Upwork Hourly Rates Study: This is What Freelancers Are Charging Today (2024)


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I studied 15 popular niches on Upwork, this is what freelancers were charging

Whether you’re new to freelancing platforms like Upwork, or you’re new to gig work altogether, trying to figure out what your hourly rate should be can feel quite daunting. Charge too little and you’re leaving money on the table. Charge too much and you might scare off potential clients … theoretically, at least.

I recently studied 15 popular niches on Upwork to uncover exactly what freelancers are charging on the Upwork platform today. On average, beginners were charging between $10-$70, mid-level freelancers were charging between $10-$71 and experts were charging between $20-$100.

IN THIS ARTICLE

  • Industries studied, my methodology
  • Average hourly rates on Upwork
  • What I charge on Upwork

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Industries studied, my methodology

I recently took the liberty of cross-referencing 15 different industries from Upwork’s 2023 list of most in-demand skills and made mini-job posts for each on the platform. For the sake of this exercise, I narrowed my focus to the following:

  1. Full Stack Development
  2. Mobile App Development
  3. Web Design
  4. Social Media Marketing
  5. Accounting
  6. Recruiting & Talent Sourcing
  7. Bookkeeping
  8. Graphic Design
  9. Video Editing
  10. Presentation Design
  11. Illustration
  12. 3D Animation
  13. Transcription
  14. UX/UI Design
  15. Email Marketing

My methodology

For the sake of this exercise, I focused on hourly contracts with the following parameters: 3-6 month project length, short-term work, and medium scope. I also included five popular skills for each industry and limited my search to talent in the United States. I then examined the rate range for entry-level freelancers, intermediate freelancers and expert freelancers on each job type.

Average hourly rates on Upwork

My Findings

On average, Upwork freelancers were charging between $5-$200 on the platform. The lowest rates were reserved for entry-level jobs and entry-level freelancers. Freelance professionals in high-demand niches with many years of experience in specialized skill sets dominated the higher end of the scale.

NicheLowestEntryIntermediateExpertHighest
Full Stack Development$15-$20$35-$70$40-$70$65-$85$160-$165
Mobile App Development$5-$10$30-$65$50-$71$70-$90$120-$125
Web Design$10-$15$30-$58$35-$55$55-$75$155-$160
Social Media Marketing$5-10$20-$50$30-$65$60-$100$205-$210
Accounting$5-$10$26-$50$25-$50$40-$65$145-$150
Recruiting & Talent Sourcing$10-$15$25-$50$35-$55$51-$68$130-$135
Bookkeeping$10-$15$26-$45$25-$45$40-$55$90-$95
Graphic Design$10-$15$30-$45$30-$50$47-$65$145-$150
Video Editing$10-$15$30-$45$30-$50$47-$65$145-$150
Presentation Design$15-$20$35-$54$40-$65$64-$100$170-$175
Illustration$15-$20$25-$43$30-$45$42-$70$100-$105
3D Animation$5-$10$25-$40$25-$50$42-$80$130-$135
Transcription$10-$15$10-$20$10-$20$20-$30$60-$65
UX/UI Design$15-$20$31-$68$44-$70$65-$90$155-$160
Email Marketing$5-$10$25-$50$35-$65$55-$100$195-$200

It may be important to note that I originally also included SEO, Lead Generation, Email/Phone Support, Virtual Assistance and Data Entry in my research – but found it strange that each of these categories seemed to produce the same results ($5-$10 lowest, $60-$100 for entry/intermediate/expert and $205-$210).

These odd numbers raised my suspicions that Upwork may be filling in generic Upwork data where they don’t have enough industry-specific averages to create an accurate chart. And so, I ultimately decided to exclude these categories from the list.

What I charge on Upwork

Just to add some personal perspective to this data, I wanted to share a snapshot of my rate journey on Upwork over the past seven years.

When I first joined Upwork as an expert-level graphic designer, I set my rate to $20/hour just to get my foot in the door. After the first couple of projects resulted in 5-star reviews, I quickly changed my rate to $34 per hour, then later to $45 per hour, then again to $55 per hour, then to $75, then to $95, then to $120. Today, I charge $150 per hour on the platform with 8.358 billable hours and nearly $700,000 in total earnings.

I made a rule that every time I found myself booked solid for weeks, I’d bump my rate up just a smidge. After all, what did I have to lose if I already had more work than I needed?

