25 Highest-Paying Freelance Jobs in 2024

Freelance work is a great option if you’re looking to set your own hours, work from anywhere, or pick up projects that interest you. Many professionals are switching to freelancing as more companies recognize the benefits of engaging independent professionals through job boards like Upwork.

If you’re crunched for time, watch the video below for a quick primer on how to find high-paying freelance jobs—and how to set your rates.

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Then when you’re ready to dig in, learn more about these 25 high-paying freelance jobs:

1. Media buyer
2. Public relations manager
3. Business consultant
4. Cybersecurity developer
5. Financial consultant
6. AI professional
7. Blockchain developer
8. Videographer
9. Data analyst
10. Photographer
11. Technical writer
12. Copywriter
13. Project manager
14. Digital marketing consultant
15. Editor
16. User experience designer
17. Mobile app developer
18. SEO specialist
19. Social media manager
20. Accountant
21. IT support specialist
22. Web designer
23. Web developer
24. Programmer
25. Virtual assistant

25 highest-paying freelance jobs

This article shares some of the highest-paying freelance jobs and the benefits of showcasing your skills and expertise.

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1. Media buyer

Media buyers help businesses determine the ideal ad placement for their specific budget and targeting needs. Placement options might include physical, print, digital, and broadcast advertisements.

Depending on the client’s requirements, a media buyer’s roles and responsibilities may include analyzing demographics and managing social media ad campaigns. Large, midsize, and small businesses tap into media buyers’ ability to negotiate better rates and reduce advertising costs.

Media buying professionals often charge between $50 and $100 per hour. Check out Upwork’s media buyer job listings if you’re thinking about seeking work as a media buyer.

2. Public relations manager

Public relations (PR) managers help companies develop effective PR strategies that promote a positive image of an organization. Regular duties might include crafting well-polished press releases, building relationships with key media contacts, and managing crises. Companies in various sectors require experienced PR professionals to improve public communications via several channels, including social media.

Experience and qualifications in media, online marketing, and other related fields are critical for success. You can qualify for the highest-paying freelance projects once you gain considerable experience handling challenging PR campaigns.

Public relations consultants typically earn $50 to $100 per hour. Analysts predict job opportunities for public relations managers will grow 6% by 2032. This is a faster-than-average growth rate when compared to other industries.

You can access a wide selection of public relations manager jobs by browsing Upwork’s listings.

3. Business consultant

A business consultant helps clients gain an in-depth understanding of specific operational matters. In many cases, the professional plays an active role in solving complex business challenges.

Companies typically hire consultants to seek advice on practical ways to improve day-to-day operations or profitability. The consultant may specialize in one or more business areas, such as marketing, finance, or human resources.

As a freelance consultant, you can work with multiple entrepreneurs at any given time, allowing you to maximize your income. In fact, the median hourly rate for business consultants ranges between $28 and $98, depending on your skill level and project scope. Opportunities for management analysts could grow by 10% through 2032. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), this is a much faster-than-average growth rate.

You can find the right clients and projects by browsing business consultant job listings on Upwork.

4. Cybersecurity developer

Cybersecurity developers work to ensure that their clients’ systems are strengthened against potential malware, cyberthreats, and other risks. These professionals are well-versed in the latest attacks, vulnerabilities, patches, and solutions—all of which go into creating a secure system that can ward off bad actors.

A freelance cybersecurity developer may update code, implement security policies, and take other measures to make security an integral part of their clients’ tools and networks.

These professionals typically command between $40 and $90 per hour on Upwork. The BLS estimates that demand for information security analysts will grow 32% by 2032, making it the most in-demand freelance career on this list.

Check out the most recent information security jobs posted on Upwork to find your next cybersecurity project.

5. Financial consultant

Financial consultants advise their clients on how to best use (and develop) valuable assets. They may advise on building an investment portfolio, planning for retirement, estate planning, reducing tax burdens, and more.

Some financial consultants provide general advice based on their clients’ situations, while others help their clients actively manage a portfolio of stocks and mutual funds.

Depending on the services they provide, freelance financial advisors can earn between $30 and $75 per hour on Upwork. It’s a career with great growth potential, too. According to the BLS, demand for personal financial advisors is expected to grow 13% by 2032.

Find financial services jobs and financial planning jobs on Upwork to kickstart your freelance consulting career.

6. AI professional

Artificial intelligence (AI) professionals work on understanding and developing solutions to improve life and business using artificial intelligence. They bring their computer programming skills to the table to develop algorithms and build natural language processing (NLP) models.

Machine learning engineers can make between $25 and $50 per hour, while AI engineers can find jobs posted for $30 to $60 per hour, along with numerous fixed-price projects. And with employment for computer and information research scientists expected to grow 23% through 2032, there’s no shortage of opportunity in this field.

