If you’re starting your consulting journey, one of the toughest questions is simple:
What should I charge?
The truth is that rates vary widely.
Some consultants charge $100 an hour. Others earn $500 or more.
The difference often comes down to experience, proof, and positioning.
Let’s break down AI consulting rates by experience so you know where you stand and how to grow.
The Problem: No Standard Rates
Unlike traditional professions, AI consulting doesn’t have fixed pricing.
That leaves beginners confused and experts undercharging.
Clients ask, “How much do you cost?”
Consultants stumble because they don’t know how to explain their value.
If you can’t communicate your worth, clients will decide it for you—and it won’t be in your favor.
Beginner Rates
Most beginners start between $100–$150 per hour.
At this stage, you may have technical knowledge but lack real case studies.
Clients will see you as a risk.
They’ll want to test you on smaller projects.
This doesn’t mean you should give your work away.
It means you need to prove results before raising your prices.
Example: A new consultant offered market research reports for $750 each.
After three projects with measurable client outcomes, they doubled their rate to $1,500 per report.
Mid-Level Consultants
Once you’ve built a few case studies, you move into the $200–$300 per hour range.
At this stage:
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You’ve delivered successful projects.
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You have testimonials and references.
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You can point to real-world results.
Clients now see you as reliable.
They’ll trust you with larger budgets and ongoing engagements.
Example: A consultant who started with $100/hour training sessions scaled to $250/hour by offering packaged forecasting reports for retail clients.
Expert-Level Consultants
Experts consistently earn $300–$500 per hour or more.
Why? Because they:
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Specialize in high-stakes industries like finance, healthcare, or government.
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Deliver measurable ROI for clients.
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Are seen as trusted advisors, not just service providers.
These consultants often stop selling hourly time altogether.
Instead, they sell packages, retainers, and outcomes.
Example: An AI compliance consultant charged $8,000/month retainers to a financial institution. Their knowledge of regulations and ability to pass audits justified the higher price.
Hourly vs Packages
Remember, clients don’t really want to buy hours.
They want to buy results.
That’s why many successful consultants move from hourly to packages:
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$3,000 for a compliance report.
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$5,000 for predictive analytics dashboards.
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$10,000 for a quarterly AI strategy engagement.
Hourly rates are a starting point. Packages are the path to higher income.
Micro Case Study: From Beginner to Expert
One consultant in 2023 started charging $120/hour for AI training.
Within a year, they had three solid case studies.
By mid-2024, they were packaging services at $3,500 per project.
By 2025, they were running retainers at $7,500/month.
The difference wasn’t the tools—they used the same AI platforms the entire time.
The difference was proof, confidence, and positioning.
How to Move Up the Ladder
If you’re stuck at beginner rates, here’s your path forward:
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Build 2–3 strong case studies, even if it means doing a discounted project.
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Collect testimonials and results you can share.
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Reframe your services as packages tied to outcomes.
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Increase rates gradually with every win.
Each step moves you closer to expert-level earnings.
Why This Matters
Clients expect to pay more for experts.
If you don’t raise your rates as your experience grows, you’ll always be stuck in the beginner bracket.
Knowing the landscape of AI consulting rates by experience helps you set fair prices, earn what you deserve, and signal confidence to clients.
The Next Step
If you’re ready to move from beginner rates to expert-level income, get the From Beginner to Booked: How to Sell Gemini & Veo 3 Content Packages Without Needing a Team ebook and follow a clear path to higher-paying clients.
You don’t just need skills—you need the right system to package, price, and sell them.
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