What are you worth?

The rates of pay scale should be read in conjunction with the following notes, and alongside the article on scoping projects.

PHANZA recommends these rates as a guide only.

It is up to the individual researcher to decide their rate, based on their own experience, the nature of the project, the expectations of clients, and the state of the market.

Our advice is to be flexible in setting your charges and negotiating rates, but also to have a firm idea of what your labour is worth in the marketplace. This guide is to give you an idea of that worth, and to give you something concrete to aim at when negotiating a rate for your work.

The rates have been calculated from an annual base salary ranging from $46,750 to $78,775. This range has been derived from a market assessment of the salaries paid to researchers and analysts who do a similar type of work to historians.

The hourly rate, based on the annual salary, assumes a 48-week working year and is calculated from a multiplier of 1.5. That is, a free-lance historian has to charge a minimum of 1.5 times the annual salary rate to cover the cost of running an office and to offset the risk of undertaking piecework. There is also built in a 2 percent allowance for sick pay. The rates are given inclusive and exclusive of 12.5 percent GST. [see the Inland Revenue Department website for assistance with GST]

Remember that one-third of what you earn as a self-employed person needs to be set aside for withholding tax. [see the Inland Revenue Department website for assistance for calculating Witholding Tax ]

The four levels of rate relate to the experience of the researcher. This ranges from someone with a research-based degree and some experience in producing work through to senior practitioners with considerable experience. You should place yourself in this range according to your experience

Rates for Historians

Annual base salary Hourly rate (incl GST) Hourly rate (excl GST)

$46,750
$42.73
$37.98

$58,225
$52.19
$46.38

$63,250
$56.71
$50.22

$78,775
$70.62
$62.77