Skip to main content
Tools

Freelance Media Buyer Pricing in the Philippines (2026)

What to charge for managing ads in 2026. Junior, mid, senior rates. Local vs international. Performance vs retainer. The real numbers from working with 50+ Filipino media buyers.

Vince Servidad
Vince Servidad
Performance Marketing Consultant
10 min read
Share:

Pricing is the most-asked question by Filipino freelance media buyers. Charge too little and you're a junior; charge too much and you scare clients.

Here are the real ranges based on PH 2026 reality.

TL;DR

PH-based clients:

  • Junior: ₱15K–₱30K/month per client.
  • Mid: ₱30K–₱60K/month.
  • Senior: ₱60K–₱150K/month.
  • International clients:

  • Junior: $400–$1,000/month.
  • Mid: $1,000–$3,000/month.
  • Senior: $3,000–$8,000+/month.
  • What junior, mid, senior actually means

    Junior (0–6 months experience)

  • Can build campaigns from a brief.
  • Knows Pixel, basic audiences, basic creative testing.
  • Limited results portfolio.
  • Needs supervision.
  • Mid (6 months – 2 years)

  • Independent campaign management.
  • Builds creative briefs.
  • Manages Pixel/CAPI/tracking.
  • Has 3–5 client wins documented.
  • Can scale accounts to ₱30K+/day.
  • Senior (2+ years)

  • Strategy and planning.
  • Multi-channel coordination (Meta + Google + Email).
  • Manages junior media buyers.
  • Has scaled accounts to ₱100K+/day.
  • Specialist in a vertical or platform.
  • Pricing models

    Monthly retainer

    Most common. Set fee for defined scope.

    PH rates:

  • Junior: ₱15K–₱30K.
  • Mid: ₱30K–₱60K.
  • Senior: ₱60K–₱150K.
  • International rates (USD):

  • Junior: $400–$1,000.
  • Mid: $1,000–$3,000.
  • Senior: $3,000–$8,000+.
  • % of ad spend

    10–15% of monthly ad spend, typically with a minimum.

    Example: client spends ₱200K/month on ads. Your fee: ₱20K–₱30K + minimum.

    Better for high-spend clients. Risky for new clients (low spend = low fee).

    Performance-based

    5–10% of incremental revenue.

    Hard to verify. Avoid for new clients. Works for established accounts where attribution is clear.

    Hybrid retainer + performance

    Base retainer ₱30K + 3–5% of revenue above target.

    Best for both parties: predictable income for you, aligned incentives.

    What's included in the price

    Standard scope:

  • Campaign setup and management.
  • Weekly reporting.
  • Monthly strategy call.
  • Creative briefing (you brief, client supplies creative).
  • Audience and bidding optimization.
  • Excluded (charge extra):

  • Creative production.
  • Landing page builds.
  • Email marketing.
  • Influencer outreach.
  • How to set your rate

    Step 1: Calculate your minimum

    What you need to earn:

  • Living expenses: ₱30K–₱50K/month.
  • Taxes: 8% (BIR option for under ₱3M revenue).
  • Tools: ₱5K/month (Triple Whale, Slack, etc.).
  • Buffer: 20%.
  • Minimum monthly income: ~₱60K (sole income) or ~₱30K (supplemental).

    Step 2: Calculate per-client fee

    Capacity: 4–6 clients max as a solo operator. So:

  • ₱60K minimum / 4 clients = ₱15K per client floor.
  • ₱60K minimum / 6 clients = ₱10K per client floor.
  • But ₱10K is junior pricing. You need 4–5 clients at ₱20K+ minimum.

    Step 3: Adjust for experience and value

    If you have 1+ year of results: charge mid (₱30K+).

    If you specialize: charge premium (₱40K+).

    If you're solo with proof of scaling accounts to 7-figure revenue: ₱60K–₱100K+.

    Pricing psychology

    Don't undersell

    A "₱5K/month" pricing signal:

  • Junior.
  • Inexperienced.
  • Won't deliver results.
  • Better to take fewer high-paying clients than many low-paying.

    Don't overprice without proof

    Pricing senior with junior portfolio = client churns within 90 days.

    Anchor with packages

    Offer 3 tiers:

  • Starter: ₱30K/month, basic management.
  • Growth: ₱50K/month, +creative briefing, weekly calls.
  • Scale: ₱80K+/month, +multi-channel, dedicated.
  • Most clients pick mid-tier. Anchors price perception.

    Contract essentials

    Always have a contract:

  • Scope of work.
  • Deliverables.
  • Reporting cadence.
  • Payment terms (50% upfront, 50% net 15).
  • Termination clause (30 days notice).
  • Performance metrics.
  • IP ownership.
  • When to raise rates

    Raise rates with current clients when:

  • You've delivered measurable results.
  • 6+ months of partnership.
  • Increased scope.
  • Sample message:

    > Hi [client], it's been a great 8 months. We've taken your account from ₱X to ₱Y revenue at ROAS Z. To continue growing, I'd like to update my retainer to ₱[new rate], starting next month. Happy to discuss.

    Most clients accept. Some don't — that's okay, replace them.

    Working with international clients

    Pros

  • 2–4x PH rates in USD/EUR.
  • Higher caliber clients.
  • Often better processes.
  • Cons

  • Time zone challenges.
  • Higher quality bar.
  • Stricter contracts.
  • Tax complexity.
  • Where to find

  • LinkedIn (US/AU/UK companies hiring contractors).
  • Upwork (race to the bottom mostly, but $80+/hour exists).
  • We Work Remotely.
  • Direct outreach via cold email.
  • Payment

  • PayPal: 4–5% fee, slow.
  • Wise: 1–2% fee, fast.
  • Deel or Remote: easier compliance, small fee.
  • Tax considerations

    For PH freelancers earning under ₱3M/year: BIR's 8% income tax option is simplest.

    Above ₱3M/year: graduated tax (up to 35%).

    Keep records of:

  • Gross income.
  • Business expenses.
  • Tools and subscriptions.
  • Professional development.
  • Consult a Filipino accountant once you're past ₱100K/month.

    Want to charge more?

    The path to higher rates: specialize, build a portfolio, deliver measurable results.

    The Facebook Ads Course Philippines and Google Ads Course Philippines accelerate that journey.

    Related reading:

  • How to Become a Media Buyer in the Philippines
  • Building an Ads Agency From Home
  • Working With International Clients
  • Vince Servidad

    Written by Vince Servidad

    I've spent over $26M on ads and built my own 7-figure brand from scratch. I don't just 'manage ads'—I build the growth systems that actually scale businesses profitably.

    Want More Marketing Insights?

    Get weekly tips, strategies, and case studies delivered to your inbox.

    Need help with Tools?

    Get hands-on support from a performance marketing consultant based in the Philippines.

    Related Articles