DEI Consulting Income Calculator
See what independent practice could pay. Set your day rate, the days you can realistically bill and how much of the year you are selling, and get a monthly and annual figure.
A rough projection, not a promise. Real take-home depends on your costs, your tax position and how much of the year you actually sell, and the days you do not bill are the number most people get wrong.
Build the plan to get thereWhat the numbers really mean
Revenue is what you invoice. Take-home is what survives your own costs, your tax position and the associates you pay, if you use any. The number that decides the year is not the rate, it is how many days you actually sell: strong rates against four billable days a month is a modest income, and the gap is proposals, admin and finding the next engagement.
For the salaried side as well as this one, and for what moves each of them, read the income guide.
Income FAQs
How much can you earn doing DEI work?
Independently, it comes down to your day rate and how many days a year you actually sell, and the second number is the one people get wrong. In a salaried role the range is set by the size of the organization and the seniority of the post rather than by anything you control week to week. Use the calculator to model the independent version, then read the income guide for both.
Is independent DEI work profitable?
The margins are good, because the costs are your own time and very little else. What makes or breaks the year is utilisation: a strong day rate against four billable days a month is a modest income, and the unbilled days are proposals, admin and finding the next engagement rather than idleness.
How do I earn more from this work?
Raise the rate on the strength of what you can evidence, sell longer engagements rather than single sessions, get repeat work from clients you have already delivered for, and remove the unpaid work that eats the days you could be selling. The advanced units cover the governance and communications work that longer engagements are usually bought for.
Is this income calculator free?
Yes, free with no sign-up. For the full picture, including the salaried side, see the income guide and the courses.