Colorist Day Rates
Current market rates for freelance Colorists across all regions
Global Average Rates
25th Percentile
$560
Per day
Median (50th)
$700
Per day
Up 2.9% from last quarter
75th Percentile
$840
Per day
These statistics are based on 163 data points collected within the past 30 days. The percentiles help you understand the range of rates: 25% of freelancers charge below the 25th percentile, while 25% charge above the 75th percentile.
Historical Trend
| Time Period | 25th Percentile | Median | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 2025 | $581 | $700 | $819 |
| Q4 2024 | $561 | $676 | $791 |
| Q3 2024 | $542 | $653 | $764 |
| Q2 2024 | $525 | $632 | $740 |
| Q1 2024 | $510 | $615 | $719 |
| Q4 2023 | $494 | $595 | $696 |
| Q3 2023 | $483 | $582 | $681 |
| Q2 2023 | $470 | $566 | $662 |
Colorist Rates by Region
US (West Coast)
US (East Coast)
Asia (Developed)
Asia (Developing)
Remote (Global)
About Colorist Roles
Colorists enhance and correct the color and look of video content to achieve the desired aesthetic and mood.
Key Responsibilities
- Color grading and correction
- Look development
- Shot matching
- HDR mastering
- Quality control
- Client collaboration
- Deliverables management
Required Skills
- Color theory
- Technical grading
- Scopes reading
- Look development
- HDR workflows
- Color science
- Client communication
Common Tools
DaVinci Resolve Baselight Nucoda Scratch Adobe SpeedGrade Color grading panels Calibration tools
Experience Levels
J
Junior Level (0-3 years)
Basic color correction, assisting senior colorists, learning grading workflows.
M
Mid Level (3-7 years)
Independent grading sessions, look development, and client collaboration.
S
Senior Level (7+ years)
Lead colorist on major productions, creative supervision, and advanced techniques.