ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Retainer Contract Jobs (NOW HIRING)

BARK

AI Native Creative (Contract)

New York, NY · Remote

$80 - $100/hr

Compensation range: $80-100/hour or retainer This is a contract role with real potential to grow into something more. Come show us what you can do. TO APPLY Send us: * Your portfolio, work samples ...

BARK

AI Native Creative (Contract)

New York, NY · On-site

$80 - $100/hr

Compensation range: $80-100/hour or retainer This is a contract role with real potential to grow into something more. Come show us what you can do. TO APPLY Send us: * Your portfolio, work samples ...

VAWAA

Growth + Content Strategist - Creative Travel

$2.5K - $3.5K/mo

July 20, 2025 Remote | Contract Commitment: ~24 hours/week on a monthly retainer, with potential to transition to full-time after 4 months. About VAWAA: VAWAA is a unique marketplace that connects ...

WME Group

Legal Counsel

New York, NY

$150K/yr

Strategic Partnerships & Retainer-Based Deals: Lead legal support for high-value, long-term ... Provide timely and practical legal advice on contract interpretation, enforcement, and risk ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

People also search for

All JobsRetainer Contract Jobs

Retainer Contract information

See salary details

$16

$34

$50

How much do retainer contract jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for retainer contract in the United States is $34.87, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $28.85 and $40.14 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a retainer contract?

A retainer contract is an agreement between a client and a service provider where the client pays a fee—usually monthly or on a recurring basis—to secure access to the provider's services as needed. This type of contract is common in industries like legal, consulting, design, and marketing. The retainer fee ensures the provider's availability and may cover a set number of hours or specific tasks, with any additional work billed separately. Retainer contracts offer both parties predictability and a stable working relationship.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in a Retainer Contract position, and why are they important?

To excel in a Retainer Contract position, you typically need subject-matter expertise in your field, relevant educational background, and proven experience delivering consistent results. Familiarity with project management tools, invoicing software, and customer relationship management (CRM) systems is often required. Strong communication, reliability, and the ability to manage multiple priorities are essential soft skills for maintaining client relationships and meeting ongoing expectations. These skills ensure sustained client satisfaction, efficient service delivery, and long-term professional success under retainer agreements.

What does a $10,000 retainer mean?

A $10,000 retainer for a retainer contract typically represents an upfront fee paid to secure ongoing services or work over a specified period. It often covers a set amount of work or hours, with additional costs billed separately if needed. This arrangement is common in consulting, legal, or creative fields where continuous support is required.

What is a retainer salary income?

A retainer salary income refers to a fixed fee paid regularly to a professional, such as a consultant or contractor, for their ongoing availability and services. In a retainer contract, this income provides stability and ensures the worker is available for specified work or advice, often regardless of the amount of work performed in a given period.

What is a retainer in contract work?

A retainer in contract work is an agreement where a client pays a freelancer or consultant a set fee upfront to secure ongoing access to their services over a specified period. It often involves regular work or availability, with the retainer fee covering the professional's time and priority scheduling.

How does working under a retainer contract impact daily workflow and communication with clients?

Working under a retainer contract typically involves a consistent, ongoing relationship with a client, which can streamline communication and provide predictable workflows. You’ll often be expected to prioritize tasks for the client based on agreed-upon hours or deliverables, while maintaining flexibility to address urgent needs as they arise. Regular check-ins or status updates are common, and you’ll likely become an integral part of the client’s extended team, fostering long-term collaboration. This structure offers more stability than project-based work and can lead to greater opportunities for professional growth through deeper client engagement.

What is a retainer agreement contract?

A retainer agreement contract is a formal arrangement between a client and a service provider, such as a legal or consulting professional, where the client pays a fee upfront to secure ongoing services. It outlines the scope of work, payment terms, and responsibilities, ensuring the provider is available for a specified period or tasks. This type of contract is common in fields requiring regular or specialized support and often involves scheduled payments or retainers for priority access.

What is the difference between Retainer Contract vs Freelance Graphic Designer?

AspectRetainer ContractFreelance Graphic Designer
CredentialsTypically requires design certifications or portfolioOften requires a portfolio, certifications are optional
Work EnvironmentOngoing, long-term relationship with a clientProject-based, varies by client
Employer/Industry UsageCommon in agencies, corporate marketing teamsCommon among independent contractors, small businesses
Search/Comparison IntentHigh overlap in client relationships, ongoing workProject scope, one-time or short-term work

A Retainer Contract involves a long-term agreement where a graphic designer provides ongoing services for a set fee, ensuring priority and availability. In contrast, a Freelance Graphic Designer typically works on individual projects, with payment per project or hourly, without guaranteed ongoing work. Understanding these differences helps clients choose the right engagement model for their needs.

