Rates, 2026
What should a resume writer charge in a major city?
About $425 a day for a resume writer who is working and booked in a major city like Chicago, Atlanta, Miami or Austin. $300 in the first years, $550 when senior. A resume package runs about $600. Also called: career writer.
Other markets: New York or LA · remote · a smaller market
First years
$300
a day · $40 an hour
Working, booked
$425
a day · $55 an hour
Senior, sought after
$550
a day · $70 an hour
The rate card, working level
- Day rate$425 per day
- Hourlyfor anything that does not fit a day$55 per hour
- A resume package$600 per project
Sold a project fee. 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 a major city like Chicago, Atlanta, Miami or Austin: the low end is the first years, the high end is senior. Working and booked sits in the middle.
- Resume$175 to $600 each
- Resume and cover letter$250 to $775 each
- LinkedIn profile$175 to $500 each
- Executive package$675 to $2,125 each
How the number is made
Resume and LinkedIn writers at this level in this market day at about $425 ($300 to $700 in New York and LA). Put in the year you actually want on the perfect price page and the number moves with it.
A resume package runs $200 to $1,200 and takes about 5 hours of your time; at your hourly that is $275. 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 resume writer in a major city like Chicago, Atlanta, Miami or Austin?
- About $425 a day for someone working and booked, $300 in the first years, $550 when senior and sought after. Half days usually run 60% of the day.
- How much is a resume package?
- $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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