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What Are Freelance Writer Salaries?

Let’s be honest, if you are thinking about becoming a freelancer or freelance writer, you really want to know what a potential freelance writer salary is, right?

Who gets into this business without any curiosity about freelance writer salaries?  I know I wanted to discover some hourly freelance rates and my true earnings potential when I got into the field.

Having an understanding of how much you could earn as a freelance writer is essential. Here, we’ll dive into the world of freelance writing rates, explore freelancer salary structures, and provide you with some tips to maximize your earnings.

What is a Freelance Writer Salary?

As a freelance writer, you can choose different ways to earn money, depending on the type of writing, industry, and project type. 

Per word: You might get paid a “per word rate” for long-form articles and blog posts. (Here’s how much you should charge for a 500-word article.)

Per hour: You might get paid for consulting or editing services for each hour you work. 

Per project: For larger assignments and long-term projects, you might get paid for each project.

Having the flexibility to quote their price and structure allows freelance writers to adjust prices to fit different types of work and client needs. Knowing how to adjust your freelance rates can ensure you’re able to earn a living freelance writing.

Key Factors Influencing Freelance Writer Salaries

Here are some tips to consider when setting your freelance writer rates, whether that’s per hour, word, or project, and how to increase your freelance writer salary.

1. More Experience Equals Higher Rates

Your experience and expertise are gold! Seasoned writers with extensive portfolios can charge higher rates because they can tackle complex assignments and deliver content that requires very little editing.

2. Niche Down and Earn More

Specializing in high-demand and the best-paying freelance niches like technology, healthcare, or finance can significantly boost the demand for your services and, in return, boost your income. Clients pay more for specialized knowledge that meets their specific industry needs. Picking a niche is not required, but it could be a good fit for you depending on your experience.

3. Consider Your Local Cost of Living

Where you live matters when you quote your freelance rate. Writers in higher-cost areas typically charge more to cover living expenses. Conversely, those in lower-cost regions might adjust rates to attract clients while still maintaining a reasonable income. You don’t have to tell the client this but keeping local and state tax costs in mind as you work toward your freelance writer salary is important.

4. Find Clients and Industries with a Marketing Budget

Corporate clients and industries like finance and healthcare have larger marketing budgets, allowing writers to command higher rates. Smaller businesses or nonprofits might have tighter budgets, but targeting high-paying freelance clients can elevate your earning potential.

Average Salary of a Freelance Writer

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for writers was $73,690 in May 2023. In the United States, freelance writers earn an average of $23 an hour as of July 2024, according to ZipRecruiter. Specialized fields like technical writing or copywriting for SaaS (software as a service) brands fetch higher rates, starting at $84 per hour, and report annual earnings similar to $163,800.

If you’re aiming to be a freelancer earning one of those competitive freelance writer salaries, you need to keep honing your freelance skills and learning how to run your business better.

Enroll in this course to learn how to earn $100 an hour (or more) as a freelancer.

Understanding Freelance Hourly Rates vs. Project Rates

Let’s examine the pros and cons of hourly rates vs. project rates. 

Pros of Hourly Freelance Rates 

Hourly rates are like a freelancer’s safety net—you get paid for every single minute you work on a project. This can be especially handy when projects take unexpected turns (hello, surprise revisions!).

Another great thing about freelance hourly rates is that they’re perfect for projects where the scope and the due date are more likely to shift. Charging by the hour ensures you won’t lose out if the workload balloons. 

Cons of Freelance Hourly Rates

As you get better and faster at what you do, hourly rates might start feeling like a speed bump. Sure, you’re finishing tasks in record time, but your earnings don’t reflect that boost in efficiency. 

Plus, let’s face it, there are only so many hours in a day. When your earnings are tied to your hours, your income has a built-in ceiling. This can make it tough to take on new gigs or enjoy some well-deserved downtime.

Pros of Freelance Project rates

Project rates, on the other hand, are like a breath of fresh air. You agree on a set fee for the entire project, and everyone knows what to expect (no surprises!). This kind of financial predictability can make budgeting a breeze and keep stress levels nice and low, allowing you to focus on knocking the project out of the park.

Cons of Freelance Project rates

Misjudge the time or resources needed to complete a project, and you might find yourself working for pennies. It all hinges on your ability to foresee potential challenges and include them in your quote.

 If your client decides to add on extra bells and whistles midway through, you could end up putting in extra hours without extra pay. This is where clear communication and good contracts become your best friends.

When understanding freelance writer salaries, it’s crucial to account for taxes. Unlike a traditional W2 job, freelancers do not have taxes automatically deducted from paychecks. 

