⏱️ Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator

Don't undercharge. Calculate the minimum hourly rate you need to cover taxes, overhead, and achieve your income goal.

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Your Goals & Costs

Income Goal
$

How much do you want to actually keep after taxes? This is net — not gross.

Work Schedule

Total hours you work per week.

Holidays, PTO, sick days.

%

Not all your time is billable — admin, marketing, and networking take time too. 60-80% is typical.

Overhead & Costs
$

Software, tools, equipment, office, etc.

%

Buffer for growth, savings, and bad months.

Tax Estimate
%

Include federal income + SE tax + state. A 25-35% estimate is typical for most freelancers.

Your Recommended Hourly Rate

—
per billable hour
⏱️

Enter your goals and costs to see your rate.

This is a minimum rate estimate. Consider charging more based on your experience, market demand, and niche expertise.
📈 Rate Scenarios

Rate scenarios will appear after calculation.

The #1 Mistake Freelancers Make: Forgetting to factor in taxes (25-35% of income), non-billable time (20-40% of hours), and overhead. Many freelancers should be charging 2-3× what they think.

Freelance Rate Benchmarks by Industry (2025)

How does your calculated rate compare to market rates in your field?

Average Freelance Hourly Rates — US Market
FieldEntry LevelMid-LevelSenior / Expert
Web Development$35–55$75–100$120–200+
Graphic Design$25–45$55–85$100–150+
Copywriting / Content$25–40$50–80$100–200+
Bookkeeping / Accounting$20–35$40–75$80–150+
Marketing / SEO$30–50$60–100$120–200+
Photography$50–80$100–150$175–300+
Consulting (General)$50–75$100–150$175–400+
Construction Trades$35–55$65–95$100–175+
IT / Cybersecurity$60–90$100–150$175–300+

Frequently Asked Questions

Most freelancers undercharge because they don't account for: (1) 15.3% SE tax on top of income tax, (2) non-billable administrative time, (3) overhead costs, (4) no employer benefits like health insurance or retirement contributions, (5) no paid vacation. When you factor in all these costs, a $60k "salary equivalent" often requires charging $80–100/hour.
A common estimate is 60-70% billable for established freelancers, lower (40-60%) when you're starting out and spending more time on marketing and admin. New clients, proposals, invoicing, bookkeeping, professional development, and marketing are all non-billable but essential. Track your actual time for 2-3 weeks to get a real number.
Many experienced freelancers prefer project pricing (value-based) because it rewards efficiency and expertise — you can earn much more per hour as you get faster. Use your calculated hourly rate to estimate project quotes: estimate hours × your rate × a buffer for scope creep. For ongoing retainers, hourly is common. For one-time projects, project pricing often earns more.
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Net Income Calculator

See your actual take-home at different income levels.
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SE Tax Calculator

Understand exactly how much SE tax you'll owe.
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Invoice Generator

Create professional invoices for your clients.
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