Free consulting rate calculator
Calculate Your Consulting Rate in Seconds
Get market-aligned hourly, daily, and project rates based on your industry, location, and experience level.
Trusted by 5,000+ independent consultants
Your calculated rate
$287/hr
Market benchmark
20,000+
Rate combinations
50
US metros covered
10
Consultant types
20
Industries
How it works
Three steps from guesswork to a number you can defend in a proposal.
Pick your specialty
Choose your consultant type, industry, and city. We cover 10 types, 20 industries, and 50 US metros.
Set your targets
Enter desired income, billable hours, and overhead. Toggle junior or senior experience level.
Get your number
See hourly, daily, and project rates. Use AI tools to justify your price to clients.
Popular rate calculators
Jump straight to a calculator for your specialty, industry, and city.
IT Consultant in Healthcare, Chicago
Senior IT consultants in healthcare average $268/hr in Chicago.
Calculate now →$408/hrManagement Consultant in Finance, NYC
Finance management consulting rates top $400/hr in New York.
Calculate now →$445/hrStrategy Consultant in Tech, San Francisco
Strategy roles in SF tech command premium day rates.
Calculate now →$237/hrMarketing Consultant in Tech, Austin
Austin tech marketing consultants benchmark around $237/hr.
Calculate now →$352/hrFinancial Consultant in Finance, Boston
Boston finance consultants earn strong hourly premiums.
Calculate now →$340/hrDigital Transformation in Healthcare, Seattle
Healthcare DX consultants in Seattle average $340+/hr.
Calculate now →AI tools that close the deal
Free to try. No signup required.
Rate Justifier
Get a 50-word, data-backed explanation of why your rate makes sense for your market.
Try free →Proposal Generator
Turn your calculated rate into a client-ready proposal paragraph in one click.
Generate snippet →Negotiation Script
Push back on budget pressure without dropping your rate. Built for real client conversations.
Coming in Pro →Why RatePilot?
Real submission data
Benchmarks blend industry data with anonymous rates from working consultants.
Location-adjusted
Every metro has a cost-of-living multiplier. SF is not Memphis.
Industry-specific
Finance pays differently than non-profit. Your calculator knows that.
Updated daily
Pages refresh every 24 hours as new submissions roll in.
What consultants say
“I was charging $165/hr for healthcare IT work in Dallas. RatePilot showed me the market median was $218. I raised my rate on the next proposal and the client said yes.”
“The AI justifier gave me language I could paste into a scope doc. Saved me an hour of second-guessing before a CFO call.”
“I switched from hourly to daily pricing after seeing the project rate breakdown. My effective rate went up 18% in two months.”
“Finally a calculator that accounts for overhead. Most online tools just divide salary by hours and call it a day.”
Rate guides & insights
Pricing strategy, negotiation, and market data.
Why London Consultants Charge More Than Singapore (And What to Do)
London and Singapore sit at the heart of the global consulting market, but rate structures differ sharply. Use US metro benchmarks to price international work and avoid undercharging overseas clients.
By Sarah Chen
Consulting Rates in San Francisco vs. Remote: Should You Adjust?
San Francisco's 1.58x COL multiplier pushes senior consultant rates above $380/hour. Learn when to charge SF rates, when to discount for remote, and how to price hybrid engagements.
By Marcus Rivera
Undercharging? 7 Signs You're Leaving Money on the Table
Spot seven signs you're undercharging as a consultant. Emotional triggers, data checks, and free calculators to see what you should actually charge in 2026.
By Sarah Chen
Common questions
How does the RatePilot calculator work?
Enter your target annual income, billable hours, and overhead percentage. We apply experience level, industry, and location multipliers to produce hourly, daily, and 30-day project rates.
Is RatePilot free to use?
Yes. The calculator, rate benchmarks, and AI Rate Justifier are free. No signup required. Pro features like unlimited proposal generation are coming soon.
How accurate are the rate estimates?
Estimates combine BLS data, cost-of-living indices, and anonymous user submissions. They are directional benchmarks, not guarantees. Always adjust for your specific client and scope.
Which consultant types does RatePilot support?
We cover management, IT, strategy, HR, marketing, financial, operations, supply chain, digital transformation, and sustainability consultants across 20 industries and 50 US metros.
Stop guessing. Know your worth.
Your next proposal deserves a number backed by data, not a gut feeling.