Calculate your gross/net salary as a freelancer

You want to calculate your gross/net salary as a freelancer, but you don't know how to do it?
To know what you will actually receive on your compensation, here is all the information you need, the list of simulators practices that will allow you to calculate your gross salary, including the average rate by freelance specialization (developer, consultant, graphic designer, etc.)

How to estimate your freelance income?

Estimating an independent worker's earnings requires distinguishing the total amount received from the amount actually available. Unlike an employee who benefits from a fixed payroll with contributions deducted automatically, a freelancer must convert the turnover generated by their activity into resources available after expenses and taxes.

To begin, it is essential to determine your daily rate and the number of days billed to clients. Multiplying that amount by the days worked gives the total annual receipts. Then you must subtract all professional expenses (equipment, software, subscriptions, training, etc.) and social contributions according to the chosen status: micro-entreprise, sole proprietorship or company. Each regime has its advantages but directly affects net earnings.

Using umbrella-company employment (portage salarial) is another option for professionals who want social protection while keeping their independence. In this case, the umbrella company handles administrative management and the deduction of charges, in exchange for a

The best freelance salary simulation tools

To make your life easier, there are simulators that calculate your net hourly or monthly salary in a glance. Thanks to these tools, you only need to enter the gross amount of your pay to get your taxable net.

GrossNetSalary.fr

This simulation allows you to obtain your net hourly, monthly or annual income by applying a default 23% for social contributions. It also lets you compare your earnings to the net minimum wage, useful for assessing the profitability of your activity.

Gross-to-Net-Salary.fr

This tool goes further by allowing you to choose a status (self-employed, sole proprietorship or company) and to adjust the corresponding contributions. It also takes into account working time (full or part time) and the number of months billed, useful for including bonuses or a 13th month in your accounts.

Juritravail

Simple and effective, this converter applies 23% social contributions to convert from a gross amount to the net amount (and vice versa). It’s a quick tool for any self-employed person who wants to check their earnings and better manage their expenses and revenue.

Understanding the difference between cash received and disposable income

In France, the gap between the amount received and the net amount varies according to your status. Social contributions (pension, old-age, unemployment insurance, health insurance, etc.) differ from one scheme to another. Thus, deductions are higher for some executives (around 25% of the amount received) than for other employees (23%). For self-employed workers or those in umbrella-company arrangements, these charges can reach 45 to 50% of the total billed.

Converting gross salary to net

In France, the difference between gross and net salary is not fixed because it depends on your employment: depending on your status, the social contributions (pension, old-age, unemployment insurance, health insurance, etc.) to which you are subject are not the same.
Thus, employee contributions are higher for executives (around 25% of gross salary) than for other employees (about 23%), which affects the taxable net received. The executive status must in particular pay additional contributions to fund its supplementary pension scheme.
Regarding other statuses, such as self-employed workers or people in umbrella-company arrangements, social charges are higher, reaching 45 to 50% of gross income.
For information, the gross interprofessional minimum wage (SMIC) for 2018 amounts to €1,498.47 (for 35 hours per week), which yields a net SMIC of around €1,154 (based on a 23% contribution rate).

These various elements must be taken into account in the gross-to-net salary calculation, as well as the number of hours and months worked, for an estimate as close to reality as possible.
The calculation remains approximate, however, since social charges vary slightly depending on the amount of gross pay (for employees, at least).
Indeed, there are different brackets, indexed to the Social Security ceiling (which is €3,269 per month in 2017) and which result in higher or lower contributions.
The estimate can also be complicated by other factors, such as working overtime.
Nevertheless, with these calculation bases, you will have a good idea of your net salary. If you are a freelancer, these figures should also be taken into account in the calculation of your hourly rate.

Why calculate your net freelance salary?

Several reasons may lead a freelancer to want to convert their income, for example:

• You have just set your daily rate or your package and want to know how much you will actually receive after expenses, social contributions and tax;

• You are negotiating a contract with a client and want to assess the real impact of an increase in your gross income on your net income;

• You are launching a new independent activity and want to estimate the net income you can derive from your annual turnover.

In any case, knowing your net income enables any freelance entrepreneur to better manage their affairs, anticipate expenses, and optimize the management of their business.

Also discover how easily calculate the VAT rate, the net (excl. VAT) or gross (incl. VAT) amount of any sum.

Changes in the minimum wage (SMIC) in recent years

The minimum wage (SMIC) increases slightly on January 1st each year because it is adjusted according to inflation measured during the previous year.
It can also be subject to a government "boost", where the state deliberately increases it, but this has not happened since 2007.

Also read: Freelancers, how to calculate your salary?

Freelance developer: gross and net salary 

The income of a freelance developer can vary considerably depending on their experience, specialization and the type of assignments they undertake. Unlike a traditional employee, a freelancer does not receive a fixed salary: their pay depends directly on their revenue and the number of billable days charged to clients. To estimate their remuneration correctly, it is essential to take into account business expenses, social contributions and taxes in order to calculate their net income.

Using an income simulator can help convert a daily rate into a net salary by incorporating activity-related costs. A freelancer can choose the micro-entrepreneur status, create their own company, or use umbrella company services (portage salarial), which allow them to benefit from an employee-like framework while keeping some independence. Each option has advantages: umbrella companies simplify administrative management and social protection, while micro-entrepreneur status offers more flexibility but requires good control of revenue and expenses.

On average, an experienced freelance developer charges between €300 and €600 per day, which translates, after deducting contributions, into a significant but variable net income. 

Freelance consultant: what is their salary and daily rate? 

What about the salary of a freelance consultant? Their income generally depends on their expertise, but also on the duration and complexity of their assignments. Of course, the type of client they work with also matters. Again, they do not receive a fixed salary and must manage their revenue to quickly turn earnings into net income. Here is the average daily rate according to the experience level of a freelance consultant :

• Junior consultant: between €250 and €400 per day; 
• Experienced consultant: between €400 and €700 per day depending on the sector and the complexity of the assignment; 
• Expert consultant: between €800 and €1,200 per day, particularly if specialized in niches (digital strategy, finance or IT). 

Note that the choice of legal status directly affects net income: as a micro-entrepreneur, the consultant benefits from simplified administration but must pay social and tax contributions. Conversely, umbrella company services allow receiving a salary with social protection, at the cost of management fees and a share of revenue. Creating your own company offers more freedom to optimize business, but requires more precise management of income and expenses.

What is a freelance graphic designer's salary? 

As with every freelance field, a freelance graphic designer's income varies greatly depending on experience, specialization and the types of assignments performed. On average, a junior graphic designer charges a daily rate between €150 and €250, particularly for simple tasks like creating visuals for social media or marketing materials. But the more projects a freelance designer accumulates, the more their daily rate increases: 

• Print designer/illustrator: between €200 and €400 per day, depending on project complexity (brochures, posters, illustrations); 
• Senior designer/freelance art director: between €400 and €700 per day, sometimes more for strategic assignments or large-scale projects.