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Guides for healthcare workers weighing 1099 work
Short, plain-English guides with worked examples. Made for nurses, techs, therapists and other healthcare workers who are comparing a W-2 job with 1099 or contract work.
- What 1099 hourly rate matches your W-2 pay?A 1099 rate that looks higher can still pay less than your W-2 job. See how to find the rate that makes both jobs worth the same, with a worked example.
- How much should you set aside for taxes on 1099 income?Nobody withholds tax from 1099 pay. See what you owe, a simple range to set aside, when estimated payments are due, and one way to avoid them.
- Self-employment tax in 2026: what changes at the Social Security limitSelf-employment tax is 15.3% of 92.35% of profit, until the Social Security limit of $184,500 in 2026. See a worked example above and below the limit.
- What a 1099 contract offer can leave out: 10 questions to ask before you signThe hourly rate is one line of a contract. Ten plain-English questions about pay timing, canceled shifts, tail coverage, non-competes and more.
- Unpaid weeks on a 1099 contract: what they really costOn a 1099 contract, a week you do not work is a week you are not paid. See how unpaid weeks change the rate you need, with a simple worked example.
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The free calculator compares a W-2 job and a 1099 job after taxes, work costs and benefits. No sign-up. What you type stays in your browser.
Open the free calculatorScrubs & Fine Print gives educational information only, not personal tax, legal or financial advice. Examples use made-up numbers. Check with a CPA or a lawyer before you decide.