Setting your rate can feel like guesswork, but there's actually a lot of useful data to guide you. The platform supports two pricing models — hourly and per-round flat rates — and understanding both will help you price yourself right, get booked faster, and earn more over time.
When you set up your profile, you'll choose one pricing model:
Many caddies start with hourly while they're getting established, then switch to per-round once they have a clear sense of their typical round times and what their market supports.
Most caddies in the U.S. charge between $25 and $45 per hour. Where you fall in that range depends primarily on your local cost of living, the type of courses you work, and your experience level.
If you choose per-round pricing, your flat rate should reflect the full time commitment of each round type — not just the hours on the course, but travel, early arrival, and wrap-up time as well.
A useful rule of thumb: a 9-hole booking carries roughly a 4-hour total commitment, and an 18-hole booking carries roughly a 6-hour total commitment. Multiply your target hourly rate by those hours to find a starting flat rate.
Using those anchors and the mid-market hourly range above ($30–$38/hr):
The platform includes a "Suggest flat rates" tool in your profile — enter your hourly anchor, click the button, and it will calculate suggested flat amounts for each round size based on these time commitments. The suggested amounts are fully editable, so adjust them to match your market before saving.
This applies to both models. When you're starting out, your rate directly affects how quickly your calendar fills up. Golfers browsing caddies compare a few profiles before booking. A lower rate with no reviews will often beat a higher rate with no reviews — in either pricing model.
The caddies who price aggressively early are the ones who stack up reviews fast. And reviews compound — a caddy with 15 five-star reviews at $35/hr (or an equivalent per-round rate) will get more bookings than one with zero reviews at $45/hr, every time.
If your rate is above market for your experience level, you'll notice fewer inquiries and bookings. That's not a reflection of your worth — it's just how marketplace economics work. New caddies who start high often sit idle for weeks, which delays the review growth they need to justify higher rates down the road.
Think of your early rate as an investment in your reputation, not a reflection of your ceiling. This is true whether you price hourly or per-round.
Here's a simple rule of thumb for either model:
Tips are a standard part of caddy culture — and they apply to both hourly and per-round bookings. Most golfers who have a good experience will add $20–$50 or more at the end of the round. Tips are on top of your flat rate or hourly total, and they can meaningfully boost your take-home for a single loop.
When you factor in a solid tip, a $120 9-hole flat rate might net you $150–$170 total. That changes the math on what "competitive" means.
Start competitive. Get your first 5–10 reviews. Then raise your rate — by $3–$5/hr, or the equivalent bump in your flat rates — as your reputation builds. Repeat. This is exactly how top-rated caddies on the platform have grown their earnings — not by pricing high from day one, but by building trust early and leveraging it over time.
Your rate is not permanent. It's a starting point.
Browse the complete caddy resource library for more guides on green reading, course management, fitness, communication, and professionalism. Not yet on the platform? Create your free caddy profile and start earning from your love of the game. You can also check our caddy job board for more information on earning opportunities.