NUJ Rate for the Job: Crosswords

Rates archived as at 2025-07-09

These rates have been reported by members of the National Union of Journalists and others, and printed in the Freelance, newsletter of London Freelance Branch. They are sorted by publisher/publication, then by date (most recent first). TIP: Use the "Find in page" command under your browser's "Edit" or "Search" menu to be sure of finding all occurrences of a publication/publisher. AND do note the year in which the rate was reported! See also the Freelance Fees Guide, which gives general recommendations. And read the disclaimer and the key to exactly what the entries mean.

Crosswords / all These are archived rates. The current rates are here.
Tell us what you've been paid for Crosswords / all		Freelance Fees Guide
Publication / Programme - details & terms	Group	Year		Total paid	GR	XXXX
Guardian Genius crossword - rate in 2012 house agreement	_GMG	2018		209.00	HA
Guardian Prize crossword - rate in 2012 house agreement	_GMG	2018		177.00	HA
Guardian Quiptic crossword - rate in 2012 house agreement	_GMG	2018		167.00	HA
Guardian Prize (cryptic) crossword: rate in 2012 house agreement	_GMG	2012		177.00	HA
Guardian Cryptic crossword: rate in 2012 house agreement	_GMG	2012		167.00	HA
Guardian Quick crossword: rate in 2012 house agreement	_GMG	2012		35.00	HA
Key to the rates, by column:
1 Publication / Programme, any details of work and licence
2 Owner at the time the rate was reported, where known	Group
3 The year in which the rate was reported		Year
4 Currency: either or or (US)
5 Amount paid (total of basic licence and extra licences for web use, database resale...)				Amount
7 "Going Rate" according to experienced NUJ members - do try to better it:					GR
or Minimum rate set out in NUJ House Agreement:					HA
8 Underpaid, in the fallible opinion of the Freelance editor:				50.00		X
or Just sometimes we're pleasantly surprised:				1500.00		O

Other rates:

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