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Average hourly freelance worker wage is $21, global survey finds

April 24, 2015

The worldwide average hourly rate charged by freelancers is $21, according to a survey of 23,000 freelance workers around the globe by Payoneer, an online payments firm that works with online staffing and service providers as well as others. Almost half of freelancers charge under $10 an hour for their work. 40% charge between $11 and $30, and 18% command more than $30 per hour.

The income survey confirmed that certain skill types demand significantly higher rates than others. Freelancers providing legal services charge an average of $31 per hour, significantly higher than the $21 rate charged by freelancers working in sales and marketing or the $17 rate charged by writing and translation freelancers.

Survey respondents also ranked their satisfaction with their current freelancing income. The average worldwide was low at 46%, indicating that many freelancers would ideally like to work more hours or be able to charge higher rates. Professionals in IT and programming reported the highest level of income satisfaction, followed closely by freelancers in the legal field; those in writing and translation reported the lowest level of satisfaction as well as working the fewest hours per week.

The report compares average billing rates of freelancers in more than 180 countries based on experience, industry, gender, education and other factors. Other key findings include:

  • Over three quarters of respondents, 78%, are male
  • Male freelancers charge an average of $20.97, while female professionals are charging $20.26
  • Freelance professionals work an average of 36 hours per week (seven hours per day for a five-day work week)
  • More than 80% of the professionals surveyed work one to three jobs at a time
  • Almost half of freelancers find projects via online marketplaces
  • The preferred social media channel to promote freelancing skills is Facebook

The online survey included 23,006 freelancers in 180 countries and was commissioned by Payoneer during November and December 2014.