I was reading Dr. Heather Berg’s Porn Work earlier this year when I came across this table listing the “average pay rate range in mainstream porn production.” Until this point, the amount of remuneration sex workers receive for our work was rather opaque to me. To see it published with such transparency was refreshing. I started comparing these rates with my own experience in this brief year since I have been involved in the industry. Most importantly, with this information, I am in a better position to negotiate future projects.

The clarity of this table, and the possibilities it might offer during wage negotiation, is one of the reasons why I was interested in conducting this anecdotal and informal survey on rates of compensation among AAPI sex workers and content creators in North America.

On Opacity and Transparency

Before we get into the survey results, it is important to address opacity.1 Things remain opaque as a tactic of survival, or to deliberately confound, especially since the sex work community has an ongoing history of being surveilled, and having our personal information weaponized against us.2

Not everything has to be made known, and in their very exposure might cause more harm than it does in remaining camouflaged. It is with this in mind - both the refreshing candor of finding out what has been hidden, but also understanding the consequences of this exposure - that I am approaching this project.

Knowledge is power, and we have to be careful how we wield it, and who gets to use it.

This survey is intended to equip AAPI-identifying sex workers and content creators with common knowledge of what is considered the “standard” rate within the industry.

For us, by us.

It is not a scientific study, does not assume to be impartial, and acknowledges that there are gaps in the information that are deliberately left out. These gaps are necessary in order to ensure responses are somewhat anonymous in order to encourage honesty, but also to ensure the survey is succinct and brief enough to attract complete responses.

Trust is a huge part of filling up a survey like this, especially since we have been trained to peg self-worth to monetary compensation, and trust (the presence or lack of) affects the quality and quantity of responses. Detailed responses are likely from people who know me personally, and thus is ultimately skewed towards my network of affinities.

This sharing of the initial responses is a “proof of concept” of the potential of this information. The survey is still ‘live’, and I hope it will gain traction outside of my network.

If you are an AAPI sex worker and creator, or know of an AAPI sex worker or creator who find this information helpful, do consider filling up the survey, and/or sending the link on. I will compile the results again in time to come.

Survey

Structure of the Survey

The survey is divided into five sections, divided by category of work.

1. In-person client services rates.

2. Pricing of fan sites.

3. Cost of independent content creation.

4. Rates for performing in studio pornography.

5. Compensation for in-person ‘live’ performances.

Not all survey respondents are engaged in all five aspects of sex work, and some sections were left blank if it does not pertain to them. The first question I ask clarifies which group they provide services and content to.

The survey was launched on 13 October 2023, and since then, I have received 13 responses. At this stage, it is clearly skewed towards my network - sex workers and creators who provide content and services to gay cis-men and the kink community. There is a result from a pro-domme female contact which helps to add some diverse perspective for the community that services straight cis-men. It is my hope that more responses in the future will add complexity to these results.

At the end of each section, there is a question that allows respondents to fill in any other notes they might have on each category, specifically worded as “helpful information to share with other creators.” I have collated and paraphrased some of this advice, redacting any personal identifiers, and included them below.

All rates are in US Dollars.

1. In-person Client Services Rates - Massages, Full Session etc.

The rate for an hour of massage ranges from $80 to $400. The median is between $160 to $200.

The clearest ones are those with differential pricing for a range of services provided, whether this service is rendered nude or clothed, with both parties or one party in the nude, and whether the massage comes with a release at the end. These nuances contribute to slight increments in rates. This tiered price range also helps to clarify expectations between the service provider and client from the beginning of the session.

A short full session client ranges from $250 to $1000. The median is $300 to $350 for the first hour, and added cost for additional time. Those on the higher range of pricing includes kink and fetish services provided, which requires additional preparation time and specialized equipment and space rental costs. We also have to keep in mind that these rates are mainly from creators and models who work in the pornography industry and who have a following on fan sites and an established online presence.

An overnight client (that might take anywhere from 8 to 12 hours) ranges from $1000 to $4000. This is also the category with the biggest discrepancy in rates, and the median falls somewhere between $2000 to $2400.

Some helpful advice in the notes section includes one respondent stating that even among kink rates, which is 50% higher than their usual rate, there is a difference in pricing depending on what specific kink is requested, and whether it is high protocol, impact, or bondage etc.

Another respondent highlights how it is important to maintain a fixed rate regardless of what city you are in or what activity you might perform. I quote:

“If someone is willing to pay for your time, they will.”

This also helps to weed out people who are not serious about engaging your services, but in it for the pleasure of the negotiation process (i.e. finding out how much are you willing to sell yourself for). For these endless negotiators and time wasters, no price will ever be low enough.

A respondent also added that their rate varies based on comfort level and familiarity with your clients, who might eventually become regulars.

2. Pricing of Fan Sites

Almost everyone who responded to the survey filled this section out. The monthly subscription rate for fan sites ranges from $5 to $15, with the median pricing of $10. 

Only a couple of the respondents sell their video clips individually, and the results range from $3 to $100 per video clip. The question was not worded to clarify if these are custom video clips (which are requested by fans desiring to see specific acts), or the pay-per-view / unlocking specific clips model (that allows fans to buy clips and view them before their general release, in addition to subscribing each month to the site).3 There are creators who state that they set clip prices based on the length of the clip, the number of models involved, and type of activity depicted in each clip.

In the notes section, a common thread that a couple of respondents mention includes the importance of setting your monthly subscription price higher when you are first starting out and giving promotions or discounts to attract new subscribers, instead of raising it after the fact. Creators who have priced themselves too low to start, and want to increase their monthly subscription price, might experience losing fans at the initial stage of raising prices, but with consistent posting, subscribers will eventually return in time.

