417 Freelancers

Free Tool for 417 Freelancers

Free Freelance Rate Calculator

Stop guessing what to charge. Enter your income goals, expenses, and working hours to get a realistic hourly, daily, and project rate in seconds.

Calculate My Rate

Set your income goal

Start with the take-home pay you actually want, not a guess at what clients might pay.

Account for real hours

Only billable hours count. The calculator factors in admin time, time off, and non-billable work.

Cover taxes and expenses

Build in a buffer for self-employment tax, software, insurance, and other business costs.

Price full projects

Turn your hourly rate into a day rate, weekly rate, or a quote for a specific project.

Calculate your rate

Adjust the numbers below. Your target rate updates automatically.

Income Goals

$
$
%

Portion of revenue set aside for self-employment tax, income tax, and savings. 25 to 35% is a common starting point; talk to an accountant for your exact number.

Working Time

wks
days
hrs

Billable hours are hours you actually bill clients, not time spent on admin, marketing, or finding work. Most freelancers bill 4 to 6 hours out of an 8-hour day.

Project Estimator

hrs

Your Target Rate

$78.57 / hour

Based on 1,200 billable hours across 48 working weeks.

Day rate$392.86
Weekly rate$1,964.29
Annual revenue target$94,286
Sample project (20 hrs)$1,571.43

Freelance pricing, answered

Common questions about setting your freelance rates.

How do freelancers calculate their hourly rate?+
Start with your desired annual take-home income, add your annual business expenses, then divide by the number of hours you actually expect to bill clients in a year. Build in a buffer for taxes and savings before dividing, since that revenue needs to cover more than just your paycheck.
What counts as a billable hour?+
A billable hour is time spent doing work a client is directly paying for. Time spent on invoicing, marketing, finding new clients, professional development, and general admin is real work, but it is not billable. Most freelancers can only bill 4 to 6 hours out of an 8-hour workday.
How much should I set aside for taxes as a freelancer?+
Self-employment tax in the US is 15.3% on top of your regular federal and state income tax, so many freelancers set aside 25 to 35% of revenue for taxes and savings combined. Your exact number depends on your income level and state. A local accountant can give you a precise figure.
Should I charge hourly or by the project?+
Hourly pricing is simpler and protects you if scope grows, but project pricing rewards efficiency and gives clients cost certainty. A common approach is to calculate your hourly rate first, then use it to build fixed project quotes based on your estimated hours.
How often should I raise my rates?+
Many freelancers review their rates once or twice a year, and raise them as demand increases, skills grow, or costs rise. If you are consistently fully booked with a waitlist, that is a strong signal your rate is below market.
Is this calculator specific to Springfield, MO freelancers?+
The formula works anywhere, but the defaults and guidance are written with 417-area freelancers in mind. Once you have a target rate, you can compare it to what similar freelancers charge locally in our rate guide on the blog.

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