Freelancers are capitalising on new technological advancements to earn high incomes with their specialised skills. There are freelance jobs to make over $50 an hour depending on your skills.
Upwork’s recent study showed that 64 million Americans freelanced in 2023, an increase from 59 million in 2021. Indeed, freelancers now represent nearly 40% of the U.S. workforce, contributing $1.27 trillion to the economy. Almost half of these freelancers are knowledge workers, offering services in IT, programming, consulting, marketing, and other business fields.
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The future looks promising for freelancers. They are twice as likely to use generative AI compared to employees. Also they work more efficiently and produce better results using AI. This may explain why over 85% of freelancers feel positive about their work. Furthermore, they expect the gig economy to grow in the coming years.
As demand for specialised skills increases, organisations are relying on freelancers, especially in tech, to fill talent gaps. This trend however, has led to high-paying freelance jobs, sometimes matching or exceeding full-time salaries.
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Here are six freelance jobs expected to pay $50 or more per hour in 2024:
Freelance Blockchain Developer: A blockchain developer builds secure systems using complex algorithms for financial and business applications. Therefore, if you have experience, you can offer blockchain software development as a freelance service.
According to ZipRecruiter, freelance blockchain developers earn nearly $50 per hour on average. Also, many on Upwork make $60 per hour or more.
Freelance Data Science and Analytics Consultancy: Data science and data analytics are among the most in-demand skills needed to address the workforce talent gap. Moreso, these skills are essential for enabling AI integration across organisations. According to Springboard’s 2024 report, data science ranks as the most sought-after tech skill in the job market.
Freelance Artificial Intelligence Prompt Engineer: AI prompt engineering is a newly emerging field, critical for organisational success in AI implementation. The Project Management Institute’s CEO, Pierre Le Manh, recently highlighted it as the most essential AI skill to learn.
Experienced freelance AI prompt engineers on Upwork charge between $60 and $150 per hour. Furthermore, Freelancermap reports hourly rates ranging from $87 to $123.
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Freelance Video Producer and Editor: If content is king, then video content is emperor. YouTube consistently ranks as the second most-used search engine after Google. Moreover, YouTube and other streaming platforms offer immense potential for content marketing, tutorials, training, and influencer marketing.
As a freelance video editor and producer, you can earn $59.40 per hour. This is possible when you offer services to businesses looking to build their brand and gain exposure. Additionally, if you focus solely on video editing, the hourly rate is around $33, according to ZipRecruiter estimates.
Freelance Digital Marketing Manager: With your background in marketing, you can work as a freelance digital marketing manager, social media marketer, or SEO consultant.
Lastly, on average, you can expect to earn $42 per hour. Also, if you have specialised skills developed over time, you could earn up to $52 per hour. This places you in the top 7% of freelancers. So, there are freelance jobs to make over $50 an hour, but your area of expertise is a determinant.
