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Hi Statistical Consulting Section,

I have been asked to discuss potentially being a paid statistical reviewer for a journal. I am an independent consultant and have been asked about what I would charge.

Does anyone have experience being a paid statistical reviewer?

If so, what pay structure do you use, hourly or per review and why? If hourly is it your normal hourly rate?

If you don't mind (can reply to me privately) sharing what you charge?

What do you like and not like about being a statistical reviewer? What is your motivation to do it? And are there things to look out for. I tend to be very thorough when asked to review a paper I am either an author or performed the statistics for so worried about my inclination to spend too much time vs my compensation.

Thanks for any advice!

Hi Statistical Consulting Section,

I have been asked to discuss potentially being a paid statistical reviewer for a journal. I am an independent consultant and have been asked about what I would charge.

Does anyone have experience being a paid statistical reviewer?

If so, what pay structure do you use, hourly or per review and why? If hourly is it your normal hourly rate?

If you don't mind (can reply to me privately) sharing what you charge?

What do you like and not like about being a statistical reviewer? What is your motivation to do it? And are there things to look out for. I tend to be very thorough when asked to review a paper I am either an author or performed the statistics for so worried about my inclination to spend too much time vs my compensation.

Thanks for any advice!

That's the first time I have heard of anyone getting paid to review an article(s). I've been reviewing for a top oncology journal for a loooong time without compensation($). They did send me a very nice glass art object with my name and years of reviewing inscribed- and I thanked them for that. I do have enough background in economics to quote Milton Friedman (he won the Nobel) that "there's no such thing as a free lunch". So I am donating/volunteering unpaid labor.  The journal requires authors to declare conflicts of interest. As long as the journal stated "reviewers receive an honorarium", or similar, I would not have a concern.  The journal also has an option to submit to a website (i forget the name) a confirmation that I reviewed. I understood that to be of importance for those in academia to add to their CV. I'll be interested to hear  the experiences of other section members.

Hi Statistical Consulting Section,

I have been asked to discuss potentially being a paid statistical reviewer for a journal. I am an independent consultant and have been asked about what I would charge.

Does anyone have experience being a paid statistical reviewer?

If so, what pay structure do you use, hourly or per review and why? If hourly is it your normal hourly rate?

If you don't mind (can reply to me privately) sharing what you charge?

What do you like and not like about being a statistical reviewer? What is your motivation to do it? And are there things to look out for. I tend to be very thorough when asked to review a paper I am either an author or performed the statistics for so worried about my inclination to spend too much time vs my compensation.

Thanks for any advice!

That's the first time I have heard of anyone getting paid to review an article(s). I've been reviewing for a top oncology journal for a loooong time without compensation($). They did send me a very nice glass art object with my name and years of reviewing inscribed- and I thanked them for that. I do have enough background in economics to quote Milton Friedman (he won the Nobel) that "there's no such thing as a free lunch". So I am donating/volunteering unpaid labor.  The journal requires authors to declare conflicts of interest. As long as the journal stated "reviewers receive an honorarium", or similar, I would not have a concern.  The journal also has an option to submit to a website (i forget the name) a confirmation that I reviewed. I understood that to be of importance for those in academia to add to their CV. I'll be interested to hear  the experiences of other section members.

Hi Statistical Consulting Section,

I have been asked to discuss potentially being a paid statistical reviewer for a journal. I am an independent consultant and have been asked about what I would charge.

Does anyone have experience being a paid statistical reviewer?

If so, what pay structure do you use, hourly or per review and why? If hourly is it your normal hourly rate?

If you don't mind (can reply to me privately) sharing what you charge?

What do you like and not like about being a statistical reviewer? What is your motivation to do it? And are there things to look out for. I tend to be very thorough when asked to review a paper I am either an author or performed the statistics for so worried about my inclination to spend too much time vs my compensation.

Thanks for any advice!

It is fine to get paid, but most universities require permission for outside employment for each job we do. It can be a tedious process.  It is simpler to ask for a donation to your department.

That's the first time I have heard of anyone getting paid to review an article(s). I've been reviewing for a top oncology journal for a loooong time without compensation($). They did send me a very nice glass art object with my name and years of reviewing inscribed- and I thanked them for that. I do have enough background in economics to quote Milton Friedman (he won the Nobel) that "there's no such thing as a free lunch". So I am donating/volunteering unpaid labor.  The journal requires authors to declare conflicts of interest. As long as the journal stated "reviewers receive an honorarium", or similar, I would not have a concern.  The journal also has an option to submit to a website (i forget the name) a confirmation that I reviewed. I understood that to be of importance for those in academia to add to their CV. I'll be interested to hear  the experiences of other section members.

