Most "average freelance rate" charts on the internet are made up. This one is not: every number below is the median wage the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics measured in May 2025 for W-2 workers in the closest matching occupation. These are not freelance rates. They are salaried baselines, useful as a floor, not a ceiling. The calculator below converts one into a starting freelance hourly rate.
| Occupation | Median hourly | Median annual |
|---|---|---|
| Web Developers & Digital Interface Designers | $50.00 | $117,490 |
| Management Analysts (consultants) | $48.97 | $113,790 |
| Writers and Authors | $36.98 | $86,090 |
| Property, Real Estate & Community Association Managers | $33.65 | $83,710 |
| Graphic Designers | $30.27 | $70,560 |
| Real Estate Sales Agents | $25.40 | $69,510 |
| Photographers | $21.47 | $55,410 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release (bls.gov/oes). These figures describe employed W-2 workers, not independent contractors, and do not include self-employment tax, benefits, or downtime.
A common starting formula: take the salary you would need, divide by realistic billable hours in a year (not 2,080; freelancers rarely bill more than 1,200–1,500), then add a markup for self-employment tax, benefits you now pay yourself, and unpaid admin time.