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12 Types of Freelance Writing Jobs and What They Pay

Learn more about the most in-demand freelance writing jobs that clients are looking for and how much they pay.

12 Types of Freelance Writing Jobs and What They Pay
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If you enjoy writing, you can build a career freelancing and creating content for clients, all while working from home. What exactly does a freelance writer do? The day-to-day life of a freelance writer depends on what your specialty is. You could choose to write primarily long-form marketing content or short and snappy sales copy. 

Once you decide on your niche and the type of writing you want to do, you can start looking for clients and journey into the world of freelance writing. 

What are the different freelance writing niches? Clients are looking for these in-demand writers to help fill the gaps in their content creation: 

Types of freelance writing jobs

  • Technical writer
  • Web content/blog writer
  • Copywriter
  • Newswriter
  • Business writer
  • Ghostwriter
  • Instructional designer
  • Resume writer
  • Press release writer
  • Content writer (SEO)
  • Editor
  • Product description writer
Freelance Writing Jobs

What is freelance writing? 

Freelance writing is the job of a professional working independently for clients, providing their writing services on a contract or project basis rather than full-time for a single employer. Freelance writers are self-employed, setting their hourly or per-project rates and negotiating their contracts. They decide which projects they accept and when and where they work. Freelance writers can work from home unless the project requires them to be on-site.

How does freelance writing work? 

Freelance writing can fall into a variety of different niches. Having a specialty can help freelance writers develop their expertise and market their skills. Writers may work on short-form content like ad copy or longer articles and ebooks. Instead of being assigned work by a manager, freelance writers have to pitch their services to clients either directly or through a platform like Upwork

In their proposals, freelance writers determine their hourly or fixed-price rate for the project and establish a deadline for deliverables. As independent professionals, freelance writers can work the hours that suit them best, as long as they meet their deadlines and the project doesn’t require them to be online during specific hours. When working on an hourly contract, freelance writers may need to track their hours and submit them to clients for approval. 

How much do freelance writers make? 

Freelance writers make, on average, $22-$40 per hour, according to Glassdoor. On Upwork, the hourly rate of a freelance writer can be anywhere from $30-$59 or more, depending on the writer’s niche and level of expertise. Someone just starting out in their freelance writing career will typically charge less than an expert. Freelance writers with skills that are in higher demand, like business plan or grant writers, may be able to set higher hourly rates. 

1. Technical Writer

Taking highly technical information like user manuals and research and turning it into content that the average person can understand is a valuable skill for technical writers. Companies need writers to explain complex information to the end user, who may not have a technical background.

Technical writers know how to balance conversational and informational writing. This type of writing involves breaking down complex subjects to be more understandable for the targeted audience. Making information sound exciting and engaging is another essential aspect of being a technical writer. A client may give you research data and you need to turn it into a persuasive case study for potential partners or customers. 

Many technical writers choose to specialize in a specific field of technical writing. One of the challenges of this writing niche is that you need to understand highly technical information so you can write about it conversationally while maintaining accuracy. You may need to research on your own to get up to speed and stay current with a client's industry or product. Make sure to let prospective clients know if you have past experience or education in the field. 

Clients need technical writers in a variety of industries:

  • IT
  • Aerospace
  • Manufacturing
  • Engineering
  • Energy
  • Medicine
  • Education
  • Finance
  • Biotech

Projects you could work on as a technical writer:

  • Blogs
  • Case studies
  • White papers
  • Medical writing
  • Product instructional manuals
  • How-to guides
  • Policies
  • Infographics

Pro Tip: Be mindful when applying to academic-related jobs to avoid violating Upwork's policies. Students are not allowed to use independent professionals to assist with homework and papers, as this is considered cheating. 

Find technical writing jobs on Upwork. 

How much do technical writers make? 

Technical writers make $32-$55 per hour, on average, according to Glassdoor. Freelance technical writers on Upwork typically charge clients $20-$45 per hour, depending on their level of experience. 

You can also create projects on Project Catalog™ and charge a set price for different types of technical writing jobs like a white paper or technical blog. Learn more about how to set your freelance writing rate.

2. Web content and blog writer

For a business, engaging SEO (search engine optimization) content is the key to a great website. Companies look for freelance writers to create articles, blogs, and other website content. A blog could be a short blurb on the website or an article anywhere from 2,500 to 5,000 words long, depending on your client. Blog writers know how to create long-form content that engages, converts, and contributes to the website's overall SEO goals. 

