How do you convert salary to a freelance hourly rate?

Start from the take-home you need, reverse into 1099 gross (self-employment tax plus income tax), then divide by billable hours — not 2,080. Most full-time freelancers bill 1,000–1,400 hours.

What hourly rate matches $80,000 take-home in Texas?

About $103,402 of 1099 profit, or $49.71/hour at 40 hours × 52 weeks. Raise the rate if you bill fewer hours or buy your own benefits.

Contracting

Freelance hourly rate from take-home pay

To keep $80,000 after tax as a Texas 1099 contractor, you need about $103,402 of profit — $49.71/hour on a full-time calendar.

2026 paycheck inputs

Gross pay

Match the frequency below. Hourly is hours per week × 52. Dollar signs and commas are fine.

Frequency

Hours / week

State

City (optional local tax)

Filing status

Employment

Traditional 401(k) / year

Local tax override %

Apply simplified 20% QBI deduction

Take-home

$80,000

$6,667 a month · 77.4% of gross after tax

Monthly: $6,667
Biweekly: $3,077
Weekly: $1,538
Hourly take-home: $38.46
Effective tax rate: 22.6%
Federal marginal: 22.0%

Federal income tax	$8,791
State income tax	$0
Social Security	$11,841
Medicare	$2,769
Total tax	$23,402

Modeled QBI deduction: $15,999. Specified-service phaseouts are not applied.

Texas has no individual income tax. Property and sales taxes are not withheld from paychecks. Annual liability estimate for tax year 2026, not a W-4 withholding forecast.

State guide W-2 vs 1099