Upwork is one of the largest freelancing platforms in the world. It boasts over 128 million registered freelancers. It’s where I started freelancing, and it’s likely a platform you’ve considered.
Yet, despite its size and reach, many freelancers are shocked by the job feed. $5 for a whole set of blogs? There’s no way.
Naturally, many find themselves asking: Why are Upwork rates low for freelancers?
You’re not crazy, the rates have plummeted even more in the last few years. So much that I won’t use the platform anymore.
In this blog, using my experience and research, I’ll help you figure out what to charge and how to avoid underpricing your services (on and off the platform!)
It’s tough out there, but you’ve got this.
What Is a Good Rate To Charge on Upwork?
A good Upwork rate depends on your skills and the type of work you provide.
Below you’ll find the average rates for freelancers. I’m a freelance writer. So, I’ve included an extra per word column in addition to the hourly rates, as this is a typical pricing structure for us!
Based on the experts at Wise, typical freelance rates include:
| Experience Level | Hourly Rate | Per Word Rate |
| Beginners (0–1 year) | $15–$25/hr | $0.05–$0.10 per word |
| Intermediate (2–4 years) | $25–$40/hr | $0.11–$0.25 per word |
| Experienced (5+ years) | $40–$75/hr | $0.26–$0.50+ per word |
Don’t forget that rates for other freelancers vary by niche, but the principle is the same: charge what reflects your skill and the value you deliver.
To be transparent, I still work at $0.10 per word sometimes, despite falling into the experienced category. My niche isn’t always technical, and finding work can be tough.
That’s the reality of freelance life, folks!
Above, you’ll see a genuine conversation I had on Upwork. $0.02 per word equates to $200 for a full eBook. Upwork then takes a 10% fee, giving me $180. Next, I have to take off taxes, and I’m not left with a whole lot.
The average freelancer writes around 500 to 750 words per hour. So, you’re looking at anywhere from 20 to 13 hours to write a 10,000 book. (and burnout!)
That’s $9 to $13 per hour — not including local taxes or research time. It also doesn’t factor the time you’ve spent interviewing or pitching for work.
All in all, it’s not a livable wage.
Understanding Why Upwork Rates Are So Low
There’s only so many ‘$10 to write my book’ posts you can take before you have to log out of Upwork.
In general, Upwork rates are low for several reasons:
- Global competition: Freelancers from countries with lower costs of living can offer the same skills for less. Outsourcing is, and always will be, a huge factor.
- Clients focusing on price: Many clients on Upwork prioritize the lowest bid over quality, especially if they’re not sure what they’re looking for.
- Platform incentives: Upwork takes a percentage of each contract, which can subtly encourage underpricing. Why pay high rates if Upwork slaps a huge extra cost on top?
This environment encourages a “race to the bottom” where you make no money for many freelancers, but you don’t have to play that game.
I’ve been on Upwork for over 5 years — which is nothing compared to some veteran freelancers. However, even in my short experience the rates have gone from liveable to lower-than-minimum wage.
As a writer, I suspect AI has something to do with this.
Luckily, professional clients on LinkedIn still value content writers. So, I’ve jumped ship.
However, if you want to use Upwork, you may still be able to get value if you set your prices and don’t let anyone guilt you into dropping them. And I’m not kidding, some clients have such poor attitudes. Sometimes, they request weekend work or even free samples.
What Is the Lowest Rate for Upwork?
Frustratingly, Upwork allows freelancers to set rates as low as $3/hr, but this is far below what most professionals should accept.
Take my advice, accepting rates near the minimum can hurt your long-term earning potential and make it harder to raise prices later.
Just don’t.
How to Set Fair Rates as a Freelance Writer
Setting rates is tricky, especially if you’re in a very niche industry. However, you can simplify the equation with these four points:
- Experience: More experienced writers can command higher pay.
- Complexity: Research-heavy, scientific, technical, or sales-focused content deserves higher rates. For writers, this is usually for white papers.
- Client relationship: Direct clients often pay more than platform-mediated clients. This is why I’ve moved to LinkedIn.
- Audience: Writing for advanced or specialized audiences allows you to charge more. Some work I do is in a particular niche, and often clients some to me for this expertise.
Start with a baseline and adjust based on complexity and value delivered, not just time spent.
