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Determining your rates as a character designer is tough, especially if you’re a freelancer. Setting a rate AND keeping to it regardless of client entreaties has to be one of the toughest things to do for freelancers.
It’s even more complicated when clients do not know or appreciate the number of hours and work you put in to get the job done.
Freelance Character Design Rates – An Introduction
According to ZipRecruiter, as of September 3, 2024, the average hourly pay for a Freelance Character Artist in the United States is $22.97.
In short, you charge based on a few main factors (more on that below):
- years of experience
- possible number of revisions
- how much work and time is required (estimated)
- if clients desire quick turnarounds (rush fees)
- and finally, if there are future projects incoming from said client (imagine being on a retainer basis)
Interested in becoming a freelance character designer but unsure what to charge for your services? Freelance character design rates can vary greatly depending on several factors, including your level of experience, the complexity of the project, and the client’s budget. In recent years, the demand for freelance character designers has increased, and it’s important to know what the going rates are to ensure you’re being compensated fairly for your work.
One of the main factors influencing freelance character design rates is the amount of time and effort required to complete the project. Some clients may have a specific character or a main character design in mind, while others may need you to create original characters from scratch. The complexity of the project can also affect your rates, as more detailed and intricate designs may require more time and skill to create.
Additionally, your level of experience can play a role in how much you should charge, as more experienced designers may be able to command a higher rate.
Freelance Character Design Rates 2024
At a glance, these are freelance character design rates for 2024:
| Skill Level | Experience Level | Job Scope | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | Entry-level | Simple | $25 – $50 |
| Intermediate | Mid-level | Moderate | $50 – $75 |
| Advanced | Senior-level | Complex | $75 – $150 |
| Expert | Top-level | High-end | $150 – $300 |
Note that these rates are just estimates and can vary depending on various factors such as the designer’s location, client’s budget, and the specific requirements of the project. It’s important to research industry standards and adjust rates accordingly to ensure fair compensation for your work.
Key Takeaways
- Freelance character design rates can vary greatly depending on factors such as experience, complexity of the project, and client budget.
- Experience will mean you being able to come up with a well-crafted character while providing the client while maintaining great communication with the client throughout the design process.
- The demand for freelance character designers or concept art design has increased in recent years, making it important to know the going rates to ensure fair compensation.
- The hrs worth of work , the complexity of the project, and the amount of time and effort required are all factors that can impact your rates.
Freelance Character Design Rates: An Overview
Update: In 2024, Talent states that the average character artist salary in the USA is $117,000 per year or $56.25 per hour. Beginner positions start at $95,000 per year while more experienced workers earn up to $156,800 per year.
According to Comparably, as of 2022, freelance graphic designers and character designers make between $27,560 to $81,320 annually, with an average of $46,900 per year.
Similar to my previous post, this post is a guide as to how your can price your work fairly, and in being able to determine the reasons behind your pricing and higher rates (rather than just plucking figures from thin air), you may be able to justify them better and also hold firm when the client wants to negotiate.
Let’s go through how you can set your freelance character design rates!
What Is Freelance Character Design?
Character design is the creation of a character that stands out from all other characters in the same genre. Character artists need to create the shape, style, look, personality, and feel of the game character so it connects and resonates with the players.
Memorable characters from famous past games include:
- Lara Croft from Tomb Raider
- Mario from Donkey Kong, and
- Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy VII
- Final Fantasy
(Brings back memories, don’t they?)
I could go on, but you get the point. These are game characters with personalities and memorable moments. That is what a concept artist or a character designer creates for their clients.
In addition, they’ll need to create the anatomy, gestures, movements, outfits, different poses, and what the character looks like in all game scenarios.
For business owners, creating a great character requires much time and in some cases, years of experience and, therefore, much money. That’s where you come in.
As a freelance character designer, you’ll be responsible for bringing a client’s vision to life through your creative work.
One of the best things about freelance character design is that it allows you to work on a variety of projects and with different clients. You can work from home or anywhere with an internet connection, giving you the flexibility to work on your own terms. (Had to throw that in, heehee).
Character design freelancers create unique characters based on a client’s requirements. More and more business owners are investing in these characters to develop mobile games, digital board games, video games, and more.
Pricing Your Rates – Factors That Affect Your Going Rate
Freelance character designers offer a wide range of services, from initial concept creation to fully developed sprite sheets. When determining the character design price, the most important thing to take into account is the quality and scope of the project.
