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The differences between freelancers and general contractors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a freelancer, becoming a general contractor takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a general contractor has an average salary of $66,602, which is higher than the $59,367 average annual salary of a freelancer.
The top three skills for a freelancer include customer service, web content and video production. The most important skills for a general contractor are plumbing, safety regulations, and contract negotiations.
| Freelancer | General Contractor | |
| Yearly salary | $59,367 | $66,602 |
| Hourly rate | $28.54 | $32.02 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 2,088 | 66,218 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 38 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 8 |
A freelancer is a self-employed individual that provides services for multiple clients at one time and usually earns money on a per-job basis. Often known as independent contractors, freelancers usually set their schedules while running their own business and have a flexible lifestyle. They have the liberty to choose their clients that may be less confined to specific markets or sectors. Freelancers usually find work within the creative industries such as graphic design, copywriting, or photography.
The job of general contractors is to oversee the day-to-day operations of projects in the organization. General contractors are considered seasoned experts when it comes to home improvement. They provide the material, equipment, labor, and services for a construction project. Often, they hire specialized subcontractors who will be working on some part of the construction work. They should have attained a bachelor's or associate's degree in construction management. Their experience in the industry is highly coveted.
Freelancers and general contractors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Freelancer | General Contractor | |
| Average salary | $59,367 | $66,602 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $86,000 | Between $41,000 And $107,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | - |
| Highest paying state | - | - |
| Best paying company | - | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a freelancer and a general contractor in terms of educational background:
| Freelancer | General Contractor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo |
Here are the differences between freelancers' and general contractors' demographics:
| Freelancer | General Contractor | |
| Average age | 38 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.7% Female, 52.3% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 2.8% White, 71.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 4% |