Speaking fee

A speaking fee is a payment awarded to an individual for speaking at a public event.

Motivational speakers, businesspersons, facilitators, and celebrities are able to garner significant earnings in speaking fees or honoraria. In 2013, $10,000 was considered a lower limit for speakers brokered by speakers bureaus, $40,000 a regular fee for well-known authors, and famous politicians were reported to charge about $100,000 and more.[1]

In contrast, speakers in academic conferences and similar events rarely get significant speaking fees or any at all. Sometimes speakers will even pay for attending and presenting at a conference, although it is fairly common that they are rewarded with free attendance.[2] Researchers and academics consider conference presentations an honour and necessary for their careers, rather than a service. Scientists who become popular authors or otherwise famous are an exception, and can earn similar sums as celebrities. [3]

Prudence must be taken with speaker fees for government officials or employees or to scientific searchers as it may be considered as a bribery.[4]

  1. ^ Morgan, Nick. "How Much Can You Charge For Speaking?". Forbes. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  2. ^ Poe, Curtis. "How Do Conference Speakers Get Compensated?". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  3. ^ Mack, Alison. "Scientific Success Often Leads To Paid Public-Speaking Engagements". The Scientist. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  4. ^ Chen, Henry (2020-11-05). "Fees to speakers: academic exchange or commercial bribery - Anti-Bribery & Fraud-The Compliance Reviews". www.compliancereviews.cn. Retrieved 2021-09-22.