What Should I Charge?
Take this 5-question quiz to discover what contractors like you charge in your market. Select your trade, region, experience level, and licensing status to receive personalized hourly rate benchmarks, job size pricing ranges, and actionable insights. Data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and public contractor rate surveys — updated for 2026.
What's your primary trade?
Why do most contractors undercharge?
The most common pricing mistake in contracting is not charging enough. Three psychological factors drive this: fear of losing bids (but competing on price attracts price-sensitive clients who are harder to work with), underestimating overhead (most contractors forget to account for vehicle costs, insurance, tool replacement, unpaid travel time, and administrative hours), and anchoring to employee wages (a $35/hr employee wage requires a $85-$120/hr billing rate to cover all business costs and generate profit). This quiz helps you benchmark against the market so you can price with confidence rather than guessing or undercutting.
How do contractor rates vary across the US?
Geographic location is the second-biggest factor in contractor pricing after trade specialization. Northeast markets (New York, Boston, Philadelphia) command the highest rates — 40-80% above national averages due to high cost of living, strict licensing requirements, and strong union presence. West Coast markets (San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles) run 25-50% above average. Midwest and Southeast markets are at or slightly below national averages but offer lower business costs. Southwest markets (Phoenix, Dallas, Houston) are moderate but growing rapidly as population influx drives construction demand. The quiz automatically adjusts your benchmark based on your selected region.
What separates high-earning contractors from average?
High-earning contractors (top 20% in their trade) share five characteristics: First, they specialize — a "kitchen remodel specialist" charges 30-50% more than a "general contractor." Second, they invest in presentation — professional proposals, clean trucks, uniforms, and branded materials signal quality and justify premium pricing. Third, they collect reviews obsessively — contractors with 50+ Google reviews close 40% more jobs at higher rates. Fourth, they track their numbers — knowing their true overhead, close rate, and profit per job lets them price accurately. Fifth, they say no to bad-fit clients — turning down low-budget or difficult projects preserves time for higher-margin work. QuotrPro helps with the presentation piece: turning job site photos into professional proposals in minutes.
How should you use your quiz results?
Your personalized results show three things: First, your recommended hourly rate range — use this as your baseline when quoting time-and-materials work. Second, job size ranges — these help you sanity-check project quotes (if your bathroom remodel quote is below the "small job" range for your profile, you are likely underpricing). Third, the visual gauge — this shows where your recommended range falls on the spectrum from entry-level to master. If you are charging below your recommended range, consider raising prices. If you are above, ensure your presentation and reviews justify the premium. The next step: use the Profit Margin Calculator to build exact quotes, or try QuotrPro to generate AI-powered proposals at your new rate.
How to Use This Calculator
- 1
Select your trade
Choose from electrician, plumber, painter, or handyman. Each trade has different market rates and benchmarks.
- 2
Choose your region
Select the US region closest to you. Pricing varies 40-60% between regions — Northeast rates are significantly higher than Southeast.
- 3
Set your experience level
Choose 0-3 years (entry), 4-10 years (mid-career), or 10+ years (senior). Experience commands 50-80% higher rates.
- 4
Indicate licensing status
Licensed contractors charge 15-23% more on average. Your results will reflect the licensed premium if applicable.
- 5
Get your personalized results
See your recommended hourly rate, job size pricing ranges, a visual gauge showing where you stand, and actionable insights.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate are the quiz results?
Why do licensed contractors charge more?
How does experience affect contractor rates?
What if my current rate is below the benchmark?
How often should I raise my prices?
What trades and regions are covered?
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