This means a portion of your earnings must be set aside. Work with a tax professional or use reliable tax software for help navigating the complexities of taxes for freelance writer salaries.

Tips for Increasing Your Freelance Writer Salary

If you’re looking to make six figures as a freelance writer, it’s possible. Still, you’ll need to aim for a higher hourly rate and higher-paying assignments or dedicate time to working extra hours to reach the goal of increasing your freelance writer salary. 

It’s fine to start writing 500-word articles for $50 each if you’re a beginner freelancer, but you’ll need to earn at least $2,000 weekly to make a six-figure freelancer salary in gross numbers–that means no vacations!

 Here are more tips to increase your freelance writer salary.

1. Negotiate Higher Rates

Showcase your experience and expertise to justify higher rates. Build a solid freelance portfolio with client testimonials to bolster your credibility. Clear communication about deliverables and deadlines also helps clients see the value in investing in your services.

2. Build a Strong Portfolio with Client Testimonials

A robust portfolio and glowing testimonials are your best friends. They provide tangible proof of your skills and reliability, making it easier to attract higher-paying clients.

3. Expand Your Services

Stay competitive by learning new skills like SEO optimization or social media content creation. Offering a broader range of services can justify premium rates and attract a wider array of clients.

Whether you are freelance writing as a side hustle or freelancing full-time, it’s important to set annual goals and break them down into monthly, weekly, and daily goals. That way, you have an “average” target rate to aim for. It’s crucial to revisit that freelance writer salary goal periodically to see how well you’re tracking that goal. 

As a freelancer, you must keep yourself accountable if you need to make modifications to that initial number or if you need to kick your behind into high gear for the remainder of the year.

How to Reach Financial freedom as a Freelance Writer

Ready to kick your freelance writer salary into high gear? It’s possible to improve your freelance money mindset when you understand how to set fair rates that reflect your skills. Remember to incorporate factors like experience, niche specialization, and industry standards. 

Stay informed, build a strong portfolio, and continuously hone your craft to thrive financially and establish yourself as a valuable asset in the freelancing world. You can do this! 

FAQs

1. How do freelance writers get paid?

Freelance writers are typically paid per word, per project, hourly, or through revenue sharing, with terms negotiated based on the work’s scope and nature.

2. What should freelance writers consider when setting their rates?

Consider your expertise, project complexity, industry standards, desired income, and the time required for research, writing, and revisions. Review these top questions freelancers should ask clients before quoting your rate.

3. How much do freelance writers make?

Earnings vary widely based on experience and project complexity but typically range from $0.10 to $1.00 per word or $20 to $100+ per hour.

4. What types of clients do freelance writers work with?

Freelance writers work with businesses, agencies, publications, nonprofits, and individual entrepreneurs, creating content for websites, blogs, articles, and marketing materials.

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Clients Money

Top Questions Freelancers Should Ask Clients

The first time I jumped on a discovery call with a potential freelance client, I was completely nervous almost to the point of my hands sweating. I was anxious and excited to secure my first client. 

Although the discovery call was over the phone, I wanted to make a great first impression on the client. As the discovery call proceeded, I began to realize I had no clue on how to properly vet the client. I wasn’t sure of the top questions freelancers should ask clients and made some gaffs. Whoops!

There I was with butterflies in my stomach and sweaty palms eager to sign the contract with no idea if the client was a good fit for me.

Does this sound familiar? It’s common in those who want to know how to start freelancing with no experience.

When you don’t ask important questions during the discovery call to clients, you miss key information. Some clients are not as forthcoming about project details, deadlines, communication preferences, or payment methods. As a freelancer, this is all on you to ask for clarification to help ensure you are making an informed decision.

It can be easy to overlook or neglect the vetting process for potential clients. (We’ve all been there!) Oftentimes, as freelancers, we’re searching for our next client to help keep the lights on and to afford a mocha chai latte at Starbucks. But by not vetting potential freelance clients, as a freelancer you’re doing yourself and your client a disservice. 

Here are some of the best freelance client questions to ask before you agree to a freelance rate as well as after you get the freelance assignment.

Consider using this freelance client intake form before you get on a call with a potential client to avoid time-wasters.

Top Questions Freelancers Should Ask Clients Before They Sign a Contract

To help you sidestep one of the many pitfalls of freelancing, we’re sharing tips and top questions freelancers should ask clients before they commit to the freelance assignment. By the time you secure your next discovery call, you’ll feel confident and ready to start the project.

What’s the project scope?

