Free Freelance Rate Calculator — All 50 US States + UK
A rate that covers
all of it isn’t greedy.
It’s just accurate.
ChargeWhat is a free rate calculator built for US and UK freelancers — it works backwards from what you actually need to take home.
Most calculators tell you what you’d earn at a given rate. This one tells you the minimum rate you need after self-employment tax, state income tax, health insurance, and expenses.
ChargeWhat calculates the minimum hourly rate a US or UK freelancer needs to charge to hit a target take-home income. It accounts for self-employment tax (15.3%), federal and state income tax, health insurance, and business expenses, working backwards from what you actually need rather than forwards from a guess.
freelancers forget
accounted for
current HMRC & IRS rules
ChargeWhat — US
Freelance rate calculator · 2026
What should you quote for this project?
Your hourly rate from above is used automatically.
Estimates use 2026 federal tax law (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32) for your selected filing status, taking the standard deduction: real marginal brackets (10%–37%), the standard deduction ($16,100 single / $32,200 married filing jointly), the 20% QBI deduction (phasing out above $201,775 single / $403,500 married, over an OBBBA-expanded $75k/$150k range), and self-employment tax with the $184,500 Social Security wage cap plus the 0.9% additional Medicare tax (above $200k single / $250k married). Health insurance premiums are treated as the self-employed health insurance deduction — they reduce income tax but not SE tax. For married filing jointly, any spouse income you enter is stacked beneath your freelance profit so your rate reflects your true marginal tax rate; leave it at $0 if your freelance income is the household’s only income. State rates verified June 2026: flat-tax states use their exact 2026 rate; graduated states use the marginal rate at a typical freelance income (~$100k taxable), applied as a flat rate with no state deductions. Local income taxes (e.g. NYC, Maryland counties) are not included. Does not account for credits, itemized deductions, or retirement contributions. Not tax advice — consult a CPA for your specific situation. Based in the UK? Try our UK calculator.
Get your rate report as a PDF
Your minimum rate, the full breakdown, and the math behind it — on one page you can keep or send to a client.
What is self-employment tax and why does it matter?
Self-employment tax is 15.3% of 92.35% of your net profit — it covers both the employer and employee halves of Social Security and Medicare. As a freelancer you pay both sides yourself. This is on top of federal and state income tax, which is why your required rate is almost always higher than you’d expect.
Why does this calculator use 92.35% instead of 100%?
The IRS lets you deduct half of SE tax before calculating it, which effectively reduces the taxable base to 92.35% of net profit. This is baked into the calculator — it’s not an error, it’s the correct treatment per IRS rules.
What’s the difference between minimum rate and recommended rate?
The minimum rate is the floor — what you need to charge to hit your take-home target with no buffer. The recommended rate includes the profit buffer you set, which covers slow months, unpaid admin time, and unexpected expenses. Most freelancers should be quoting at or above the recommended rate.
Does this account for quarterly estimated tax payments?
The calculator shows your annual SE tax and income tax liability so you know what to expect. As a freelancer you’re required to pay estimated taxes quarterly — typically around 25–30% of each invoice set aside covers most situations, but your CPA can give you an exact figure based on your deductions and filing status.
Should I include health insurance in my rate?
Yes — unlike employees, freelancers pay their full health insurance premium out of pocket. The calculator has a dedicated health insurance field for this reason. The average individual marketplace premium in 2026 is around $450–$600 per month before any ACA subsidies, which adds meaningfully to your required rate.
US Freelance Rate Benchmarks
Market rate ranges by discipline — a calibration anchor, not a ceiling. Your actual minimum rate depends on your real tax burden, expenses, and income target, not just what the market pays.
| Discipline | Entry Level | Mid-Level | Senior / Specialist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copywriting & Content Full guide | $35 – $60/hr | $60 – $100/hr | $100 – $175+/hr |
| Video Editing & Motion Full guide | $35 – $60/hr | $65 – $105/hr | $105 – $165+/hr |
| Social Media Management Full guide | $25 – $50/hr | $50 – $85/hr | $85 – $140+/hr |
| Photography Full guide | $50 – $85/hr | $85 – $140/hr | $140 – $250+/hr |
| Web Development (Frontend) | $45 – $70/hr | $75 – $115/hr | $120 – $185+/hr |
| Web Development (Full Stack) | $55 – $80/hr | $90 – $135/hr | $140 – $210+/hr |
| UI / UX Design | $45 – $75/hr | $80 – $125/hr | $130 – $195+/hr |
| Graphic Design | $30 – $55/hr | $55 – $90/hr | $90 – $145+/hr |
| SEO / Digital Marketing | $40 – $65/hr | $65 – $105/hr | $110 – $165+/hr |
| Data Analysis / BI | $50 – $80/hr | $85 – $130/hr | $135 – $195+/hr |