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Calculate the minimum hourly rate you need as a US freelancer. Accounts for self-employment tax (15.3%), your state income tax, billable hours, health insurance, and a profit buffer. Free, no signup.
Grounded in available product and source data
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.
Your hourly rate from above is used automatically.
Your minimum rate, the full breakdown, and the math behind it — on one page you can keep or send to a client.
Enter your email and your PDF downloads instantly. We’ll also send quarterly estimated-tax reminders — unsubscribe any time.
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.
