Find your exact rate
Typical project work, moderate complexity.
Factor in AI tool subscriptions
Your Rate
Day Rate
$450
Project Est.
$2,200
Retainer
$8,350/mo
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Community Data
What do you actually charge?
Anonymous. Helps improve market benchmarks.
How much should you charge for voice-over work?
Find your rate based on usage type, script length, and production scope.
Voice-over artists in the US charge between $100 and $400 per hour, or more commonly per finished minute or per project. Commercial voice-overs range from $250-$5,000+ depending on market size and usage. E-learning narration costs $200-$400 per finished hour. Audiobooks pay $200-$500 per finished hour (PFH).
Floor
$100
per hour
Typical
$200
per hour
Premium
$400
per hour
Find your exact rate
Typical project work, moderate complexity.
Factor in AI tool subscriptions
Your Rate
Day Rate
$450
Project Est.
$2,200
Retainer
$8,350/mo
Was this helpful?
Community Data
What do you actually charge?
Anonymous. Helps improve market benchmarks.
How we calculated this
The rates on this page are derived from BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data for the closest matching occupation code, adjusted for freelance overhead using a transparent four-step formula.
- 01
Floor calculation
Your target income × 1.153 (SE tax) + annual software and tool costs, divided by billable hours. This is the minimum rate that covers your costs.
- 02
Market benchmarking
The base rate is positioned against BLS percentile data for your metro. You see exactly where you land — p10 through p90.
- 03
Skill and complexity adjustments
Multipliers of 0.85×–1.65× reflect your skill level and the complexity of the work. High-stakes, strategic work earns more.
- 04
Regional cost adjustment
BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) adjust the final rate for local cost of living. San Francisco commands more; Austin less.
What changes the price
- Usage type (commercial, e-learning, explainer, audiobook)
- Market size (local, regional, national, global)
- Broadcast medium (TV, radio, online, internal)
- Script length (word count or finished minutes)
- Buyout vs residual licensing
- Studio session vs home studio recording
- Turnaround time
- Revision and pickup session policy
Real quote breakdowns
National TV Commercial (30 Seconds)
30-second national television commercial for a consumer brand. Studio session, 2-hour directed session, national broadcast rights for 1 year.
Breakdown
Session fee: $1,000 (2 hrs studio). Usage fee: $2,500 (national broadcast, 1 year). Does not include residuals if applicable under SAG-AFTRA.
E-Learning Course Narration
4-hour e-learning course for a corporate training platform. Technical content, professional tone, home studio recording, light editing included.
Breakdown
4 finished hours × $350 PFH. Includes recording, basic editing, and noise treatment. Raw recording time: ~8-10 hours. One round of pickups included.
Explainer Video Voice-Over
90-second animated explainer video for a SaaS company. Conversational tone, 2 revision rounds, home studio, delivered as WAV and MP3.
Breakdown
~225 words at $2/word. Includes 2 takes per section and 2 revision rounds. Usage: online/social media, perpetual. Add $200 for broadcast rights.
Frequently asked questions
Should voice-over artists charge per word, per minute, or per project?
It depends on the genre. Commercials: per project with usage fees. E-learning: per finished hour (PFH). Explainer videos: per finished minute or per word ($0.15-$2/word). Audiobooks: per finished hour (PFH). Per-word works well for short scripts; PFH is standard for long-form narration.
How do usage rights affect voice-over pricing?
Usage is often the largest component of commercial voice-over pricing. Local radio (13 weeks): $250-$500. Regional TV (1 year): $1,000-$3,000. National TV (1 year): $2,500-$10,000+. Online-only usage is typically 50-75% of broadcast rates. Always specify market, medium, duration, and exclusivity.
How much should I charge for audiobook narration?
Audiobook rates range from $200 to $500 per finished hour (PFH). ACX (Audible) offers royalty share, per-finished-hour, or hybrid models. For direct clients, charge $300-$500 PFH. A 10-hour audiobook at $350 PFH = $3,500. Factor in 2-3x raw recording time, plus proofing and editing.
Do I need a professional studio or is a home studio sufficient?
A properly treated home studio is now industry standard for most voice-over work. Investment: $2,000-$5,000 for quality microphone, interface, acoustic treatment, and software. Studio sessions ($150-$300/hr studio rental) are still required for major commercial sessions with live direction. Home studio capability should not reduce your rates.
How do AI voice tools affect voice-over pricing?
AI voice synthesis has commoditized IVR, basic e-learning, and internal communications voice-over. However, commercial voice-over, character work, narration with emotional range, and branded voice work remain human-dominated. Position yourself on performance quality, brand voice consistency, and creative interpretation — not just "reading words aloud."
Related professions
The short version
- →Floor rate: $100/hr. Typical: $200/hr. Premium: $400/hr.
- →Voice-over artists in the US charge between $100 and $400 per hour, or more commonly per finished minute or per project.
- →The biggest rate drivers: Usage type (commercial, e-learning, explainer, audiobook), Market size (local, regional, national, global), Broadcast medium (TV, radio, online, internal).
- →Rates are based on BLS OEWS May 2024 data, adjusted for freelance overhead, skill level, complexity, and regional cost of living.