Ummmm...there is a "However" to this. Before starting to work for myself, I worked "in house" for a large advertising company, in Chicago, where we were living. Starting salary was $26.50, per hour, for in house designers. And, most of the work was just presentations in Powerpoint. That was 4 years ago. Yes, it is different, when there is bidding involved, and, independent contracters, but, we do ourselves a serious disservice by straying too far from the "industry standards" when placing a bid.