Knowing your worth as a voice actor — and actually sticking to your voiceover rates — is something that sounds easy in theory but can be very difficult in practice.
Recently, I was approached for a Spanish voiceover project where I chose not to lower my rates, and as a result, I probably missed out on the opportunity. The project involved YouTube voiceover narration and dubbing for an established channel. After reviewing the channel, the style of content, and the view counts on their videos, I quoted my rate based on industry-standard pricing and my own experience.
The job wasn’t just about recording voiceover. I was expected to dub the videos into Spanish, match the timing of the original performances, and translate the scripts before recording.
While translation is something I am capable of doing, it’s not something I typically include — and more importantly, it’s not something that is usually expected of voice actors. Translation and localization are separate services, often handled by different professionals. Voice actors are typically provided a translated script when working on dubbing projects.
From the start, I had a bad feeling about the project. In my experience, YouTube voiceover projects can be hit or miss when it comes to professionalism, scope creep, and respect for industry standards.
After I sent my quote, the client came back asking why translation was listed as a separate cost if I needed to translate the script before dubbing it. I explained that this isn’t how dubbing usually works and that the vast majority of professional dubbing actors are not responsible for translation.
After that message, I stopped receiving responses. I can only assume they chose to find someone else willing to do the work for less.
What made this situation different is how I handled it.
In the past, I probably would have lowered my rates to fit the client’s budget. I would’ve justified it as “experience,” “exposure,” or “better than nothing.” This time, I decided I didn’t need the project. If I wasn’t being paid what I believe my time, skills, and voice acting experience are worth, I wasn’t going to accept it.
And honestly? It felt really good.
Standing my ground reinforced my confidence — not just in my rates, but in my professionalism as a voice actor. Advocating for GVAA-aligned rates and fair compensation isn’t being difficult. It’s respecting the work and the industry.
Many voice actors — especially early in their careers — fall into a cycle of desperation. There’s a feeling that you have to say yes to everything or risk losing momentum. That mindset often leads to lowballing, burnout, and working on projects that don’t respect your craft or your time.
The point of this story is simple:
You’ve invested years of training, money, and energy into developing your voiceover skills. You deserve to be paid fairly for your work.
Not every job is meant to be yours — and that’s okay.
Sometimes, the biggest win isn’t booking the voiceover.
It’s knowing your worth and sticking to it.