Rates, 2026
What should an illustrator charge in 2026, working remote?
About $775 a day for a illustrator who is working and booked in remote work for US clients. $550 in the first years, $975 when senior. An illustration set runs about $2,600.
Other markets: New York or LA · a major city · a smaller market
First years
$550
a day · $70 an hour
Working, booked
$775
a day · $95 an hour
Senior, sought after
$975
a day · $125 an hour
The rate card, working level
- Day rate$775 per day
- Hourlyfor anything that does not fit a day$95 per hour
- An illustration set$2,600 per project
Sold a project fee, by the day. The outcome is the unit; the day rate is for when a client wants your time instead.
What to charge for each thing
Ranges for remote work for US clients: the low end is the first years, the high end is senior. Working and booked sits in the middle.
- Spot illustration$125 to $550 each
- Editorial, full page$450 to $1,800 each
- Character design$450 to $2,250 each
- Book cover$725 to $2,700 each
- Icon set (20)$550 to $1,800 per set
How the number is made
Illustrators at this level in this market day at about $775 ($500 to $1,200 in New York and LA). Put in the year you actually want on the perfect price page and the number moves with it.
An illustration set runs $800 to $5,000 and takes about 20 hours of your time; at your hourly that is $1,900. The number is the higher of the two, because the client is buying the outcome, not the hours.
Questions
- What is a fair day rate for a illustrator in remote work for US clients?
- About $775 a day for someone working and booked, $550 in the first years, $975 when senior and sought after. Half days usually run 60% of the day.
- How much is an illustration set?
- $2,600 at a working level in this market. The client is buying the outcome, so the price is the higher of what the market pays for it and what your hours in it are worth.
- Are these rates a rule?
- No. They are US 2026 ranges for the role, placed by level and moved for the market. What a client actually paid you beats all of it. The tool has a box for that, and it wins.
Your number, in five seconds.
Pick your level and market, get a card you can send the next client who asks. Then RostrLab quotes, papers, invoices and chases every job with it: free for 14 days, $29 a month, never a cut.
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