Data on how much freelance writers make can be tough to pin down. But it’s something every writer wants to know. I tackled this topic three years ago when I published this post. And it’s a topic that never gets old. Check out the updated resources. And be sure to ask yourself the two questions at the end to determine your earning potential. -Carol
It’s one of the most-asked questions I get: “Can you tell me how much freelance writers make?”
Let’s face it — we’ve all got mouths to feed, and writing for money is critical to putting food on the table. So it’s important to get a sense of whether freelance writing can yield you a real, bill-paying level of income. It’s a good question to ask.
There are two steps to figuring out the answer to this question.
The first is to find survey data on what freelancers make. That gives you a sense of what’s possible, and what’s typical.
The second step is a bit harder, so let’s start with data.
Resources on how much freelance writers make
There isn’t a ton of information out there on what freelance writers earn, but there is some.
New and updated resources
- The State of Freelancing in 2015, compiled from survey data Contently collected from 643 freelancers (82 percent were freelance writers). The report shows income data and trends for freelancers (24 percent earn $50K or more annually). But even more interesting, the report also shows the connection to income and marketing efforts. That’s right. How much freelance writers make has a lot to do with consistent marketing.
- Pay Rates for Freelance Writers is another recent trend report on freelance writing income published by ClearVoice. To find out how much freelance writers make, they checked in with both freelance writers and companies that hire freelancers. Spoiler alert: You just might wallow in missed income opportunities after reading this, then raise your rates.
- The Writer’s Market surveys writers and publishes a What to Charge guide in the front of each annual edition of their voluminous guide to writing markets. They offer rates for a wide variety of writing assignments.
- Freelance Writing Rates: 5 Resources for Figuring Out How Much to Charge. No survey data here, but The Write Life guest post by Heather van der Hoop serves up a couple more smart strategies to find out how much freelance writers make. And how much you should be charging.
Other resources
- Ed Gandia’s 2012 Freelance Industry Report (no, this report hasn’t been updated since 2012) covers more types of freelancing than just writing, but about 40 percent of responders were writers and editors. Three-quarters of respondents have been freelancing more than three years. The results will be eye-opening for many writers. To call out just one stat: About one-third of respondents reported they earned $70 an hour or more, and another 23 percent earned $50-$70 an hour. (NOTE: Ed has since removed this resource, but he did allow us to keep available to members of the Freelance Writers Den, my online community for freelancers.)
- It doesn’t have statistics, but a good book for helping you think about how to price your writing services is What to Charge: Pricing Strategies for Freelancers and Consultants, by Laurie Lewis. Great info, even though it was last published in 2011.
I recommend writers give those a browse and get a sense of market rates and of good strategies for pricing (hint: by the project, not by the hour).
Now, back to our question — how much can you earn?
You now have a sense of what writers typically earn, and what top earners bring in. But like the car companies say about gas consumption, your mileage may vary.
Where you will fall on that freelance earning scale is going to depend a lot on you. Here are a couple of important questions to ask yourself:
1. How bad do you want this?
Many writers dream about having the freedom to be their own boss, set their own schedule, and make a living doing what they love.
But when it comes to getting off their cans and marketing the heck out of their services to find clients…many can’t seem to bring themselves to do it.
If it requires learning new skills — like, say, how to use WordPress — they balk.
When an editor tells them they need to improve their article, they’re resentful.
That’s when it begins to dawn: Freelance writing is a hard life.
You need tremendous self-discipline. And you have to hustle for gigs all the time, deal with rejection, and rewrite things to suit other people.
There are many factors that play into how much you will earn, and how long it will take you to reach the income level you want.
For instance, are you willing to write about difficult topics that tend to pay better, or do you only want to write from your own muse? Writing tough stuff is a great route to higher pay.
How much work are you willing to put into marketing? For instance, if you don’t put up a writer website, it’s pretty hard to impress prospects these days.
One other factor: Many writers prefer to kick back and enjoy life more now that they’re out of the cubicle, rather than working super-hard at building a top-earning business. Spend more time mountain-climbing or home-schooling the kids.
Go at it fewer hours, and that will reduce your income. Which brings us to…
2. What is your earning goal?
I discovered in my own freelancing that you rarely earn more than you imagine you can make.
When I started freelancing in 2005, my dream was to replace my $60,000-a-year staff writing job. Within a couple years, I did.
Then I had a big light bulb explode in my head.
I suddenly had this flash of insight that as a freelance writer, my earning potential wasn’t limited to what I used to make in a day job.
My earning potential wasn’t limited to $100,000.
My earning potential was unlimited.
After realizing I could earn much more, I upped my marketing and aimed higher. I stopped looking at Craigslist ads and proactively went after bigger clients — major corporations and national magazines. I wrote more on big projects and ongoing contracts, rather than having to prospect constantly for smaller gigs.
In 2011, I cracked six figures as a freelance writer. And since then, I’ve continued to grow my income from writing, every year.
Expand your vision for your freelance writing business, and it will change how you pursue this career. And that’s how you change how much you make as a freelance writer.
How much do you aim to earn as a freelance writer? Leave a comment — share your goals and what you’re doing to get there.
Find more resources on how to make money writing.
