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Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator

Find the hourly rate you need to charge to hit your income goal after taxes and expenses.

Billable hours are only the hours you can charge for. Most freelancers bill 20-30 hours a week because the rest goes to finding clients and admin. The 25% tax rate is a placeholder. In the US, self-employed people pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare tax, so check your own figure.

Minimum hourly rate to reach your goal
ItemAmount
Day rate (8 hours)
Weekly billing
Monthly revenue needed
Yearly revenue needed
Billable hours per year

Hourly rate needed for a yearly income goal

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Frequently asked questions

How do I set my freelance hourly rate?

Start with the take-home income you want, add taxes and business expenses to get the revenue you need, then divide by the hours you can realistically bill in a year.

Why should a freelancer charge more than an employee's hourly wage?

Freelancers pay their own taxes, health insurance and software, get no paid time off, and cannot bill every hour they work. Many freelancers charge noticeably more than the hourly equivalent of an employee salary to cover this.

How many billable hours should I plan for?

Many freelancers plan for 20 to 30 billable hours a week. The rest is used for marketing, admin and finding new clients. Use the number that matches your own work.

Estimates only. Not tax or financial advice.