Paycheck Calculator vs Freelance Rate Calculator
Both tools are 100% free, browser-based, and require no signup. Here is how they differ so you can pick the right one for your task.
Paycheck Calculator
Free paycheck calculator with 2026 federal brackets, all 50 states + DC, FICA, and pre-tax deductions. See your exact take-home pay in seconds. Free to embed on your website. No signup required.
Use Paycheck Calc →Freelance Rate Calculator
Free freelance rate calculator. Enter your income goal, tax rate, expenses, health insurance, retirement savings, and vacation weeks — get the exact minimum hourly, daily, weekly, and monthly rate you need to charge. Free to embed on your website. No signup required.
Use Rate Calc →Feature Comparison
| Feature | Paycheck Calc | Rate Calc |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 federal tax brackets (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-40) | ✓ | — |
| All 50 states + DC state income tax | ✓ | — |
| FICA: Social Security (6.2%) + Medicare (1.45%) | ✓ | — |
| Pre-tax deductions: 401(k), HSA, health insurance | ✓ | — |
| Hourly rate calculator built in | ✓ | — |
| 100% browser-based — your salary never leaves your device | ✓ | — |
| Sets your target take-home income and works backwards to the rate | — | ✓ |
| Accounts for self-employment tax (15.3% SE + income tax) | — | ✓ |
| Factors in business expenses, health insurance, and retirement savings | — | ✓ |
| Adjustable non-billable time — admin, sales, and accounting don't pay | — | ✓ |
| Slow-month buffer to survive uneven income months | — | ✓ |
| Shows daily, weekly, monthly, and annual revenue equivalents | — | ✓ |
| Full revenue breakdown with percentage bars | — | ✓ |
| 100% free — no signup, no watermarks | ✓ | ✓ |
| Browser-based — files never uploaded | ✓ | ✓ |
When to Use Each Tool
- →Type your gross pay amount and select your pay frequency: weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly. Toggle hourly to enter an hourly rate instead.
- →Choose your federal filing status (Single, Married Filing Jointly, etc.) and your state from all 50 states and DC.
- →Enter any 401(k), HSA, or health insurance premium deductions to see how they reduce your taxable income.
- →Enter the annual after-tax amount you want to take home. This is your target net income — what lands in your personal bank account after all taxes and deductions.
- →Enter how many hours per week you plan to work, how many weeks per year (subtracting vacation and holidays), and what percentage of your time is non-billable admin work.
- →Set your estimated effective tax rate. US freelancers should include self-employment tax (15.3%) plus income tax. A starting estimate of 30% is safe for most income levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Very accurate for federal taxes — we use the official 2026 IRS tax brackets and standard deductions. State taxes are close approximations using 2026 rate data; however, state-specific deductions, exemptions, and local city/county taxes are not included. For precise withholding, consult your employer's payroll department or a tax professional.
No. Many cities and counties — including New York City, Philadelphia, and San Francisco — have their own local income taxes on top of state tax. This calculator covers federal and state only. Add your local tax rate separately if applicable.
Because as a freelancer you pay 100% of your own expenses that employers normally cover: self-employment tax (15.3% — both the employee and employer FICA portions), health insurance, retirement contributions, software, equipment, and time lost to admin. A salaried employee at $80k actually costs an employer $100k+ when benefits and payroll taxes are included. Your freelance rate has to cover all of that.
Self-employment tax is 15.3% of your net self-employment income: 12.4% for Social Security (up to the wage base, $176,100 in 2025) and 2.9% for Medicare (no cap). As a W-2 employee, your employer pays half of this (7.65%). As a freelancer, you pay both halves. You can deduct the employer-equivalent portion (half of SE tax) from your gross income, which reduces your income tax slightly.
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