Rates, 2026
What should a full-stack developer charge in 2026, working remote?
About $1,125 a day for a full-stack developer who is working and booked in remote work for US clients. $850 in the first years, $1,400 when senior. An MVP runs about $30,600.
Other markets: New York or LA · a major city · a smaller market
First years
$850
a day · $100 an hour
Working, booked
$1,125
a day · $150 an hour
Senior, sought after
$1,400
a day · $175 an hour
The rate card, working level
- Day rate$1,125 per day
- Hourlyfor anything that does not fit a day$150 per hour
- An MVP$30,600 per project
- Monthly retainertwo to three days a week, the product owned$24,475 per month
Sold by the day, a monthly retainer, a project fee, by the hour. The day is the unit; half days run 60%.
What to charge for each thing
Ranges for remote work for US clients: the low end is the first years, the high end is senior. Working and booked sits in the middle.
- MVP$9,000 to $36,000 each
- Fractional, two days a week$5,400 to $10,800 per month
- Technical due diligence$2,250 to $7,200 each
- Architecture review$1,350 to $4,500 each
How the number is made
Full-stack developers at this level in this market day at about $1,125 ($800 to $1,700 in New York and LA). Put in the year you actually want on the perfect price page and the number moves with it.
An MVP runs $8,000 to $60,000 and takes about 150 hours of your time; at your hourly that is $22,500. The number is the higher of the two, because the client is buying the outcome, not the hours.
A retainer is the month, not the hours: two to three days a week, the product owned. It is priced about 20% under the same work bought one at a time, in exchange for the certainty; three months minimum, or it is not a retainer.
Questions
- What is a fair day rate for a full-stack developer in remote work for US clients?
- About $1,125 a day for someone working and booked, $850 in the first years, $1,400 when senior and sought after. Half days usually run 60% of the day.
- How much is an mvp?
- $30,600 at a working level in this market. The client is buying the outcome, so the price is the higher of what the market pays for it and what your hours in it are worth.
- What does a monthly retainer look like for a full-stack developer?
- Around $24,475 a month: two to three days a week, the product owned. About 20% under the same work bought one piece at a time, in exchange for certainty; three months minimum.
- Are these rates a rule?
- No. They are US 2026 ranges for the role, placed by level and moved for the market. What a client actually paid you beats all of it. The tool has a box for that, and it wins.
Your number, in five seconds.
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