May 2025 · 2026-08-21
What the employed version of your work earns
Eleven occupations freelancers actually work in, with the official US medians from the Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey. Not freelance rates (the survey measures employees), but the honest anchor every rate conversation should start from.
Median annual wage, May 2025
The numbers, with their sources
| Occupation | Median annual | Median hourly | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software developers | $135,980 | $65.38 | BLS 15-1252 |
| Management consultants | $101,860 | $48.97 | BLS 13-1111 |
| Web developers | $92,650 | $44.54 | BLS 15-1254 |
| Accountants and auditors | $83,680 | $40.23 | BLS 13-2011 |
| Editors | $77,920 | $37.46 | BLS 27-3041 |
| Writers and authors | $76,910 | $36.98 | BLS 27-3043 |
| Film and video editors | $75,420 | $36.26 | BLS 27-4032 |
| Public relations specialists | $74,750 | $35.94 | BLS 27-3031 |
| Graphic designers | $62,960 | $30.27 | BLS 27-1024 |
| Interpreters and translators | $60,170 | $28.93 | BLS 27-3091 |
| Photographers | $44,660 | $21.47 | BLS 27-4021 |
From salary anchor to freelance floor
| Occupation | Employed median (annual) | Illustrative freelance floor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software developers | $135,980 | $169/h | Run your numbers |
| Management consultants | $101,860 | $127/h | Run your numbers |
| Web developers | $92,650 | $115/h | Run your numbers |
A computed illustration, NOT survey data: floor = (median ÷ (1 − 30% tax buffer)) ÷ (46 weeks × 25 billable hours), i.e. matching the employed median as take-home on a realistic freelance calendar with no overhead. Your buffer, hours and overhead belong in the calculator.
Method
Figures are the May 2025 medians from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, pulled from the BLS public API on the date stamped above; each row links its official occupation page. Medians, not means: half earn less, half earn more.
OEWS surveys EMPLOYEES, so freelancers are not in these numbers. An employed hourly median is a floor, not a target: a freelance rate must also cover self-employment tax, health insurance, unbilled hours and the gaps between clients.
Turn a salary anchor into a freelance rate
Refreshed each spring when the next OEWS release publishes.