Cost Per Hire Calculator
Find the hourly and day rate that actually hits your income target.
Charge what your work is worth
PeopleHub helps you track billable time and invoice accurately, so the rate you set is the rate you actually collect.
Try PeopleHub free →How this calculator works
Most recruiters underprice because they divide by every hour in the week. This calculator divides only by your genuinely billable hours — the ones a client actually pays for.
It adds your income target to your business expenses, then spreads that total across your billable hours for the year. The result is the floor rate you need to charge to take home what you want.
Compare the number to what you charge today. If it is higher, you are funding the gap out of your own pocket — a signal to raise rates or bill more hours.
Frequently asked questions
Why not just divide income by 2,080 hours?
Because you cannot bill 40 hours a week. Admin, sales, and downtime mean 20–30 billable hours is realistic. Dividing by all 2,080 hours produces a rate that quietly loses money.
Should I include expenses?
Yes. Software, insurance, equipment and taxes all come out of what you bill. Folding them in is the difference between revenue and actual take-home pay.
Is this calculator free to use?
Yes. It runs entirely in your browser, needs no signup or email, and nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere.