Well here is something you can find out on your own using the link below to Payscale, so it is not secret. The median pay level in the DC area (according to the information Payscale has) is $67K/yr for a technical illustrator (note- I don't consider that to be quite the same as a Science Illustrator), the range is approx 50-100k in the Washington DC area. That breaks down to $35/hr for a full time job (1920hrs/year). If you are freelancing, you need to think more in terms of 1440hrs/year (you are working on overhead in the remaining hours as a business owner.) I know people with specialized skills and knowledge, and a number of years in the biz, who charge 2-4x this in their freelance business for commercial clients.

Now look at the average wage per country to maybe factor out the US centric answers:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_average_wage

New Zealand looks to be about 2/3 of the USA.

Note I have not told you what to charge for a specific job or type of job, so no collusion here.  This is the kind of general advice you can find all over the net, if you hunt around. So think in terms of the length of time you need to do that job. I have found I need to double the time from my own normally optimistic projections to get something realistic.

Now think about the amount of money your scientist likely has for research funding and reduce the time back down some to fit within his/her likely budget.  Now divide that into the number of illustration you need to do (priced for simple, medium and complex) and charge by the item, not the hour (clients normally like to have a fixed price they can count on not to inflate). But that means you need to set ground rules on how much revision is allowed. Beyond that you need to have an hourly agreement for addition changes or "research". 

Now you are ready to go! And hopefully learn and hone your skills to become faster and more efficient for the next job.

Britt


----- Original Message -----
From: Jeremy Swan [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thu, 19 Mar 2015 22:00:26 -0400
Subject: Re: [SCIART] scientific illustration pricing for a newbie

It's a tough question, because to discuss exact rates together could be
perceived as colluding set prices, which could be unethical and illegal.
That said, thinking of it by the hourly rate plus overhead is a great way
to gage a price.  If you're very slow because a lack of skill, but you can
reach a professional level eventually, then think of it as training/school.

There is also this: http://www.payscale.com/

On Thu, Mar 19, 2015 at 7:54 PM, Emma Scheltema <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

> Hi everyone,
>
> I wonder if anyone would have any suggestions for resources for pricing
> for commissioned scientific illustrations? I am a beginning science
> illustrator (I have no formal qualifications in this area, besides my
> degree in science and having done Lana Johnsons Entomological Illustration
> class), so would obviously expect a lower rate than someone with lots of
> experience. The thing is I really have no idea what to charge, besides
> having read not to use an hourly rate (at this stage no doubt much longer
> than an experienced pro anyway). I have been asked to do some illustrations
> for a professor at my university and am at a loss for what to sort of fee
> would be reasonable.
>
>  I have heard of the graphic artists guild handbook for pricing and wonder
> if that would also be suitable for scientific illustrators? The only other
> thing is that I am in New Zealand and I'm guessing that rates here would be
> different again than they are in the US. Do any illustrators from
> 'down-under' use these guidelines at all?
>
> Basically I wonder if any of you experienced illustrators would be able to
> point me in the direction of any other resources relating to pricing- I
> would greatly appreciate it!
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> Emma
>
> www.scientific.emmascheltema.com
>
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