Freelancer Rate Guide: How Much Should You Charge? (2026)
Pricing is the hardest part of freelancing. Charge too little and you burn out; charge too much and you lose clients. This guide provides data-driven benchmarks and three pricing strategies to find your sweet spot.
Your Situation
You are transitioning to freelancing or need to update your rates. You want to know what the market pays for your skills and how to price competitively while earning a sustainable income.
Market Rates by Field
Freelance rates vary enormously by skill, experience, and market. US-based freelancers typically charge 2-3x what their equivalent hourly salary would be, to account for self-employment taxes (15.3%), healthcare, retirement, time between projects, and business expenses.
| Field | Junior | Mid-Level | Senior/Expert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Development | $50-$80/hr | $80-$150/hr | $150-$250/hr |
| Mobile Development | $60-$100/hr | $100-$175/hr | $175-$300/hr |
| UI/UX Design | $40-$70/hr | $70-$120/hr | $120-$200/hr |
| Graphic Design | $30-$50/hr | $50-$90/hr | $90-$150/hr |
| Content Writing | $25-$50/hr | $50-$100/hr | $100-$200/hr |
| Digital Marketing | $40-$70/hr | $70-$130/hr | $130-$250/hr |
| Data Science | $60-$100/hr | $100-$175/hr | $175-$300/hr |
| Video Production | $40-$80/hr | $80-$150/hr | $150-$300/hr |
Three Pricing Strategies
Cost-Plus: Calculate your minimum rate by dividing your target annual income by billable hours. If you want $100,000/year and can bill 1,200 hours (25 hours/week × 48 weeks), your minimum rate is $83/hour. Add 20% for taxes and benefits = $100/hour minimum.
Market Rate: Research what others with similar skills and experience charge, then position yourself at the 50th-75th percentile based on your portfolio and testimonials.
Value-Based: Price based on the value you deliver, not the time spent. A $5,000 website that generates $50,000/year in revenue for a client is a bargain — charge $10,000-$15,000 instead.
Freelance vs Full-Time Comparison
A common mistake is comparing freelance hourly rates directly to full-time hourly equivalents. A full-time employee at $50/hour ($104K/year) receives benefits worth $20,000-$35,000 (health insurance, 401k match, PTO, employer FICA share). A freelancer needs to charge $75-$90/hour to match that total compensation.
Use our freelance rate calculator to find your equivalent hourly rate.
Action Steps
Calculate your minimum rate
Target income ÷ billable hours + 20% for taxes/benefits.
Freelance Rate Calculator →Research market rates
Check Glassdoor, Upwork, and Toptal for rates in your field and experience level.
Start at market rate
Position at the 50th percentile initially, then raise rates as you build your portfolio and testimonials.
Transition to value pricing
As you gain experience, price based on outcome value rather than hourly rate.