See your true hourly rate after expenses, taxes, and time investment
This tool is essential for anyone who wants to understand what they're really earning per hour from their side hustle. Many people focus on gross revenue but forget to account for expenses, taxes, unpaid admin time, and other hidden costs. This calculator gives you the honest truth about your effective hourly rate.
Important: This tool provides educational estimates only and is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult with qualified professionals for personalized guidance.
Visualize your profitability and discover how long until your side hustle pays off
2
months until profitable
1929.28%
total return
Total Revenue
$12,592.96
Total Expenses
$2,946.57
Net Profit
$9,646.39
Profit Margin
76.60%
Monthly Profit at End
$446
Dropshipping
10-20% margins
Freelancing
70-80% margins
Digital Products
85-95% margins
Your gross monthly or weekly income from the side hustle before any deductions
Materials, supplies, platform fees, software subscriptions, gas, equipment costs
Billable hours PLUS unpaid time (admin, marketing, travel, client communication)
Estimated self-employment tax (15.3%) and income tax based on your bracket
True Hourly Rate
Your actual earnings per hour after all expenses and taxes are deducted
Net Monthly Income
What you actually take home each month after all costs
Expense Breakdown
See what percentage of your revenue goes to expenses vs. your pocket
Comparison to Day Job
How your side hustle hourly rate compares to your main job (if you enter it)
Meet Jordan K. – Freelance graphic designer
Jordan's inputs:
Jordan's results:
Gross Hourly Rate
$53.33/hr
(Revenue ÷ billable hours)
True Hourly Rate
$21.50/hr
(After expenses, taxes, unpaid time)
Net Monthly Income
$1,720
Expense Ratio
46%
(Expenses + taxes)
Reality check: Jordan thought they were making $53/hr, but after accounting for all costs and unpaid time, their true rate is $21.50/hr—still decent, but 60% lower than the surface number.
Most people underestimate unpaid time (admin, marketing, travel) and forget about self-employment taxes (15.3%). This tool reveals the full picture so you can make informed decisions about pricing and time allocation.
For ongoing calculations, only include recurring expenses. However, if you bought equipment specifically for this hustle, you can amortize the cost over its expected lifespan (e.g., $1,200 laptop ÷ 36 months = $33/month).
Use an average from the past 3-6 months for more accurate results. You can also run the calculator multiple times with different scenarios (best month, worst month, average month) to see the range.
For one week, log every minute you spend on your side hustle—including emails, social media, bookkeeping, and travel. Multiply by 4 to estimate monthly unpaid hours. Most people are surprised by how much time goes to non-billable tasks.
It depends on your goals. If your side hustle pays less per hour than your day job, it might still be worth it for flexibility, skill-building, or long-term potential. But if it's significantly lower and you're working hard, it may be time to raise prices or pivot.
Yes! Run the calculator separately for each hustle to compare which ones are actually worth your time. You might discover one hustle is far more profitable per hour than another.
Now that you know your true hourly rate, explore pricing strategies or compare different side hustles.