Meaning & use
hourly rate
Last updated
UK/ˌaʊəli ˈreɪt/
US/ˌaʊɚli ˈreɪt/
Meaning
nouncountablebusiness
The amount of money paid or charged for each hour of work.
Grammar: Often followed by of and an amount: an hourly rate of twelve dollars.
Patterns
- an hourly rate of an amount
- charge an hourly rate
The plumber's hourly rate is higher on weekends.
She negotiated an hourly rate of thirty dollars for the project.
Our hourly rate covers materials as well as labor.
Word forms
| plural | hourly rates |
|---|
Common combinations
- charge an hourly rate
- Lawyers often charge an hourly rate.
- set an hourly rate
- As a freelancer, you must set your own hourly rate.
- minimum hourly rate
- The minimum hourly rate rose again this year.
- agree an hourly rate
- We agreed an hourly rate before he started.
- hourly rate of pay
- The hourly rate of pay depends on experience.
Synonyms and how they differ
- hourly wage
- Hourly wage is what an employee receives, while hourly rate also covers what a freelancer or firm charges.
- pay rate
- Pay rate is broader and may be per hour, day or task.
- fee per hour
- Fee per hour is a plain description often used for services, and sounds less businesslike.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: hourly rate or salary?
hourly rate vs salary
A salary is a fixed yearly or monthly amount; an hourly rate is paid for each hour worked.
Practice
A freelancer charges $40 for each hour of work. That is her ______.
Choose one answer.
An hourly rate is the price per hour. A salary and a bonus are not per hour, and a tax rate is a percentage.
Make it your own
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