Payment Standards
Independent Contractors
Job | Minimum Range Per Hour | |
|---|---|---|
Cultural Advisor | as per negotiation | |
Creative Producer / Associate | as per negotiation | |
Project Manager* | $48.00 | $121.00 |
Curator* | $41.00 | $100.00 |
Researcher | $31.19 | $90.00 |
Specialist Technician | $50.00 | $100.00 |
Advisory Group (sitting fee) | $50.00 | $200.00 |
Consultant | $65.00 | $300.00 |
Public Art Consultant | $140.00 | $400.00 |
Please draw on the arts worker salary rates under Wages as well as Freelance Rates under Fees to inform negotiations for independent arts work, noting the value of intellectual property, Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property (ICIP) and 'holding space' as a skill to be properly remunerated.
A contractor is generally someone who sets their own rates of pay and supplies their own processes, tools and methods to complete the work.
In other industries, a 40% premium is generally added to the hourly rate of equivalent role salaries to determine freelance contractor rates. This is to take into account the overhead savings that the organisation makes by using short-term contractors instead of employees and the overhead costs that the independent arts worker is responsible for such as equipment, tools, insurance, etc. The provision of assets, equipment and tools by an individual and the incurring of expenses and other overheads is an indicator that the individual is an independent contractor.
*In many cases, contracts negotiate a flat fee for the project based on the scope, level of experience, timeline, and nature of the work.
For more information see Contractors vs. Employees.