.calculator-wrapper {
max-width: 800px;
margin: 0 auto;
font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Geneva, Verdana, sans-serif;
color: #333;
line-height: 1.6;
}
.calc-container {
background-color: #f8f9fa;
border: 1px solid #e9ecef;
border-radius: 8px;
padding: 30px;
margin-bottom: 40px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
}
.calc-title {
text-align: center;
color: #2c3e50;
margin-bottom: 25px;
font-size: 28px;
font-weight: 700;
}
.input-grid {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
gap: 20px;
}
@media (max-width: 600px) {
.input-grid {
grid-template-columns: 1fr;
}
}
.input-group {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.input-group label {
display: block;
margin-bottom: 8px;
font-weight: 600;
color: #495057;
}
.input-group input {
width: 100%;
padding: 12px;
border: 1px solid #ced4da;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 16px;
box-sizing: border-box; /* crucial for padding */
}
.input-group input:focus {
border-color: #4dabf7;
outline: none;
box-shadow: 0 0 0 3px rgba(77, 171, 247, 0.2);
}
.calc-btn {
width: 100%;
padding: 15px;
background-color: #228be6;
color: white;
border: none;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 18px;
font-weight: 700;
cursor: pointer;
transition: background-color 0.2s;
margin-top: 20px;
}
.calc-btn:hover {
background-color: #1c7ed6;
}
.result-box {
margin-top: 30px;
padding: 20px;
background-color: #e7f5ff;
border: 1px solid #d0ebff;
border-radius: 6px;
text-align: center;
display: none; /* Hidden by default */
}
.result-value {
font-size: 36px;
font-weight: 800;
color: #1971c2;
margin: 10px 0;
}
.result-breakdown {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
gap: 15px;
margin-top: 20px;
text-align: left;
border-top: 1px solid #a5d8ff;
padding-top: 15px;
}
.breakdown-item span {
display: block;
font-size: 14px;
color: #555;
}
.breakdown-item strong {
display: block;
font-size: 18px;
color: #333;
}
.article-content h2 {
color: #2c3e50;
border-bottom: 2px solid #eee;
padding-bottom: 10px;
margin-top: 40px;
}
.article-content h3 {
color: #34495e;
margin-top: 25px;
}
.article-content p {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.article-content ul {
margin-bottom: 20px;
padding-left: 20px;
}
.article-content li {
margin-bottom: 8px;
}
function calculateHourlyRate() {
// Get inputs using var
var salary = parseFloat(document.getElementById('desiredSalary').value);
var expenses = parseFloat(document.getElementById('annualExpenses').value);
var hoursPerWeek = parseFloat(document.getElementById('billableHours').value);
var weeksOff = parseFloat(document.getElementById('weeksOff').value);
var taxRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('taxRate').value);
var profitMargin = parseFloat(document.getElementById('profitMargin').value);
// Validation
if (isNaN(salary) || isNaN(hoursPerWeek) || hoursPerWeek <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid desired salary and billable hours.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(expenses)) expenses = 0;
if (isNaN(weeksOff)) weeksOff = 0;
if (isNaN(taxRate)) taxRate = 0;
if (isNaN(profitMargin)) profitMargin = 0;
// Logic Steps
// 1. Calculate working weeks
var workingWeeks = 52 – weeksOff;
if (workingWeeks <= 0) {
alert("Weeks off cannot exceed 52.");
return;
}
// 2. Calculate Total Billable Hours per year
var totalBillableHours = workingWeeks * hoursPerWeek;
// 3. Calculate Revenue required to hit Net Salary
// Formula: (Revenue – Expenses) * (1 – TaxRate) = Net Salary
// We also want to add a profit buffer on top of the base costs.
// Let's first find the Base Revenue needed to cover Taxes and Salary.
// BaseRevenue – Expenses = TaxableIncome
// TaxableIncome * (1 – TaxDecimal) = NetSalary
// Therefore: TaxableIncome = NetSalary / (1 – TaxDecimal)
// BaseRevenue = (NetSalary / (1 – TaxDecimal)) + Expenses
var taxDecimal = taxRate / 100;
var taxableIncomeNeeded = salary / (1 – taxDecimal);
var baseRevenueNeeded = taxableIncomeNeeded + expenses;
// 4. Add Profit Margin Buffer
// We apply the buffer to the gross revenue to ensure growth
var totalGrossRevenue = baseRevenueNeeded * (1 + (profitMargin / 100));
// 5. Calculate Hourly Rate
var hourlyRate = totalGrossRevenue / totalBillableHours;
// 6. Calculate breakdown metrics
var totalTax = (totalGrossRevenue – expenses) * taxDecimal;
var weeklyTarget = totalGrossRevenue / workingWeeks;
// Update UI
document.getElementById('hourlyRateResult').innerText = '$' + hourlyRate.toFixed(2) + ' / hour';
document.getElementById('grossRevenueResult').innerText = '$' + Math.round(totalGrossRevenue).toLocaleString();
document.getElementById('totalHoursResult').innerText = Math.round(totalBillableHours).toLocaleString();
document.getElementById('taxLiabilityResult').innerText = '$' + Math.round(totalTax).toLocaleString();
document.getElementById('weeklyTargetResult').innerText = '$' + Math.round(weeklyTarget).toLocaleString();
// Show results
document.getElementById('resultsArea').style.display = 'block';
}
How to Calculate Your Ideal Freelance Hourly Rate
Transitioning from a salaried employee to a freelancer requires a fundamental shift in how you view your income. If you simply take your old annual salary and divide it by 2,080 (the standard number of work hours in a year), you will likely end up underpaid and overworked. This Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator helps you determine a sustainable rate that accounts for taxes, overhead, and non-billable time.
The "Billable Hours" Trap
One of the most common mistakes new freelancers make is assuming they will be billable for 40 hours a week. In reality, running a business involves significant non-billable time, including:
- Marketing and business development
- Invoicing and accounting
- Client communication and meetings
- Skill development and training
For most successful freelancers, a realistic billable load is between 20 to 30 hours per week. Our calculator adjusts your rate based on this reality to ensure you still hit your income goals.
Accounting for Overhead and Taxes
As an employee, your employer covers the cost of software, hardware, office space, and half of your FICA taxes. As a freelancer, these are your responsibilities.
Self-Employment Tax: You must account for the full Social Security and Medicare tax burden, plus income tax. A safe rule of thumb is to set aside 25-30% of your profit for taxes. This calculator reverse-engineers your required gross revenue so that your net take-home pay matches your desired lifestyle.
Why You Need a Profit Margin
Your hourly rate shouldn't just cover your salary and bills; it should generate a profit for the business. A profit margin (typically 10-20%) allows you to:
- Build a rainy day fund for lean months
- Invest in better equipment
- Outsource tasks in the future
Use the inputs above to experiment with different scenarios. Seeing the numbers laid out clearly is the first step toward confident pricing negotiations.