What is a good hourly rate? It’s the most common question after someone converts their salary to an hourly figure — and it’s one that “average” statistics rarely answer well, because a good hourly rate in healthcare is very different from a good rate in retail, and a competitive rate in Texas looks nothing like one in London or Dubai. This guide gives you real 2026 benchmarks across professions, countries, and experience levels — so you can see exactly where your rate sits.
What Is a Good Hourly Rate? 2026 Benchmarks by Profession, Country and Experience
Whether you’re negotiating a pay rise, evaluating a job offer, setting a freelance rate, or just wondering if your current pay is fair — knowing what counts as a good hourly rate for your specific role, location, and experience level gives you leverage that vague national averages don’t. This guide pulls real data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, UK ONS, and UAE labour market reports to answer that question properly.
What Is a Good Hourly Rate? — The National Benchmarks First
Before breaking down by profession or experience, answering what is a good hourly rate at a national level gives you the baseline to measure against. These are the most current 2026 figures from official government sources — the US figure is from the BLS via Indeed’s 2026 hourly wage analysis.
Not sure what your salary converts to per hour? Our free Salary to Hourly Calculator does the conversion instantly — enter your annual, monthly, or weekly salary and get your exact hourly equivalent.
What Is a Good Hourly Rate by Profession? — US 2026 Benchmarks
The most useful answer to what is a good hourly rate is profession-specific. These US figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) programme, the most comprehensive official wage survey in the country, updated through May 2025/January 2026.
| Profession | Entry Level (0–3 yrs) | Mid Level (4–8 yrs) | Senior (9+ yrs) | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | $36–$45/hr | $50–$63/hr | $70–$100+/hr | High |
| Data Scientist / ML Engineer | $38–$50/hr | $55–$75/hr | $80–$120+/hr | High |
| Registered Nurse | $32–$38/hr | $40–$48/hr | $50–$65/hr | Strong |
| Pharmacist | $52–$60/hr | $60–$70/hr | $70–$80/hr | High |
| Accountant / CPA | $22–$28/hr | $32–$43/hr | $48–$65/hr | Strong |
| Marketing Manager | $22–$28/hr | $32–$40/hr | $45–$65/hr | Strong |
| Electrician | $20–$24/hr | $27–$31/hr | $34–$45/hr | Fair |
| Plumber | $20–$24/hr | $26–$31/hr | $34–$48/hr | Fair |
| School Teacher | $18–$22/hr | $24–$30/hr | $32–$40/hr | Fair |
| Graphic Designer | $16–$20/hr | $22–$28/hr | $32–$45/hr | Fair |
| Retail / Customer Service | $13–$16/hr | $15–$18/hr | $18–$24/hr | Below Avg |
| Food Service / Hospitality | $12–$15/hr | $14–$18/hr | $18–$26/hr | Below Avg |
What Is a Good Hourly Rate in the UK? — 2026 ONS Data
For UK workers, answering what is a good hourly rate starts with the Office for National Statistics Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), the most comprehensive UK pay dataset. The UK median hourly wage for all employees is £18.80, per the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (full-time workers: ~£19.50). The National Minimum Wage rose to £12.71/hr from April 2026 for workers aged 21 and over.
| Profession (UK) | Entry Level | Mid Level | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | £18–£24/hr | £28–£38/hr | £45–£65/hr |
| NHS Nurse (Band 5–6) | £14–£17/hr | £18–£22/hr | £24–£32/hr |
| Accountant | £14–£18/hr | £22–£30/hr | £35–£55/hr |
| Marketing Manager | £13–£17/hr | £20–£28/hr | £30–£45/hr |
| Electrician | £14–£18/hr | £18–£24/hr | £26–£36/hr |
| Teacher (state school) | £14–£17/hr | £18–£24/hr | £24–£32/hr |
| Retail Worker | £12.71–£14/hr | £14–£16/hr | £15–£18/hr |
What Is a Good Hourly Rate in the UAE? — 2026 Market Data
The UAE hourly rate question is more complex than most countries because the UAE has no personal income tax, no universal minimum wage (though a AED 6,000/month minimum was introduced for Emirati nationals in January 2026), and wages vary dramatically by nationality, sector, and whether benefits are included in the package.
The average gross monthly salary in the UAE is AED 16,000 (approximately $4,350 USD), which at a standard 48-hour working week translates to roughly AED 77/hour. However, the median is closer to AED 10,000/month — a large group of very high earners pulls the average upward.
| Profession (UAE) | Entry Level | Mid Level | Senior | Monthly Equiv. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | AED 60–80/hr | AED 90–130/hr | AED 150–220/hr | AED 12k–44k |
| Finance / Accountant | AED 40–60/hr | AED 65–95/hr | AED 100–160/hr | AED 8k–32k |
| Healthcare (Doctor) | AED 80–120/hr | AED 120–180/hr | AED 180–280/hr | AED 16k–56k |
| Marketing / Digital | AED 35–55/hr | AED 60–90/hr | AED 95–145/hr | AED 7k–29k |
| Engineering (Civil/Mech) | AED 35–55/hr | AED 55–85/hr | AED 90–140/hr | AED 7k–28k |
| Hospitality / Service | AED 10–18/hr | AED 16–25/hr | AED 22–38/hr | AED 2k–7.5k |
What Is a Good Hourly Rate in Canada and Australia?