Professional character design services often begin with an initial concept, which can later expand to include additional elements like animation or environment integration. Some designers charge extra for these enhancements, as they require specific technical skills and a deep understanding of character development. In any case, your final work is the one that determines if your charges were fair.
There are different ways to price freelance work, depending on whether you’re working with a solo designer or a design studio. A well-executed d project might feature detailed sprite sheets and advanced artwork, both requiring a high level of specific skills. Looking through case studies of previous work can give a good indication of the quality a designer can deliver. Additionally, while freelance designers often work independently, it’s important to consider whether they offer benefits like health insurance, especially for long-term collaborations.
The project’s complexity, the amount of time it will take to complete, and your level of experience are all important considerations. You’ll also need to consider your client’s budget and specific needs to ensure you’re charging the right price.
There are a few possible options for pricing your freelance character design work. You can charge a flat fee for the project, set an hourly rate, or use value-based pricing to determine the overall cost. Whatever option you choose, ensure you completely understand the project and your client’s expectations before agreeing to a price.
If you’re just starting out as a freelance character designer, it’s a good rule of thumb to charge a lower rate (entry level rate) until you build up your portfolio and gain more experience. As you become more established, you can start to charge higher prices for your work.
Let’s jump right in as to how you as a freelance designer should be charging! (I use the term broadly. This includes being a freelance illustrator, graphic designer, and character designer).
How Much Should A Freelance Graphic Designer Charge
So, how much should a freelance character designer or graphic designer charge?
To get real job satisfaction and enjoyment in what you do, you should always be compensated fairly. It is very easy to fall into the trap of undercharging your work, and I’m sure many of us have been there, but then it is just as easy to feel unhappy over it at the end of the day when all is said and done.
You’ll feel as if you were taken advantage of and that you had put in way more hours than you felt you needed to, for the salary you were getting.
What should my freelance rate be?
There should be 3 ways to determine the right price:
- A flat fee or a baseline fee; plus
- Business costs – Consider if you’re outsourcing or using apps that require monthly subscriptions and taking into account the overall cost of this project;
- Additional work required in the game development process – those usually not included in the flat fee, such as additional rendering, environment creation, and more.
Related: Read more on how you should charge as a freelancer
Components Of Freelance Character Design Rates
Here’s a table that outlines the average hourly rates for freelance character designers for different types of characters:
| Character Type | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|
| 2D Cartoon | $25 – $100 |
| 2D Photorealistic | $50 – $150 |
| 3D Cartoon | $50 – $150 |
| 3D Photorealistic | $75 – $300 |
Note that these rates are just estimates and can vary depending on various factors such as the designer’s location, client’s budget, and the specific requirements of the project. It’s important to research industry standards and adjust rates accordingly to ensure fair compensation for your work.
Related: Freelance web designer rates
How much should I charge for character concept art?
Main factors to consider when setting character design rates:
1. Time Frame
One of the biggest factors when it comes to deciding your price point will be to look at or estimate the number of hours required for the development of the cartoon character or game character.
Rush jobs will always be extra, and the client’s budget should reflect that.
If you have an hourly rate or a day rate, you’ll know how much you should roughly be charging – but that will be just the baseline rate – there are many other factors to consider!
2. The Skill Level (Or Level of Experience)
On top of the amount of time required to do the job, you will also need to check if the client’s requests include specific needs and a broader scope of work that will require you to do a large amount of research into the game character or bring more team members on board to ensure this character comes to life in the best way. The final product needs to reflect the client’s brand identity accurately for you to come across as the best character designer to your client, just so you get more retainer jobs.
On top of that, if this is not your first year as a designer, you’ll more than likely have enough experience to know how you can deliver great work and even give valuable suggestions to your clients, ie coming across as a consultant.
3. Complexity And Team Structure
Characters come in 2D and 3D versions.
Basically, 3D photorealistic designs will cost more and take more time to complete than 3D cartoon characters.
2D photorealistic designs will also cost more and take a longer time to complete than 2D cartoon characters.
4. Other additional factors
Character design pricing may include a host of other factors and specific needs, such as the number of animations and poses you’re required to come up with, editing, pre-animation, and more. All these will lead to you charging a higher price.
How Do I Price Myself As A Freelancer?
Back to the question: How much should a freelance artist charge?
As a freelance designer, your freelance rates can be more straightforward.
If you’ve done many designs over time and have enough experience to know the amount of work that is going to go in and if the project requires a lot of time, you’ll be able to come up with a fair estimate very quickly.
