How Much Do Audiobook Narrators Make?

Many professional audiobook narrators earn somewhere in the range of $225–$400 for each hour of finished audio. Assuming it takes you 2–3 hours to record 1 hour of audio, this translates to roughly $75–$200 per hour worked.

Annual salaries for audiobook narrators can get pretty high, with an estimated earning range of $41,000–$131,500 per year. 1

With that said, these estimates can only serve as rough guidelines, and you may find yourself earning more or less. Because audiobook narrators typically work freelance and set their own rates, the data available on average earnings isn’t 100% reliable.

If you’re considering starting a career as an audiobook narrator, it’s important that you understand the audiobook income process and some of the fundamental differences that separate audiobook narration from other types of work.

First of all, virtually all audiobook narrators work on a freelance basis as independent contractors. Secondly, most don’t get paid hourly or even monthly. Instead, payment amounts are usually based on the size and complexity of the project.

We’ll give a breakdown of common pricing schemes and what you can expect from working as a paid audiobook narrator.

Per finished hour (PFH)

In most cases, audiobook reader salaries are calculated per finished hour (PFH). Once you complete an audio recording, the client calculates your earnings by multiplying your base rate by the length of the final audio.

Here’s how that breaks down: Say your rate is $300 per finished hour, and you record 1 hour of audio. You’ll be paid $300, regardless of how long it took you to produce that recording. If it took you 3 hours to finish, then you earned $100 per working hour.

Some jobs are advertised as “narration time only,” which means you’re paid only for the time you spend reading the audiobook. These gigs don’t include any extra time you spend doing research or postproduction tasks like audio editing or mastering.

Flat rate

Some authors and narrators negotiate a flat rate before starting the process of recording an audiobook. In these cases, the audiobook narrator receives a one-time payment of an agreed-upon amount. Unlike the case with other compensation arrangements, the payment amount doesn’t depend on how long the audio is or how long the narrator spends in their studio.

Some authors prefer paying a flat rate because it makes budgeting a lot easier. For the audiobook narrator, it’s a guarantee that you’ll get paid a certain amount.

Royalty share (RS)

Audiobook narrators are sometimes paid in royalty shares. In these cases, payment is deferred—instead of getting paid immediately after recording an audiobook, the narrator gets paid later once the audiobook starts generating revenue from sales.

The payment amount is a set percentage of the sales profits. For example, a typical royalty share contract may promise the narrator 50% of the profits that an audiobook makes from sales and distribution.

A common misunderstanding is that royalty share projects are the same as free or pro bono work. While these types of jobs are generally the easiest to get when you’re just starting out, when done well (and with a bit of luck), they can be a solid source of passive income.

Hybrid / Royalty Share Plus

In addition to standard PFH and royalty share contracts, you can also negotiate a hybrid agreement that’s the best of both worlds. With hybrid contracts, you get paid a set amount once you finish recording an audiobook plus royalties from the book’s sales.

This type of contract is referred to as Royalty Share Plus (RS+ or RSP) by the Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX), one of the leading platforms offering audiobook narration jobs.

While you do have control over your rates as a freelance audiobook narrator, the amount of money you’re able to put away each month (and how many hours you need to put in to get that money) really depends on a few key factors.

Understanding what affects your yearly salary is important, regardless of whether you just want a side hustle that’ll pay the bills or you hope to someday be among the nation’s highest paid audiobook narrators.

The type of contract you have

As mentioned, some audiobook reading gigs pay a flat fee based on the length of the audiobook you’re recording, whereas others pay in royalties. You’ll always get paid roughly the same amount for your time if you get a PFH contract, but royalty share gigs are more unpredictable.

With royalty share compensation, it’s possible you’ll make mere pennies if the book you narrate doesn’t do well on the market. On the other hand, if you narrate a bestseller, you could earn more over time than you would if you charged just a flat rate.

Ultimately, royalties are a gift that keeps on giving. Even if the book is only marginally successful and you don’t get much at first, you could still see a steady stream of passive income that adds up over the years.

Whether you’re a union member

Many well-established audiobook narrators are members of the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), which is a union for performers working in the entertainment industry. In addition to audiobook narrators, they represent other voiceover artists and recording artists, actors, broadcasters, and more.

SAG-AFTRA works out agreements with publishers and production companies on behalf of members so that they get fair rates and working conditions. As a SAG-AFTRA member, you can also get access to health insurance and retirement benefits. This is a pretty big deal when you’re working as an independent contractor.

These rates vary according to the various terms negotiated with individual companies or publishers, but you can expect them to start at a minimum of about $200–$275 PFH. For example, SAG-AFTRA requires ACX audiobook narrators to earn a minimum rate of $225 PFH for a pay-for-production deal or $100 PFH for a royalty share deal. 2

Revisions and editing

You may be asked to redo a recording if the author or publisher isn’t fully satisfied with your final version of the audiobook. If you’re using low-quality equipment or you’re new to the field, it’s possible for mistakes or interference to slip in.

If you’re required to do audio editing yourself, then this is also something that can affect your earnings. You’ll generally get paid extra for audio editing, but it’s a technical process that requires certain skills. Early on when you’re still learning the ropes, it may take you a long time to get your recordings up to a professional standard.

All this is to say that audio editing and revisions can suck up a lot of your time—time that you could’ve spent on another audiobook gig.

Where you get your jobs

Not all companies and clients pay audiobook narrators the same rates. While some offer competitive compensation, others are downright exploitative.

To maximize your earnings and avoid accepting less than what you deserve, it’s important to get a clear idea of the differences in rates offered by different clients and employers.

Audiobook Narrator Rates by Company/Platform

A safe bet when choosing a company or platform is to check whether they’re approved by SAG-AFTRA. If they are, then you know you’ll get fair pay.

Your reputation

It goes without saying that you can charge more money for your services if you’re an especially talented or skilled audiobook reader. Your reputation as a narrator really comes down to a few key factors:

• Experience level
• Reviews
• Your “sound”

A lot of casting managers make hiring decisions based purely on how your voice sounds and whether you fit the particular style they’re looking for. This can be a major benefit over other lines of work, which require you to put in the hours before you can increase your rates. Getting cast to narrate major audiobooks can increase your earning potential substantially.

Since audiobook narrators are pretty much universally freelancers, “standard industry rates” are a bit tough to pinpoint. As a pro audiobook narrator, you can theoretically charge as little or as much as you want—although that doesn’t mean you should.

If you’re in the process of looking for your first audiobook narration jobs or you’re still considering whether you want to become an audiobook narrator, it’s key that you know how much audiobook readers typically charge so you don’t sell yourself short.

Always charge above the base minimum

Many professionals in the field feel pretty strongly that all audiobook narrators, regardless of whether they’re total newbies or veterans in the industry, have a moral obligation to always charge a base minimum amount. Doing so sets a standard that ensures that both you and your peers earn a living wage.

Don’t fall for “beginner rates”

As a professional audiobook narrator, you deserve a professional rate—even if you’re new to the field. There’s no “beginner’s rate” in the field of audiobook narration.

The bottom line is that if you don’t feel comfortable charging a professional rate, then you probably need to invest more time and effort in training and refining your audiobook narration skills.

Doing volunteer work or signing up for royalty share projects are both good ways to flex your muscles and get practical experience in the industry without selling yourself short or undercutting hardworking professionals.