Find the top AI jobs and the best machine learning jobs on Upwork.

7. Blockchain developer

A blockchain developer builds and maintains software or systems related to the blockchain. This cryptographic technology is an essential part of cryptocurrency and other digital transaction records. Blockchain developers can support projects related to financial services, health care, supply chain and production, video games, real estate, and more.

These professionals are typically skilled programmers with experience in Python, cryptography, and blockchain architecture. Blockchain developers typically earn $30 to $59 per hour on Upwork and work with clients in a variety of industries.

To get started, check out the latest blockchain development jobs for freelancers.

8. Videographer

Videography involves capturing events and editing videos to ensure a quality presentation. A combination of filming and video editing skills is vital for success in this field.

You can operate as a solo freelancer or collaborate with other professionals to get the job done efficiently and correctly. Examples of events requiring professional videography services include weddings, corporate seminars, and parties.

Marketing your services via Upwork can help you engage with clients on high-paying videography projects. The median salary for videographers on Upwork hovers between $10 and $53 per hour. Plus, the need for video editors will likely grow 7% through 2032.

Take a look at Upwork’s many videographer jobs to find new clients and maintain a steady stream of freelance jobs.

9. Data analyst

A freelance data analyst helps clients analyze specific pieces of data involving historical transactions or events. You’ll play a critical role in uncovering key trends in customer behavior or other business concerns, allowing companies to make informed decisions about day-to-day operations and longer-term strategies.

Businesses of varying sizes count on data analysts to predict future trends more accurately. Your role is to tap into big data collected from various operational sources.

The median hourly rate for data analysts via Upwork hovers between $20 and $50. Although many data analysts work full time for companies of varying sizes, you can find a steady supply of well-paying projects on freelance platforms. Based on BLS data, the need for data analysts is rapidly growing at a projected rate of 23% by 2032.

Discover an array of data analyst jobs by browsing Upwork’s project listings.

10. Photographer

Photography is a popular field that requires high levels of creativity and technical skill to produce high-quality images for companies and individuals. As a freelance photographer, you can earn a living capturing images of events, physical products, places, and people. Clients are willing to pay well if you can produce images that tell a captivating story. Some may also want to hire photographers with strong Photoshop skills.

Whether you’re keen to work as a part- or full-time photographer, you can find high-paying photography work on Upwork. Many freelance photographers earn between $25 and $45 per hour. Plus, job outlook data published by the BLS shows photography job opportunities will likely grow by 4% by 2032.

Keep your freelance work pipeline full by browsing for photography projects on Upwork.
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11. Technical writer

Technical content writers make complex topics easy for others to understand. They may break a complicated process down into easy steps for a product manual, write guides for emerging technologies, create help documents for software products, and more.

If you have strong writing skills and experience in a technical field, technical writing might be a great option for starting a new freelance career. Technical writers often charge $20 to $40 per hour on Upwork, and demand for this skill is expected to grow 7% by 2032.

Take the first step into this career by checking out all of the technical writing projects available on Upwork.

12. Copywriter

The copywriting field is one of the most common options for freelancers. A freelance copywriter might compose newsletters, advertising copy, emails, ebooks, articles, and other types of polished content that grab readers’ attention.

This type of content creation could be a great fit for anyone with strong communication skills and a good grasp of spelling and grammar.

According to the BLS, the job outlook for copywriters is likely to grow 4% by 2032. Copywriters working on freelance writing jobs via Upwork earn a median rate between $19 and $45 per hour. Some content writing jobs are fixed-price projects, while other content writing roles may pay hourly or by the word.

Explore extensive project listings on Upwork to find the best copywriting jobs.

13. Project manager

Those who enjoy analyzing complex business processes and identifying possible improvements for existing workflows might like working as a project manager. Project managers ensure teams stay on track to meet deadlines. They eliminate uncertainty and help organizations save time, money, and resources while they work.

Project managers tend to make $19 to $45 per hour on Upwork. Plus, the need for project management specialists is on track to grow by 6% through 2031.

If this seems like a career you’d like, you can find your first freelance project management job on Upwork.

14. Digital marketing consultant

A freelance digital marketer helps businesses bolster their online visibility and lead generation to increase sales. You can achieve these objectives through search engine optimization (SEO), email marketing, social media marketing, content marketing, and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising. Additionally, clients can tap into these consultants’ expertise to solve specific digital sales and marketing challenges.

Median hourly rates for digital marketers on Upwork range between $15 and $45. Furthermore, the BLS projects management jobs in advertising, promotions, and marketing to grow by 6% by 2032.

You can find well-paying consulting projects and other digital marketing jobs on Upwork.

