The Average Income for Freelancers—See Where You Fit

Freelancers are self-employed professionals who work independently, often for multiple clients. Over one in four skilled knowledge workers in the U.S. was a freelancer in 2025. They include 1099 contractors, consultants, and gig workers across virtually every industry.

As a freelancer, you might be wondering if you’re charging competitive rates or leaving money on the table. Knowing how much the average freelancer is making can help you gauge whether you’re charging what you’re worth.​

What a Typical Freelancer Makes

The average freelance income in the U.S. is $99,230 per year, with most freelancers falling between $50,500 to $128,500 per year. Top earners make $200,000 or more annually across the United States.​

Income by Experience Level

Here’s a breakdown of the typical freelance income by years of experience, per hour and per year.

Income by Industry and Skill Set

Here’s what freelancers earn across popular industries.

Tech and Development

• Software developers: $10-$100 per hour
• Programmers: $21-$55 per hour
• Mobile app developers: $18-$39 per hour
• Web developers: $15-$50 per hour
• Data analysts: $20-$50 per hour

Marketing and Content

• Marketing managers: $24-$60 per hour
• Online marketers: $15-$45 per hour
• CRM/customer success managers: $30-$60 per hour
• Social media managers: $14-$35 per hour
• Freelance writers: $15-$40 per hour
• Editors: $15-$40 per hour

Creative Services

• Photographers: $25-$45 per hour
• Graphic designers: $15-$35 per hour

Specialization creates substantial income advantages, with technical skills commanding higher rates than general creative work.​

Hourly vs. Project vs. Retainer Pricing

How you price your work significantly impacts your earnings and stability. Hourly billing provides flexibility and clear tracking, but caps your income because you’re trading time for money. Project-based pricing, in contrast, rewards efficiency. If you complete your work faster, your effective hourly rate increases. (However, scope creep—when a client asks you to do more work for the same amount of money—can be an issue with project-based pricing, so make sure to nail down your exact deliverables before you start working.) Finally, retainer agreements offer predictable monthly income and typically signal strong, long-term client relationships.

Many high earners move away from hourly billing because project and retainer billing models decouple income from time invested.

Why Many Freelancers Earn Less Than Expected

The most common income killer is underpricing your work. Are you asking for what you’re worth? You might not be—maybe you don’t know what typical rates are, or maybe you’re afraid of losing clients.

Your income might also be affected by irregular work patterns and unpaid administrative time, like when you invoice, write proposals, or find new clients. 

And if you’re not a top negotiator, you might be leaving money on the table. You might even be accepting the first offer you receive without countering.

Finally, if you rely too heavily on one client—that is, you don’t diversify—your income could become vulnerable and even unstable.

How To Increase Your Freelance Income

Here are a few ways to make more money as a freelancer.

• Track your effective hourly rate: Divide your total income by all the hours you worked, including unpaid administrative time.
• Raise rates strategically: Increase your prices 10% to 20% for new clients. Also consider raising your rates when your contracts are up for renewal.
• Build a niche and specialize: Focus on high-demand areas instead of or in addition to offering general services.
• Build recurring income: Secure retainers and steady, long-term clients to ensure you have a consistent income.
• Treat freelancing like a business: Invest in marketing, improve your skills, and try systems that improve efficiency.