Freelance hourly rate calculator

The hourly rate that gets you to the income you want after tax, given the hours you can actually bill.

Income goal Before tax

Per

Tax rate Income and self-employment tax together, as a percentage

Billable hours a week Not hours worked

Weeks a year 48 leaves four weeks off

Hourly rate$71

Billable hours a year1,440

Gross needed a year$102,857

The rate is the gross income you need, spread across the hours you can actually invoice. Gross is the income goal divided by what is left after tax. Billable hours are the hours a week you can charge for, times the weeks you will work.

Most people overstate the billable hours. Admin, proposals, invoicing and the gaps between projects are all unpaid, and forty hours of work is rarely more than thirty of billing. Start from the lower figure and the rate takes care of itself.