How much do voice actors cost? Here are some insights into the factors affecting voice over actor costs.

How much do voice actors cost?

Voice actors can be used for numerous purposes, from voicing video game characters to radio spots, podcasts, TV commercials, etc. However, the voice over industry rates vary, which is why some voice actors can be more expensive than others.

This article will serve as your voice over rate guide and tell you everything that affects the cost of voice over jobs.

Variables affecting cost

The variables affecting the cost of voice are numerous. The first factors you need to consider are the type of voice over work, its usage, the length of the voice recording, and the number of words. Additional elements are usually pickups, tags, and bundling.

Quality of Voice talent

You can choose between hiring professional voice actors, beginners, or freelance voice over artists for a voice over job. This choice will highly depend on your budget.

If you're tight on the budget, beginners and freelance artists are the best options. Freelance websites offer a wide price range for every type of work, so you'll surely find several that fit your budget.

Professional voice actors might be the best choice if you want to finish the job quickly. You might pay more upfront, but you won't have to worry about additional costs due to unforeseen circumstances.

In addition, professionals know the voice over marketplace better than you do, so they might help you improve your scripts, bring quality to your brand, and help you keep your audience engaged. If their voice is recognizable, they might even attract new customers.

Word count/length

The word count in a recording will depend on the reading speed. The average reading speed is about 200-300 words per minute. Therefore, one minute of voice over work would be approximately $200. For 10 minutes or 2,500 words, it would be around $500.

However, just like other factors on this list, these rates are also interdependent.

Hourly rates

Hourly rates for a voice over job will depend on each person. Moreover, the project's location, the number of words per hour, the details of the script, and additional services like pickups also need to be considered.

The type of project refers to whether it'll be broadcast on TV or radio or be a non-broadcast project like explainer videos, audiobook narration, etc. If it's non-broadcast, the hourly rate is usually calculated per word or finished hour.

If the project is a TV show or radio commercial, it needs to comply with local or national requirements and the project's running time.

Some countries have set union rates that union voice actors have to follow. In the United States, they are decided by a voice acting union called SAG AFTRA (The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists). On the other hand, non-union voice over artists don't have to comply with these standards, which results in different voice actor salaries.

Access to a recording studio

An important thing to consider is whether you or the voice actor have access to a home studio or recording software. If the answer is no, you might need to spend extra on a recording studio rental.

Fees

If you opt for finding voice talent on freelancing sites, note that some charge fees and taxes in addition to the hourly rate. There are also licensing and buyout fees that you might have to pay to the voice actor. Buyout fees are necessary if you want to keep certain rights over their voice work for a period of time.

Where can I find voice talent?

Finding voice talent has never been easier. You have access to many online platforms offering voice over services.

Voices.com

Voice.com is one of the best platforms, with over 2,000,000 professional voice talents. Here, you can find voices for different projects, such as social media videos, podcasts, audiobooks, dubbing, etc.

Upwork

Upwork is an excellent place to find freelance voice over talent. If you have a specific voice over project, you can post the job description and wait for proposals. Upwork will bring you the people who match your needs the best.

Fiver

Fiver is another freelance website that offers a wide variety of professional voice over actors. You can search them by location and filter by job type, level of education and experience, company, date of posting, and salary estimate.

Importance of a good voice over

A good voice over can greatly impact the overall quality of your content. It will bring engagement and interest to your brand and make it more professional and credible. In addition, clear and well-articulated voice over makes it more appealing and accessible to people with disabilities.

Voice overs on a budget

You can make high-quality voice overs for a lower price in several ways. If you're looking to lower your budget, try making your own home studio. The equipment isn't cheap, but you can build it gradually and allocate the costs over time.

The second option is freelance websites. They offer a wide range of candidates with different rates that might just fit into your budget.

The last option is to find a voice over software. There are many on the market today. Some offer free versions or free trials, so if you have a small project, they're a great choice.

Voice over generators as an alternative

If you don't want to go through the painstaking process of hiring a voice actor, try ai voice over generators.

Benefits of a voice over generator

Using a voice over generator is faster and more cost-effective than a traditional one. They're also widely accessible and enable you to have the same voice in as many languages as the service provides, which brings consistency to your content.

Speechify Voice Over Studio

Using Speechify Voice Over Studio can be a more cost-effective option compared to hiring a professional voice actor. With Speechify, you can access over 200 types of voices that can be customized to match your project's specific needs. Simply upload or type your script and Speechify’s text to speech voice over generator does it’s magic. Then you can use the audio as is or edit pronunciation, speed, tone, pitch and pauses, or add background music to enhance the quality of your project.

It’s that simple. Speechify allows you to produce professional-sounding voiceovers for anything from social media to e-learning, and explainer videos in a fraction of the time and cost of traditional methods, making it a great option for anyone on a budget. Create high-quality voiceovers for your project with Speechify Voice Over Studio for free or subscribe and gain access to more features.

FAQ

How much is a 3-minute voice over?

A 3-minute voice over usually has around 200-300 words and costs approximately $300.

What is a voice actor's hourly wage?

The hourly wage for a voice actor in the United States is approximately $39.