Your minimum hourly rate to hit $40,000 in take-home income as a freelancer.
The fewer hours you bill, the higher your rate must be. Most freelancers realistically bill 20–25 hours per week after admin, sales, and learning time.
| Billable Hrs/Week | Annual Billable Hours | Minimum Rate | Day Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 hrs/week | 735 hrs | $85.52/hr | $684/day |
| 20 hrs/week | 980 hrs | $64.14/hr | $513/day |
| 25 hrs/week ★ | 1225 hrs | $51.31/hr | $410/day |
| 30 hrs/week | 1470 hrs | $42.76/hr | $342/day |
| 35 hrs/week | 1715 hrs | $36.65/hr | $293/day |
| 40 hrs/week | 1960 hrs | $32.07/hr | $257/day |
A $40,000 salary at a company is roughly $19.23/hour. But as a freelancer, you must charge 2.7× more to net the same — because you pay both sides of FICA, fund your own benefits, and cover business expenses. Never price against your old salary.
| Income Goal | Min Rate (25 hrs/wk) | Gross Revenue Needed |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000/yr | $64.14/hr | $78,571/yr |
| $75,000/yr | $96.21/hr | $117,857/yr |
| $100,000/yr | $128.28/hr | $157,143/yr |
| $125,000/yr | $160.35/hr | $196,429/yr |
| $150,000/yr | $192.42/hr | $235,714/yr |
| $200,000/yr | $256.56/hr | $314,286/yr |