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//// Career · Freelance Rates

Freelance Rate Benchmarks by Skill

14 skill categories. 3 experience tiers. Location adjustment for NYC/SF, major cities, and rural markets. Enter your rate and see exactly where you fall and what it takes to move up.

Where this fits

💼 Income & OffersGoing 1099FreelancersEmployees

This tool lives inside Going 1099 and is most useful for freelancers and employees.

SE Tax Rate15.3%
QBI Deduction20%
Quarterly DeadlinesApr · Jun · Sep · Jan

Market Range

$75–$125/hr

Midpoint

$100/hr

Your Rate

$85/hr

Position

Low end

Market estimates based on industry surveys (Upwork, Toptal, Glassdoor, Bonsai). Actual rates vary widely by niche, portfolio quality, client type, and negotiation skill.

Filters

Frontend, backend, or full-stack. React, Node, Python, etc.

Baseline — US national average

Mid-Level (3–7 yrs)

$/hr

Where You Fall

$75/hr$100/hr midpoint$125/hr
LevelRange (Adjusted)Midpoint
Junior (0–3 yrs)$50–$75/hr$63/hr
Mid-Level (3–7 yrs)$75–$125/hr$100/hr
Senior (7+ yrs)$125–$200/hr$163/hr

Gap to Senior range

$40/hr gap to reach the Senior range (starts at $125/hr). Closing this gap is about demonstrating higher value, not just experience.

How to Move Up the Range

Low → Mid

Build a portfolio of 3–5 case studies with measurable outcomes. Specialize in a vertical (e.g., SaaS, healthcare, ecommerce) rather than being a generalist.

Mid → High end

Lead with results ($X revenue generated, Y% conversion increase) not deliverables. Add strategy consulting to your offer. Raise rates on new clients first.

High → Above range

Package into retainers or productized services. Target clients where your work has outsized ROI. Build social proof via content, speaking, or thought leadership.

1

Base Rate Range (National Average)

Web Development — Mid-Level (3–7 yrs)

= $75–$125/hr

Market rate estimates based on industry surveys (Upwork, Toptal, Glassdoor freelance data, Bonsai). Actual rates vary by niche, portfolio, and client type.

2

Location Multiplier

National Average

Base × 1

= 1× (Baseline — US national average)

Location adjustments reflect cost-of-living and market demand differences. Remote freelancers often charge national-average rates regardless of where they live.

3

Adjusted Rate Range

Base Min × Multiplier to Base Max × Multiplier

$75 × 1 to $125 × 1

= $75–$125/hr

Your adjusted market range for this skill, experience level, and location.

4

Midpoint Rate

(Adjusted Min + Adjusted Max) ÷ 2

($75 + $125) ÷ 2

= $100/hr

The midpoint is a useful anchor when setting rates. Low-end clients often anchor at the minimum; premium positioning targets the upper half.

5

Your Rate vs. Range

Your rate relative to adjusted range

$85/hr vs. $75–$125/hr

= Low end (approx. 26th percentile)

Percentile is an estimate within the adjusted range — not a precise statistical measure.

6

Gap to Senior range

Next tier min − Your rate

$125/hr − $85/hr

= $40/hr to reach Senior range

Moving to the next tier typically requires demonstrating deeper expertise, a stronger portfolio, and case studies with measurable results — not just time served.

#ShowYourWork

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