Freelancer demographics and statistics in the US
Freelancer demographics research summary. Zippia estimates freelancer demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our freelancer estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about freelancers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 10,530 freelancers currently employed in the United States.
- 52.3% of all freelancers are women, while 47.7% are men.
- The average freelancer age is 38 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of freelancers is White (70.2%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (10.6%), Asian (10.4%) and Unknown (5.0%).
- In 2022, women earned 95% of what men earned.
- 13% of all freelancers are LGBT.
- Freelancers are 74% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Freelancer demographics by:
Freelancer gender statistics
52.3% of freelancers are women and 47.7% of freelancers are men.
- Female, 52.3%
- Male, 47.7%
Freelancer gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 52.3% |
| Male | 47.7% |
Freelancer gender pay gap
Women earn 95¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$59,949
Female income
$56,945
Freelancer gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in freelancer positions over time. Currently, 52.3% of freelancers are female.
Freelancer gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 50.15% | 49.85% |
| 2011 | 50.41% | 49.59% |
| 2012 | 49.59% | 50.41% |
| 2013 | 52.06% | 47.94% |
| 2014 | 49.85% | 50.15% |
| 2015 | 50.60% | 49.40% |
| 2016 | 49.49% | 50.51% |
| 2017 | 48.51% | 51.49% |
| 2018 | 50.73% | 49.27% |
| 2019 | 47.53% | 52.47% |
| 2020 | 47.59% | 52.41% |
| 2021 | 47.72% | 52.28% |
Freelancer related jobs gender ratio
We compared freelancers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, exhibit builder and senior industrial designer have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Decorating Consultant | 9% | 91% |
| Floral Designer | 11% | 89% |
| Floral Manager | 11% | 89% |
| Freelancer | 48% | 52% |
| Craftsman | 88% | 12% |
| Senior Industrial Designer | 91% | 9% |
| Exhibit Builder | 93% | 7% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Freelancer demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among freelancers is White, which makes up 70.2% of all freelancers. Comparatively, 10.6% of freelancers are Hispanic or Latino and 10.4% of freelancers are Asian.
- White, 70.2%
- Hispanic or Latino, 10.6%
- Asian, 10.4%
- Unknown, 5.0%
- Black or African American, 3.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
Freelancer race
| Freelancer race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 70.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 10.6% |
| Asian | 10.4% |
| Unknown | 5.0% |
| Black or African American | 3.4% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.4% |
Freelancer race and ethnicity over time
See how freelancer racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Freelancer race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 80.32% | 3.37% | 6.45% | 8.15% |
| 2011 | 79.15% | 3.38% | 7.00% | 8.33% |
| 2012 | 78.60% | 3.42% | 6.69% | 9.26% |
| 2013 | 79.01% | 3.39% | 7.37% | 8.05% |
| 2014 | 78.43% | 3.15% | 7.37% | 8.85% |
| 2015 | 77.58% | 3.31% | 7.11% | 9.89% |
| 2016 | 77.09% | 3.54% | 7.72% | 9.34% |
| 2017 | 77.04% | 3.17% | 8.01% | 9.29% |
| 2018 | 74.98% | 3.33% | 8.26% | 10.34% |
| 2019 | 76.12% | 3.50% | 7.60% | 10.19% |
| 2020 | 74.32% | 3.04% | 7.13% | 10.91% |
| 2021 | 70.17% | 3.42% | 10.42% | 10.63% |
Freelancer wage gap by race
According to our data, asian freelancers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. White freelancers have the lowest average salary at $57,544.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $61,927 |
| White | $57,544 |
| Black or African American | $57,708 |
| Asian | $64,352 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $58,512 |
Average freelancer age
See how the average age of freelancers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Freelancer age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 40 | 33 |
| White | 40 | 35 |
| Black or African American | 38 | 34 |
| Asian | 36 | 33 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 36 | 31 |
Freelancer age breakdown
The average age of freelancers is 40+ years years old, representing 42% of the freelancer population.
Freelancer age breakdown
| Freelancer Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 42% |
| 30-40 years | 35% |
| 20-30 years | 24% |
Freelancer educational attainment
The most common degree for freelancers is bachelor's degree, with 69% of freelancers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 12% and associate degree degree at 11%.
- Bachelor's, 69%
- Associate, 12%
- Master's, 11%
- High School Diploma, 4%
- Other Degrees, 4%
Freelancers by degree level
| Freelancer degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 69% |
| Associate | 12% |
| Master's | 11% |
| High School Diploma | 4% |
| Other Degrees | 4% |
Freelancer jobs you might like
Freelancer wage gap by degree level
According to the data, freelancers with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $71,200 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, freelancers earn a median annual income of $64,807 compared to $57,685 for freelancers with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $71,200 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $64,807 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $57,685 |
Freelancer employment statistics
Most freelancers work for a private in the media industry.
Company size where freelancers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where freelancers work.
Freelancer jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 9% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 15% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 30% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 7% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 20% |
| > 10,000 employees | 19% |
Freelancer jobs by company type
Employees with the freelancer job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most freelancers prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Freelancer jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 2% |
| Public | 20% |
| Private | 74% |
| Government | 3% |
Freelancer jobs by industry
The most common industries for freelancers are media, retail and professional.
Freelancer industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Media | 26% |
| Retail | 13% |
| Professional | 11% |
| Technology | 10% |
| Manufacturing | 9% |
| Fortune 500 | 6% |
| Internet | 5% |
| Government | 3% |
| Start-up | 3% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Construction | 2% |
| Health Care | 2% |
| Insurance | 2% |
| Education | 2% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
Freelancer turnover and employment statistics
Freelancer unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for freelancers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Freelancer unemployment rate by year
| Year | Freelancer unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 9.84% |
| 2011 | 7.82% |
| 2012 | 7.12% |
| 2013 | 5.32% |
| 2014 | 4.78% |
| 2015 | 4.60% |
| 2016 | 4.15% |
| 2017 | 3.61% |
| 2018 | 3.55% |
| 2019 | 3.78% |
| 2020 | 6.80% |
| 2021 | 7.79% |
Average freelancer tenure
The average freelancer stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 6,879 freelancers resumes in Zippia's database.
Freelancer tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 22% |
| 1-2 years | 20% |
| 3-4 years | 10% |
| 5-7 years | 21% |
| 8-10 years | 10% |
| 11+ years | 17% |
Freelancer LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of freelancers that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Ceramic Artist | 11.32% | 3,616 |
| Theater Set Production Designer | 12.35% | 97,246 |
| Freelancer | 13.05% | - |
| Floral Decorator | 14.26% | 2,182 |
| Senior Merchandiser | 16.91% | 65,852 |
| Fashion Design Internship | 17.98% | 91,499 |
| Interior Design Consultant | 22.51% | 48,894 |
Similar freelancer jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Ceramic Artist | 11.32% | 3,616 |
| Theater Set Production Designer | 12.35% | 97,246 |
| Floral Decorator | 14.26% | 2,182 |
| Senior Merchandiser | 16.91% | 65,852 |
| Fashion Design Internship | 17.98% | 91,499 |
| Interior Design Consultant | 22.51% | 48,894 |
Foreign languages spoken by freelancers
The most common foreign language among freelancers is Spanish at 38.4%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 13.1% and Korean is the third-most popular at 5.6%.
- Spanish, 38.4%
- French, 13.1%
- Korean, 5.6%
- German, 4.8%
- Italian, 4.7%
- Other, 33.4%
Freelancer languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 38.4% |
| French | 13.1% |
| Korean | 5.6% |
| German | 4.8% |
| Italian | 4.7% |
| Other | 33.4% |
