Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator
Your Recommended Hourly Rate
How to Use the Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator
Setting your freelance rate is one of the most critical decisions for your business. Many freelancers make the mistake of simply matching a previous employer's hourly wage, which fails to account for the overhead of running a business. This calculator helps you work backward from your financial goals to find a sustainable rate.
Understanding the Key Metrics
- Desired Annual Net Salary: This is the "take-home" pay you want to have in your personal bank account after all business expenses and taxes are paid.
- Annual Business Expenses: Include software subscriptions, hardware, office rent, insurance, marketing costs, and professional services like accounting.
- Billable Hours: Remember that you cannot bill 40 hours a week. You must spend time on admin, sales, and marketing. Most successful freelancers average 20–25 billable hours per week.
- Tax Rate: Freelancers are responsible for both the employer and employee portions of social security/healthcare taxes, plus income tax. Generally, 25-35% is a safe estimate depending on your location.
Example Calculation
Suppose you want a net salary of $60,000. Your expenses are $5,000 a year. You plan to take 4 weeks of vacation and bill 25 hours per week. Assuming a 25% tax rate:
- Gross income needed for $60k net: $80,000
- Total revenue (Gross + Expenses): $85,000
- Total billable hours (48 weeks × 25 hours): 1,200 hours
- Required Hourly Rate: $70.83
The "Hidden" Costs of Freelancing
When using this calculator, don't forget to account for "non-working" time. You should include sick days, public holidays, and professional development time in your "Weeks of Time Off" field. If you don't charge enough to cover these days, you are essentially taking a pay cut every time you get sick or take a holiday.