The Truth About Freelancer Earnings: How Much Can You Expect To Make?

How much does a freelancer earn
How much does a freelancer earn?

How much does a freelancer earn? Though the average salary of a freelancer depends on their skills and how they prefer to work. A freelancer typically earns $24 per hour. Most expert freelancers earn up to $150 per hour while beginners make anywhere between $15 to $20.

Freelancing has become a popular career choice for many people, as it offers the freedom to work on your own terms and the ability to choose your own projects. But one question that often arises for those considering freelancing is “how much does a freelancer earn?”

The answer to this question is not straightforward, as the earning potential for freelancers can vary significantly based on several factors such as the type of work they do, their experience level, and their rate of pay.

In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the earning potential of freelancers depending on their skills or region.

How much does a freelancer earn? – By skill

Are you looking to step into the world of freelancing and have zero knowledge about how things work? This can be the right time to learn how to start freelancing with no experience.

But wait! I know what you are thinking. Call it mind reading or magic but yes I know.

If you are beginning from scratch and trying to decide which skill you should learn, potential earning in skill might interest a spark in you as you want to go for the most profitable skill.

To help you out, I have researched every bit of the internet, interviewed different freelancers, and found out how much different skills potentially earn.

Note: These earnings or price quotes might differ depending on other factors such as what you can bring to the table. You can raise a struggling brand to an 8-figure business with digital marketing, and charge all you want.

Let’s get started and see how much a freelancer earns with different skills.

How much does a freelance writer earn?

An average freelance content writer can up to $20 per hour while they can charge $30 to $50 for a 1000-word blog or article. The earning capability of writers depends on different factors such as what services are they providing in the package such as keyword research, SEO, copyright-free images, plagiarism checking, proofreading, etc.

  • Average hourly rate: $20
  • Average monthly earnings: $1,000
  • Average yearly earnings: $9,500

How much does a freelance writer make per article?

A freelance content writer can make anywhere from $20 to $100 per 1000-word article depending on what niche it is or what are the requirements of clients. While most freelancers prefer to charge per hour, charging per article or project can also be beneficial since you know how much effort goes into research and creativity.

  • Average per article rate: $20 to $100 per 1000-word
  • Average monthly earnings: $1,000
  • Average yearly earnings: $9,500

How much does a technical writer earn?

At an average, a technical writer can earn $55,000 to $75,000 per year depending on the country or region. Whereas a freelance technical writer can charge $30 to $45 per hour making $4,500 to $5,500 per month and $120,000 or more annually.

  • Average hourly rate: $30 to $45
  • Average monthly earnings: $4,500 to $5,500
  • Average yearly earnings: $90,000

How much does a freelance photographer make?

The average earning of a freelancer photographer per hour can be somewhere between $35 to $50. If the client has extra demands or charges, you can charge up to $100 per hour. You can always throw in some add-ons such as editing to make an extra profit.

  • Average hourly rate: $35 to $50
  • Average monthly earnings: $1500
  • Average yearly earnings: $21,000

How much does a freelance graphic designer earn?

While you can charge per project depending on the complexity of the designs, a freelance graphic designer can earn up to $15 per hour to $57 per hour. Graphic designing is one of the most profitable skills for freelancing as it has a yearly earning range of $35,600 to $135,000.

  • Average hourly rate: $30
  • Average monthly earnings: $4,900
  • Average yearly earnings: $69,000

How much does a freelance artist make?

On average, freelancer artists are expected to make $55,200. However, the minimum and maximum earnings for a freelance artist recorded is $35,100 per year to $86,895 per year. You can earn more by expanding your team and working with top brands in the world.

  • Average hourly rate: $23
  • Average monthly earnings: $3,900
  • Average yearly earnings: $55,200

How much does a freelance video editor make?

One of the highest-paid skills in the world is freelance video editor and videographer. You can charge $25 per hour to $95 per hour depending on the client’s demands. On average, a freelance video editor makes 8,400 per month and $113,500 annually.  

