CalcaTools

Day Rate Calculator

Converts between annual salary and day rate, with hourly, weekly and monthly equivalents for contractors.

Last updated: June 2026 · Free · No sign-up required

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52 weeks × 5 days; subtract holidays for billable-day pricing.

Results

Enter values above and click Calculate to see your result instantly.

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Quick reference

Annual salaryDay rate (260 days)Hourly (8 h)
$50,000$192.31$24.04
$65,000$250.00$31.25
$100,000$384.62$48.08
$150,000$576.92$72.12

savings Plan with confidence

Finance decisions get a lot easier when you can see the full picture. Enter your numbers above to see total payments, interest paid, and the long-term cost of every choice — so you can compare options side by side before signing anything.

percent How the math works

We use the standard amortization, compound-interest and present-value formulas published by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Reserve. The methodology block below shows every variable and rounding step we apply, so the answer is never a black box.

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Every calculation happens in your browser with JavaScript — your income, balances, and loan numbers are never sent to our servers, logged, or shared. Close the tab and the inputs vanish. No sign-up, no tracking pixels on the form, no spreadsheet emailed to you later.

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Save the URL after you calculate — your inputs aren't stored, so write down the headline number plus the breakdown. Then come back and edit one variable at a time (down payment, rate, term) to see exactly which lever moves your monthly figure the most. That's where the real planning happens.

Interpretation guide

Freelance pricing stepRule of thumb
Salary-equivalent day rateAnnual salary ÷ 260
+ Benefits, tax, insuranceAdd 20–30%
+ Unbilled days (sales, admin, gaps)Add another 10–20%
Market day rateOften 1.3–1.5× the salary-equivalent

Formula & methodology

Formula: Day rate = annual salary ÷ working days per year (260 = 52 weeks × 5 days); Hourly = day rate ÷ hours per day

  1. Divide the annual salary by working days per year — 260 covers 52 five-day weeks; use ~250 after public holidays or ~220 billable days for freelancers.
  2. Divide the day rate by daily hours for the hourly rate.
  3. Reverse: multiply a day rate by the working days to get the salary equivalent.

Worked example: $65,000 ÷ 260 = $250/day, or $31.25/hour at 8 hours. Reversed, a $400 day rate × 260 = a $104,000 salary equivalent — before the 20–40% freelancer uplift for tax, insurance and unbilled days.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate my day rate from my salary?
Divide your annual salary by your working days per year — typically 260 (52 weeks × 5 days). A $65,000 salary is $250 a day; use 250 days if you want public holidays excluded.
What should a freelancer charge as a day rate?
Start from the salary-equivalent rate, then add 20–30% for benefits, tax and insurance you now cover yourself, and another 10–20% for unbilled days. Most freelancers land at 1.3–1.5× the salary-equivalent figure.
How many working days are in a year?
260 in a standard year (52 × 5). Subtracting ~10 public holidays gives 250; subtracting holidays plus typical vacation gives 225–235 actual worked days.
How do I convert a day rate to an annual salary?
Multiply by the days you'll actually work: $400/day × 260 = $104,000. Contractors comparing to employment should also subtract the value of paid leave, benefits and employer taxes.
What is a pro-rata day rate?
The full-time salary divided by full-time days, paid only for days worked. A $52,000 full-time role worked 3 days a week pays $200 × 3 = $600 a week.

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