Rates, 2026
What should a sound designer charge in a major city?
About $725 a day for a sound designer who is working and booked in a major city like Chicago, Atlanta, Miami or Austin. $525 in the first years, $925 when senior. Sound for a piece runs about $2,900.
Other markets: New York or LA · remote · a smaller market
First years
$525
a day · $65 an hour
Working, booked
$725
a day · $90 an hour
Senior, sought after
$925
a day · $125 an hour
The rate card, working level
- Day rate$725 per day
- Hourlyfor anything that does not fit a day$90 per hour
- Sound for a piece$2,900 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 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.
- Sound design, per finished minute$175 to $675 per minute
- Game SFX pack$850 to $4,250 each
- Trailer$1,275 to $5,100 each
- Foley session$350 to $775 per day
How the number is made
Sound designers at this level in this market day at about $725 ($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.
Sound for a piece runs $800 to $6,000 and takes about 20 hours of your time; at your hourly that is $1,800. 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 sound designer in a major city like Chicago, Atlanta, Miami or Austin?
- About $725 a day for someone working and booked, $525 in the first years, $925 when senior and sought after. Half days usually run 60% of the day.
- How much is sound for a piece?
- $2,900 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.