  • Average hourly rate: $25 to $95
  • Average monthly earnings: $8,400
  • Average yearly earnings: $113,500

How much does a freelance web designer make?

As a freelance web designer, you can charge $16 per hour to $39 per hour. If you decide to go by project, you can charge around $150 and more depending on what the client is looking for. While freelance web designers make $3,500 per month, they earn up to $50,000 annually.

  • Average hourly rate: $25
  • Average monthly earnings: $3,500
  • Average yearly earnings: $50,000

How much does a freelance journalist earn?

A freelance journalist charges $18 to $28 per hour. They make $3,700 per month and $45,300 annually. Though freelancing journalism isn’t much popular but it has some good earning potential as the upper earning bracket for freelance journalism closes at $56,600 annually.

  • Average hourly rate: $22
  • Average monthly earnings: $3,700
  • Average yearly earnings: $45,300

How much does a freelance copywriter make?

Copywriting is a highly in-demand skill and has great potential for earning. Most freelance copywriters choose to charge per project depending on the requirements. However, the hourly rate of freelance copywriters is $20 per hour to $55 per hour. Freelance copywriters earn $5,500 per month to $78,900 per year on average.

  • Average hourly rate: $35
  • Average monthly earnings: $5,500
  • Average yearly earnings: $78,900

How much does a freelance translator earn?

A freelance translator earns $32 per hour while making $3,900 per month and $55,000 annually on average. People don’t know this but freelance translation is a highly profitable skill and has the potential to earn up to $81,000 per year.

  • Average hourly rate: $32
  • Average monthly earnings: $3,900
  • Average yearly earnings: $55,000

How much does a freelance web developer make?

Another highly profitable skill is freelance web development with an earning range of $20 to $53 per hour, $3,500 to $9,300 per month, and $50,000 to $131,000 per year. Web development will always be in demand as companies and brands need to enhance their digital presence with websites.

  • Average hourly rate: $33
  • Average monthly earnings: $5,770
  • Average yearly earnings: $81,500

How much does a freelance digital marketer make?

A freelance digital marketer can earn up to $50 per hour. They make $2,500 to $7,100 per month and $36,000 to $101,000 annually. In conclusion, digital marketing is at the top of the profitable skill list and is highly in demand by brands, companies, and startups.

  • Average hourly rate: $35
  • Average monthly earnings: $4,200
  • Average yearly earnings: $60,000

How much does a freelance bookkeeper make?

On average, freelance bookkeepers are able to make $14 per hour to $30 per hour. In addition, they can earn up to $4,300 per month to $60,000 per year.

  • Average hourly rate: $21
  • Average monthly earnings: $3,000
  • Average yearly earnings: $$42,000

How much does a freelance architect make?

An architect can make $40 to $110 per hour. As a freelance architect, you will be able to earn $4,000 to $10,000 per month which accumulates to $56,000 to $154,000 annually.  

  • Average hourly rate: $66
  • Average monthly earnings: $6,500
  • Average yearly earnings: $93,000

How much does a freelancer earn? – By Country

You now know how much a freelancer earns in different skills. But did you know that your freelancing earning potential might also depend on the country you are living in or the region?

Yes, it is quite possible. How? Let me explain with an example.

Suppose you are a freelance content writer living in the United States. You are offered a freelance project of $80 for a simple blog post that comprises 1000 words. The price quote seems just okay (not exciting) to you because it is just 80 bucks for you.

Now, let’s consider a writer from Pakistan. He gets the same project as you but is very excited. Why? Because to him, the project isn’t just 80 bucks but something around 18,000 PKR. Imagine doing 10 such blogs in a month, while you earn $800, the Pakistani writer will earn an estimated 180,000 PKR.

I understand that inflation and other factors come around but this still makes an impact. So let’s see how much a freelancer can earn in different regions of the world.

How much does a freelancer earn in Pakistan?

According to an Indeed survey, the average salary of a freelancer in Pakistan is 552,000 PKR annually. While some might make equal to this or less, top-rated freelancers that are in the industry for a longer time and have built their reputation earn up to 950,000 PKR annually.