15. Editor

Editors and proofreaders play an important role in the editorial process by reviewing and revising written texts to ensure they meet specific guidelines. They check various aspects of written content, such as syntax, punctuation, flow, and style. Many editors also verify facts for accuracy.

Those with a knack for perfecting grammar and an attention to detail may want to explore freelance opportunities in this field. Median pay rates for copyediting projects range between $20 and $40 per hour.

Finding quality editing work has become easier thanks to Upwork’s extensive freelance job listings.

Gain access to the highest-paying opportunities by browsing and bidding for your best-fit projects among more than 100,000 editing jobs on Upwork today.

16. User experience designer

User experience (UX) designers help clients make sure that their products, apps, and services are easy for customers to use. This can include planning out the best path someone should take through an app, improving retail store checkout experiences, and redesigning websites with better usability in mind.

UX designers are typically well-versed in accessibility, information architecture, web or product design, and marketing concepts like user personas. Many industries need professionals with this skill set—if a company has an app or a website, they can benefit from working with a UX designer.

Freelance UX designers often charge between $25 and $39 per hour. Get started by sending proposals for one of the UX design jobs available on Upwork.

17. Mobile app developer

Mobile app developers create native, hybrid, or cross-platform mobile apps. Some projects may require you to start from scratch, while others may involve improving an existing app by adding new integrations. If you’re well-versed in a programming language like Swift or Kotlin, you might have a leg up on the competition as you begin looking for opportunities.

Mobile app developers often make $18 to $38 per hour on a platform like Upwork. The software development field is on track to grow 25% through 2032, too, so there’s higher-than-average growth happening in this career.

If you’re interested in learning more about mobile app developer jobs, check out the projects currently available on Upwork.

18. SEO specialist

An SEO specialist works to bring more traffic to their clients’ websites. They may do this through tweaks to website design, creation of new content, application of proper website schema, placement of links on third-party websites, and more.

It’s a versatile field that involves aspects of web design, programming, copywriting, strategy, and other marketing techniques. Freelance SEO specialists on Upwork typically charge between $15 and $35 per hour and work with clients in a wide number of industries and countries.

Plus, it’s a field with great growth potential. Apply to any of the 5,000+ SEO jobs available on Upwork right now.

19. Social media manager

Using social media is a lucrative approach for businesses to promote products and services directly to target audiences. Social media managers help brands formulate and implement marketing strategies to enhance lead generation.

Freelancers can work with several brands at any given time, helping them improve communication techniques on various social media platforms. Clients will likely expect you to provide expert advice about content generation and targeting, so you must demonstrate savviness with different social media channels.

Many social media managers command a median pay rate of $14 to $35 an hour on platforms like Upwork. The demand for workers in similar fields like marketing and advertising management is projected to grow 6% by 2032.

Are you currently looking for the highest-paying social media manager jobs? If so, browse social media management projects on Upwork.

20. Accountant

An accounting professional performs recordkeeping of business finances and may help interpret the records. This profession plays an integral role in ensuring financial record accuracy for reporting and tax purposes. Companies rely on accountants to provide accurate and well-presented financial information to help them make informed decisions about business operations and to assure compliance with regulations.

Proper recordkeeping processes make it easier to analyze profits and losses more effectively. Additional duties may include preparing invoices, determining payroll requirements, collaborating with auditors, and analyzing operating budgets.

If you’re interested in kickstarting a freelance accounting career, you can find an extensive list of high-paying projects on Upwork. These projects pay median hourly rates of between $12 and $32, depending on your skill set and other factors. And the time to start freelancing is now—demand for professional accountants is projected to grow 4% by 2032.

Get your share of the action by browsing and bidding for accounting jobs on Upwork.

21. IT support specialist

An IT support specialist (also called a technical support agent) helps to troubleshoot and solve problems related to the use of hardware, software, and networks. When working on a freelance basis, these professionals typically provide support via phone calls, chats, or emails.

A freelance IT support specialist may also help the client’s employees or customers, and the skill is in demand across nearly all industries. These technical support pros make a median rate of $15 to $30 per hour on Upwork, and demand for the job is expected to grow 5% by 2032.

You can find great freelance IT support jobs available on Upwork right now.

22. Web designer

Web designers help clients create websites to suit specific requirements. A web designer might also update existing websites. This industry is ideal for anyone with creative and technical know-how who can create high-quality webpages and other website features.

You may need to develop skills in specific programming languages (like JavaScript, Python, or SQL) to handle various projects. The role may also require proficiency in relevant software and UX design programs, like Adobe XD.

Web designers typically earn between $15 and $30 per hour on platforms like Upwork. And with job opportunities in this field likely to grow by 16% by 2032, you’ll be in high demand as a freelance professional.

Browse thousands of current web design projects on Upwork to maintain a steady supply of work.

