How much does it cost to hire a producer for a podcast?

Podcast production is a specialized field, and a skilled podcast producer can be a valuable asset to your show. However, the cost of hiring a podcast producer can vary greatly depending on several factors such as their level of experience, the scope of their responsibilities, and the market demand for their services. We’ll explore costs of podcast production and compare how much it costs to make a podcast in-house in your B2B company, versus working with a podcast production company.

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How much do you pay a podcast producer?

The hourly rate for a podcast producer can range anywhere from $35 to $250 or more per hour. A beginner producer may charge a lower rate, while a highly experienced producer with a proven track record of producing successful podcasts may command a higher rate. The exact amount you pay a podcast producer will depend on the individual and the specific project they are working on.

In addition to their hourly rate, some podcast producers may also charge a flat fee for their services, which can be a set amount or a percentage of the total project budget. This flat fee may include all of their services, such as pre-production planning, recording, editing, and post-production.

Another factor to consider when determining the cost of hiring a podcast producer is the scope of their responsibilities. Some producers may only handle the recording and editing of your podcast, while others may take on a more comprehensive role, such as developing your show's concept, writing and editing scripts, and even handling the marketing and distribution of your podcast.

What is a good budget for a podcast?

Your podcast budget depends on several factors, including the size of the team, and the level of production quality you are seeking.

You might be wondering what the cost differences look like for producing a podcast in-house vs. with a podcast production agency. In house, the costs can look like the following: 

• Executive Producer / Editor: Oversees all content and production. 5-10 years relevant experience creating and publishing podcasts or audio content. Salary: $75,000-100,000

• Growth Marketing Manager: Oversees all growth marketing of the show. 5-10 years relevant experience distributing podcasts, content, and managing multiple paid advertising and SEO campaigns. Salary: $75,000-$125,000

• Booking / PR Manager: Oversees all prospecting, correspondence and booking with guests.  Leverages network of comms professionals to book guests. Salary: $60,000-$75,000.

• Lead Producer / Writer: Manages daily production of the show. Strong project manager skills. Able to book and juggle multiple guests, hosts, and audio production. Fills in gaps where needed. Often tied to email to coordinate, especially for in-studio guests. Edits email newsletter. Salary: $65,000-$75,000

• Audio / Video Engineer: Converts raw audio to production ready audio and video. Needs at least 2-3 hours of labor for every 1 hour of recording for mixing and production. Can publish the audio to hosting platform of choice. Salary: $50,000-$60,000

• Associate Producer / Researcher / Copywriter: Creates research and prep docs. Creates searchable copy for each episode. Skilled in email marketing to help support podcast releases so audiences can find the shows. Writes email newsletter. Creates digital assets for publication in email, podcasts, landing pages, advertisements, and social media publishing. Salary: $50,000 - $55,000

• Host: The star of your podcast, or co-stars. Pricing TBD

There are many roles that need to come together to create a successful B2B podcast, and these costs can add up to over $400,000 to produce a podcast in-house. When you choose to work with a podcast production company, those costs are cut significantly.

If you're simply looking to do a self-produced podcast at home, you can spend almost no money to create one yourself. However, if you're creating a podcast for your B2B company and are looking to gain marketing reach, you're looking at over 6 figures for a podcast budget. If your goal is to create a chart-topping business show, your budget should be significantly higher.

This budget should cover the costs of equipment, studio rental, editing and post-production, and compensation for any team members, including the podcast producer. If you are planning to outsource some of the production tasks, such as editing or music composition, you may need to budget more for these services.

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How much does podcast editing cost?

The cost of podcast editing can vary greatly depending on the length of the episode, the complexity of the audio, and the level of expertise of the editor. A beginner editor may charge a lower rate, while a highly experienced editor with a proven track record of producing high-quality audio may command a higher rate.

On average, the cost of podcast editing can range anywhere from $50 to $1,000 or more per episode, depending on the length and complexity of your show. When it comes to editing a podcast, you're not just editing audio, but also mixing sound, checking for quality, and editing video (if you're creating a video podcast).

Some podcast producers may include editing as part of their services and may charge a flat fee for the entire project, while others may charge an hourly rate for their editing services.

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How much does a podcast cost per episode?

The cost of a podcast per episode can vary greatly depending on the size of the team, the level of production quality, and the scope of the project.

In addition to typical podcast production costs, you may also need to budget for ongoing expenses such as website hosting, marketing and distribution, and any other costs associated with maintaining and promoting your podcast.

As you can see, the cost of hiring a podcast producer and producing a podcast depends on several factors such as the level of experience of the producer, the scope of their responsibilities, and the level of production quality. When you work with a podcast production company, these costs are reduced significantly.

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This article was made with consultation from Jon Libbey, Chief of Production at Caspian Studios.