Before you start the freelance project, you want to ensure that you have a clear understanding of the scope of the project. For example, it’s important to know the specific deliverables of the project. Some clients would prefer to see a rough draft of the project and a final deliverable delivered via pdf. Getting clarification on the deliverables and project objectives will help avoid delays in communication or project mishaps. It’ll also help you avoid scope creep down the line if the client asks for more.

As a rule of thumb, it’s important as a freelancer to have your own set of requirements in order to start a project. You want to come across as confident and trustworthy as possible. You achieve this by providing your client with a checklist of specific requirements you need for the project. Once everything on the checklist has been submitted, you can begin the project with ease. 

What’s the deadline?

Clients want to work with freelancers who are able to meet deadlines with a short turnaround. As a freelancer, it’s important to manage your time and energy efficiently.  The more projects you acquire within a month, the more you limit your availability to take on new clients. Time is your most precious resource as a freelancer!

It’s important to measure your capacity to accept projects and understand the length of time required to complete current ones. 

As a rule of thumb, I always measure out a two-week window for edits or last-minute changes on a project. This way, I estimate that even after I’ve turned in an article or project on deadline, I allow for a bit of buffer room in my schedule for additional changes on the project.  

If you can turn in an assignment early to your freelance client, even better. Just expect that you need some time in your schedule for revisions. This is why you shouldn’t try to book yourself with too many freelance projects. That’s a recipe for freelance burnout.

It’s helpful to establish milestones with the client. Milestones are a great way to approach a project to ensure you are meeting client expectations and the project is on task. Some freelancers require payments to meet milestones. An example might be that the first 25 percent of a project fee is paid after an outline is approved. Another 25 percent or 50 percent will be paid after the first draft. The final amount will be paid after the article or project is approved.

Occasionally projects do run into roadblocks. This is a common freelancer challenge.

When roadblocks occur on a project, communicate with your client. The issue might be a last-minute change to a draft or pushing the deadline date a few days out. Provide your client with a heads up so they can adjust accordingly. 

It never hurts to offer a discount in your rate for the next project for the small inconvenience. Remember, the more flexible you are with clients, they will return the favor, and be more likely to work with you again.

What are the freelance rates?

As a freelancer, your rates will periodically change over time. With more skills and experience, your rates should increase to meet market demands. When it comes to determining a rate for a project, there are a few things you should consider–like the amount of research required, the topic, and the deadline. 

Each of these should be factored into the rate in addition to your experience, niche, and bandwidth to accept the project and come up with freelance writer rates. I prefer to raise my rates twice a year with new clients to stay competitive and to meet my monthly income goals.

When it comes to negotiating your rates as a freelancer, you have rights. Most freelancers accept the first offer the client presents because they are desperate for the work. Don’t feel bad, we’ve all been there in our freelance journeys. 

As a rule of thumb, it’s always good to have a counteroffer or negotiate the rate. Negotiating is not putting the project or client at risk. It allows the client to consider the amount of the investment they are willing to pay for your services. In the end, if a client is unwilling to negotiate the rate, be willing to walk away from the project. Trust me, the right client won’t ditch you because you pushed back on a rate.

How do freelancers get paid?

When it comes to payment methods, I prefer to keep it as professional, efficient, and simple as possible. Most clients prefer to receive a customer invoice from freelancers. 

This is helpful in tracking expenses and time for both parties. If you’re new to freelancing,  you might want to consider Paypal as a payment method. Once you become more established, Quickbooks could be a great option for a fee. Other clients will do a direct deposit into your bank account.

How should freelancers charge?

Some freelancers prefer to be paid on a retainer, per project, or hourly basis. For me, it depends on the project. For example, if I’m hired to write three to four blog articles for a real estate company on a three-month contract, I prefer to work on a retainer fee which is one lump sum payment each month. 

The frequency of payment that you receive for a project should be discussed with the client prior to accepting the project. If you start out on a retainer or project basis and the client wants to increase your responsibilities, you’ll need to increase the amount you’re paid.  It’s important to review the terms of the original agreement and consider making necessary adjustments to protect yourself throughout the time you work for each client.

Top Questions Freelancers Should Ask Clients After Getting the Assignment 

Here’s a freelance template you can reference and send a tailored version of to your client to ensure you’re on the same page when it comes to the freelance project scope, resources, deadlines, as well as voice, and tone. It’s a great way to ensure you’ve identified the top questions freelancers should ask clients.

How Much Research and Which Resources Should I Use?

1. Clarify where research materials will be sourced from (in-house or you have to find sources).

2. Ask if the client will provide any specific resources or reference materials.

For most freelance projects clients will request images and backlinks to support the content. As a freelancer, it’s important to clarify where the clients prefer information to be sourced. For example, clients may allocate a small budget for research. They will permit you to source articles and clips from Google Scholar to cite as a reference in your work. If you’re hired as an in-house freelancer, there may be more contingencies regarding where you can retrieve resources and materials.