23. Web developer

Web developers use their advanced programming skills to develop code that determines how websites function. The best freelance jobs typically require professionals with experience in front- or back-end web development. Professionals with experience in both are known as full-stack developers.

Front-end web developers concentrate on a website’s design and visual aspects, while back-end specialists focus on its behind-the-scenes components or administrative areas that aren’t visible to users.

The best part about working as a self-employed web developer is that you can earn between $15 and $30 per hour on Upwork. In addition, job opportunities in the web development field are likely to grow 16% by 2032.

Find web development projects that pay high rates by checking current listings on Upwork.

24. Programmer

‍Programmers play an important role in today’s digital world by writing code that controls the features and functions of computer and mobile applications. In addition, they keep systems running smoothly by handling maintenance routines and troubleshooting technical issues. Tech professionals with advanced programming skills typically help businesses handle software and web development.

Programming jobs on Upwork offer a median pay rate between $15 and $30 per hour. Find these well-paying opportunities by checking out the comprehensive list of programming projects on Upwork.

25. Virtual assistant

Clients hire virtual assistants to perform various administrative tasks, such as data entry, calendar organization, and managing email communications. These professionals may run errands on behalf of their clients, such as making restaurant reservations, scheduling medical appointments, and purchasing goods.

These services enable busy clients, particularly small business entrepreneurs, to focus on day-to-day operations. Most virtual assistants handle tasks directly with the client or through freelance platforms.

A virtual assistant can earn between $10 and $20 per hour performing wide-ranging administrative duties on Upwork. Typically, your experience determines the type of projects available to you.

Keep the freelance projects flowing by bidding for the best virtual assistant jobs on Upwork.

Best freelance job for beginners

If you’re a beginner, the best freelance job for you is one that leverages your strengths and interests and helps you get your foot in the door. The job should also enhance your skills in these areas.

If you’re organized and have a great eye for detail, working as a freelance project manager or virtual assistant is a great place to start your career. You can earn up to $45 per hour in one of these roles depending on your skills and experience.

And if you have any prior experience with marketing (including running your own successful social media accounts), digital marketing consulting is a broad field that allows for lots of opportunity. From PR to editing website copy, you can earn $45 per hour or more depending on your niche, skills, and experience.

But remember: jobs related to AI have great growth potential. If you know your way around ChatGPT, you can find fixed-price prompt engineering projects on Upwork that pay over $1,000.

Benefits of freelance jobs

Contract work opportunities are often remote jobs, which means that you can work from just about anywhere—and for anyone. Freelancing can be your side hustle, your part-time gig, or a full-time career.

You no longer have to spend time going to networking events and pitching clients in person, either. Professionals who decide to freelance can easily find and connect with clients on freelancing platforms like Upwork. You can work via fixed-price contracts or hourly rates on Upwork, too, depending on what suits you and your clients best.

Some of the top benefits of freelancing include:

1. Flexible hours. If you’re not a morning person, that’s OK. As a freelancer, you can take advantage of the flexibility that comes with controlling your own schedule. Many freelancers find that this type of work allows them to achieve a better work-life balance.
2. Location flexibility. The laptop lifestyle of a freelancer makes it easier to work in different locations without undermining your ability to do your job correctly and on time. Plus, because you get to set your own schedule, you can decide exactly when you want to travel and when you want to work—or do both at the same time.
3. Choice of clients and projects. When working as a full-time employee for one company, you often have to work on the projects assigned to you by a manager. As a freelancer, you can select the clients and projects that are best aligned with your skills and interests.
4. Skill development. You can also use freelancing as a chance to grow new skills, whether that’s carving time out of your workday to take a course or looking for projects that will let you try out new techniques.
5. Additional income. You can scale your freelance work up and down as needed—and set your rates. Whether you’re taking on extra projects as part of your side hustle during the holidays or booking new clients ahead of your vacation from full-time freelancing, you get to set the pace and increase your rates as you see fit.

Explore freelance jobs on Upwork

If you’re just starting as an independent professional or you’re a seasoned freelancer, you can access higher-paying jobs by choosing the right freelance platform.

Upwork provides access to wide-ranging jobs for independent professionals posted by clients from around the world. Find projects for graphic designers, software development specialists, freelance writers, online marketing experts, and more.

Sign up for an Upwork account today to begin browsing high-paying freelance opportunities that match your skills and goals.

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Disclosure: Upwork is an OpenAI partner, giving OpenAI customers and other businesses direct access to trusted expert independent professionals experienced in working with OpenAI technologies. Upwork does not control, operate, or sponsor the other tools or services discussed in this article, which are only provided as potential options. Each reader and company should take the time to adequately analyze and determine the tools or services that would best fit their specific needs and situation.