Hi Statistical Consulting Section,

I have been asked to discuss potentially being a paid statistical reviewer for a journal. I am an independent consultant and have been asked about what I would charge.

Does anyone have experience being a paid statistical reviewer?

If so, what pay structure do you use, hourly or per review and why? If hourly is it your normal hourly rate?

If you don't mind (can reply to me privately) sharing what you charge?

What do you like and not like about being a statistical reviewer? What is your motivation to do it? And are there things to look out for. I tend to be very thorough when asked to review a paper I am either an author or performed the statistics for so worried about my inclination to spend too much time vs my compensation.

Thanks for any advice!

It is fine to get paid, but most universities require permission for outside employment for each job we do. It can be a tedious process.  It is simpler to ask for a donation to your department.

That's the first time I have heard of anyone getting paid to review an article(s). I've been reviewing for a top oncology journal for a loooong time without compensation($). They did send me a very nice glass art object with my name and years of reviewing inscribed- and I thanked them for that. I do have enough background in economics to quote Milton Friedman (he won the Nobel) that "there's no such thing as a free lunch". So I am donating/volunteering unpaid labor.  The journal requires authors to declare conflicts of interest. As long as the journal stated "reviewers receive an honorarium", or similar, I would not have a concern.  The journal also has an option to submit to a website (i forget the name) a confirmation that I reviewed. I understood that to be of importance for those in academia to add to their CV. I'll be interested to hear  the experiences of other section members.

Hi Statistical Consulting Section,

I have been asked to discuss potentially being a paid statistical reviewer for a journal. I am an independent consultant and have been asked about what I would charge.

Does anyone have experience being a paid statistical reviewer?

If so, what pay structure do you use, hourly or per review and why? If hourly is it your normal hourly rate?

If you don't mind (can reply to me privately) sharing what you charge?

What do you like and not like about being a statistical reviewer? What is your motivation to do it? And are there things to look out for. I tend to be very thorough when asked to review a paper I am either an author or performed the statistics for so worried about my inclination to spend too much time vs my compensation.

Thanks for any advice!

The simplest answer would be request your standard hourly rate.

As  economists (might) say, you could base your rate on the "indirect costs"., those being the value time with your family etc. Assuming you can put a dollar $ value on those indirect costs. One could (try to) estimate the indirect cost to be the rate for hiring someone to take care of your family.  Sometimes economists (In health economics for pharma )  will put dollar $ values on the indirect costs. That's not necessarily easy (Once upon  a time I took a lot of graduate economics courses and later worked with and for economists in a pharma health economics department. I learned something about how economists think).  

 an excellent and actual example of "including the indirect costs" are the pharmacoeconomic models for alzheimers drugs, it is typical to include the indirect costs /charges for "caregivers" to the patient. Something an economist can do. Despite my background I have no advice how to do that .in your situation

for example this AJMC economics policy article talks about the indirect costs and more generally 'societal costs"  for Alzheimers. 

https://www.ajmc.com/view/the-economic-and-societal-burden-of-alzheimer-disease-managed-care-considerations

and in Pharma (I realize you're not in a pharma situation) it starts to be illegal to pay external experts, consultants at substantially higher than the 'market rate". 

 also what is your estimate of the amount of time to read and review an article?

One medical journal where I am a reviewer asks how much time (hours) was required to  complete the review in categories like 1-2, 2-3 hours. 

And a (never to be named and very talented) statistician-colleague with bargaining power has (he states) explained his standard rate to a client "i don't work for charity". :) My limited personal experience, only say that at your farewell to a potential client who is looking for free statistical advice.

It is fine to get paid, but most universities require permission for outside employment for each job we do. It can be a tedious process.  It is simpler to ask for a donation to your department.

That's the first time I have heard of anyone getting paid to review an article(s). I've been reviewing for a top oncology journal for a loooong time without compensation($). They did send me a very nice glass art object with my name and years of reviewing inscribed- and I thanked them for that. I do have enough background in economics to quote Milton Friedman (he won the Nobel) that "there's no such thing as a free lunch". So I am donating/volunteering unpaid labor.  The journal requires authors to declare conflicts of interest. As long as the journal stated "reviewers receive an honorarium", or similar, I would not have a concern.  The journal also has an option to submit to a website (i forget the name) a confirmation that I reviewed. I understood that to be of importance for those in academia to add to their CV. I'll be interested to hear  the experiences of other section members.

