In the UK, where I’ve been for the past couple of weeks, pay rates for design freelancers are up in many cases, particularly when it comes to digital disciplines, according to DesignWeek’s second annual survey.
Overall, pay increases have been extremely healthy over the last twelve months, with increases of 13% cited, and a further 9% over the next twelve months predicted. However, rates in more traditional print, branding, exhibition and retail sectors lag behind their new media equivalents, as the following tables illustrate.
Design
| Position | Daily Rate (London, £ per day) |
| Junior designer | 116 |
| Middleweight designer | 172 |
| Senior designer | 223 |
| Creative director | 312 |
Digital Design
| Position | Daily Rate (London, £ per day) |
| Web/Flash designer | 231 |
| Motion graphics designer | 263 |
| Art/creative director | 308 |
| Flash developer | 286 |
The figures are taken from the 27/09/07 print edition of Design Week. The story does not yet appear to be on the magazine’s website.
Posted by Haig Armen
Tags: Articles, Design, Interactive, London-Design-Festival
Simon (October 30th, 2007)
The question I would pose is whether these stats are the figures paid by the agencies to the recruitment agencies?
The majority of freelancers in London work with at least one recruitment agency. Their cut is usually in the area of 30%, so the actual take home amount is less. Also factor in a tax rate of about 25% and your easily looking at about 50% of your earning potential gone.
There are a number of tax perks in the UK which can make life easier, which I won’t get into, but it’s something to think about.
mostafa ibrahim (March 8th, 2008)
hi,
im a senior graphic designer in egypt and i hope to join you to working in designs and branding
jamil (January 14th, 2009)
I was using Pacific Timesheet as a freelancer to keep track of my time. I can punchin through my iPhone, laptop or over the phone. Very handy.
Pacific Timesheet