For newer freelancers, so that you get a fair rate and deliver high-quality work, a great way will be to calculate your base hourly rate using this formula:
Total desired annual earnings (Nett)/ Number of weeks worked in a year (Minus out some weeks for vacation and rest)/ Number of hours you want to commit to in a week.
If you prefer a more in-depth calculator that takes your business costs, outsourcing, and taxes into account, you can check out this Google sheet.
Pricing Structures in Freelance Character Design Rates
Here’s a table that summarizes the different pricing structures for freelance character designers:
| Pricing Structure | Description |
|---|---|
| Flat Fee | Charge a set price for the entire project, regardless of how much time it takes to complete. Good for clients with a clear idea of what they want and a set budget. |
| Day Rate | Charge a set rate for each day worked on the project. Good for clients who need a lot of work done in a short amount of time. |
| Value-Based Pricing | Pricing structure that takes into account the value that your work brings to the client. Good for clients who are looking for a high-quality product and are willing to pay more for it. |
| Average Hourly Rate | The average hourly rate for a freelance character designer is around $56.25 per hour, according to Talent in 2024. However, this can vary depending on factors such as your level of experience and the complexity of the project. |
| Price of the Project | The price of the project will depend on factors such as the amount of work required and the client’s budget. It’s important to have a complete understanding of the project before providing a quote. |
| Lower Rate for Additional Work | If the client requires additional work beyond the scope of the original project, you may want to consider offering a lower rate for the additional work. This can be a great way to build a long-term relationship with the client. |
Remember that the best way to determine your freelance character design rates is to consider the specific needs of your client and the complexity of the project. By taking the time to understand these factors, you can provide a fair and accurate quote that both you and your client will be happy with.
When it comes to pricing your freelance character design services, there are several pricing structures to consider. A great place to start determining the right price for your work is to consider the specific needs of your client and the complexity of the project.
Flat Fee
One common pricing structure is the flat fee. This is when you charge a set price for the entire project, regardless of how much time it takes you to complete it. This is a good option for clients who have a clear idea of what they want and have a set budget in mind.
Day Rate
Another option is the day rate. This is when you charge a set rate for each day you work on the project. This is a good option for clients who need a lot of work done in a short amount of time.
Value-Based Pricing
Value-based pricing is a pricing structure that takes into account the value that your work brings to the client. This is a good option for clients who are looking for a high-quality product and are willing to pay more for it.
Average Hourly Rate
The average hourly rate for a freelance character designer is around $56.25 per hour, according to Talent in 2024. However, this can vary depending on factors such as your level of experience and the complexity of the project.
Price of the Project
The price of the project will depend on a few factors, including the amount of work required and the client’s budget. It’s important to have a complete understanding of the project before providing a quote.
Lower Rate for Additional Work
If the client requires additional work beyond the scope of the original project, you may want to consider offering a lower rate for the additional work. This can be a great way to build a long-term relationship with the client.
At the end of the day, the best way to determine your freelance character design rates is to consider the specific needs of your client and the complexity of the project. By taking the time to understand these factors, you can provide a fair and accurate quote that both you and your client will be happy with.
How Experience Affects Rates
When it comes to freelance character design rates, the level of experience is one of the main factors that determine how much you should charge. After determining your hourly rates, the next step is to add your skill level into the equation. As a professional illustrator, the more years of experience you have, the higher the rate you can charge for your services.
If you are a beginner, it’s best to charge a lower rate until you gain more experience. The Graphic Artists Guild Handbook recommends that freelance graphic designers charge between $75 to $150 per hour, depending on their level of experience. However, if you’re just starting out, you may want to charge a lower rate to attract clients.
The best way to determine your freelance character design rates is to consider the amount of work you will be doing and the number of hours it will take you to complete the project. You should also take into account any specific needs the client may have, such as a book cover or video game character design.
One great way to price your work is to offer a flat fee for the entire project. This is a good thing to do if you have a clear idea of the scope of the project and how much time it will take you to complete it. You can also charge a day rate if the project will take a lot of time, but you should make sure that you have a complete understanding of what the client wants before you agree to this pricing structure.
A good rule of thumb is to charge an average hourly rate of $50 to $100 per hour, depending on your level of experience and the complexity of the project. However, if you’re a highly experienced and sought-after designer, you may be able to charge even more.
When pricing your work, it’s important to take into account any additional work that may be required, such as revisions or changes to the original design. You should also consider any material costs, such as the cost of software or the number of polygons in a 3D model.
