Top 10 U.S. Cities Where Freelancers Make the Most Money

The 10 cities where freelancers earn the most

Freelancing transforms a typical nine-to-five into a situation where individuals can set their own schedules, granting them the freedom to be their own employers—an employment arrangement that has become increasingly attractive, and profitable, for Americans over the past year.

According to the latest economic analysis by gig platform Fiverr, which examined the leading 30 markets for freelancers, the workforce expanded by 2.4% in 2023 compared to the previous year, while their earnings increased by 6%.

These thriving job markets, now encompassing over 4 million freelancers, have been beneficial for workers, as per Fiverr’s estimates. In 2023, approximately 2 out of 5 (43%) freelance workers reported that they were able to boost their income, as highlighted in the report.

Younger Gen Z freelancers experienced the highest earnings growth among all age groups, with nearly 2 out of 3 (65%) indicating an increase in revenue. This may be attributed to their early career stage, allowing more room for rate increases. Nevertheless, other research indicates that Gen Z workers, born between 1997 and 2012, are especially drawn to gig employment. A survey conducted by Upwork earlier this year revealed that half of Gen Z workers work full-time hours on freelance assignments.

Ouro evaluated the recent economic influence study from Fiverr to assemble this compilation of 10 cities where freelancers report the highest average annual earnings. The figures are estimates derived from nonemployer establishment statistics from the Census for 2013-2020. The analysis employs gross domestic product and labor market growth to project the freelance professional sector for 2023. It includes all establishments without employees that reported at least $1,000 in income. This spans independent professionals engaged in both full- and part-time work.

In every industry Fiverr investigated, the income earned by the freelance workforce was consistently highest in 2023 in several of the nation’s major metropolitan areas, including Los Angeles and New York. Nevertheless, freelancers in creative sectors also achieved high earnings in Nashville, Tennessee, and Miami for cities of comparable size. In technical fields, freelancers in the Miami and Washington D.C. regions reported some of the highest incomes. In professional domains, Miami and Washington D.C., along with Houston and Dallas, ranked high for earnings.

While Sunbelt metro areas do not demonstrate the top earning trends for these professionals, earnings growth has been accelerating the fastest in those locations over the last five years, according to the analysis. These areas encompass Jacksonville, Florida; Miami; Orlando, Florida; Phoenix; and Tampa, Florida.