When creating web and blog content, you need to be able to dive deep into a topic, while keeping it exciting, and strategically add keywords that the client wants to rank high for. Companies need fresh content regularly; if they like working with you, this could become a recurring opportunity and steady stream of income.

Depending on the client, they may give you a detailed brief or only a title with some suggested keywords, and it's up to you to turn that into a blog piece. Web and blog writers need to be able to adapt their copy to match each client's tone and voice. As a freelance blog writer, clients may give you brand guides to follow as you write to make sure your piece matches other existing content.

Find blog writing jobs on Upwork. 

How much do web content and blog writers make?

Web content and blog writers make $23-$42 per hour, on average, according to Glassdoor. Freelance blog writers on Upwork typically charge clients $15-$35 per hour, depending on the project and their level and experience. Some blog writers choose to charge clients by the word. A freelance writer's per-blog average rate for 1,000 words is $50 at the low and $175 at the high, depending on their experience and how much research they will need to do. 

3. Copywriter

If you prefer to write shorter-form sales-driven content, you may enjoy being a copywriter rather than a content writer. Companies hire copywriters to create a variety of marketing and sales content collateral. Copywriters are experts at getting the point across and driving sales with limited copy space. Search and social media ads typically have maximum character limits, so a copywriter's job is to create copy that effectively promotes a brand or product in as few words as possible.

Depending on the type of copy you enjoy writing, you can specialize in a kind of copywriting. Some writers prefer to work on more creative brand campaigns, while others want to focus on ads or SEO. Copywriters may have more on-off projects, as individual clients don't need these services regularly, but copywriters on Upwork are in high demand across multiple businesses. 

Copywriters strike a balance between storytelling and sales when writing. You need to create authentic copy that targets the right audience, so it converts to sales. Consumers are constantly bombarded with sales and marketing materials; successful copywriters know how to write content that stands out and breaks through the noise. 

Examples of copywriting projects

  • PPC ads–Google, Facebook, Instagram
  • Product descriptions
  • Banners
  • Pop-ups
  • Emails
  • Landing pages
  • Print advertisements
  • Radio or TV ads

Find copywriting jobs now on Upwork. 

How much do copywriters make? 

Copywriters make $28-$48 per hour, on average, according to Glassdoor. Freelance copywriters on Upwork typically charge clients $19-$45 per hour. Many copywriters choose to charge per word, as clients often give them multiple short-form copy projects to work on at once. 

Copywriters just starting off may charge anywhere from $0.08-$0.10 per word, while experts charge up to $1 per word. You could also charge per project for larger pieces of content like a three-panel brochure, which averages $800-$1,300, or a PPC ad for $50-$200 per ad. 

4. Newswriter

Always ready to get the scoop? Newswriters create stories for news outlets and publications based on the facts and data they can collect or are given. Typically newswriters have a journalism background, so they know how to find sources and pitch ideas.

Newspapers, magazines, radio stations, and online news sites hire newswriters to create news content. Newswriters need to stay up to date with current events and thrive in a fast-paced environment. Compared to other types of freelance writing, newswriters often have the quickest turnaround times and hardest deadlines. Editors or clients want to break the story before their competition. 

As a newswriter, it's important to know how to find trusted sources, conduct interviews, and fact-check your data. Depending on the type of client, you could work fully remotely or need to travel to pursue leads or attend events. 

Find newswriting jobs on Upwork.

How much do newswriters make? 

Newswriters make from $26-$48 per hour, on average, according to Glassdoor. Writing journalism and news articles typically requires research, interviewing, and even travel, so many newswriters charge on an hourly basis. 

5. Business writer

If you enjoy writing corporate and business-level content, consider freelancing as a business writer. Companies look to business writers to take data or ideas and turn them into engaging pieces of content for their customers or partners.

As a business writer, you represent the company and must match your client's tone and voice. Some projects may require more persuasive writing, while others are more informational. The documents you create could be internal and used within the company or externally distributed to stakeholders. 

Examples of business writing projects:

  • Employee handbooks
  • Company policies
  • Business proposals
  • Business reports
  • Business plans
  • Training materials
  • White papers

Find business writing jobs on Upwork. 

How much do business writers make? 

