Greeting Card Designers and Writers

Salaries vary widely among freelance greeting card writers and designers. Some card designers and writers sell only a few ideas a year. Others make a great deal of money, working exclusively with a company, or by manufacturing and distributing their own lines of cards and products. Card companies typically pay freelancers fees for each idea they buy. Some manufacturers may offer a royalty payment plan, including an initial advance. According to the Greeting Card Association, freelance writers "can expect to receive anywhere between $25 and $150 for a submission that's accepted. Humor or 'punchline' writing tends to command a higher price than verse." The association says that freelance greeting card artists receive a flat fee that generally ranges between $275 and $500 and a typical royalty fee of 4 to 6 percent.