Roughly 25–30% for freelancers in the US.
Your Minimum Rate
To earn $85,000 take-home.
The Non-Billable Reality
At a standard 40hr week without vacation, your rate would be $0/hr.
Factoring in admin & time off adds +$0/hr.
Freelance WordPress Developer Market Overview (2026)
Average WordPress Developer Hourly Rates (2026)
US market data. Rates vary by niche, portfolio strength, and client type.
| Experience Level | Typical Hourly Rate (2026) |
|---|---|
| Junior (0–2 Years) | $25 - $45/hr |
| Mid-Level (2–5 Years) | $60/hr |
| Senior (5+ Years) | $80 - $120+/hr |
Top Factors That Influence WordPress Developer Rates
- ✓ WooCommerce expertise
- ✓ Custom plugin dev
- ✓ Performance optimization
- ✓ Maintenance retainers
WordPress developers build custom themes, plugins, and e-commerce solutions for businesses that power their websites on the world's most popular CMS. Freelance WordPress developers are hired for new site builds, redesigns, speed optimization, and ongoing maintenance retainers. Developers with WooCommerce expertise, custom plugin development skills, or a focus on Core Web Vitals performance earn significantly more.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do freelance wordpress developers calculate their hourly rate?
Freelance wordpress developers calculate their rate by adding their target take-home income to annual business expenses, then dividing that total by their expected billable hours — after accounting for taxes. The key mistake most make is dividing by 2,080 (a 40hr employment year). In practice, freelancers bill 20–25 hours per week after admin, proposals, and non-client work, which means billable hours are closer to 960–1,200 per year.
How many billable hours do freelancers actually work per week?
Most full-time freelancers bill 20–25 hours per week regardless of profession. The remaining time goes to client communication, proposals, invoicing, continuing education, and marketing. WordPress Developers are no exception — factor this into your rate or you'll consistently underearn.
How many billable hours does a WordPress Developer need to work in the US to earn $85,000?
At $117/hr you need roughly 22 billable hours per week (1056 hours over 48 working weeks). At $86/hr you need 30 billable hours per week. Both figures assume a 28% effective tax rate in the US and $300/month in business expenses. Most experienced freelance wordpress developers target 20–25 billable hours to keep time for admin, proposals, and skill development.
What is the tax impact on a freelance WordPress Developer's rate in the US?
To take home $85,000 after 28% tax in the US, you need to bill approximately $123,056 in gross revenue per year. That means $34,456 goes directly to tax — a gap most new freelance wordpress developers underestimate when setting their rates. Freelancers pay 15.3% self-employment tax on top of income tax.
Is $60/hr a competitive rate for a freelance WordPress Developer in the US?
$60/hr is a common market reference for wordpress developers, but whether it works for you in the US depends on your income goal. To achieve $85,000 take-home at that rate, you would need to bill 2051 hours per year — about 43 billable hours per week across 48 working weeks. Use the calculator above to model your specific situation.