Top 10 Best Freelance Jobs for Creative Professionals

Updated April 18, 2024

Being a freelancer can be a lucrative career depending on the type of work you complete and the number of clients you have. A freelancer has the option of working from anywhere in the world and setting your hours. Also, a freelance role puts you in a position to accomplish other career goals.In this article, we will discuss the best freelance jobs and present you with a list of ones you can apply for today.Read more: Choosing a Career Path in 9 Steps

Benefits of the best freelance jobs for creative professionals

Being a freelancer can come with many perks. Some benefits of freelancing over a typical position may include:

Ability to work remotely

A freelancer can be referred to as a digital nomad. A digital nomad uses a variety of technologies to earn a living while working in different locations despite the country they're in. This perk can spark a freelancer's creativity as they witness experiences that can influence how they tell a story. Working remotely is also beneficial if they need to care for a family member or loved one while earning a salary.

Flexible work hours

A freelancer does not have to work a 40-hour workweek. They can start part time and move their way up to full time or vice versa. They can also work a full-time job during the day Monday-Friday and work a freelance position on the weekend. Without a structured work schedule, a freelance can dictate when they want to work and how, but they'll still need to adhere to client deadlines to finish their product.

Quick pay

You can add to your income quickly when you start freelancing. If you gain more clients early on then you can make a consistent salary comparable to your current full-time job. Make sure to emphasize the quality of your work, and it'll increase your earnings potential.Read more: 10 Best Skills To Include on a Resume

Top 10 best freelance jobs for creative professionals

Here is a list of the top 10 best freelance jobs that creative professionals can find online right now. Take note of this list when you're applying for jobs to earn a high salary. For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, click on the national average salary link for each job title below.

1. Transcriptionist

National average salary: $34,270 per yearPrimary duties: A transcriptionist types live audio or conversations occurring between two or more people. This is popular in the medical and legal industry to record patient and client testimony. Once they're written, quotes from these transcriptions get logged into a report, which gets filed by the hospital or the government in case they need to reference them at a later time.Education requirements: A transcriptionist can earn a degree through a one-year program or an associate's degree. Freelancers can get more clients through experience and favorable reviews, but a bachelor's degree increases their chances of earning a higher salary.

2. Virtual assistant

National average salary: $40,842 per yearPrimary duties: A virtual assistant aids with tasks regarding administrative support for an organization. A virtual assistant can manage an employee's calendar, schedule presentations, create presentation decks to show senior leadership and post on a company's social media account.Education requirements: You don't need formal education for this occupation, but it's recommended that you have a portfolio of work you completed for clients and have a strong presence on networking sites to increase your chances of employment.

3. Freelance photographer

National average salary: $40,658 per yearPrimary duties: A freelance photographer takes photos for clients at special events such as weddings, family photoshoots and corporate gatherings. They can also take photos of the landscape and post them to their portfolio, website and social media accounts to get themselves noticed, acquire new clients and sell the photos if they generate interest.Education requirements: There is no specified educational pathway to work in this position, but you can make a lot of money if you put in the effort to market yourself. Make sure you have your equipment, portfolio, social media presence and website, so people have full access to your services if they want to use them.

4. Graphic designer

National average salary: $50,656 per yearPrimary duties: A graphic designer is responsible for the visual concept of a product or a brand. They can either produce artwork by hand using different materials or they can use computer software to attract notice and inform customers about who they're buying from. Artwork can create various deliverables such as brochures, eBooks and magazines that can stand out to their target audience.Education requirements: A bachelor's degree is required depending on the client's demands. However, an artist or working professional can complete a graphic design training program and gain applicable experience to augment their client base.

5. Tutor

National average salary: $39,217 per yearPrimary duties: A tutor reviews work handed in by students and provides academic assistance on subjects they're struggling with. They help students in formulating skills to study, take effective notes, prepare for tests and excel in homework assignments given by their teacher. The goal is to improve the confidence of a student, so they can be motivated to not only pass the test but get a high grade in the class.Education requirements: Tutors should have at least a high school diploma or GED certificate and a license in tutoring to stay up-to-date on methods that can help children learn different subjects effectively.

6. Freelance editor

National average salary: $71,677 per yearPrimary duties: An editor reviews documents written and submitted by a writer. They'll make suggestions as to how content can be improved and check for grammatical and spelling errors in the process. They can also make a deliberation as to if the content is approved for distribution, but they may report to a production above them that might make the final decision.Education requirements: A bachelor's degree in English can be helpful for a freelancer, and professional work experience with a publication as a copyeditor can make them more desirable compared to other editors.

