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I have received some requests for more specific information on indexer
contract rates, so I'll post this to the list for everyone's benefit.
Like technical writers' rates, the rates that professional indexers charge
vary, depending upon a number of factors, such as the type of project, the
size of the project, the length of the contract, the number of
documentation changes requiring additional work, etc.
The results of the American Society of Indexers (ASI) recent salary survey
indicated that the vast majority (88.9%) of respondents work primarily on
back-of-the book indexes, 8.7% work on indexes for CD-ROM products, 3.7%
work on hypertext design, 9.2% work on indexes for online documentation,
and 4.2% work on Web page design.
Approximately 26% of the respondents indicated expertise in computer
science and technical documentation. Also, the vast majority of
respondents (some freelancers and some moonlighters) indicated that their
annual income from indexing and indexing-related activities is less than
$40,000; the rest of the breakdown looks like this: 4.2% - $40,000 to
$49,999; 4.9% - $50,000 to $59,999; 2.9% - $60,000 to $69,999; 3.9% -
$70,000 to $99,000, and 2.9% - $100,000 or more. Of those respondents who
are full-time indexers, the breakdown over $40,000 looks like this: 8.8% -
$40,000 to $49,000; 10.2% - $50,000 to $59,000; 5.8% - $60,000 to $69,000;
8.0% - $70,000 to $99,000; and 5.8% - $100,000 or more.
Back to rates ... the respondents to the salary survey showed that 31.6%
charge by the project, 44.7% charge by the hour, 19.5% charge by the entry,
and 65.5% charge by the indexable page. The breakdown on hourly rates
(which is what you will probably be quoted for indexing online docs) looks
like this: 16.5% - less than $20; 27.3% - $20 to $24; 21.6% - $25 to $29;
13.6% - $30 to $34; 8.5% - $35 to $39; 8.0% - $40 to $44; 2.3% - $45 to
$49; 1.1% - $50 to $59; and 1.1% - $60 or more.
My hunch is that the small percentage of respondents who indicated
expertise in computer science and technical documentation relates to the
small percentage who charge hourly rates over $45.
And, of course, if you don't get answers to your questions there, please
feel free to contact me privately.
Happy indexing .... Lori
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Lori Lathrop ---------->INTERNET:76620 -dot- 456 -at- compuserve -dot- com
Vice President/President-Elect, American Society of Indexers
Lathrop Media Services, P.O. Box 3065, Idaho Springs, CO 80452
Office: 303-567-4447, ext. 28 / Fax: 303-567-9306
URL - http://idt.net/~lathro19 (note: that's a "nineteen" at the end)
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