Freelance Rate Calculator USA
US freelancers need to price work with taxes, unpaid time, health insurance, retirement savings, software, payment fees, and business overhead in mind. A rate that looks high on an invoice can become modest take-home pay after those costs.
US planning formula
US freelance rate = target take-home plus federal and state tax reserves, self-employment tax buffer, benefits replacement, overhead, and fees divided by realistic billable hours.
US costs to include
CostWhy it matters
Tax reserveFederal income tax, self-employment tax, and state tax can all affect take-home pay.
Benefits replacementHealth insurance, retirement contributions, paid leave, and equipment may need to come from your rate.
Unpaid timeSales calls, admin, proposals, learning, holidays, and gaps between contracts reduce annual billable hours.
Example starting assumptions
A US freelancer might test 25% to 35% as a tax reserve, 44 to 48 billable weeks per year, and a monthly overhead amount for software, insurance, accounting, and hardware. These are planning assumptions, not tax advice.