With more professionals using their skills as freelancers, the gig economy is expanding quickly. Indeed, according to a survey by Upwork, 64 million American professionals—or more than a third of the country’s workforce—were engaged in freelancing in 2023.
How and why should someone think about being a freelancer? What is freelancing? The definition of freelancing, its benefits and drawbacks, how it varies from full-time employment, and the kinds of freelance work that are available are all covered in this article.
Freelancing: What is it?
Doing specialized work for clients without committing to a full-time job is known as freelancing. Freelancers frequently work on several projects for various clients at the same time. Freelancers are regarded as self-employed people by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
What is the process of freelancing?
Part-time or full-time freelancers manage contract work, and they frequently sign contracts before beginning tasks. Depending on the terms of the contract, the client may pay for freelancing on an hourly, project, or task basis. Short-term assignments are the norm for freelance tasks, while happy customers frequently ask for more work. The majority of freelance positions found in the creative, service, and skills sectors, including marketing, engineering, programming, and copywriting.
Crucial data that independent contractors should be aware of in 2025
Here are some crucial figures that every freelancer should be aware of, such as hourly wages, the highest-paying positions, and the direction of freelancing.
freelancing services. 47% of independent contractors offer knowledge-based services, such as programming and marketing.
Highest-paid positions: Among the highest-paying freelance positions are those of public relations (PR) managers and business consultants, who often make between $50 and $100 per hour and $28 to $98 per hour, respectively.
Average hourly wage: In North America, the average freelancer’s hourly wage is $44.
Gig work time: Gig labor accounts for 10–20 hours per week for 38% of Americans.
The rationale of freelancing: Being in charge of their financial destiny is the primary motivation for 72% of American freelancers.
Freelancing’s future: By 2027, more than half of American workers are expected to be independent contractors.
Freelance benefits
There are numerous possible benefits to working as a freelancer and being your own boss, such as:
Adaptability: You can set your own hours and determine where and when to work as a freelancer. You can work from home or at the beach, for instance. Flexibility in freelancing contributes to improved work-life balance.
Selection of projects and clients: You can choose the jobs that best suit your interests and skill set when you work as a freelancer. Additionally, you can choose clients who meet specific requirements.
Determining your own prices: Since you often determine your own prices as a freelancer, you could have more influence over your income potential. Another element that will probably affect your pay is how much work you can manage on a daily or weekly basis.
Enhanced repertoire of skills: You could be able to work on more specific tasks as a freelancer, which would increase your familiarity with specialist fields.
Exposure to international brands: You have the chance to build deep connections with companies worldwide since you have the freedom to select your clients and projects.
The drawbacks of working for yourself
Although there are numerous benefits to working as a freelancer, you should also think about any potential drawbacks.
separation. In contrast to a full-time or part-time job, running a freelancing business can be isolating, particularly if you operate remotely. You can find freelancing isolating if you thrive on regular connections with coworkers in a job setting.
job security that is uncertain. Freelance employment is likely to be unpredictable; at times, you may struggle to land assignments while at other times, you may have more work than you can handle. To keep a consistent income in the beginning of your freelancing career, you might need to keep working at your normal employment.
administrative duties. You will have to manage marketing, invoicing, legal documentation, and other pertinent administrative tasks as your own employer. These duties may take time away from your primary focus and necessitate a significant understanding of bookkeeping, self-employment tax laws, and office technology.
no benefits paid for by the employer. When you work for yourself, your company does not provide health insurance, 401(k) retirement plans, or other benefits that come with a full-time job.
Nine types of freelancing employment that are in high demand
Depending on your skill set, you can work in a variety of industries, which is one of the gig economy’s best characteristics.
Some common job types that are open to independent contractors are listed below.
1. IT and development
The following IT and development positions entail creating and managing the digital software and technological systems that run businesses.
developer of websites. Writing code for website layouts that produce fully functional websites is part of this profession. Web developers are in charge of building, managing, and expanding customers’ websites in accordance with predetermined specifications.
UX designer. By creating user-friendly features for websites, software, and mobile apps, user experience designers contribute to a seamless online experience. They offer usability solutions that are grounded in competitor analysis and in-depth research.
coder. Working with computers and developing software is part of the well-liked field of programming. If you’re interested in writing code for a living, this extremely technical field is an excellent fit.
engineer for machine learning. These engineers are in charge of creating and implementing artificial intelligence (AI) models that are capable of data analysis and prediction. As an illustration, they may create an algorithm that can identify and categorize photos of objects, such vehicles or animals. A computer science degree and familiarity with Python and R are prerequisites for this position.
analyst of data. To find insights that can guide corporate decisions, data analysts gather and examine data. They clean and arrange data sets using programs like Excel and SQL. They are employed in a variety of fields, including marketing and healthcare.
researcher in AI. As an AI researcher, you will conduct experiments and data analysis to create new models and algorithms that will enhance AI systems. Proficiency in computer science, mathematics, and statistics is necessary for this position.
