Top-Tier Independent Marketing Professionals
In the ever-evolving world of marketing, freelance roles are gaining popularity, offering competitive earnings and flexibility. According to recent data, strategic roles in marketing have the highest average hourly rate of all marketing families, at $53.06 per hour.
This figure is part of a broader trend, as marketing careers can offer lucrative earnings, with hourly rates ranging from $11.45 to $61.70. The 'gig economy' is seeing an increase in professionals choosing freelance work in marketing, with the highest paying freelance marketing roles typically including SEO Specialists, Paid Ads Managers (Google & Meta), and Email Marketing Strategists. Top freelancers in these roles can earn between $2,000 to $8,000 per client per month.
Skilled freelancers overall earn around $28 per hour on average, which is reportedly about 70% higher than the average hourly wage of U.S. workers. Comparing these freelance rates to the average reported U.S. salary as of August 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the average hourly wage for all occupations was approximately $30 per hour.
With flexibility to manage multiple clients, skilled freelancers in marketing can match or exceed typical salaried marketing incomes, especially when factoring in multiple simultaneous contracts and performance bonuses.
Here's a breakdown of key freelance marketing roles and their approximate compensation context:
| Role | Monthly/Annual Earnings Estimate | Average Hourly Rate Estimate | |---------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------| | SEO Specialist | $3,000 to $8,000 per client per month | Typically above $25-$30+ | | Paid Ads Manager (Google & Meta) | $3,000 to $8,000+ per client per month | High, often performance-based | | Email Marketing Strategist | $2,000 to $6,000+ per client per month | Comparable to $25-$30+ | | General Skilled Freelancer | Around $28/hour (median skilled freelance rate) | $28/hour |
It's important to note that freelance marketing roles vary widely with skill, results, and negotiation. Top freelance marketers can outperform average salaried marketing roles in the U.S., particularly if they cultivate niche expertise and performance-based compensation.
In 2021, a report by Upwork found that 59 million Americans performed freelance work. The rates were collected from upwork.com between the 15th and 21st of September 2022. Social media-based roles have an average hourly salary of $34.07 per hour, while eBay marketers command an average of $11.45 per hour, Etsy marketers command $14.93, and Social Media Marketing Managers have an average hourly salary of $21.59.
YouTube, a platform known for its high-earning potential, has the highest average hourly wage at $61.70, covering a variety of roles. Top creators on YouTube, like Mr. Beast, earned as much as $54 million in 2021. The design and development family has an average hourly rate of $43.82, and Paid Advertising has an average hourly rate of $38.62.
The average hourly salary for all marketing roles is $38.19, more than triple the average reported salary in August 2022 of $10.95. Marketing Strategists command an average of $58.44 per hour freelance, compared to $38.48 in salaried positions.
In summary, top freelance marketing roles in SEO, paid ads, and email strategy are among the highest paying in the gig economy, with average hourly rates around or exceeding $28, generally comparable to or better than the average U.S. marketing salary reported in 2022.
Digital marketing freelancers, such as SEO Specialists and Email Marketing Strategists, often see high earnings, with monthly payments of $2,000 to $8,000 per client. The integration of technology and social media in marketing has created lucrative opportunities, as demonstrated by the $34.07 average hourly salary for social media-based roles.