On Reddit, freelancers often suggest that you charge slightly above your desired rate so you can negotiate down. I do this now, but I also understand that sometimes you just want steady work.
Sometimes a client just won’t reply after you charge a higher rate.
The screenshot above happened to me, and even when I offered flexibility, they ghosted me. Oops!
How Do I Decide My Hourly Rate?
Like the rates suggested earlier in the blog, hourly rates should reflect your skills and experience. But don’t forget your living expenses.
One method I see a lot is to calculate your desired annual income, divide by billable hours, and adjust for taxes and fees.
For example: aiming for $60,000/year with 1,200 billable hours gives an hourly rate of $50/hr.
What To Charge as an Upwork Beginner
Joining Upwork as a beginner? Don’t fall into the low Upwork rate trap. The key is to build a portfolio while setting a floor that respects your time and skill.
$15 to $25 per hour is realistic for your first few years. And if you’re a writer, $0.05 to $0.10 will help you get some experience without working for peanuts.
Avoid ultra-low-paying jobs like $5/hr website builds or $10 for 20 blog posts.
The Hidden Costs of Undervaluing Your Work
Undercharging has consequences, for you and for everyone else in the freelance world.
Uh-huh, you taking that cheap blog affects me, and everyone else reading this blog.
Why? Low rates mean you:
- You attract low-quality clients.
- It limits your future rates.
- You reinforce the “cheap labor” problem on the platform.
That’s correct. By accepting extremely low rates, you unintentionally reinforce the ‘cheap labor’ problem on Upwork (and for freelancers in general).
This makes it harder for all freelancers to earn fair wages and for clients to value quality work
Educating Clients (and Yourself) About Real Value
Is the potential client pushing back on the price?
Before you drop your price, consider if you want to explain your value. You don’t have to do this. First off — any good client shouldn’t push back. This is a nasty business tactic.
However, if you want to, you can communicate your worth clearly.
Explain the value of your work: increased traffic, conversions, or help with brand authority. This will differ from niche to niche.
You Deserve More Than Minimum Wage
Reminder! Freelancing should empower you, not exploit you.
If you take one thing away from this blog, it’s that you should avoid competing solely on price. Focus on:
- Niche expertise
- Direct client relationships
- Quality of work
When you charge fairly and communicate your boundaries, clients respect you and your work. On the flip side, if you come across unsure or too agreeable, manipulative clients may use this to get a low rate out of you.
That sounds dramatic, I know. But once I had a client tell me I was making mistakes in my work, and I asked for exact examples, but he couldn’t give any. Of course, the next step was to ask me for a lower rate. Go figure.
Why Is Upwork Charging 15%
Upwork charges a service fee that used to be 15% (recently adjusted to a tiered structure with 10% on most contracts).
This fee covers:
- Payment processing
- Platform maintenance
- Dispute resolution
Can You Avoid Upwork Fees?
No. Completely avoiding fees is against Upwork’s terms, and if you ask to take a client off the platform you will be banned from the site. Don’t do this.
As much as I am not Upwork’s biggest fan, I believe that if you choose to use the site, you should play by the rules. After all, Upwork does help with disputes and connects you with clients, even if they want you to work for basically free.
You can minimize them fees, by:
- Use long-term contracts (Upwork fees decrease as contract earnings grow)
- Factor fees into your rate upfront
In Upwork’s Defence…
In the spirit of honesty, I have not censored my feelings about Upwork and its low rates.
However, I would be a fool if I didn’t show both sides, especially as Upwork is where I built some of my portfolio many moons ago.
So, despite its low-rate reputation, Upwork offers many benefits for freelancers.
It provides access to a global client base, making it easier to find work without cold emailing or networking. The platform handles contracts, invoicing, and payment security, giving beginners peace of mind.
It’s also a great place to build a portfolio and gain experience, which can help you attract higher-paying work in the future.
Try it out for yourself and see what you think!
Final Thoughts
Upwork can be a great starting point for freelancers, but low-paying jobs are an unfair reality.
Hopefully, I’ve given you a real insight into what to expect. I would suggest to go in with a no-s*** attitude. Know your worth and don’t take anything less — even if your worth is in the beginner tier.
Remember: you are not a commodity. You deserve a living wage.
Have more Upwork questions? Please send them over! I’ve been to hell and back on this platform, and would love to share my experience.
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