Freelance Rate Increase Calculator
See how much purchasing power you've lost to inflation, where your rate sits in the market for your discipline, what rate hits your income target, and whether the raise nets positive after client attrition.
Current Rate
Inflation
3.5% = approximate 2022–2024 avg CPI
Income Goal
% increase over current annual income
Market & Capacity
Your market
Billable hrs ÷ total working hrs
Client Load
% of clients likely to leave
Your rate has lost 6.6% of its value
2 years at 3.5%/yr inflation means $90/hr today buys what $96/hr did when you set this rate. You need $96/hr just to stay even.
Market Position — Software Development
In rangeWithin market range for Software Development
Recommended New Rate
Based on: inflation catch-up, income target, market position, and tenure signal
Gentle (+7.5%)
$97/hr
+7.5% · $116,100/yr
Moderate (+15%)
$103/hr
+15.0% · $124,200/yr
Aggressive (+25%)
$113/hr
+25.0% · $135,000/yr
Client Attrition Scenario
If 20% of clients leave after the raise (1 of 5):
Before raise
$108,000/yr
5 clients · $90/hr
After raise + attrition
$95,040/yr
4 clients · $99/hr
Price of Saying Yes
Every hour at your old rate instead of your new rate costs $9. Say yes to one extra low-rate project per week for a year: $468 left on the table.
Current rate/hr
$90/hr
New rate/hr
$99/hr
Delta/wk/yr
$468
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