Many clients are flexible in their approach to meeting the needs or requirements for a project. It always helpful as a freelancer to provide your client with a content brief. Your content brief should in specific questions or reference request for materials that they specifically want to be used for the assignment. A good resource for material or reference would be SemRush, Reddit, Pinterest, or Answer The Public.

What are the Interview Requirements?

1. Inquire if interviews with subject matter experts are necessary.

2. Discuss logistics and scheduling for interviews, if needed. (Many freelance clients will introduce the freelancer to the team member they need to interview via email so they know you’re working with the team.)

As a freelancer, you will need to interview subject matter experts for an article or blog. If you have a reliable social media network or personal network that you can go to from time to time is beneficial. However, you want to keep your pulse on leading subject matter experts that can bring a fresh perspective or supporting argument to your article. Suggest the idea to your client to see if interviewing a subject matter expert is necessary.

Once you have the green light from your client to interview a subject matter expert. You’ll want to go over the logistics of how you’re going to cover the interview. Your interview should be done in real-time to help gain more quotable insights. It’s always best to record the interview via Zoom and transcribe the clip later.

Who’s the Client’s Audience?

Every brand or organization will have a key demographic that they are targeting for marketing purposes. As a freelancer, you must ask probing questions to learn more about your client’s target audience. You will want to know more about the client’s target audience age, economic status, social stats, and preferences for communication. The more you know about your client’s target demographic, the better prepared you are to develop a concept to address the project deliverables.

What’s the Voice and Tone?

Understanding each freelance client’s desired style, tone,  and voice will be an important aspect of your role as a freelancer. The best way to learn more about your client’s tone, style, and voice is to do a deep dive into their online persona. Take detailed notes on their social media captions, subscribe to the newsletter, or via online videos. Compile all of your notes to identify the brand tone and voice to help create a visual avatar of the client’s target audience and messaging. Remember to ask if they have any blog samples to send over that capture this well.

What is the Revisions and Feedback Process?

1. Establish the process for submitting revisions and incorporating feedback.

2. Clarify the number of revisions included in the project scope. Charge more if the client asks for additional edits.

Before submitting your final draft, you want to permit your client the opportunity to submit revisions or feedback request. This is a golden opportunity for you to receive constructive feedback on your work. Per your client you can establish a process for revisions that may include sharing a Google Doc, highlighting errors, or adding comments.  The process should be efficient and convenient for both parties to avoid any delay in meeting the deadline. As a rule of thumb, it’s important to discuss the number of revisions for the project. You don’t want to be a doormat because your client is simply not satisfied with the changes. Be flexible, yet firm.

Establish Final Delivery and Approval

1. Confirm the preferred method for delivering the final project

2. Discuss the approval process and any necessary sign-offs from the client

Once your client has reviewed the project and the edit request have been completed. You’ll need to confirm the preferred method for delivering the project. Some clients will request a PDF file or docx. As a rule of thumb, it’s best to have a backup on hand just in case the file is lost, corrupted, or not to the client’s satisfaction. The final project deliverable should be satisfactory with minimal errors.

As a freelancer, you want to dot all of your I’s and cross all of your t’s as you identify the top questions freelancers should ask clients. Just as you would have an onboarding process with your client. You’ll want to have an approval process that will ensure that your client’s expectations have been met for the project. Your approval process should include a timeframe for your client to review the project and an opportunity for your client to request any further changes. The client should initial the document to confirm that they are satisfied with the project and have reviewed the work thoroughly. Once your client signs off, you can submit the final deliverable to the client.

Ready to kick-start your freelance writing career? Learn the steps to Get Paid to Write.

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Discover Your Freelance Niche: Tips to Discover Your Path to Success

Raise your hand if you’ve heard sayings like “If you’re marketing to everyone, you’re marketing to no one” or “A jack of all trades, master of none.” (Yep, time to put our hands down, too.)

This is exactly why one needs to discover your freelance niche if you wish to be successful as a freelancer. If you’re asking yourself, ‘Why niche down?’ Won’t that mean I’m leaving tons of clients on the table that I could do work for?

Well, sure. But you’ll also compete with millions of people who think the same way, and that’s never a good path to take.

Why choose a freelance niche? The truth is, focusing on one specific type of work, or one specific industry, allows you to become an “expert” in the niche and it also makes it easier to market yourself. You can gear your marketing efforts to a specific niche, rather than every business that may need your services! In fact, why not try one of the best highest-paying freelance writing niches of 2024?