7. Freelance writer

National average salary: $74,316 per yearPrimary duties: A writer is accountable for researching subjects they're assigned to and writing a story based on the facts that relate to it. A writer proofreads their article before submission and they can make changes to it once it's reviewed by the editorial staff. They'll have the chance to make edits in their story and resubmit for final approval. A production manager or client may have the writer make more edits depending on the process they laid out.Education requirements: A bachelor's degree in English can be helpful for freelancers. Having professional work experience with a publication as a journalist with published works showcased on a portfolio can help their chances of getting work.

8. Communications specialist

National average salary: $55,600 per yearPrimary duties: A communications specialist maintains relationships with local and national media outlets to ensure that the organization is reviewed favorably by the public. They write press releases and other materials like a fact sheet or content article that demonstrates their efforts of public goodwill and also may work events even in a freelance capacity.Education requirements: A bachelor's degree in communications, public relations or a related field is required, along with a strong portfolio of published works.

9. Web developer

National average salary: $77,791 per yearPrimary duties: A web developer is responsible for the presentation of a client's website and its functionalities. They work with programming languages to specify the layout of the website, ensure that it's friendly to the user and can be navigated effectively.Education requirements: There is no specified educational pathway to work in this position, but earning an associate's degree, completing internships and building up a client base can make you a successful freelancer.

10. Voice-over actor

National average salary: $57,853 per yearPrimary duties: A voice actor reads words off a script with a distinct voice that displays the speaker. It's a competitive field to be a part of, but you can get started by participating in narrating audiobooks, commercials, training videos and video game characters.Education requirements: There is no specified educational pathway to work in this position, but it's important to work as many gigs as you can to get noticed and expand the number of opportunities you receive. Voiceover and acting lessons can be useful to imitate different personalities and improvise during sessions.

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Related careers for creative professionals

Here is a list of related careers that a freelancer could consider:

Mobile application developer

A freelance mobile application developer, referred to as a software engineer, works for a client to build a new app on a smartphone while making it compatible with a computer. They may have to collaborate with their network of freelance designers and scientists to ensure its functionality before the app becomes available on the open market. Also, they have to be mindful of consumer demand, so they can upgrade the applications to enhance their usage over time.

Researcher

A freelance researcher performs information gathering methods and analyzes information on trends related to a certain industry or academic discipline. They'll investigate facts they found, which can be published in an academic journal or a publication or they can consult a client about a decision to make based on the research they found.

Paralegal

A freelance paralegal researches a lawyer preparing for a trial and other legal proceedings. They also produce presentations that they show to their lawyer to aid in their case against their client, along with filing relevant files and confirming travel plans. Paralegals write legal documents and take extensive notes on laws, witnesses, judicial rulings and articles for all clients.

Social media coordinator

A freelance social media coordinator must have full knowledge of social media platforms, so they can speak directly to their target audiences online. Different demographics appear on each channel, so the coordinator needs to curate content and speak to the client's target audience that can lead to an increase in brand loyalty.

Video production manager

A freelancer in video production works on a client's video content that properly demonstrates its brand and communicates its messaging to its target audience. Clients want to ensure that the audio is clearly understood by the viewer and that they're telling a linear story for their clients to interact with them. Call to action includes having potential customers go to their social media pages, websites or buy a product.

Marketing consultant

A marketing consultant works with its clients on projects concerning their email marketing, social media and marketing content. Their expertise is similar to an agency, but they work independently to promote to their client's target audience to maximize the reach of marketing campaigns

SEO specialist

An SEO specialist makes alterations to websites, so they have a higher likelihood of being found on searches from users. The test and analyze the results of those tests to see the amount of organic traffic it has. They'll also make suggestions on improvements to website layout and advertising that may affect the clients' organic traffic.

Recruiter

A recruiter can work on a freelance basis to hire candidates based on a company's qualifications for the position they're hiring for. They review candidates' experience, salary requirements and stay in contact with candidates to see if they fit another role they're working to fill. They usually receive a commission for filling positions.

Event coordinator

An event coordinator collaborates with their clients on event details that best fit their needs. They work on events such as weddings and trade shows and they make the arrangements for food, employees and cleanup to make sure operations run smoothly.

Color consultant

A color consultant works in the interior design industry and they ensure that the color of paint matches the ambiance of the room. This service is helpful for clients looking to attract customers and increase foot traffic coming into their business.

Copywriters