Business writers make $32-$57 per hour, on average, according to Glassdoor. Freelance business writers on Upwork typically charge $25-$50 per hour based on their level of expertise and skill set. Depending on your specialization, you may want to charge per word or project for certain projects. 

6. Ghostwriter

Ghostwriters create content for their clients and do not receive credit as the writer in the byline. Clients may not have the time to write a blog or even a book and instead create an idea or outline and work with ghostwriters to get it done. 

When the article or book is published, it will say the name of the client, not the ghostwriter, as the credited author. You cannot add the articles, blogs, or books you write as a ghostwriter to your portfolio without the client's permission. Because you don’t get credit for your work, ghostwriting projects often pay more. 

Ghostwriters know how to dive into a topic and get up to speed quickly; you may need to write an article or blog for someone who is an expert in their field. Clients look for writers that match their tone, voice, and style so the piece seems written by them, not a ghostwriter.

Find ghostwriting jobs on Upwork.

How much do ghostwriters make? 

Ghostwriters make $25-$42 per hour, on average, according to Glassdoor. Freelance ghostwriters charge clients on Upwork $20-$45 per hour on the type of client and project. Many ghostwriters charge by project or by word, especially for longer pieces like e-books. 

7. Instructional designer

Compared to technical writers who break down complex information for user manuals and other documents, instructional designers focus on the educational side. Technical writers work on the back end (informing), while instructional designers work on the front end (educating). 

Instructional designers create instructional or training materials. These can be used in an educational setting like a school or for companies to help train their employees on products or services. 

As an instructional designer, you may write and create content for a variety of different mediums, from an ebook to a script for a how-to video. You may need to take online courses to learn how to build storyboards and develop a curriculum. 

Instructional designers are skilled researchers, and part of your role may be interviewing and learning from subject matter experts and then applying instructional design principles. 

Find instructional designing jobs on Upwork. 

How much do instructional designers make? 

Instructional designers make $32-$47 per hour according to Glassdoor. Freelance instructional designers typically charge clients on Upwork $20-$45 per hour depending on skill level and experience. As an instructional designer, you could charge by project for certain instructional content like a presentation or e-learning module. 

8. Resume writer

One of the first steps to landing a great job is having a resume that stands out and "wows" recruiters. Many people don't know where to start when it comes to writing a resume. Those looking to reenter the job market often need help updating and modernizing their resume, especially if it's been a while since they've had to hunt for a job. 

People looking for a new resume can find these services online, but working with a freelancer offers a more personalized and one-on-one experience. Many resume writing services use the same template and input the information with minor changes rather than putting in the time and effort to make each resume stand out for the type of job the client wants. 

Successful resume freelance writers know how to turn someone's skills and experience into a winning resume that gets interviews. Resume writing often involves formatting along with creating the copy itself. Most people choose freelance resume writers as a one-off service since they only need this occasionally.

Pro Tip: Resume writing is a great specialty for Project Catalog. Create a fixed-price resume project with different service tiers and let customers choose which tier fits their budget and needs. Provide a clearly defined scope for what you offer and what you need from a client to get started. Project Catalog is a great way to attract new clients and have a steady stream of work as you build your reputation and earn more positive feedback on your profile. 

Find resume writing jobs on Upwork. 

How much do resume writers make? 

Resume writers make $22-$37 per hour, on average, according to Glassdoor. Freelance resume writers on Upwork typically charge clients $25-$65 per hour depending on their level of experience. As you get more favorable reviews and earn badges, you can raise your rates and become an expert resume writer. 

9. Press release writer

When companies have a newsworthy event, they publish a press release and hope it picks up traction and spreads the information quickly to the right audiences. Press releases are short documents, typically limited to one or two pages, that give the who, what, when, where, and why of what's happening. News outlets and blogs then use these press releases to write news stories. 

Press releases get straight to the point and follow a specific format. Many press release writers use a standard template and then fill in the copy for each client. As a press release writer, you may need to conduct interviews to gather information and quotes. 

Sometimes, the client needs to issue a press release quickly, and writers must work under tight deadlines. Press releases can be a part of a crisis communication plan or an official statement and require a carefully crafted response. Some clients will need a one-off press release, while bigger companies may need a few every quarter, which can become ongoing work. 

Examples of content companies need press releases to announce:

  • Product launches 
  • Event promotion
  • Acquisitions
  • Survey or study results 
  • Partnerships 
  • New initiatives
  • Honors or awards
  • Rebrands
  • Company changes or developments
  • Financial results

Find press release writing jobs on Upwork. 

