12 popular freelance work from home jobs

In the U.S., the number of freelance workers has been steadily growing, by 7 million people in the past three years alone.

Estimations project that by 2027, more than 50% of the total workforce will be part of the gig economy.

It’s easy to see the appeal.

Choose your own hours. Work from wherever you like. Pick the projects you work on and the people you work with.

To get there, though, you need to have a good understanding of how the freelance world works.

At a minimum, you’ll want to know which freelance work-from-home jobs are available so that you can get started on your job search.

In this article, we’ll describe how you can get started freelancing ASAP and detail 12 of the best freelance jobs that you can complete from the comfort of your living room (or bed).

What is a freelance work-from-home job?

Freelance work is when individuals work for themselves and complete tasks for other businesses or individuals on a contractual basis.

For example, a local business would contract a freelance web designer to create a new website for them. However, the freelance designer doesn’t get employed by that company.

Instead, they’re contracted to perform the agreed work (a new website, for example), and that’s where the working relationship ends.

This is different from a standard employee, who has an ongoing employment contract with a company, whether full-time or part-time.

As a freelancer, you have the freedom to set your own hours, choose which projects you work on, and decide where to work.

This means that, for the most part, freelance jobs allow you to work from home. However, certain professions will need you to leave your house, like working as a plumber or a roofer.

How can I start freelancing at home?

Getting a freelance job can be incredibly rewarding and empowering, especially for those with a desire to be their own boss.

However, freelancing is also a significant risk.

You have no guarantee of ongoing work, you need to work hard at marketing yourself and finding new clients, and you’re unlikely to have a lot of consistency (meaning you’ll have some very busy months and some very quiet months).

The first step, then, is to determine whether you’re comfortable taking on that kind of risk in exchange for the potential benefits of working as a freelancer.

If the answer is yes, then move on to these next five steps.

1. Figure out what you do best

Not every freelance gig is open to everyone. For example, if you’ve never touched a camera, you probably can’t pull off becoming a freelance photographer (at least not without a bit of practice).

After reading through the different kinds of jobs in this article, make a list of ones you think you’d be a good fit for. Then, go through and read some of the remote job listings and see if you meet the criteria discussed in the job descriptions.

2. Create a brand/niche for yourself

As a freelancer, you’re essentially a small business.

So, you need to approach things like a business owner and develop something unique about your offering.

If you’re going to become a video editor, for example, you might specialize in editing podcast episodes for YouTube.

3. Identify potential clients

One of the most difficult parts of becoming a freelancer is getting off the ground with your first client.

Invest several hours in internet research, and put together a list of potential clients.

You can find possible clients by:

• Googling the type of company you’re looking to work with

• Searching freelance job boards

• Networking on social media sites like LinkedIn

4. Pitch your services

Now it’s time to get pitching!

Whether you’re making cold calls, sending emails, or writing messages on social platforms, be clear about what you’re offering and the outcomes you can achieve for the client.

Make sure you include a call-to-action (such as, “I’d love to schedule a meeting to discuss how we might be able to work together”).

5. Capture testimonials

After every completed project, ask the client if they’d be willing to give you a testimonial.

You can then use these as a form of social proof on your website, portfolio, or freelance social media pages, which will help you to land more future freelance remote work.

12 of the most popular freelance work from home jobs

Here are 12 of the most popular freelance jobs you can do from anywhere:

1. Social media marketer

Social media marketers can perform a variety of duties, including:

• Creating content

• Posting on social media channels

• Running ad campaigns

• Engaging in relevant communities

• Building marketing strategies

• Reporting on performance

Freelancers who do well in this role can move up into more senior positions such as social media manager.

You don’t necessarily need a specific qualification for this gig, but a short course in social media marketing can help get you to a point where you’re competent enough to take on clients.

Check out our job board for freelance social media marketer roles.

2. Copywriter/content writer

As a freelance writer, you’ll be responsible for creating written content for a variety of purposes, including:

• Blogs

• Websites

• Reviews

• Social media

• Email

• News publications

• Whitepapers and guides

Most writers specialize in just one or two of the above styles, as the skill sets involved to become a top-level writer are pretty different.

However, it can be helpful to try out a writing gig on each kind of project when you’re starting out, so you can get a feel for what you like and what you’re good at.

Most companies hiring freelance writers don’t require any specific education or experience, but you’ll generally need to show some previous examples.

So, if you’re just getting started, consider publishing some content on Medium or your own blog to use a portfolio before applying for your first freelance writing job.

Browse for freelance writing jobs here.