One respondent also notes that pricing yourself too low may also be a deterrent for getting more experienced content creators who charge a higher monthly subscription fees to work with you. The rationale is that if fans can find the same content at a lower price, they will, and you are effectively undercutting your collaborator. They emphasize the importance of making content-creation sustainable in the long-run, and looking beyond short-term gains.

3. Cost of Independent Content Creation

As the industry professionalizes, another emerging aspect that some content creators have started to consider is the outsourcing of the work of managing, filming, and editing content.

This survey is not just about fair payment for us, but also fair payment for people who work with us.

Only one respondent answered the question on how much one pays for an assistant to manage their content - which is 30% of the total monthly income from fan sites. The ability to hire an assistant is probably out of the range of fiscal feasibility for most AAPI content creators.

There were a few more responses to the question of how much it costs to hire a cameraperson to film content, which ranges from $75 to $100 for a scene and additional cost if this includes filming and editing. One respondent stated that their compensation rate for editing content is $1 for each minute of editing time.

Another respondent also provided practical advice when engaging with a cameraperson, emphasizing the importance of clarifying beforehand what the hired cameraperson is going to provide. Some of these questions might include:

“Are they using their own camera for the shoot? Do they have lights they can use? Are they comfortable using your equipment? Do they have to arrive earlier to test equipment out and make sure everything is charged? Will they stay after the shoot to help with data wrangling? How will the data be transferred to you and your collaborators?”

A final important thing to clarify with your cameraperson or editor, especially if they have their own fan site, is whether they will be posting the clip on their platform and monetizing the clip, and what platforms they will be sharing it on. This will also affect the rate they might quote you for filming and/or editing a scene.

Only one respondent answered the question on how much they charge for a promotional post on social media - $100 for photos/stills, $200 for reels/video content.

4. Rates for Performing in Studio Pornography

Half of the 13 respondents answered this section of the survey.

For a solo scene, the rate ranges from $200 to $1200, with a median of $350.

For a partnered scene that includes penetrative sex, the rate ranges from $400 to $1200, with a median of $700 to $1000.

This rate remains the same for a group scene, unlike Dr. Berg’s survey of rates among cis-female performers which includes an increase in payment ($100 to $200) for each additional partner in a scene.

In the notes section, one respondent states that these rates will vary depending on the size of the studio. AAPI-specific studios, or studios open to casting AAPI-performers, might be considered niche studios and are smaller players compared to the bigger studios in the industry who are operating at a higher budget and able to offer a higher rate of compensation.

Another respondent states that we should consider negotiating for a commensurate compensation for group or kink-related scenes, since these scenes often require more time, energy, and preparation to shoot, and perform much better than solo or partnered scenes. Payment rates should factor in the amount of time and activity involved in the production process.

There is an additional question pertaining to the practice of reimbursement for talent testing services before a shoot, and accommodation, food, and transportation during the shoot.

All respondents stated that this cost needs to be borne by studios. One respondent stated that smaller studios might accept evidence of testing results from your primary care provider, and therefor reimbursement of testing costs might not part of the conversation, but this also creates friction on set as different performers might have non-standard methods of displaying and sharing their test results and varying understandings of what is considered acceptable. Given that there are still a number of gay-for-pay performers who might be uncomfortable working with U=U performers, it is the responsibility of the studio manager or producer to clarify this information beforehand to avoid tension on set, and not having a standardized testing record adds to the complication.

5. Compensation for In-Person ‘Live’ Performances

Only a third of the respondents answered this final section of the survey. The median is $100 for each go-go dancing gig.

Sets can vary from twenty minutes each, for up to three sets per gig, or be less structured and free-for-all to include an undefined number of sets and duration.

The standard take-home amount per go-go gig among the respondents is surprisingly consistent and precise - $175 inclusive of tips for each gig. One respondent adds that it was eventually not worth it after they weighed the costs involved, and that was the reason for them quitting go-go dancing.

The expected compensation for hosting an event at a club is $150 to $200 and ranges from $150 to $400 for ‘live’ erotic performances (which includes kink demonstrations, shadow-play performances etc.)

In the notes section, one respondent clarified that payment for gigs might depend on whether the venue has a good infrastructure for ensuring that performers are tipped. (e.g. is your Venmo handle on display on the screens in the club? Is there a culture of tipping at the venue? Are there specific collection points for tips? Does the club have adequate lighting to allow for you to be seen on your box? etc.) Venues might compensate higher if they recognise that they do not have appropriate infrastructure to support tipping. (Insert a cliche about the AAPI community being poor tippers here - in jest, but also a hard truth from experience.)

Another respondent states that payment for ‘live’ performances really varies according to location, whether within the United States, or including other parts of the world. The best answer for the question of rates for ‘live’ performance is often “depends on who is asking.” If the performance is for an event that is fundraising for sex workers, or at a smaller club, the price you will quote for a ‘live’ performance will be vastly different from a performance at a university or a huge circuit event. 

Finally, another respondent also states that when negotiating rates, it is also important to clarify other details that might affect how much you are comfortable with being compensated. I quote:

“It is always important to clarify call time, and what is expected of you from the person that hired you. How many sets are you expected to do? Are you expected to provide your own go-go attire or is it sponsored? Do you have a space to change? Are there drink tickets provided and how many? Do you get paid in cash or Venmo at the end of the evening?

Most importantly - is it a situation where you have to negotiate among the performers who gets placed at which spot in the bar (which boxes)? Or does the event producer allocate and ensure an even and fair rotation of spots. Depending on the bar, this makes a huge difference on how much tips you will get.”

Conclusion

The survey is still collecting responses. If you found this research helpful, do consider filling it out if you identify as an AAPI sex worker or content creator, or forwarding it on to someone who is.

Knowledge is power.