Finally, it’s important to remember that the intellectual property for the character design belongs to the client, not the designer. If you’re a freelance artist, make sure you have a clear understanding of who owns the rights to the final product before you agree to any work.
In recent years, value-based pricing has become a popular option for freelance designers. This pricing model takes into account the overall cost of character design, including the time and effort required to create the design, as well as the value that the design will bring to the client’s brand identity.
At the end of the day, the best way to determine your freelance character design rates is to do your research, consider your level of experience, and have a clear understanding of the client’s needs and budget. With these basic steps in mind, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a successful freelance character designer in the gaming industry.
Are Freelance Character Designers The Same As Concept Artists?
Concept artists are visual artists and illustrators who operate in both analog and digital environments. Their primary concentration is on creating and designing ideas, or concepts, for various media such as advertising, comic books, TV shows, movies, video games, animation, cars, and live entertainment.
So yes, it’s pretty similar.
Conclusion: Freelance Character Design Rates
Setting freelance character design rates can be a bit tricky, but it’s an essential aspect of running your own business. In recent years, the demand for character design has been increasing, and it’s a great way to make a living doing what you love.
When it comes to setting your rates, the best way to do it is by researching the industry standard. You can find online resources like Upwork or 99designs to see what other designers are charging for their services. This will give you a good rule of thumb for setting your own rates.
One good thing to keep in mind is that your rates should reflect your experience and skill level. If you’re just starting, you might want to charge a bit less until you build up your portfolio. However, if you have a lot of experience and fine art skills, you can charge more for your services.
A lot of times, clients will ask for a flat rate for a project. In this case, you’ll need to estimate how many hours it will take you to complete the project and set your rate accordingly. You can also charge an hourly rate, which is a great option if the scope of the project is unclear.
When it comes to negotiating rates, it’s important to be confident in your skills and the value you bring to the project. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you’re worth, but also be willing to negotiate if necessary.
Setting and negotiating your freelance character design rates with a new client can be a bit overwhelming, but with these basic steps, you’ll be well on your way to running a successful online business.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the typical salary range for a 2D character designer?
The average day rate for a freelance character designer can vary depending on factors such as years of experience, complexity of the project, and the client’s budget. According to Talent, as of 2024, the average character artist salary in the USA is $117,000 per year or $56.25 per hour. However, freelance rates can be lower or higher depending on the specific needs of the project.
How much should I charge for character design commissions?
The best way to determine how much to charge for character design commissions is to consider the amount of work involved and the going rates in the industry. A freelance illustrator or graphic designer may charge a flat fee for character design work or an hourly rate.
How much do artists usually charge for character design?
The amount that artists charge for character design can vary depending on factors such as the amount of time and effort required, the complexity of the project, and the artist’s level of experience. A good rule of thumb is to charge based on the value that the character design provides to the client. Some artists may charge a flat rate, while others may charge an hourly rate.
How much should I charge for a 3D character?
The cost of a 3D character can vary depending on factors such as the complexity of the character, the number of polygons required, and the amount of time and effort required. According to 99designs, as of 2024, the average freelance character designer charges between $300 and $1,500 for a 3D character.
How much do artists charge for characters?
The amount that artists charge for characters can vary depending on factors such as the amount of time and effort required, the complexity of the project, and the artist’s level of experience. Some artists may charge a flat rate, while others may charge an hourly rate. It is important to have a complete understanding of the project requirements and the client’s budget before determining the price of the project.
Can you be a freelance character designer?
Yes, you can be a freelance character designer. Freelance work is a great way to gain experience and build your portfolio. It is important to have a clear idea of your pricing and the value that you provide to clients. The best option is to research the going rates in the industry and determine a fair price for your services. The Graphic Artists Guild Handbook and the Animation Guild Contracts and Gag Handbook are great resources for pricing and contracts in the animation and gaming industry.
What If I’m A CGI Artist?
CGI artists play an important role in bringing both simple characters and more complex three-dimensional characters to life. Whether working independently or as part of an animation studio, these professionals use advanced software to design characters that fit within specific color palettes and visual styles. For projects focused on a single character, CGI work often involves refining every detail, from facial expressions to intricate textures.
While simple characters might require less time to develop, creating a fully realised three-dimensional character demands significant expertise and precision, ensuring it aligns perfectly with the overall animation vision.
Final thought: If you want to be able to charge faster and come across as a professional, take up some courses – they’ll catapult you forward without much financial commitment required. Most courses are well vetted with distinguished coaches and come at affordable prices!
