Pay rates & data
Sourced pay and rate data for people who set their own price. Use these as a reference, then run your own situation through the calculators.
Self-employed hourly pay rates by trade
The "employed" column is the real median wage a company pays an employee in that line of work (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A self-employed worker's rate is typically higher — around 1.5×–2× the employee wage — to cover self-employment tax, the benefits an employer would otherwise pay, and the hours you can't bill. That gives the suggested self-employed range.
| Trade | Employed median | Self-employed range |
| Handyman BLS: maintenance & repair workers | $23.84/hr | $35–$50/hr |
| Contractor BLS: construction laborers | $22.66/hr | $35–$45/hr |
| Mobile Mechanic BLS: automotive technicians | $24.34/hr | $35–$50/hr |
| House Cleaner BLS: house cleaners | $17.07/hr | $25–$35/hr |
| Lawn Care Pro BLS: landscaping workers | $18.82/hr | $30–$40/hr |
| Freelancer BLS: graphic designers | $30.27/hr | $45–$60/hr |
| Photographer BLS: photographers | $21.47/hr | $30–$45/hr |
| Tutor BLS: tutors | $20.84/hr | $30–$40/hr |
| Personal Trainer BLS: fitness trainers | $22.67/hr | $35–$45/hr |
| Dog Walker BLS: animal caretakers | $17.00/hr | $25–$35/hr |
| Plumber BLS: plumbers & pipefitters | $30.67/hr | $45–$60/hr |
| Electrician BLS: electricians | $30.38/hr | $45–$60/hr |
| Painter BLS: painters | $23.75/hr | $35–$50/hr |
| Carpenter BLS: carpenters | $29.12/hr | $45–$60/hr |
| HVAC Technician BLS: HVAC technicians | $29.33/hr | $45–$60/hr |
| Roofer BLS: roofers | $26.65/hr | $40–$55/hr |
| Welder BLS: welders | $25.84/hr | $40–$50/hr |
| Drywall Installer BLS: drywall installers | $28.33/hr | $40–$55/hr |
| Mason BLS: brickmasons & blockmasons | $29.87/hr | $45–$60/hr |
| Tile Setter BLS: tile & stone setters | $26.77/hr | $40–$55/hr |
Employee wages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS, May 2025); BLS excludes the self-employed, so these are a reference floor, not a quote. Pick a state — then a metro area — to see local medians; "—" means BLS suppressed that estimate (too few workers to publish). The self-employed multiplier (1.5–2×) is a common rule of thumb covering self-employment tax, lost benefits, and fewer billable hours. Your rate depends on experience, location, and demand.
Truck freight spot rates by trailer type (June 2026)
The same mile pays differently depending on what you pull. These are national average spot rates per mile reported by the freight-rate tracker DAT for June 2026. Linehaul is the rate excluding the fuel surcharge; all-in includes it. A rate quoted to you may be either, so check which one you are being offered.
| Trailer type | Linehaul / mile | All-in / mile |
| Dry van | $2.37 | $3.00 |
| Reefer (refrigerated) | $2.70 | $3.39 |
| Flatbed | $2.94 | $3.69 |
In June 2026 the national average van spot rate moved above the contract rate for the first time since February 2022, and flatbed reached an all-time high on both linehaul and all-in (DAT).
National averages for June 2026, published July 9, 2026 by DAT. DAT publishes national spot averages for these three trailer types; rates for specialized equipment such as step deck, RGN, hotshot, and tanker are not part of that series and are not listed here. Spot rates move weekly and vary by lane, season, fuel, and whether the load comes from a broker or direct from the shipper. Run your real numbers in the trucker pay calculator.
What contractors mark up (overhead & profit)
Trades don't price off an hourly rate alone — they add a markup on costs to cover overhead and profit. Industry-standard ranges:
| Overall contractor markup | 20–30% |
| Materials markup | 7.5–35% |
| Labor markup | 25–50% |
| Typical profit margin | 15–25% |
Standard ranges from contractor-industry sources (Angi, Buildern, NAHB). A markup is a percentage of your costs; the resulting margin (share of the bid that's profit) is lower — a 30% markup is about a 23% margin. Build a bid in the rate calculator.