How much do press release writers make? 

Press release writers make $30-$47 per hour, on average, according to Glassdoor. Freelance press release writers on Upwork typically charge clients $50-$93 per hour depending on their level of experience. Many press release writers choose to charge by individual press releases based on how long it typically takes them. You can also set up a press release project in Project Catalog

10. Content writer (SEO)

Companies of all sizes need content to engage their audiences. They don't always have the time to create this content and turn to independent content writers. As a content writer, you could fill a variety of different writing needs, from social media copy to podcast scripts. 

Content writing can be creative and typically is longer than the sales-driven projects that a copywriter would take on. Depending on the client, they may ask that you deliver the copy in a Google or Word doc or directly into their content management system (CMS).

Many content writers offer SEO as an additional service to their clients. SEO is a big focus for companies as they try to get their websites ranked higher on Google. Clients look for writers with SEO skills to create engaging content. You could strategically add keywords to your blog posts or take it further and offer SEO titles, descriptions, alt text, and keyword research for your clients. 

Find content SEO writing jobs on Upwork. 

How much do SEO content writers make?

SEO content writers make $21-$38 per hour, on average, according to Glassdoor. Freelance SEO content writers on Upwork charge clients $15-$35 per hour. Some companies need recurring content projects each month and prefer to have content writers on retainer, e.g., they set up a contract to pay $800 every month for two blog posts.

11. Editor

An editor is a writer's best friend. Once writers finish their pieces of content, many work with an editor to make sure it's perfect. As a proofreader, the editor is the final set of eyes on copy to check for any issues in grammar, punctuation, or consistency. The editor can also be the writer's partner and collaborator when working on structural or developmental editing. As a freelance editor, you can pick and choose the writers and clients you work with.

Writers need different types of editing depending on the project, client, and their individual skill sets. As an editor, you may find yourself doing more proofreading and catching mistakes for one writer while line editing and improving the tone and voice for another. 

Types of editors:

  • Developmental editors. Guide the book writer through the story-writing process from conception to publishing.
  • Structural editors. Work with the author's completed story and focus on the story's arc and structure.
  • Copy editors. Fact-check the content and look for any mistakes or lack of consistency.
  • Line editors. Focus on the tone and voice of the content, overall clarity, and style compliance.
  • Proofreaders. Double-check for any errors and mistakes before publishing.

Think about what you're best at. Are you great with grammar and knowing style guidelines, spotting tiny errors that a writer missed? Or do you want to help someone get their point across and know how to create a story arc? 

Find editing jobs on Upwork. 

How much do editors make?

Editors make $27-$49 per hour, on average, according to Glassdoor. Freelance editors on Upwork charge clients $15-$40 per hour, depending on experience and type of editing. Many editors bill by the hour, but you can also charge per project or word. 

12. Product description writer

Product description writers know how to create product descriptions that lead to conversions. These product descriptions are typically short. Writers need to be able to sell the product in only 60 to 80 words and include any SEO keywords the client needs. As you specialize and become an expert at this writing and build your reputation, you can charge more for new clients. 

Companies need product description writers for:

  • Web content
  • Shopify sites
  • Etsy 
  • eBay
  • Amazon
  • Alibaba
  • Product packaging

SEO can be a big component of product description writing. Companies look for writers who can add the targeting keywords so the product listing ranks high on Google or an e-commerce site like Shopify or Amazon but still sounds engaging and natural. 

Find product description writing jobs on Upwork. 

How much do product description writers make? 

Product description writers make $35-$64 per hour, on average, according to Glassdoor. Because product descriptions are typically shorter than other copy, many writers prefer to charge hourly or by project rather than by word. 

Find the best freelance writing jobs on Upwork

When you work as a freelance writer, you get to spend your days doing what you love from wherever you want. Upwork is the world's work marketplace, where you can find the right type of client to write for, whether you like small startups or established brands. Look at these recently posted freelance writing jobs. You can forge your own path here as a writer. Pick the projects that excite you, and make Upwork your new home.

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Author Spotlight

12 Types of Freelance Writing Jobs and What They Pay
Cassie Moorhead
Content Writer

Cassie is a storyteller and content creator with over eight years of experience helping brands communicate to their customers through different channels. She enjoys finding new coffee shops to work from and spending time in nature with her dog, Sweeney.

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