Tips to Discover Your Freelance Niche

When you’re choosing your freelance niche, follow these tips to find one that suits your interests while also being a high-paying freelancer niche.

Tip 1: Reflect on Your Passions and Interests

What do you love to do? What are you good at? What lights your soul up? What creates a fire in your belly? The answers to these questions are the best place to start your freelance niche journey.

If something interests you, and you have a true passion for what interests you, you’re more likely to motivate yourself to push through the roadblocks when they arise. And roadblocks will come, it’s part of the journey.

Take time to brainstorm ideas. Do a brain dump of everything you love, like, and enjoy.

As you do discovery for your freelance niche, you might want to focus on topics—like fitness, nutrition, technology, consumer products—or, you might think about content marketing writing for brands or copywriting specifically. Both are ways you can categorize a niche.

Tip 2: Assess Your Skills and Expertise

As you sort through the thing you love, make sure to ask yourself and others what skills you have that others would consider you an expert in and remember to evaluate freelance writing skills as well. Include things you know you’re good at, but also those that you’d want to do day after day to make money!

Ask your friends and family, as well as co-workers or former co-workers what they know your skillsets are and what you excel at. Ask them, “When discussing specific freelance skills, which ones make you think of me?”

It’s a lot easier to generate income doing things you already love to do, as well as know how to do. No one wants to have to spend extensive time learning new skills, and then master them, so you feel confident selling yourself to others.

When you feel confident providing value to others, it takes far less time and effort to start attracting clients who want to pay you for your service offerings.

Tip 3: Research Market Demand

Once you’ve done all the preliminary work, it’s time to dig in a bit deeper to discover your freelance niche. It might take a bit of time, because you’ll need to research each niche you’re interested to find out if there’s a demand for your niche service or services.

You could have all the skills in the world, master of all things in that niche, but if no one needs the service or wants it—you won’t find much success, or it might take a lot longer to make money in your chosen niche.

Some of the best places to see if the freelance niche you’ve chosen is in demand? Ask people in your network if they would pay for what you’d like to sell them. Look at places like Fiverr, Upwork, or even LinkedIn and see what services business owners are hiring freelancers for.

And there’s always Google! Set up a “Google Alert” to help notify you about information and jobs in your chosen niches.

Tip 4: Test and Iterate While You Discover Your Freelance Niche

Be open-minded and flexible. If you launch yourself, do all the leg work to get your name out there, but months go by without much interest—prepare to re-evaluate your niche and make changes.

Or, you might need to brush up on your skills and add certifications that potential clients would find appealing—like UX certifications, copywriting certifications, or showcasing courses completed on your LinkedIn page.

Consider working with a reputable business coach, or a marketing coach. Focus on working with professional coaches who can help you with the results you want to achieve. Ask them for previous and current clients, and make sure you get the full story of how the coaching process works to help you achieve your freelancer goal-setting strategy.

Tip 5: Trust Your Instincts

Your gut is often the best barometer for what you should and shouldn’t do to become profitable in your chosen freelance niche. You know what lights you up inside and gives you the motivation to get up each morning and earn money. Trust yourself. Trust your skills. Embrace the challenge knowing you’ve got the skills to be successful.

Your Path to Freelance Success Begins with Discovering Your Niche

Entering the world of freelance work and finding success requires discovering your niche. You’ll need to do a deep dive into what your skills and expertise are, what you enjoy doing, and knowing that you can sell this “work” or “service” to others for a profit.

Now’s the time to get real with yourself and your skill set. Talk to friends, family, and professional acquaintances to learn what they believe your strengths are and what types of work they would hire you to do. Then, collect all this information to finally nail down the perfect freelance niche for you to find financial success with.

Your ideal freelance niche could be a topic “healthcare” or “freelance medical writing” or a skill “copywriting for Google ads” or “technical writing.”

You might have a few starts and stops until you find just the right freelance niche, or combination of niches, that will be successful. If you find yourself struggling, first figure out of your niche is too broad. Remember, if you’re trying to market to everyone, you’re marketing to no one!

If you know your niche is narrow enough, but still run into roadblocks to success, reach out to your network and find a reputable business coach who can help you come up with a plan of action to find success within your desired freelance niche.

Your Freelance Niche Doesn’t Have to Be Forever

Don’t worry. You don’t have to choose one specific topic area or skill and only do that one thing for the rest of your freelance career. (That’s what some think are the cons of freelance niche writing.) But, you do want to niche down so you can focus on your main thing until you make your desired income.

You also want to be the freelancer potential clients think of for specific topic writing like “B2B healthcare writer” or “technical writer.” You’ll get more work that way!

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