Freelance Rate Calculator
Enter your income goal and work schedule — see the minimum hourly rate you need to charge to hit your take-home target after taxes and unbillable time.
Annual net income you want to keep after all taxes
$
Subtract vacation, holidays, and slow seasons
Admin, sales, and networking hours you can't invoice a client for
%
Deductible expenses that reduce your net profit and tax bill
$
⚠️ Estimates only. Tax rates updated for 2026. Consult a CPA for advice specific to your situation.
Minimum hourly rate
$138/hr
To net $80,000 after taxes
Rate conversions
Day rate (8 hrs)$1,101
Week rate$3,304
Month rate$14,317
Tax breakdown
Gross billing needed$158,583
Self-employment tax$43,401
Federal income tax$20,899
State income tax$14,283
Total tax$78,583
Take-home$80,000
Effective rate: 49.6% · Marginal federal: 24.0%
Your schedule
Total hours / year1,920
Billable hours / year1,152
Billable hours / week24
Industry rate benchmarks
Software developer$75–$200/hryour range
UX / product designer$60–$150/hryour range
Data analyst / engineer$70–$175/hryour range
Marketing consultant$50–$150/hryour range
Business consultant$100–$300/hryour range
Copywriter / content$35–$100/hrabove avg
Video / motion design$50–$150/hryour range
Virtual assistant$20–$60/hrabove avg
US market rates, 2025. Ranges vary by experience, niche, and client type. Specialists and senior practitioners regularly exceed the top of these ranges.