What are the most commonly searched types of Retainer jobs? The most popular types of Retainer jobs are:
Infographic showing various Retainer Contract job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 62% Full Time, 19% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 17% Contract. Highlights an 80% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 18% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $72,535 per year, or $34.9 per hour.
AI Native Creative (Contract)

AI Native Creative (Contract)

BARK

New York, NY • Remote

$80 - $100/hr

Other

Posted 10 days ago

Job description

AI Native Creative (Contract)

Remote, US

ABOUT BARK BARK makes magic for dogs.

We launched BarkBox in 2011 and have shipped more than 70 million toys and treats to dogs worldwide. Our brand voice is weird, emotional, internet-native, and very online. We care deeply about making things people actually want to watch.

Now we're looking for someone who can create at the speed the internet moves.

THE ROLE 

This is basically a one-person AI content studio inside BARK.

You'll work directly with the VP of Brand and Chief Creative Officer to turn raw ideas into finished creative across social, product launches, landing pages, campaigns, and whatever weird opportunity showed up that morning.

Sometimes the brief is fully formed. Sometimes it's a sentence in Slack.  Either way: you make something real out of it fast.

This starts as a contract role. We're intentionally keeping it small while we find the right people. If there's a fit, we expect that to become obvious quickly.

WHAT YOU'LL ACTUALLY DO
  • Turn ideas into finished creative quickly - often within days, sometimes within hours
  • Create short-form video for TikTok, Reels, YouTube Shorts, paid social, launches, and brand moments
  • Use AI tools to generate visuals, motion, concepts, edits, VO, scripts, worlds, and content systems
  • Build full asset suites across video, static, motion, landing pages, and PDPs
  • Adapt creative per platform instead of making one thing and resizing it 12 times
  • Experiment constantly with new tools and workflows
  • Bring your own ideas. A lot of them.
  • Operate independently without waiting for perfect process
THIS ROLE IS FOR YOU IF...
  • You're already living in AI creative tools every day.
  • You probably have some combination of Runway, Midjourney, Claude, Flux, Veo, Kling, ElevenLabs, or whatever launched last week open right now.
  • You care about taste as much as speed.
  • You hate AI slop.
  • You see most AI-generated content and immediately know why it doesn't work.
  • You like making things people replay, send to friends, or comment "wait how did they make this?"
  • You're not precious about creative. You ship, learn, remix, improve, repeat.
  • And yes - you genuinely love dogs. That part matters more than you think.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
  • A portfolio with range, speed, and point of view
  • Strong AI-native creative instincts
  • Fluency in modern AI creative workflows
  • Video editing skills (CapCut, Premiere, DaVinci, etc.)
  • Deep understanding of internet culture and short-form storytelling
  • Someone who can move from idea to execution without a giant team around them

Bonus points if you've worked inside a brand with a distinct voice and know how to make creative that still feels cohesive while moving fast.

TOOLS YOU MIGHT USE

Runway Veo Midjourney Flux Kling ElevenLabs CapCut Premiere Claude Weavy whatever dropped three days ago

IMPORTANT
  • This is not a traditional social media role.
  • This is not "prompting."
  • This is not posting templates into a content calendar.
  • We're looking for someone who treats AI like a creative instrument and knows how to turn speed into original brand storytelling.
  • If that sounds like your natural habitat, we'd love to see your work.
THE DETAILS
  • Contract role
  • US-based candidates only
  • Expected weekly hours: 20
  • Initial engagement length: 3 months
  • Compensation range: $80-100/hour or retainer

This is a contract role with real potential to grow into something more. Come show us what you can do.

TO APPLY

Send us:

  1. Your portfolio, work samples, social profile, or anything else that gives us a feel for your creative work. We'd especially love to see short-form video, AI-assisted creative, experimental content, or things made fast and well.
  2. The most interesting, weird, impressive, or unexpectedly great thing you've made recently with AI. Could be a polished campaign, a chaotic experiment, a fake ad, a dog video, or some random thing you made at 1am because you had to see if it would work. Bonus points if a dog is involved.

Upload files, share links, do whatever makes sense. Nothing here needs to be formal. And please don't play it safe for us. We'd be honored if you offended us.

Apply