Freelance Rate & Project Calculator

Know what to charge. Win better projects. Keep more of what you earn.

Recommended Hourly Rate

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Desired Annual Income

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Tax to Set Aside (Monthly)

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Real Hourly (After Tax)

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💰 Calculator Suite

Three calculators, one tool — switch between them instantly.

Set your target income and expenses — we'll tell you what to charge per hour.

Desired Annual Income ($)

Take-home pay you want after taxes

Annual Business Expenses ($)

Software, equipment, coworking, insurance, etc.

Billable Hours / Week

Weeks Worked / Year

Tax Rate (%)

Estimated effective tax rate (self-employment + income tax)

Estimate fixed-price project costs and generate a client-ready quote.

Project Type

Estimated Hours

Your Hourly Rate ($)

Contingency Buffer (%)

0% tight 20% 50% safe

Add buffer for scope creep, revisions, unknowns

Payment Terms

Know how much to set aside for taxes and what you really take home.

Monthly Revenue ($)

Tax Rate (%)

Self-employment + income tax estimate

Monthly Business Expenses ($)

Retirement Savings (%)

Monthly Breakdown

Total Revenue —

Tax to Set Aside —

Retirement Contribution —

Business Expenses —

Quarterly Tax Estimate —

          Take-Home Pay (After Everything)
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⚠️ This is an estimate only. Self-employment tax alone is ~15.3% in the US. Consult a qualified tax professional for your specific situation. Always set aside more than you think you need.

📊 Rate Comparison

See what different rates mean for your annual income at various billable hours.

Your Hourly Rate ($)

Part-time 10 hrs/week × 48 weeks —

Side hustle 20 hrs/week × 48 weeks —

Steady 30 hrs/week × 48 weeks —

Full freelance 40 hrs/week × 48 weeks —

        Your target: 25 hrs/week × 48 weeks
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⚡ Quick Reference

Common benchmarks and rules of thumb for freelancers.

Rule of Thumb

The 3× Rule

Charge 3× your target hourly wage. 1/3 goes to taxes, 1/3 to expenses/overhead, 1/3 is your actual take-home.

Pricing Strategy

Value vs. Time

Price on the value you deliver, not hours worked. If your work saves a client $50k, charging $5k is a bargain — even if it took 5 hours.

US Rate Benchmarks

What the Market Pays

Junior: $30–50/hr · Mid: $50–100/hr · Senior: $75–150/hr · Expert: $150–300+/hr. Specialized skills and high-demand niches command premiums.

Reality Check

Non-Billable Time

Admin, marketing, invoicing, learning, and selling usually consume 30–50% of your time. Only bill for actual client work hours.

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