Upwork fees: price the hour after the service fee

Since May 2025, Upwork’s freelancer service fee on new marketplace contracts is variable: typically 0% to 15%, shown when you propose or get an offer, then fixed for that contract. Confirm the percentage on the offer. Do not assume the old flat 10% or the older 20/10/5 tiers.

Worked example: $100 take-home, 8 hours

hourly floor = goal ÷ (1 − fee) ÷ hours

At 10%: $100 ÷ 0.9 ÷ 8 = $13.89/hour
At 15%: $100 ÷ 0.85 ÷ 8 = $14.71/hour
If you still quote $12.50/hour at 15%, you keep about $85. You miss $100 before tax or unpaid proposals.

What this does not include

Connects, withdrawal fees, and time spent bidding are extra. Raise the floor again for those. The $12 Rate & Invoice Kit lets you type the fee you actually see, plus admin time and tax, then print an invoice. Demo the calculator.