Side Hustle Income Calculator (US)
Use this free calculator to estimate how much extra money your side hustle could bring in each week, month and year. Adjust your hourly rate, hours per week and expense percentage to see realistic net income, not just top-line revenue.
This tool is designed for US-based freelancers, gig workers and part-time earners (rideshare, food delivery, online tutoring, content creation and more). It’s an educational estimate, not tax or legal advice.
Pick a starting point that feels closest to the work you do (or want to try).
Use your realistic average hourly rate (after platform fees if you know it).
Slide to test “what if I worked more/less each week?” scenarios.
Include things like fuel, maintenance, software, subscriptions, platform fees and a rough tax estimate.
Projected Net Income from Your Side Hustle
Weekly Net
$0
Monthly Net
$0
Yearly Net
$0
These numbers are rough estimates based on the inputs you provide. Real income will vary with demand, cancellations, seasonality, your US state tax rules and business structure.
How This Side Hustle Calculator Works
This tool starts with your hourly rate and hours per week to estimate your gross earnings. Then it subtracts your chosen expense percentage to give a clearer picture of what you might actually take home.
- Gross weekly income = hourly rate × hours per week
- Expenses = gross weekly income × (expense percentage ÷ 100)
- Net weekly income = gross weekly income − expenses
- Net monthly income ≈ net weekly income × 4.33 (average weeks per month)
- Net yearly income ≈ net weekly income × 52
Use it to compare different side hustle ideas, plan how many hours you realistically want to work, or sanity-check whether a new opportunity is worth your time.
Tips to Increase Your Side Hustle Income
- Gradually raise your rates as your skills and reviews improve.
- Batch tasks together so you spend less time switching between apps or clients.
- Track your true hourly rate after expenses so you don’t stay stuck in low-paying gigs.
- Set aside a portion of your earnings for US taxes and long-term savings.
Plan the Rest of Your Money with WordMitr Tools
Once you have a side hustle income estimate, you can explore other free tools on WordMitr Tools to see how it fits into your overall US lifestyle and budget.
- Cost of Living Comparison (US Cities)
- Travel Budget Planner for US Trips
- Crypto Tax & Profit Calculator (US)
- BMI & Daily Calories Calculator
All tools are free to use and built for everyday US readers who want simple, practical numbers — not complicated spreadsheets.
Side Hustle Success Guide: From Gig to Career
The 30% Tax Rule
New freelancers often panic during tax season because they spent all their earnings. In the US, self-employment tax (Social Security + Medicare) is 15.3%, plus income tax.
SafeBet Strategy: as soon as you get paid, immediately transfer 30% of it to a separate "Tax Savings" account. Do not touch this money until April.
Quarterly Estimated Taxes
If you expect to owe more than $1,000 in taxes for the year (which is about $3,000-$4,000 in profit), the IRS requires you to make quarterly estimated payments. Missing these deadlines (April 15, June 15, Sept 15, Jan 15) can result in underpayment penalties, even if you pay in full at the end of the year.
Deductible Expenses You Might Miss
Tracking expenses lowers your taxable income. Common deductions include:
- Home Office: A portion of your rent/utilities if you use a dedicated space exclusively for work.
- Software/Tools: Adobe Creative Cloud, hosting fees, domain names, or specialized apps like this calculator.
- Transaction Fees: PayPal/Stripe fees, Upwork service charges.
- Education: Courses or books directly related to improving your skills.
When to Form an LLC?
You don't need an LLC to start freelancing (you are automatically a Sole Proprietor). However, forming an LLC separates your business assets from your personal assets. If a client sues you, they can go after your business bank account, but theoretically not your personal house or car. Most side hustlers switch to an LLC once they hit $40k-$50k in annual revenue.