3. Developer

Freelance developers build software programs, write code, and fix bugs on behalf of tech companies.

Some developers work for agencies (such as website or software development companies), whereas others work directly for companies to develop systems.

This is a very lucrative field, with the average freelance developer earning $75,000 a year.

Look for opportunities to work as a freelance developer here.

4. Data entry/admin

A popular online job for freelancers is that of data entry or administrative assistance.

In a data entry job, you’re responsible for keeping databases up to date, following data management protocols, cleansing and reorganizing poorly managed data, and entering information such as invoice details.

Administrative assistant roles encompass some of those but can include a broader workload, including:

• Answering phones and email

• Scheduling meetings and arranging travel

• Invoicing and accounts payable

This is an entry-level position, meaning you can get employment as a data entry assistant without previous experience or education.

However, you’ll need to have some experience doing the job before becoming a freelancer.

Browse for freelance data entry jobs here.

5. Web designer

As a freelance website designer, you’ll help businesses create new website presences.

These may be new companies looking to launch their first site or existing companies who wish to improve their online presence.

You’ll need some skills in graphic design (education in this area helps but is not essential), as well as a thorough understanding of how to use at least one web design platform, such as WordPress or Squarespace.

Check out our job board for current freelance web design positions.

6. Tutor

When you work as an online tutor, you’ll be helping children and adults with a specific area of their education (such as math, English, or history).

In most cases, these students are working toward a specific qualification or exam, so you’ll need to become familiar with the curriculum.

A qualification in education would be helpful here (though not always required). Most tutoring jobs would ask for significant experience or relevant qualification in the field you’re looking to teach.

Look for freelance tutoring jobs here.

7. Photographer

Freelance photographers are contracted to photograph events (such as weddings and music events), portraits (such as family photos), food (such as for cookbooks), and a variety of other things based on client requests.

Many freelance photographers also take pictures of their choosing and sell those photos to individuals or stock image sites.

It’s not necessary to have a specific qualification to become a freelance photographer, but you’ll need to be competent using your equipment!

The average freelance photographer salary is just over $42,000, but there is potential to earn much more.

Browse for freelance photography gigs here.

8. Editor

Editors work for online publications or digital marketing agencies to ensure that their written content meets the expected standards.

When you have a freelancing job as an editor, you’ll be proofreading others’ writing, making edits, giving feedback, and suggesting changes.

It’s quite common for editors to have experience working freelance writing jobs before making the jump into editing.

The average editor earns around $30 an hour, so this can be a great earning opportunity.

Browse for freelance editing jobs here.

9. Translator

Translators help to translate documents and conversations from one language to another.

This is common in legal industries, marketing for international companies, and healthcare providers.

Some companies will require a degree in the language you’re translating to, but in general, you’ll need to have a native level in both languages to work as a freelance translator.

Check out our job board for freelance translation work.

10. Transcription

Transcribers are responsible for converting audio or video content into written text.

For example, you might get a transcription job working for a legal firm, where you are given an audio recording and are asked to turn that conversation into a written document.

Transcribers will need accurate listening skills, and a fast typing speed will help you keep up with the pace of conversations.

Check out our remote job postings for transcription work here.

11. Video editor

Freelance video editors take raw video and cut and edit it to a specific length.

For example, a video editor might take a bunch of raw footage for a TV show, and with guidance from the director, pick and choose the right scenes, takes, and angles to produce the final video you see on Netflix.

Other applications for freelance video editing work include:

• Podcasts

• YouTube channels

• Movies

• Advertisements

Top earners in this industry make over $120,000 a year, with the average freelance video editor earning $82,983 annually.

Browse for freelance video editing jobs here.

12. SEO specialist

An SEO (search engine optimization) specialist is a specific type of digital marketer who helps companies improve their visibility in search engines.

While no specific education is required to become a freelance SEO specialist, this is a highly technical skill, so you’ll need to have significant experience in the field before freelancing.

SEO specialists use specialized software tools to monitor rankings, perform research, and determine opportunities for improvements. They’re also responsible for executing changes (such as publishing new content) to make those improvements.

Check out our job board for remote opportunities as an SEO specialist.

Ready to become a freelancer?

Pursuing a career as a freelancer can be an incredible journey.

You’ll have tough times with very little work, and you’ll have super busy months where the work is pouring in.

If you’re able to manage varied workloads, communicate effectively with clients, and market yourself in a way that ensures you’ll continue to gain new clients, then you’ll have a lot of success as a freelancer.

Sound like you?

Browse the Jobcase job search for current freelance job opportunities.