2. Creative and design
To draw in customers, independent creative experts produce graphic components, information, and goods.
designer of graphics. If you work as a freelance graphic designer, you might assist customers in producing eye-catching logos, business collateral, or branding components for websites.
editor for videos. A video editor may perform basic or more extensive editing, depending on the project’s scope. In order to guarantee an engaging final product, general duties include assembling graphics, audio, and effects.
creator of websites. Creating and maintaining top-notch websites is your responsibility as a freelance web designer. When it comes to selecting themes, integrating plug-ins, or selecting content management systems (CMS), you assist customers in making the best choices. You are also responsible for updating the code and assembling design components like graphics and banners.
photographer. To create the greatest images for marketing, website content, and other business uses, freelance photographers collaborate with organizations. Additionally, you may be asked to photograph weddings, birthday parties, and other noteworthy occasions.
A videographer. A videographer specializes in producing video content for marketing and education, among other uses. Using cameras and other tools, they record high-quality video footage, which is subsequently edited to create the finished result.
3. Marketing and sales
Freelance sales and marketing specialists are in great demand since companies are constantly trying to turn a profit.
marketer on social media. Creating interesting social media content, running social media accounts, and keeping an eye on messages and comments are all part of this job. In order to maximize engagement and reach, they also evaluate the effectiveness of their marketing initiatives.
strategist for marketing. Marketing strategists are employed by clients to assist in creating successful advertising campaigns and customer outreach initiatives. Reaching sales goals can be facilitated by collaborating with a seasoned freelance marketing specialist.
Customer contact manager. A customer contact manager makes sure that the level of service meets the expectations of the clients. The manager keeps an eye on the minimal service standards, which include customer wait times. This independent contractor also develops a plan for staff development and establishes goals for customer service.
developer of content. In order to provide important information or advertise a product, content creators use text, photos, and video to generate interesting content for social media, websites, blogs, and video channels.
SEO expert. Optimizing websites to increase their visibility in search engine results pages is part of this job. In order to increase conversions and sales for a company, this procedure entails researching keywords, creating backlinks, and examining website traffic.
4. Composing and translating
A variety of occupations involving the creation of written content and multilingual translation are included in this category. Outstanding communication abilities and meticulousness are necessary for these positions.
writer of copy. As a professional copywriter, you may be in charge of writing material for websites, social media posts, newsletters, and other platforms. Writing interesting material that instructs and motivates readers is your responsibility. Some writing positions concentrate on creating content for print media.
writer of content. These authors produce engaging and informative instructional, educational, or amusing content. They provide content for social media, websites, and other online media. They take a different strategy than copywriters, who typically focus on creating text that is more compelling.
technical author. In order to assist users in understanding difficult technical information, this function involves producing technical reports, instruction manuals, and user guides. To ensure that the information is clear and correct, they collaborate with subject matter experts.
Editor. Checking content for typos, grammatical problems, and general compliance with the style guide and content brief are all part of freelance editing. Before sending completed documents to clients, you must additionally verify the accuracy of the information.
interpreter and translator. To accurately translate content from one language to another, freelance translators are used. Websites, promotional materials, and product manuals might all use the translated content.
5. Customer service and administration
Numerous career possibilities in several functional areas are available in this category. In these positions, freelancers either work directly with customers or with systems that are connected to their demands and transactions.
Coordinator of customer service. If you are a great communicator, you can succeed as a freelance customer service coordinator. Performing quality surveys, handling client complaints, and making sure that consumers receive efficient service are some of your duties.
manager of databases. Managing databases of customer information is your responsibility in this profession. It is your duty to maintain the security and organization of sensitive data.
manager of e-commerce. The demand for seasoned e-commerce managers is always rising as a result of the widespread acceptance of online purchasing. You will be in charge of site maintenance, inventory control, and marketing strategy optimization.
virtual helper. This position entails offering firms or individuals virtual administrative support. It involves activities including making trip plans, setting up appointments, and carrying out research. Clients benefit from these duties by becoming more productive and saving time.
manager of the project. In order to guarantee that projects are finished on schedule and within budget, a project manager is in charge of scheduling, financing, and conflicts. Throughout the project, project managers oversee teams and stakeholders by utilizing their communication and leadership abilities.