GenzeeFreelancer Hourly Rate Calculator
Work out what to actually charge per hour, accounting for tax, business expenses, and the reality that not every hour is billable.
Rate to charge
PKR 2,941/hour
Based on 1200 billable hours a year
Why "salary divided by hours" gets it wrong
A common freelancer mistake is taking a target salary and dividing it by 2,080 (a standard work year of 40-hour weeks). That figure assumes every single hour is billable, ignores tax, and ignores that running a freelance business comes with its own costs — none of which apply to a salaried employee's paycheck math.
What actually eats into billable time
Admin, invoicing, marketing, finding new clients, and ongoing learning all take real time but are not directly billable to any client. Most freelancers can realistically bill somewhere between 50-70% of their total working hours — the rest is the unavoidable overhead of running an independent business, and it still needs to be paid for by the hours that are billable.
Working backward from take-home pay
This calculator starts from the number that actually matters — desired take-home income — and grosses it up twice: once for business expenses (software, equipment, a portion of workspace costs), then again for tax, before dividing by realistic billable hours rather than total working hours. The result is a rate that, if consistently charged and billed, should actually deliver the target income after real costs.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage of hours are usually billable?
It varies by field, but 50-70% billable is a common realistic range once admin, marketing and non-billable client communication are accounted for. Full-time employees with dedicated sales and admin support are a very different comparison and should not be used as a benchmark.
Should I charge different rates for different clients?
Many freelancers do — this calculator gives a baseline minimum rate; charging more for rush work, narrow specializations, or particularly demanding clients is a separate, valid pricing decision layered on top of the baseline.
How do I know my tax rate as a freelancer?
This depends on your income level and country's tax rules for self-employed income, which often differs from salaried tax treatment. Check your specific bracket with a local tax calculator or advisor rather than assuming employee tax rates apply.