Over 64 million Americans performed freelance work in 2023 (Upwork, Freelancers Union)
$36 median hourly rate for US freelancers in 2023, up 29 percent from 2019
Administrative support is the third-largest skill category by volume on freelance platforms
Key Takeaways
- Upwork and Freelancers Union annual surveys estimate that over 64 million Americans performed some freelance work in 2023, representing approximately 38 percent of the total US workforce.
- Freelancer earnings have grown faster than traditional employment wages: the median hourly rate for US freelancers rose from $28 in 2019 to $36 in 2023, a 29 percent gain.
- Administrative and executive support is the third-largest skill category by volume on major freelance platforms, after software development and graphic design.
- Business demand for freelance and contract admin support spiked 40 percent during 2020 to 2021 and has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, indicating a structural shift rather than a temporary effect.
Over 64 million Americans performed some freelance work in 2023, according to Upwork's Freelancer Forward study conducted with the Freelancers Union. That represents approximately 38 percent of the total US workforce engaging in independent or contract work, ranging from occasional project-based gigs to full-time freelance careers. The size of the freelance workforce is one of the most significant structural shifts in the US labor market over the past decade, and it shows no signs of reversing.
Earnings data reinforces the growth narrative. The median hourly rate for US freelancers rose from $28 in 2019 to $36 in 2023, a 29 percent gain over four years that outpaced both general wage growth and CPI inflation over the same period. That earnings growth reflects both supply-side skill improvements and growing demand-side willingness to pay premium rates for high-quality freelance talent.
Freelance Economy Statistics 2026
The Upwork Freelancer Forward study and the Freelancers Union annual survey are the most comprehensive annual tracking studies of the US freelance workforce. The Bureau of Labor Statistics Contingent Worker Supplement provides additional data from a different methodology. Together they paint a consistent picture of a large, growing, and increasingly well-compensated freelance workforce.
| Metric | Finding | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Americans performing freelance work (2023) | Over 64 million | Upwork Freelancer Forward, Freelancers Union |
| Share of US workforce freelancing | Approximately 38 percent | Upwork Freelancer Forward |
| Median US freelancer hourly rate (2023) | $36/hr | Upwork Freelancer Forward |
| Median US freelancer hourly rate (2019) | $28/hr | Upwork historical data |
| Rate growth 2019 to 2023 | 29 percent | Calculated from Upwork data |
| Admin support rank by volume on platforms | Third-largest skill category | Platform volume data |
| Business demand growth for admin freelancers (2020 to 2021) | 40 percent spike | Practitioner and platform estimates |
| US workers preferring freelance to traditional employment | Majority in recent surveys | Upwork, MBO Partners |
The 40 percent demand spike for admin freelancers in 2020 to 2021 is significant because it has not reverted. Companies that discovered they could source reliable administrative support from freelancers during the pandemic continued that behavior after the immediate crisis passed. The demand floor for contract admin support has been permanently elevated.
Workforce Size and Composition
The 64 million freelancers figure includes everyone from full-time independent professionals to workers who take occasional side projects. The more meaningful breakdown for understanding the freelance economy is by engagement type and income reliance.
| Freelance Engagement Type | Estimated Share | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time freelancers (primary income) | 25 to 30 percent | Fully reliant on freelance, typically multiple clients |
| Part-time freelancers (supplemental income) | 35 to 40 percent | Employment plus freelance side work |
| Occasional freelancers (project-by-project) | 30 to 40 percent | Sporadic, often single-project gigs |
| Moonlighters (full-time employed plus freelance) | Overlapping above | Both employment and freelance income |
The full-time freelancer segment is the most relevant for VA services, as these are the workers who have built professional practices around independent contract work. MBO Partners research on high-earning independent workers finds that approximately 17 million Americans freelanced full-time as of recent surveys, earning across a wide income range but with a median well above minimum wage in skilled categories.
Earnings Data and Rate Growth
Freelancer earnings data from Upwork shows meaningful growth across skill categories since 2019. The overall median hourly rate growth of 29 percent (from $28 to $36) reflects both skill mix improvement (higher-value skills increasing as a share of total hours) and genuine rate increases within categories.
| Skill Category | Median Rate 2019 | Median Rate 2023 | Rate Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software development | $65/hr | $85/hr | 31 percent |
| Creative and design | $35/hr | $45/hr | 29 percent |
| Administrative and exec support | $22/hr | $28/hr | 27 percent |
| Marketing and communications | $40/hr | $52/hr | 30 percent |
| Consulting and finance | $55/hr | $70/hr | 27 percent |
| All categories (median) | $28/hr | $36/hr | 29 percent |
Administrative and executive support rates grew 27 percent over the period, slightly below the overall median growth rate. The starting base was lower, which means the dollar increase was more modest even at similar percentage growth. The $28 per hour US-based admin freelancer rate in 2023 is consistent with BLS data on contractor wage rates for administrative occupations.
The Demand Side: Why Businesses Hire Freelancers
Businesses hire freelancers for administrative support for the same core reasons they use VA services: cost flexibility, speed to engagement, and access to specific skills without the overhead of employment. Upwork's business-side research finds that flexibility is the most frequently cited motivation for hiring freelancers, ahead of cost savings and skill access.
| Business Motivation | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flexibility to scale up and down | Very high | Most common primary motivation |
| Lower cost than equivalent in-house hire | High | Important but often secondary to flexibility |
| Access to skills not available in-house | High | Particularly for specialized support |
| Speed to start (vs. hiring timeline) | High | Freelancers can often start within days |
| No employment obligations | Medium to high | Payroll taxes, benefits, compliance avoided |
| Trial before potential full-time hire | Lower | Less common but growing |
The speed-to-start advantage is particularly significant for small businesses. A company that needs administrative support often needs it now, not in 36 days (the average small business hiring cycle per LinkedIn Talent Insights). Freelance and VA services typically start within 1 to 5 days of engagement confirmation.
Administrative Support in the Freelance Market
Administrative and executive support is the third-largest skill category by volume on major freelance platforms, after software development and graphic design. That volume ranking reflects the breadth of demand for admin support across all business types and sizes, not just technology companies or large enterprises. The category includes inbox management, calendar coordination, travel booking, data entry, research, document preparation, social media management, and customer service support.
The demand concentration in administrative work on platforms like Upwork also reflects a specific buyer type: founders and small business owners who need support but are not yet ready for or cannot afford a full-time in-house hire. This buyer profile aligns exactly with the market that VA services are designed to serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Americans freelanced in 2023?
Upwork's Freelancer Forward study conducted with the Freelancers Union estimates that over 64 million Americans performed some freelance work in 2023, representing approximately 38 percent of the total US workforce. This includes full-time freelancers, part-time freelancers, and occasional project workers.
Are freelancer wages growing?
Yes, substantially. The median hourly rate for US freelancers rose from $28 in 2019 to $36 in 2023, a 29 percent gain that outpaced general wage growth over the same period. Growth was consistent across major skill categories, including administrative support, which grew approximately 27 percent from $22 to $28 per hour.
How significant is administrative support in the freelance market?
Administrative and executive support is the third-largest skill category by volume on major freelance platforms, after software development and graphic design. Business demand for contract admin support spiked 40 percent during 2020 to 2021 and has remained elevated relative to pre-pandemic levels, indicating the shift to freelance admin support is structural rather than temporary.
For context on how the freelance economy intersects with the decision to outsource vs. hire, see our comparison of outsourcing vs hiring. To understand the market-size context for the VA sector specifically, see our analysis of VA market size. If you want to find the right freelance or virtual support model for your business, contact us.
