
| National Radio/TV | No information |
| Regional Radio/TV | No information |
| Supermarkets | £140 – £200 per 1,000 words. £500 per 2 blogs & newsletter. £200 per day. |
Photography
| Market | Rate |
| Newspapers – National | £5 – £750. £400 – £750 per day. |
| Magazines – National | £30 – £400 per day |
| Regional press/Small interest magazine | £100 1 page feature. £250 3 – 4 page feature. £750 per day. |
| PR | £125 small image. £400 per day. |
| Books | £20 per image. £2,000 for photos in own book. |
| Website | £40 stock photo. £85 new image. |
| National Radio/TV | No information |
| Regional Radio/TV | No information |
| Supermarkets | No information |
Restaurant Reviews
| Market | Rate |
| Newspapers – National | £20 – £150 per review between 200 – 700 words. Lots unpaid. |
| Magazines – National | £50 – £600 + expenses |
| Regional press/Small interest magazine | £60 – £100Noted £85 paid for last 15 years. Many unpaid but expenses. |
| PR | No information |
| Books | £15 – £30 + expenses |
| Website | No information |
Consultancy
| Market | Rate |
| Newspapers – National | No information |
| Magazines – National | No information |
| Regional press/Small interest magazine | £200 – £600 per day |
| PR | £40 per hour. £150 – £1,200 per day. |
| Books | £25 – £30 per hour. £200 – £500 per day. £1,500 flat fee for project. |
| Website | No information |
| National Radio/TV | No information |
| Regional Radio/TV | No information |
| Supermarkets | No information |
Syndication
| Market | Rate |
| Newspapers – National | £50 – £250 per article |
| Magazines – National | No information |
| Regional press/Small interest magazine | No information |
| PR | No information |
| Books | No information |
| Website | No information |
| National Radio/TV | No information |
| Regional Radio/TV | No information |
| Supermarkets | No information |