How to Set Your Rates as a Marketing Consultant in 2024

As a marketing consultant, one of the most challenging decisions you'll face is setting your rates. To help you make informed decisions about setting your fees, we've analysed rates across our network of marketing professionals to create the 2024 Marketing Consultant Rate Guide.

Key Market Insights

Our analysis of 19 marketing roles reveals significant variations across specialties:

Leadership Roles Command Premium Rates

• Chief Marketing Officer consultants lead the market at $1,482 per day on average
• Digital Marketing Managers average $697 per day
• Marketing Managers average $685 per day

Strategic Roles Show Strong Demand

• Brand Strategists command $1,164 per day
• Marketing Strategists average $832 per day
• Digital Marketing Strategists earn $727 per day
• Content Strategists and PR Specialists average $679-$723 per day

Creative Roles Vary Widely

• Photographers and Videographers earn premium rates ($1,014 and $833 respectively)
• Content Creators and Copywriters range from $621-$644 per day
• Graphic Designers average $611 per day

Digital Specialist Rates

• SEO Specialists lead at $747 per day
• PPC Specialists average $606 per day
• Social Media roles range from $451-$566 per day

Understanding Rate Variations

Our data shows significant rate variations within roles. For example:

• Chief Marketing Officers: $650-$2,200 (highest variation)
• Brand Strategists: $649-$1,999
• Photographers: $549-$2,650

These variations typically reflect:

• Years of experience
• Industry specialisation
• Project complexity
• Geographic location
• Length of engagement

Setting Your Rates: A Strategic Approach

When setting your rates, consider:

• Your Market Position:
  • The market average across all roles is $738 per day
  • Entry-level coordination roles start around $447
  • Strategic roles typically command $700-1,200 per day
  • Leadership roles can exceed $1,400 per day
• Role-Based Benchmarking:
  • Compare your rates to similar roles in our detailed breakdown
  • Consider the standard deviation for your role to understand typical variations
  • Factor in your unique value proposition and expertise
• Cost Coverage: Remember your day rate needs to cover:
  • Superannuation
  • Leave entitlements
  • Insurance
  • Equipment and software costs
  • Professional development
• Rate Structure: Consider offering different rates for:
  • Short-term projects
  • Long-term retainers
  • Strategic advisory roles

Using the Rate Guide

Our interactive marketing consultant rate guide allows you to:

• Compare rates across 19 different marketing specialties
• View both daily and hourly rate breakdowns
• Understand rate distributions and variations
• Access detailed analysis for specific roles

Next Steps for Consultants

1. Review Your Current Rates: Compare your rates against market data for your specialty
2. Plan Rate Reviews: Use this data to inform your next rate review
3. Communicate Value: Understand how your rates compare to market averages and be ready to articulate your value proposition

Join Our Network

If you're a marketing consultant looking to grow your client base, consider joining the Cemoh network. We connect pre-vetted marketing consultants with businesses needing their expertise, handling all the administrative aspects so you can focus on what you do best.

Want to discuss your consulting rates or explore opportunities? Contact us for a confidential discussion about how we can help grow your consulting practice.