For workers in Canada and Australia, the answer to what is a good hourly rate tracks closely with US figures in absolute terms but is adjusted for local cost of living and minimum wage floors.
Canada
The federal minimum wage rose to CA$17.30/hr from April 2025, though most provinces set higher provincial minimums. The national average hourly wage across all sectors is approximately CA$32–$34/hr. Tech roles in Toronto and Vancouver command CA$40–$80/hr at mid-senior level. Skilled trades (electricians, plumbers) average CA$28–$48/hr depending on province and certification.
Australia
Australia’s National Minimum Wage is A$24.10/hr from July 2025 — one of the highest in the world. The national average across all workers is approximately A$37/hr. Software engineers average A$45–$75/hr; nurses A$35–$55/hr; tradespeople A$32–$55/hr. Remote areas often carry 10–20% loading on top of standard rates to attract workers.
What Is a Good Hourly Rate — by Experience Level?
Experience level is arguably the single biggest determinant of whether your hourly rate is competitive. Understanding the typical progression answers what is a good hourly rate more precisely than any national average can.
| Experience Tier | Years | US Rate Range | UK Rate Range | What Drives It |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Level | 0–2 years | $14–$28/hr | £12.71–£18/hr | Degree, certifications, internship quality |
| Junior–Mid | 2–5 years | $22–$40/hr | £16–£26/hr | Demonstrated output, first specialisation |
| Mid Level | 5–8 years | $32–$55/hr | £22–£34/hr | Ownership of projects, mentoring others |
| Senior | 8–15 years | $45–$80/hr | £30–£55/hr | Strategic impact, cross-team leadership |
| Principal / Director | 15+ years | $75–$150+/hr | £50–£100+/hr | Business outcome ownership, team scale |
What Is a Good Hourly Rate for Freelancers? — 2026 Market Rates
Freelance rates follow different rules from employed rates. When assessing what is a good hourly rate for self-employed work, you need to account for non-billable hours (admin, sales, invoicing — typically 20–30% of working time), self-employment tax, no paid leave, and the absence of employer pension contributions. As a rule of thumb, your freelance hourly rate should be 1.5–2× your equivalent employed rate to break even on these differences.
| Freelance Skill | Junior Rate (US) | Mid Rate (US) | Senior Rate (US) | Trend 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web / Software Developer | $40–$55/hr | $65–$90/hr | $100–$160/hr | ↑ AI skills premium |
| AI / ML Engineer | $60–$80/hr | $90–$130/hr | $130–$200+/hr | ↑↑ Strong demand |
| UX / Product Designer | $35–$50/hr | $55–$80/hr | $85–$130/hr | → Stable |
| Copywriter / Content Writer | $25–$40/hr | $40–$65/hr | $70–$110/hr | ↓ AI pressure on basic content |
| Graphic Designer | $25–$38/hr | $38–$60/hr | $65–$95/hr | ↓ Slight AI pressure |
| Digital Marketing | $30–$45/hr | $45–$70/hr | $75–$120/hr | → Stable |
| Accountant / Bookkeeper | $30–$45/hr | $50–$75/hr | $80–$130/hr | → Stable |
One of the clearest 2026 trends: skills that work alongside AI (prompt engineering, AI integration, AI strategy) command 25–45% rate premiums over equivalent skills without AI fluency, while basic content writing and data entry have seen rate compression as AI tools become capable substitutes.
How to Know If Your Hourly Rate Is Good — 5 Practical Tests
Beyond the benchmarks, there are five practical signals that tell you whether your specific rate is competitive — each of which helps answer what is a good hourly rate for your actual situation.
1. Convert your salary and compare to your profession’s range
Use our free Salary to Hourly Calculator to convert your annual or monthly salary to an hourly figure, then find your profession in the tables above. If you’re below the mid-level range for your experience, you’re likely underpaid relative to market.
2. Check your effective hourly rate — not your contracted rate
If you’re salaried and regularly work 50+ hours per week, your effective hourly rate is significantly lower than what the standard 40-hour calculation shows. A $75,000 salary at 50 hours/week is $28.85/hr — not $36.06/hr. Use the actual hours worked in the calculator to get your real rate.
3. Look at job postings for your role
Current job listings are the most accurate real-time benchmark. Search for your job title on LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor — filter to your city and experience level. If the listed ranges are consistently higher than your current rate, that gap is your negotiation data.
