Day Rate Consultant Calculator
Calculate a consultant day rate from target income, taxes, and billable days per year.
Management and strategy consultants often quote day rates instead of hourly — clients expect a single number for a workshop or on-site day. This page uses consultant-typical assumptions: higher tax buffer and fewer pure billable weeks.
Market reference
| Metric | Range | Note |
|---|---|---|
| US strategy consultant | $1,200–2,500/day | senior |
| Independent consultant | $800–1,500/day | mid-level |
| Billable weeks | 44–48/yr | after vacation |
| Expenses | travel + software | add to rate |
Interactive example — day rate consultant
Defaults match this page's scenario. Adjust numbers to see your rate update instantly.
- Minimum hourly
- $146
- Day rate (8h)
- $1,169
- Typical project
- $7,015
- Monthly retainer
- $17,719
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Frequently asked questions
What day rate should a consultant charge?
Work backward from take-home goal plus taxes and expenses, then divide by billable days — often $800–2,500/day in the US.
Do consultants charge VAT or sales tax on day rates?
Depends on jurisdiction — price your day rate net of tax and state terms clearly on proposals.
Day rate vs hourly for consultants?
Day rate wins for workshops and executive sessions; hourly for open-ended advisory retainers.