Top 10 Freelance Jobs In 2024, From Research

Freelancing is the new normal for the way we work.

By the year 2027, more than 50% of the U.S. workforce will be freelancers (approximately 86.5 million workers) as opposed to employees, according to projections by researchers at Statista.

By the same token, World Bank data reveals that, as of 2022, an estimated 48%—nearly half—of the global workforce is currently self-employed.

With that being said, you might be intrigued to know more about what freelance jobs are in the most demand by clients and are most popular among freelance professionals. This can give you an indicator as to where there is a growing trend, where there is money to be made, and help you uncover saturated markets where you can make your mark and a solid impact through your unique expertise and niche knowledge.

Top 10 Freelance Jobs Last Year

Back in 2023, according to a recent Worksuite report, the top 10 freelancer titles were (in order):

1. Writer
2. Editor
3. Photographer
4. Producer
5. Director
6. Translator
7. Project Manager
8. Leadership Coach
9. Copywriter
10. Journalist

Top 10 Freelance Jobs For 2024

Now, the same report has concluded that the top 10 freelance jobs of 2024 are:

1. Writer
2. Editor
3. Photographer
4. Producer
5. Director
6. Translator
7. Copywriter
8. Graphic designer
9. Creative director
10. Camera operator

There has been just a slight variation, with project manager, leadership coach, and journalist dropping from the top 10 list, and graphic designer, creative director, and camera operator occupying the last three spots.

This slight change in demand evidences a shift in the needs of business clients. This is not to say that project management, leadership skills, and freelance journalism are not needed; research shows us that they are still as essential as ever, although on a slight decline. However, what this shift in sentiment does show us is that the creative industry is experiencing a boom.

Graphic design, creative direction, and the role of a camera operator are all roles that interestingly enough, are very much connected with each other. Traditionally, one would need a degree in fine arts for each of these roles; but now, with online learning and the rise of digital career skills certificates alongside associate degrees, it is much easier to learn the creative and visual arts skills necessary to become a successful freelance professional within these fields.

For example, the New York Institute of Photography hosts an online photography school, and you can learn graphic design conveniently—and for free—from the comfort of your home through the California Institute of the Arts, or the University of Colorado Boulder when you study via Coursera.

Average Hourly Pay For Top 10 Freelance Jobs

Through digging into estimated pay rates on salary transparency sites such as Salary.com, and findings from ZipRecruiter, and Payscale, here is the average you can expect to make per hour in each of these top 10 freelance jobs:

1. Freelance writer—$23.27 an hour
2. Editor—$32 and hour
3. Photographer—$37 an hour
4. Producer—$39.71 an hour
5. Freelance Director—$55 an hour
6. Translator—$20 an hour
7. Copywriter—$29 an hour
8. Graphic designer—$32.64
9. Creative director—$62.18 an hour
10. Camera operator—$36 an hour

Now that you know what freelance jobs are in demand in 2024, you should concentrate on building your skills within these core, in-demand areas, and prioritize creative-focused work as a means to make money or boost or entirely replace your income. And finally, negotiate well to ensure you are compensated fairly for your work and services, in line with the length and type of project and the hourly pay rates listed above.