4. Compare total compensation, not just hourly rate
A lower hourly rate at a company with strong health insurance, matched pension, 30 days paid leave, and a remote-work policy can be worth significantly more than a higher hourly rate without those benefits. One way to quantify: add 25–35% to your hourly rate as the employer cost equivalent of a strong benefits package.
5. Factor in cost of living by city
$28/hr in Austin, Texas is a very different standard of living from $28/hr in San Francisco or London. A rate that’s “good” by national standards can be tight in high-cost cities. As a rough guide, if your monthly net pay is less than 3× your monthly rent, your hourly rate likely needs to improve for your specific location.
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Calculate My Hourly Rate Free →What Is a Good Hourly Rate — Minimum Wage Floors by Country 2026
When asking what is a good hourly rate, it’s useful to know the legal floor — the minimum wage — in each major country for 2026. These aren’t benchmarks for a “good” rate; they’re the legal baseline below which you cannot be paid.
| Country | Minimum Hourly Rate 2026 | Effective From |
|---|---|---|
| United States (Federal) | $7.25/hr (many states higher — CA $16.50+) | Federal unchanged; state rates updated Jan 2026 |
| United Kingdom | £12.71/hr (age 21+) | April 2026 |
| Australia | A$24.10/hr | July 2025 |
| Canada (Federal) | CA$17.30/hr | April 2025 |
| Germany | €13.90/hr (see 2026 EU minimum wage changes) | January 2026 |
| Netherlands | €14.71/hr | January 2026 |
| Ireland | €14.15/hr | January 2026 |
| UAE | No general minimum (AED 6,000/mo for Emirati nationals in private sector) | January 2026 |
Frequently Asked Questions — What Is a Good Hourly Rate?
What is a good hourly rate in the US in 2026?
The US average hourly wage across all private employees is $37.17 (BLS, January 2026). A “good” rate depends on your profession — software engineers average $50–$63/hr at mid level, while retail workers average $13–$18/hr. As a general benchmark, anything above $25/hr places you above the median for most non-technical roles.
What is a good hourly rate in the UK?
The UK median hourly wage is approximately £18.80 (ONS ASHE 2025/26). The National Minimum Wage is £12.71/hr from April 2026. A good hourly rate in the UK for most professional roles starts around £20–£25/hr at entry level and rises to £30–£55/hr at mid-senior level.
What is a good hourly rate in the UAE?
The UAE average salary of AED 16,000/month converts to approximately AED 77/hr on a standard 48-hour working week. However, the median is closer to AED 48/hr (AED 10,000/month). A competitive professional rate in Dubai or Abu Dhabi starts around AED 60–80/hr for mid-level roles in finance, tech, or healthcare.
How do I calculate my hourly rate from my salary?
Divide your annual salary by your total annual working hours. For a standard 40-hour week, 52 weeks: divide by 2,080. Example: $60,000 ÷ 2,080 = $28.85/hr. For part-time or different hours, adjust the denominator accordingly. Our free salary to hourly calculator does this instantly for any currency.
What is a good freelance hourly rate?
Freelance rates should generally be 1.5–2× equivalent employed rates to account for non-billable time, self-employment tax, and lack of benefits. A mid-level employed developer at $50/hr should charge $75–$100/hr as a freelancer to earn the same net income. Specialisation in AI-related skills adds a 25–45% premium in 2026.
Does experience significantly change what is a good hourly rate?
Yes — experience is the single biggest factor after profession and location. Moving from entry level to senior level typically doubles or triples hourly pay over a career. The sharpest gains usually come between years 3–7 when you cross from junior to solid mid-level, and again at the transition to senior/lead roles.
Is my hourly rate good if it’s above minimum wage?
Being above minimum wage is the floor, not the benchmark for “good.” A good hourly rate means your pay is competitive relative to your specific profession, experience level, and location — not just above the legal minimum. Use the profession-specific tables in this guide, not minimum wage comparisons, to assess whether your rate is fair.
How often should I check whether my hourly rate is still competitive?
At minimum, check your hourly rate against market benchmarks before any salary review, when you get a new job offer, or when you’ve been in a role for more than 18 months without a raise. Wage benchmarks shift every year — what was a good rate in 2023 may now be below median for your role.
Final Thoughts — What Is a Good Hourly Rate in 2026?
The honest answer to what is a good hourly rate is: it depends on four variables — your profession, your country, your experience level, and your city’s cost of living. A rate that’s excellent for a teacher in the Midwest is below market for a software engineer in London. The tables in this guide give you the profession-and-country-specific benchmarks that vague national averages can’t.
The most useful thing you can do with this data: convert your current salary to an hourly figure using our free Salary to Hourly Calculator, then find your profession in the relevant country’s table above. If you’re in the bottom third of your experience tier’s range, you have a documented case for a pay rise. If you’re at or above the top of your range, you’re well-positioned.
For more on managing your money once you know what you’re earning, see our guides on how to set up a sinking fund, zero-based budgeting vs 50/30/20, and how to stop living paycheck to paycheck.
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