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 Much Should You Charge for eLearning Narration?
eLearning narration rates range from $200–$400 per finished hour for standard corporate training to $500–$1,000 per finished hour for technical or multilingual content.
Floor
$200
per hour
Typical
$400
per hour
Premium
$1,000
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.
What changes the price
- Total finished audio hours
- Content complexity (general vs. technical/medical/legal)
- Number of languages or accents required
- Whether phonetic guidance or pronunciation guides are provided
- Script quality and revision frequency
- Turnaround time
- Whether audio editing and mastering are included
- Retake and revision allowance
Real quote breakdowns
Short Corporate Compliance Module
An HR department needs a 20-minute compliance training module narrated in a clear, neutral accent.
Breakdown
20 minutes finished audio at $840/finished hour (approx $14/min), studio quality MP3 and WAV, one retake pass.
Multi-Module Sales Training Course
A company needs 3 hours of finished eLearning narration for a sales training programme with moderate technical content.
Breakdown
3 finished hours at $400/FH, including light audio editing, scene markers, and two retake rounds.
Medical eLearning Narration
A healthcare provider needs 5 hours of narration for a clinical training programme with complex medical terminology.
Breakdown
5 finished hours at $850/FH (medical premium), pronunciation guide review, studio-quality edited WAV files, and post-session retake included.
Frequently asked questions
Should I charge per word, per finished hour, or per raw hour for eLearning?
Per finished hour (PFH) is the industry standard for eLearning. It reflects the client's actual output. As a rule of thumb, one finished hour of audio requires 3–5 hours of recording and editing time.
What is the difference between raw recording time and finished hours?
Raw recording time is how long you spend at the mic including retakes and errors. Finished hours is the duration of the final edited, clean audio. Always quote and price on finished hours.
How do I handle eLearning scripts with heavy technical terminology?
Request a pronunciation guide or glossary before recording. Charge a premium for technical content (medical, legal, pharmaceutical, IT) — typically 30–50% more per finished hour. Technical errors are costly to fix in post-production.
Should eLearning narration include audio editing and mastering?
Specify clearly in your quote. Many voice artists charge separately for editing. If you include editing, add $30–$60 per finished hour to cover the time. Always deliver files to the client's specified spec (sample rate, format, loudness target).