In 2024, it’s expected that 3.1 million people will join the freelance workforce in the United States, bringing the total number of freelancers in the country to 76.4 million by the year’s end.
Many workers are leaving traditional desk jobs in favor of freelance work due to the flexibility and autonomy it offers.
Further details about the state of freelancing in 2024 and additional information about freelancers worldwide will be explored.
Freelance Statistics 2024
- There are 1.57 billion freelancers worldwide, comprising 47% of the global workforce.
- In the United States, there are currently 73.3 million freelancers, with an expected increase to 76.4 million by the end of the year.
- The proportion of self-employed workers has declined from 55.5% in 2000 to 46.6% in 2024.
- Freelancers in the United States earn an average of $47.71 per hour.
- On average, full-time freelancers work 43 hours per week.
- 54% of freelancers work five days a week.
- The Freelance Platform market size is projected to reach $9570.3 million by the end of 2030.
Percentage of Employee Freelancer
| Year | Percentage of employees that freelance |
| 2024 | 46.7% |
| 2021 | 47.0% |
| 2015 | 48.2% |
| 2010 | 51.6% |
| 2005 | 53.9% |
| 2000 | 55.5% |
| 1999 | 55.7% |
| 1991 | 55.2% |
Average Salaries and Annual Earnings For The Most Popular Freelancing Activities
| Freelancer Job Title | Hourly Wage | Annual Salary |
| Writers | $30-40/hr | $42,000 |
| Editors | $25-35/hr | $40,000 |
| Programmers | $60-70/hr | $120,000 |
| General developers | $50-60/hr | $100,000 |
| Mobile developers | $55-65/hr | $100,000 |
| Web developers | $50-60/hr | $90,000 |
| Graphic designers | $40-45/hr | $90,000 |
| Transcribers | $20-25/hr | $32,000 |
| Bookkeepers | $30-35/hr | $40,000 |
| Online marketers | $50/hr | $100,000 |
| Photographers | $35-45/hr | $42,000 |
| CRM managers | $50-60/hr | $120,000 |
| Data analysts | $55-65/hr | $100,000 |
Freelance Statistics By Country
Here are additional details about the country experiencing the highest year-over-year (YoY) earning growth rates for freelancers.
- United States: 78%
- United Kingdom: 59%
- Brazil: 48%
- Pakistan: 47%
- Ukrain:36%
- Philippines: 35%
- India: 29%
- Bangladesh: 27%
- Russia: 20%
- Serbia: 19%
Source: Payoneer.
Freelance Workers Recorded In The United States
| Year | Number of freelance workers in the United States. | Change over the previous year |
| 2028* | 90.1 million | 3.6 million |
| 2027* | 86.5 million | 3.5 million |
| 2026* | 83 million | 3.4 million |
| 2025* | 79.6 million | 3.2 million |
| 2024* | 76.4 million | 3.1 million |
| 2023 | 73.3 million | 2.9 million |
| 2022 | 70.4 million | 2.8 million |
| 2021 | 67.6 million | 2.8 million |
| 2020 | 64.8 million | 2.6 million |
| 2019 | 62.2 million | 2.5 million |
There Will Be More Freelancers In The Tech Domain Soon
- The United States boasts the fastest-growing freelance economy, with a remarkable 78% year-over-year growth in revenue.
- Freelancers benefit from specialized software that enhances efficiency and facilitates end-to-end task management, often available at affordable prices or through freemium models.
- Direct response copywriting, ad management, SEO consulting, software development, lead generation, and sales are currently the highest-paying freelance skills.
- Specialized freelance roles offer significantly higher earning potential compared to general roles, with software developers potentially earning up to USD 1,000 per hour.
- Technology and finance/business operations are the top two occupations for new freelancers, reflecting the evolving landscape of freelance work.
- Despite advancements, gender discrimination remains prevalent in the freelance industry, with male freelancers earning up to four times more than their female counterparts.
Source: Forbes
95% of Niger’s workforce is self-employed
| Rank | Country | Self-Employment Percentage |
| 1 | Niger | 95.1% |
| 2 | Central African Republic | 93.2% |
| 3 | Chad | 92.6% |
| 4 | Guinea | 91.9% |
| 5 | Somalia | 91.7% |
| 178 | Belarus | 4.3% |
| 179 | Oman | 3.7% |
| 180 | Bahrain | 2.7% |
| 181 | Kuwait | 1.8% |
| 182 | Qatar | 0.4% |
Number Of Hours Freelancers Prefer To Work
| Number of Working Days | Share of Freelancers |
| 5 Days | 54% |
| 4 Days | 12% |
| More than 5 Days | 27% |
| Less than 4 Days | 8% |
Source: FreelancerMap.
Gender Ratio of Freelancers
| Year | Percentage of male freelancers | Percentage of female freelancers |
| 2024 | 47.72% | 52.28% |
| 2020 | 47.59% | 52.41% |
| 2017 | 48.51% | 51.49% |
| 2016 | 49.49% | 50.51% |
| 2013 | 52.06% | 47.94% |
| 2010 | 50.15% | 49.85% |
