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Member only guide to the Australian book industry.
We publish benchmarks on recommended rates of pay for writers and illustrators because fair remuneration is vital.
When festivals, schools, journals and other organisations agree to a fair rate of pay, they make it possible for creators to make a living. We’ve created these benchmarks by consulting with industry organisations, individuals, authors and illustrators.
All rates exclude GST
Show me the rates for:
Book Illustrations
The following rates are based on A4-size projects, commissioned by self-publishing authors, or non-publisher companies or organisations. These rates demonstrate the extensive time and work involved in commissioned book illustration projects, assuming a high professional level and experience of the illustrator in addition to conceptual input and research.
For all illustration work, an agreement should be in place between both parties before illustration work is begun. Please see our Trade Publishing Agreement for Illustrators and Author Commissioning Illustrator template agreements.
Trade publishing arrangements typically do not pay a commission – instead, the illustrator is paid in advances and royalties. By comparison, educational publishers commonly commission illustrators, offering a work-for-hire contract or ‘royalty-free contract’, with a lump sum for the illustration work.
For ‘one-off’ or single illustrations paid on a flat fee – for example, for editorial illustrations or private usage – add 20 percent to the illustration rates. For online or commercial usage, a limited time agreement of a maximum of two years and an indication of the type of access should be specified.
Ideally, the illustrator should be paid a commission for the illustrations and royalties for the sales, however the ASA understands self-publishing authors are rarely equipped to accommodate royalty payments. If copyright is assigned to the commissioner in the agreement, the fee should be increased by 20% as compensation for lack of royalties, renegotiations, and additional income. Moral rights should always be retained by the illustrator for attribution.
Where publishers or other commissioners intend to bundle additional tasks with one particular illustrator (e.g. colour illustration, cover design, book design and lettering), the ASA recommends the commissioner to quote for each individual job component, or negotiate a reasonable package rate with the artist that does not undercut the total of all job components by more than 15%.
For additional rates for illustration and design work, please see our Comics Rates of Pay.
The current Book Illustration Rates of Pay have been reviewed in November 2024. After comprehensive research and consultation with illustrators, we have found that these rates are standard and should not be reduced, despite downwards industry trends. Instead, more attention needs to be given to encourage employers to meet our rates. Our advice has been modified to highlight the extent of the work involved in illustration tasks and to provide more transparency over the engagement and payment options available. The next review and update will be published November 2026
As per all rates of pay, a WPI increase of 3.4% was applied in July 2025. We appreciate it may take organisations a budget cycle to update their own rates.
Comics
NB: This is a general summary only and not intended as financial advice. They are intended as a minimum & creators are encouraged to negotiate the best deal that can be achieved. Inevitably rates will need to be tailored to your individual circumstances.
Contact the ASA on 02 9211 1004 or email [email protected] if you have any queries regarding this information.
We encourage you to read the Australia Council for Arts report – Graphic Storytellers at Work which includes a section on making a living as a graphic storyteller.
Comics rates were reviewed and updated in August 2023. The next review and update will be published in January 2026.
Freelance Writing
Freelance rates of pay vary considerably, depending on a variety of factors including the type of organisation commissioning the work and the level of experience of the writer.
Please note that these rates are applicable to short-term, one-off freelance writing projects only. They are not intended as a benchmark for sustained periods of independent writing.
The below rates are estimates only and do not seek to represent actual market conditions – some commissioning editors may be able to offer more than this and some may offer significantly less.
MEAA recommends the below rates for 2025:
For current market rates, check out RATE TRACKER on MEAA’s website. This rate tracker has real data updated by freelancers based on their own experience of who pays what.
Freelance Writing rates were reviewed and updated in December 2024. The next review and update will be published in December 2026.
A percentage increase of 3.75% has been applied for the 2025 Freelance Writing rates, informed by the MEAA’s Enterprise Agreement for journalists. We appreciate it may take organisations a budget cycle to update their own rates.
Literary Award Judging
The following rates and recommendations are intended for judges of literary awards for published books only.
The time and work involved in judging literary awards is extensive, and the scope for each individual literary award can vary greatly. The high level of professionalism and experience of the judges needs to be acknowledged through their fee. In determining appropriate payment, the following factors need to be considered:
As a benchmark for literary awards for books written for adults, the ASA recommends judges are paid on a sliding scale according to the below table. These rates are based on the number of books the judge is asked to assess, not the number submitted to the award.
If there are under 50 books to be judged, use discretion to set the fee accordingly. A per-application rate may be applicable, with a minimum flat fee offered if under 10 books are required to be assessed.
If the books entered into the award are shorter (e.g. poetry and children’s) and the reading time is reduced, or the workload of an individual judge is reduced by the number of members on the judging panel, adjust accordingly.
These rates are applicable to published works for literary awards. For unpublished manuscript prizes, grants, competitions or other programs requiring assessing, we recommend developing a per-application rate, determined by an hourly set rate. For examples of hourly rates, please see NAVA’s judging and assessing rates.
Literary Award Judging rates were introduced in December 2024. The next review and update will be published in December 2026.
Poetry
Poetry rates of pay depend on factors such as how the poem was initiated, where it appears and if a reading takes place.
Refer to the categories and relevant recommended rates below:
Print (ex. Journals)*For example, inclusion in an anthology of poetry in print/digital
Flat fee up to 135 lines
NB – A poet is considered emerging when they are unpublished, have 1 collection or less and/or have less than 5 years of experience doing workshops, performances running a professional practice.
Poetry rates were reviewed and updated in December 2021. The next review and update will be published in October 2025.
As we will every year, a WPI increase has been applied (July 2024.) We appreciate it may take organisations a budget cycle to update their own rates.
Public Appearances
Based on consultation with writers centres, festivals, libraries and authors, these are the recommended rates of pay for non-school public appearances such as at festivals, writers centres, the ASA, literary organisations, libraries, clubs, and community groups.
These cover all types of appearances including online presentations.
The ASA recommends minimum rates of pay for public appearances, strongly believing authors must be fairly compensated. Authors and panel moderators spend many hours in preparation time for all public appearances, and this work needs to be factored into their rate of pay. Organisers of festivals and events wanting to engage authors should have viable business plans that accommodate fair payment. For events that are funded by government or Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund, paying at or above the ASA’s recommended rates is required as a condition of funding.
When smaller and/or volunteer-run organisations struggle to afford the rates, authors can assess the fairness of rates offered, taking into account the size of the event, other inclusions offered and the personal benefits of appearing.
Public Appearance rates were reviewed and updated in July 2025. We are commencing our review, and new rates will be published July 2027.
Public Appearance rates were reviewed in June 2025. A 3.4% WPI increase has been applied to all rates except the recommended rate for an interviewer for ‘In Conversation’ events, based on feedback from our consultation process.
Primary and Secondary School Appearances and Workshops
These minimum rates of pay are designed for established, professional, freelance authors covering their own sick pay, holiday pay and superannuation. They include preparation and, appearance time, as well as travel to and from the venue but not extended regional or inter-state travel.
As with all such recommended rates of pay, the location and size of the school, your need for the work and your level of skill and experience will all play a part in the way in which you negotiate these rates. Highly experienced and skilled presenters may charge higher fees.
Please note that authors visiting schools must check if they are required to have a current Working with Children check and their own Public Liability Insurance.
*Please note that for children in K to Yr3, audience sizes need to be smaller and the session times shorter.
** Please go to the Australian Tax Office site if you would like more information on travel related expenses. https://www.ato.gov.au
School Appearance rates were reviewed and updated in September 2022. The next review will be published September 2025.