Hi Statistical Consulting Section,

I have been asked to discuss potentially being a paid statistical reviewer for a journal. I am an independent consultant and have been asked about what I would charge.

Does anyone have experience being a paid statistical reviewer?

If so, what pay structure do you use, hourly or per review and why? If hourly is it your normal hourly rate?

If you don't mind (can reply to me privately) sharing what you charge?

What do you like and not like about being a statistical reviewer? What is your motivation to do it? And are there things to look out for. I tend to be very thorough when asked to review a paper I am either an author or performed the statistics for so worried about my inclination to spend too much time vs my compensation.

Thanks for any advice!

Responding to Chris's suggestion to request your standard hourly rate, something you might consider is having two hourly rates, depending on the type of client. I do occasional outside consulting (that has been approved by my University) and have one rate for companies and lawyers and another rate for non-profits (and very occasionally do pro-bono work too). For small projects I estimate the work and hours up front to come up with a defined total cost (and also well-defined outcomes).

If you want to know my rates, I can share with you separately, but I'll note that the one rate that was mentioned in this thread ($75 for up to three hours) is closer to my pro-bono rate than my non-profit rate. For a private practice consultant, I hope you're thinking higher than that -- and I wouldn't think you at all mercenary for asking a rate corresponding with your skills and abilities. For those of us in academia, doing things like this is part of our "service," which is expected as part of our job -- it's not expected as part of yours in the same way.

The simplest answer would be request your standard hourly rate.

As  economists (might) say, you could base your rate on the "indirect costs"., those being the value time with your family etc. Assuming you can put a dollar $ value on those indirect costs. One could (try to) estimate the indirect cost to be the rate for hiring someone to take care of your family.  Sometimes economists (In health economics for pharma )  will put dollar $ values on the indirect costs. That's not necessarily easy (Once upon  a time I took a lot of graduate economics courses and later worked with and for economists in a pharma health economics department. I learned something about how economists think).  

 an excellent and actual example of "including the indirect costs" are the pharmacoeconomic models for alzheimers drugs, it is typical to include the indirect costs /charges for "caregivers" to the patient. Something an economist can do. Despite my background I have no advice how to do that .in your situation

for example this AJMC economics policy article talks about the indirect costs and more generally 'societal costs"  for Alzheimers. 

https://www.ajmc.com/view/the-economic-and-societal-burden-of-alzheimer-disease-managed-care-considerations

and in Pharma (I realize you're not in a pharma situation) it starts to be illegal to pay external experts, consultants at substantially higher than the 'market rate". 

 also what is your estimate of the amount of time to read and review an article?

One medical journal where I am a reviewer asks how much time (hours) was required to  complete the review in categories like 1-2, 2-3 hours. 

And a (never to be named and very talented) statistician-colleague with bargaining power has (he states) explained his standard rate to a client "i don't work for charity". :) My limited personal experience, only say that at your farewell to a potential client who is looking for free statistical advice.

It is fine to get paid, but most universities require permission for outside employment for each job we do. It can be a tedious process.  It is simpler to ask for a donation to your department.

That's the first time I have heard of anyone getting paid to review an article(s). I've been reviewing for a top oncology journal for a loooong time without compensation($). They did send me a very nice glass art object with my name and years of reviewing inscribed- and I thanked them for that. I do have enough background in economics to quote Milton Friedman (he won the Nobel) that "there's no such thing as a free lunch". So I am donating/volunteering unpaid labor.  The journal requires authors to declare conflicts of interest. As long as the journal stated "reviewers receive an honorarium", or similar, I would not have a concern.  The journal also has an option to submit to a website (i forget the name) a confirmation that I reviewed. I understood that to be of importance for those in academia to add to their CV. I'll be interested to hear  the experiences of other section members.

Hi Statistical Consulting Section,

I have been asked to discuss potentially being a paid statistical reviewer for a journal. I am an independent consultant and have been asked about what I would charge.

Does anyone have experience being a paid statistical reviewer?

If so, what pay structure do you use, hourly or per review and why? If hourly is it your normal hourly rate?

If you don't mind (can reply to me privately) sharing what you charge?

What do you like and not like about being a statistical reviewer? What is your motivation to do it? And are there things to look out for. I tend to be very thorough when asked to review a paper I am either an author or performed the statistics for so worried about my inclination to spend too much time vs my compensation.

Thanks for any advice!