I also discovered an interesting phenomenon along the way. Every time my rate increased so did the quality of my clientele. It’s true what they say – cheap Upwork clients tend to be more difficult than well-funded, more experienced clients. Increasing my hourly wages not only improved my bottom line but also my mental health. So don’t be afraid to experiment a bit with your rate from time to time to see if you can attract some of those more desirable, bigger fish.

Connect with me!

Where are you in your Upwork journey? Let me know in the comments and don’t forget to connect with me on social media.

PS: If you’ve found any of the free advice on this site helpful, and you feel so inclined – buy me a coffee (leave a tip) on Kofi!

Related

Upwork Hourly Rates Study: This is What Freelancers Are Charging Today (2024)

FAQs

What hourly rate should I charge on Upwork? ›

For fixed-price contracts, the minimum pay for a project is $5.00 USD, unless the client requires the freelancer to work a certain number of hours on the project. In that case, the client must pay the equivalent hourly rate of $3.00 USD per hour.

What is a good hourly rate for a freelancer? ›

According to FreelancerMap's Freelancer Study 2023, the average hourly rate of freelancers across the world is $104.17 (€96). The study that collated data from 101 countries found that 31% of freelancers make between $81.37 (€75) and $107.41 (€99) per hour.

How much does Upwork charge from freelancers? ›

As a freelancer, you'll pay a 10% freelancer service fee on the earnings you make on Upwork.

How much does Upwork charge per hour for freelance writing? ›

These are some of the most in-demand jobs on Upwork and their median hourly rates: Technical writer: $20-$45. Blog writer: $15-$35. Copy Editor: $20-$40.

Why does Upwork charge so much? ›

Upwork fees help to cover the costs of acquiring new clients, connecting you with the right opportunities, and providing services like payment protection and customer support.

How do I determine my hourly rate? ›

First, determine the total number of hours worked by multiplying the hours per week by the number of weeks in a year (52). Next, divide this number from the annual salary. For example, if an employee has a salary of $50,000 and works 40 hours per week, the hourly rate is $50,000/2,080 (40 x 52) = $24.04.

How do you price your hourly rate? ›

To calculate your own ideal hourly rate, divide your adjusted annual salary (your desired annual salary + your costs and expenses) with your number of billable hours, and then round up this figure, to the nearest dollar.

How much should I be charging as a freelancer? ›

Many freelancers find that charging an hourly rate is the best way to get paid fairly for their time, as well as to figure out how to bring in their desired income. To determine an hourly rate, add up all those baseline monthly living costs and business expenses that you need to survive as a freelancer.

Is Upwork removing the 20% fee? ›

Today we introduced two key pricing changes: on May 3, 2023, we are retiring our sliding scale fee structure and introducing a 10% service fee for all freelancers, and on April 26, 2023, we are implementing a one-time contract initiation fee for clients of up to $4.95 per contract. Click here for the full announcement.

Is Upwork worth it as a freelancer? ›

Whether or not Upwork is worth it depends on the type of work you do and what you're looking to gain from freelancing. Many highly skilled independent professionals choose Upwork because they enjoy longer client engagements and can specialize and become an expert in their niche.

Which is better, Fiverr or Upwork? ›

Upwork requires more setup time since you have to post your project in detail and vet applicants, whereas. Fiverr makes it easier to find what you need quickly, thanks to its marketplace structure. On Fiverr, clients typically seek out specific services and can find them quickly without having to post a job.

What is a good hourly rate for a beginner freelance writer? ›

Here's a breakdown to help you gauge your per-hour rate based on your experience level: Entry Level — $15 to $30 per hour. Intermediate — $35 to $60 per hour. Experienced — $65 to $100 per hour.

What price should I put on Upwork? ›

Most Upwork freelancers will find they will win jobs the fastest by setting a profile rate at a 20-30% discount to other freelancers with a similar skill level, body of reviews and work examples. By contrast, experienced Upwork freelancers tend to adjust their rate in line with demand and their overall earnings target.

How do I set my hourly rate on Upwork? ›

That's why to change your freelancer profile rate, you need to switch to your agency profile, go to Agency Roster, check the box next to your name, and click "Change Roster Settings." You will see a pop-up where you'll be able to edit your hourly rate.

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