I ndexers may quote rates on a per page, per entry , per line, or per job basis. For the indexer, a set per page rate can produce widely varying amounts of income on an hourly basis. This is why it is not possible to quote one single per page rate for every job. Many factors go into the second calculation.
Indexing is both physically and mentally challenging.
The indexer often spends long hours at the keyboard, risking repetitive stress injuries to the hands and arms or to the voice if Speech Recognition Software is used. For this reason, an indexer's hour rate may seem higher than comparable salaried positions but it is not really higher when all the above factors are taken into account. Frequently one must provide an advance quote on an indexing job, often based on scant information - at most a sample chapter. Editors who have worked with me for years know that I will always charge them a fair rate for the work when I base my charges on maintaining an hourly rate that represents a professional and equitable return for quality work. For the editor's convenience, I will always quote a per page rate, but this rate will be based on a clear understanding, hopefully by seeing a sample chapter or two, of how much time I will need to spend on an index.