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What should you really charge?

Realistic, livable rates for Filipino freelancers by role and experience, in pesos and dollars. These are floors to charge above, not the race-to-the-bottom numbers that keep good people stuck.

The short answer

Livable freelance rates for Filipinos working with international clients usually start around $5 to $10 an hour for entry-level roles and climb well past $30 to $50 for specialised, senior work. The numbers below are floors, not ceilings. If a client’s budget sits under the starting rate for your role, the problem is the budget, not you.

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Your rate is a decision, not a discount.

Browse the rates

Search a role or filter by type. Rates are per hour for work with international clients. Adjust the exchange rate to see today’s pesos.

Read these as floors, not suggestions to match. Every number is what a fair client can pay for that work — the least you should accept, not the most. If a rate here looks high, that’s the sign you’ve been undercharging, not that the rate is wrong.
₱ = $1

Guidance only. Real rates swing with your niche, portfolio, client country, and how you sell yourself — many people here earn above the senior column. Rates shown for international clients; local-only rates run lower. Peso figures convert at an approximate rate you can edit; the live rate moves.

Know your number, then defend it

Grab the two free tools — the Rate Calculator and the First-Client Checklist — to turn these floors into a rate that fits your life.

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Go deeper The Pricing Toolkit Knowing the market rate is step one. This is how you actually charge it: rate card, worksheets, and word-for-word scripts. See it in the shop · ₱299 →

Frequently asked questions

How much should a Filipino freelancer charge per hour?

It depends on the role and your experience, but livable starting rates for international-client work sit around $5 to $10 an hour, rising past $30 to $50 for senior, specialised work. Use the table above as a floor for your role and price up from there.

Why are these rates higher than what I see on job posts?

Many posts chase the cheapest bid, which drags rates below what the work is worth. These figures reflect what fair clients actually pay, so you have a realistic floor instead of anchoring to the lowest offer in your feed.

Is it okay to charge more than the senior rate?

Yes. The senior column isn’t a cap. With a strong portfolio, a clear niche, and results you can point to, plenty of Filipino freelancers charge well above it. The table is a floor to build on, not a limit.

Should I lower my rate to get my first client?

You can start nearer the entry rate while you build proof, but going far below the floor rarely pays off. Low rates attract clients who value the work least, and raising them later is harder than starting fair.