What drives a site manager's day rate
- Location: rates in and around major cities, and on projects needing long travel, tend to be higher.
- Sector: live environments such as healthcare, rail or occupied homes often command more.
- Project size and complexity, and whether you lead other managers.
- Qualifications and cards: SMSTS, first aid, temporary works and a CSCS card appropriate to the role are often expected.
- Availability: short-notice cover can justify a higher rate.
Costs your rate has to cover
As a freelancer, you are not paid for holidays, sick days, training days or the gaps between contracts. Your rate also has to cover costs an employer would normally carry:
- Insurance, such as public liability and professional indemnity.
- Training and card renewals.
- Vehicle, travel, PPE, phone and IT.
- Pension contributions.
- Accountancy and business admin.
A simple way to work out your rate
- Decide the annual income you want before tax.
- Add your yearly business costs.
- Estimate realistic billable days: take working days in the year and subtract holidays, bank holidays, training, sickness and expected gaps between contracts.
- Divide the total (income plus costs) by billable days. That is your minimum day rate.
- Compare it with what agencies and peers tell you the market pays for your role and region, and adjust.
For example (illustrative figures only): if you want £60,000 before tax, have £8,000 of costs and expect 200 billable days, your minimum rate is £68,000 ÷ 200 = £340 a day.
Inside IR35 engagements
If an engagement is inside IR35, tax and National Insurance are deducted before your company is paid, which reduces what you take home. Many freelancers ask for a higher rate for inside engagements. Check the status before agreeing a rate.
Show your rate where hirers can see it
On 3lanse, you set your day rate and availability on your profile, so hirers who contact you already know your expectations. That saves time on both sides.