Highest Paying Freelance Jobs in 2022

Over the last two years the freelance industry has shifted in a positive way. It was already a trending ideology and new way to work, and because of the pandemic more people seek flexibility with work, travel, and autonomy in the workplace.

Pairing this industry with the robust online community, gig-work platforms, and more allow this industry to thrive in a unique way. By freelancing in the gig work economy, more of our young professionals in their 20s and 30s are thriving in a way we have never before seen. This article will act as a guide for highest paying freelance jobs in 2022 and how you can get your foot in the door.

Freelance is a term that originated centuries ago when knights opted to fight for kingdoms for a price. Although they did not bear loyalty to the kingdoms they fought for, they were paid a pretty penny to fight the wars for these kingdoms. The term nowadays simply refers to professionals completing contract work for companies. It is a symbiotic relationship between the freelance professional and the company, as both parties are necessary to make this industry work the way it does. There is no perfect way to complete gig work. Each professional has their own system and collective of apps and software that work for them. We’ll save these gems for another post, but for now, it’s important to recognize that the lack of regulations surrounding gig work makes it the most free working industry to date.

There are several platforms available for use. Marketplaces typically take 3-4 years to build into a fruitful community that sustains itself through gig work. Most platforms focus on global reach and audience, while some smaller platforms focus on specific communities. If you start your journey on gig work platforms such as this, or other large platforms like Fiverr and UpWork, the potential to find work as a beginner is easy. Because of the global community reach, there are sometimes a barrier in communication and business etiquette as each country varies slightly. This has led many freelance professionals to seek out niche specific industries or small platforms for more opportunities.

Europe and America stand to be the most competitive as far as desired markets, meaning U.S. based talent is highly desired among the global community for companies that need English based services, writing, and more.

So far, the top trending freelance jobs are design services, writing services, consultations, and marketing.

Design Services

$20/hr – $100/hr

Design services such as web design, logo creation, artwork, and other graphic arts are taking off in a new way this year. Companies are increasingly seeking freelance artists to complete basic jobs such as re-designing and optimizing websites to be more competitive, blog article writing, logo and graphic creations for specific projects, and more.

These jobs vary in size and pay, but the average design gig ranges from $20 per hour to $100 per hour. Some professionals opt into contracts where they complete packaged deals such as X amount of money per consultation, or X amount of money for 10 logos for companies operating several entities. I personally sell a la carte services in addition to my web design as well as sellable WordPress Templates for those who are on a budget and have some DIY experience with web design.

By adding additional services, professionals can easily up-sell their services to make more income. The more freelance workers can automate their income, the better.

Writing Services

$15/hr – $100/hr

Writing services are a very hot topic right now in the freelance industry as more companies outsource tasks like writing eBooks, Ghostwriting novels, evergreen content, blog articles, product descriptions, and more. These services vary widely in price, as with any gig work job, but the writing industry has a unique advantage to generate more income with the use of agencies, writing tools, and affordable services that add up over time. AI technologies like Jarvis and SEMRush make it easy to curate content that remains competitive online. Some writers go on to create a writing agency where they onboard competitive writers and delegate jobs to their writers, while they take a small percentage of commission from each project. In this industry, it is common to work with celebrity names as they typically outsource larger writing tasks instead of doing the work for themselves. This might look like ghost writing a memoir, novel, or evergreen content for large companies.

Consultations

$80/h – $120/hr

You may be new to the freelance industry, but that doesn’t make your experiences null and void. If you have extensive credentials like past jobs, projects, degrees, or relative experience, you can offer consultations services for larger companies. Small business owners are also increasingly hiring contractors to do consultations for guidance and support as they start their business journey. These can include a la carte services where you are available for on-call services or recurring project work with larger companies as they navigate new and growing campaigns.

Marketing Services

$50/hr – $150/hr

Marketing services have grown exponentially going into the new year as privacy regulations have shifted, new technologies have risen, and traditional marketing techniques have expired. Most companies hire marketing agencies as they typically have branding for larger gig opportunities, however some companies hire professionals on an individual basis to be available for consultations as needed. Marketing services range from creating, designing, and launching campaigns for companies on their behalf to providing insight in the form of consultations. In consultations, marketing professionals work closely with the in-house marketing department to guide them as they create and navigate the campaigns. This tends to be the most affordable route for small businesses.

Getting started in gig work is simpler today than it has ever been due to the accessibility of online platforms, forums, support groups, and marketplaces. The easiest way to get started in freelance is to:

1. Define your niche
2. Set up an A to Z system for onboarding clients, completing work, and receiving payments
3. Request reviews from friends, family members, or past projects if you have any available.
4. Share, share, share

Define Your Niche

Defining your niche does not have to be a difficult process. We’ll curate another post on this specifically, but it is best practice to start with 3 services that you can do very well and that you feel confident completing. Confidence is the biggest factor, as you want your clients to know that they are in good hands and that you can get the job done. When in doubt, search it out. We have incredible access to knowledge online today that almost any question can be answered with a quick search to point you in the right direction.

Setting up an A to Z system

Getting new clients is only a part of the battle. You want clients to come back again and again by setting up a streamlined and simple process to capture leads, intake clients, complete the work, and collect payments or issue refunds. Part of having a smooth system includes any gig work contracts needed at the beginning of the project or job. We recommend a single page contract for one-off simple gigs and lengthier contracts for projects more than 3 months. As a general rule, some companies will also have contracts, and some professionals merge contracts with companies to avoid multiple sets of paperwork. Each project is very different in this regard.

Requesting reviews is an important part of sustaining your brand as a freelance professional because it allows new clients to have an understanding of your work and past client attitudes toward you. You can capture these reviews using software designed for collecting reviews, or on Google, Yelp, etc. It’s a good idea to pick one platform for your reviews and send your clients there each time. Because there are several ways to review businesses you don’t want clients to miss out on reviews from your past clients because they aren’t looking in the right place.

In retrospect, we knew freelance was going to boom as an industry, however the pandemic set an unprecedented record of growth for marketplaces, networks, and software designed for freelance professionals and companies. The industry is expected to continue growing as people move more toward remote work, travel flexibility, and new opportunities.

For information on Taxes as a freelance professional, click here.