  • Average hourly rate: 4,700 PKR
  • Average monthly earnings: 46,000 PKR
  • Average yearly earnings: 552,000 PKR

How much does a freelancer earn in Germany?

Freelancers in Germany especially writers, consultants, and graphic designers can earn up to €30 per hour to €60 per hour depending on their skill. However, a general idea of a freelancer in Germany can earn around €75,000 or more per year.

  • Average hourly rate: €45
  • Average monthly earnings: €6,250
  • Average yearly earning: €75,000

How much does a freelancer earn in India?

The average salary of a freelancer in India is ₹22,000 per month and ₹4 Lac annually. While the freelance earning range of Indians is ₹1.7 Lac to ₹11 Lac annually, the most expert freelancers can make around ₹20 Lac per year.

  • Average hourly rate: $20
  • Average monthly earning: ₹22,000
  • Average yearly earning: ₹400,000

How much does a freelancer earn in Bangladesh?

You can expect around $20 per hour to $135 per hour depending on the skills and expertise you are ready to provide. Most freelancers in Bangladesh are earning $1000 to $2000 per month with profitable skills. You might also find while surfing the internet that a Bangladeshi freelancer can earn $10,000 per month or more but it seems quite impossible without a team you are outsourcing to.

  • Average hourly rate: $20 to $135
  • Average monthly earnings: $1000 to $2000
  • Average yearly earnings: $13,500

How much does a freelancer earn in Nigeria?

As an average, Nigerian freelancers are able to earn $75,000 annually. The average hourly pay rate of a freelance content writer in Nigeria is ₦1350 per hour while others can charge up to ₦2300 and more depending on their skills.

  • Average hourly rate: ₦2300
  • Average monthly earnings: $6,250
  • Average yearly earnings: $75,000

How much does a freelancer earn in the UK?

The average hourly rate freelancers get in the UK is £17.82 whereas they can make £1,240 per month and £17,500 per year. In 2022, 2.2 million freelancers were recorded in the UK. Most of the freelancers are also earning £31,409 per year by unlocking their full potential.

  • Average hourly rate: £17.82
  • Average monthly earnings: £1,240
  • Average yearly earnings: £17,500

How much does a freelancer earn in Australia?

While the lowest mark for freelancers in Australia is $64,250 per year, the upper bracket closes at $181,350 per year. The average income a freelancer makes in Australia rounds to $106,025 per year. You can earn an average of $54.37 per hour in Australia.

  • Average hourly rate: $54.37
  • Average monthly earnings: $8,800
  • Average yearly earnings: $106,025

How much does a freelancer earn in Kenya?

While the hourly average rate of a freelancer in Kenya is $8 to $15, freelancers can earn up to $42,500 per year. The quick tip to earn more than the average freelancer in Kenya is to hire a team of qualified freelancers and outsource to them.

  • Average hourly rate: $15
  • Average monthly earnings: $2,500 – $3,500
  • Average yearly earnings: $42,500

How much does a freelancer earn in the US?

The average hourly rate of freelancers in the US is around $25 whereas the lowest bracket is $13, and the upper bracket accumulates to $45 per hour. In the US, you can earn up to $2,100 per month while making $30,300 per year.

  • Average hourly rate: $25
  • Average monthly earnings: $2,100
  • Average yearly earnings: $30,300

Before you go

I have said this before and I will say this again. If you can bring real value to a client’s business with your skills and can snap something big out of it, you can get much more than these average price quote of how much does a freelancer earn.

What I am trying to say is if you really want things to work out the way you want then be crazy about it and master the skill so much that no one can resist you despite your high charges. Honestly, you can do more if you have strong command of soft skills as they can help you land bigger projects.

Something still bothering you? Comment below and I will be quick to get back to your confusion.

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Aleena Shahid

Founder and CEO @ Hustlers Guide (or, in plain English, I'm the girl responsible for ensuring that your hustle knowledge stays true and on track).

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