Rates, 2026
What should a lead generation freelancer charge in a major city?
About $550 a day for a lead generation freelancer who is working and booked in a major city like Chicago, Atlanta, Miami or Austin. $400 in the first years, $700 when senior. Also called: sdr, appointment setting, cold email.
Other markets: New York or LA · remote · a smaller market
First years
$400
a day · $50 an hour
Working, booked
$550
a day · $70 an hour
Senior, sought after
$700
a day · $90 an hour
The rate card, working level
- Day rate$550 per day
- Hourlyfor anything that does not fit a day$70 per hour
- Monthly retainer$3,400 per month
- Commission on closed revenue15%
Sold a monthly retainer, a percentage, a project fee. The month is the unit; one-off work is priced as a project.
What to charge for each thing
Ranges for a major city like Chicago, Atlanta, Miami or Austin: the low end is the first years, the high end is senior. Working and booked sits in the middle.
- List building$250 to $850 per 1,000 leads
- Outbound sequence setup$850 to $2,550 each
- Appointment setting$45 to $175 per booked meeting
How the number is made
Lead generation and outbounds at this level in this market day at about $550 ($400 to $900 in New York and LA). Put in the year you actually want on the perfect price page and the number moves with it.
A retainer is the month, not the hours: a set scope, paid up front on the 1st. 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.
10 to 20% of closed revenue is the norm. It only makes sense when the money is real: under about $3,000 a month in fees a flat retainer pays you better and the client can budget it.
Questions
- What is a fair day rate for a lead generation freelancer in a major city like Chicago, Atlanta, Miami or Austin?
- About $550 a day for someone working and booked, $400 in the first years, $700 when senior and sought after. Half days usually run 60% of the day.
- What does a monthly retainer look like for a lead generation freelancer?
- Around $3,400 a month. 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.
Pick your level and market, get a card you can send the next client who asks. Then RostrLab quotes, papers, invoices and chases every job with it: free for 14 days, $29 a month, never a cut.
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