Published: March 7, 2025 Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Commissioned by the Digital Culture chain table, consultancy firm HHP&O Advies has established a ‘fair’ freelance hourly rate for experienced self-employed makers working in the digital culture sector. In the research report ‘Profile Description and Job Classification Advice for Independent Makers in Digital Culture‘, the job profile of an experienced digital culture artist and maker is classified according to the UNL/VNSU job classification system (UFO). This classification takes into account work experience, duties, focus areas, education level, knowledge level, and skills. The classification was subsequently converted into an hourly rate including a freelance markup percentage. For self-employed professionals in digital culture who possess a job profile as described in the research report, the hourly rate can be regarded as a freelance advisory rate. For those whose job profile does not fully correspond with the profile described in the report—for example, due to more or less work experience—the hourly rate serves as a reference.

The profile description of an experienced independent maker

What constitutes a ‘fair’ freelance hourly rate for an experienced independent maker working in the digital culture sector? With this question, the Digital Culture chain table approached consultancy firm HHP&O Advies, which specializes in job evaluation issues. To answer this question, the chain table drafted a profile description of a digital culture artist and maker with a higher professional education (HBO) level of thinking and at least eight years of work experience: what tasks are performed and what knowledge and skills are required? This specific definition was necessary to enable a more precise classification. Furthermore, a large proportion of digital culture artists and makers possess such a profile, as evidenced by the survey report ‘Digital Culture: A vast terrain without strict boundaries‘ (summary on page 3), published by the chain table in October 2024. HHP&O Advies further developed the profile description based on interviews with six chain table participants.

Duties, focus areas, and minimum education and experience requirements

The research report ‘Profile Description and Job Classification Advice for Independent Makers in Digital Culture‘ first provides insight into the profile of an experienced digital culture artist and maker. Their activities are outlined and divided into the categories of (preliminary) research, design and development, construction and maintenance, projects, presentation and education, networking, and administration. Attention is also given to focus areas within the artistic practice: impact, research, methods and techniques, digital design, and projects. Based on the profile description and focus areas, HPP&O Advies has defined minimum education and experience requirements and necessary skills for an experienced ‘Independent Maker in Digital Culture’.

UFO profile Audiovisual Technician 1 – scale 11

The detailed profile description, focus areas, and required knowledge and skills have provided a clear indication of how an experienced Independent Maker in Digital Culture could be classified within the salary scales of the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU), according to the UFO system. Given the importance of IT activities in the role of Independent Maker in Digital Culture, it is advised to classify this position as a combination of the UFO profiles Audiovisual Technician (direction) 1 – scale 11, and ICT Developer 3 – scale 10. In this context, the UFO profile Audiovisual Technician 1 – scale 11 is decisive for the classification of the position as a whole.

Freelance advisory rate set at 65 euros

The UFO profile Audiovisual Technician 1 – scale 11 is associated with a gross monthly salary of €6,148. This translates to an hourly rate of €37.26. However, experience shows that digital culture makers and artists often incur structural additional costs for setting up and maintaining their independent professional practice, making a freelance markup percentage both appropriate and necessary. The Digital Culture chain table applies the freelance markup percentage used by the Film/AV chain table, which is set at 74.45%. Including this markup, the freelance hourly rate amounts to €65.00.

Gain more insight into the calculation of the markup percentage here (summary on page 39).

For self-employed professionals in digital culture who possess a job profile as described in the research report, the hourly rate can be considered a freelance advisory rate. For those whose job profile does not fully correspond with the profile described in the research report—for example, due to more or less work experience—the hourly rate serves as a reference.