March 17, 2025
Ever wonder what you could earn on a freelance writer salary? You might also ask, “How much can freelance writers make?” and “Do freelancers earn a good salary?”
In one of the private Facebook groups I’m part of, a freelance writer posed a great question about calculating their “actual” annual salary. This involves considering earnings, health insurance costs, self-employment taxes, and deductibles, as well as those hours you don’t get paid for—like writing blog posts, marketing, finding new clients, and bookkeeping.
This question is important, and I’d like to share my experiences to help others set better freelance goals to make more money writing.
Whether you’re freelancing as a side hustle or as a full-time career, it’s crucial to set annual goals and break them down into monthly, weekly, and daily targets. This way, you have an “average target rate” to aim for.
Revisiting your freelance goals throughout the year is essential to gauge your progress and see if adjustments are needed.
You can evaluate if you need to make modifications to that initial number, or if you need to kick your butt into high gear for the rest of the year.
Ready to elevate your freelance writing career? Check out my e-Book 100+ Tips for Beginner Freelance Writers, to learn the skills necessary for a thriving freelance business.
Here are some tips to consider when setting your freelance writer salary, whether that’s per hour, freelance daily rate, or weekly rate, and how to earn a six-figure freelance salary.
A few years ago, I aimed for an average of $250 a day while living in my Manhattan apartment. This was likely because my part-time, in-house gig offered a day rate of $250, which I wanted to match while freelance writing the other three days.
Calculating my monthly expenses—rent, health insurance, utilities, groceries, and other bills—totaled around $2,800/month. While $250 was gross pay, I factored it down to about $175 after taxes. Remember, your income shouldn’t be your only measure of freelance success; look for other metrics to gauge your growth as a writer.
Here are other ways to measure your success as a freelancer.
As a full-time freelancer aiming for a six-figure income, I’ve adjusted my daily goals to think of my income in terms of a monthly average.
Experienced freelancers often work on larger projects with staggered payments. For instance, you might receive $5,000 one week and not see another payment for weeks.
If my goal is to earn $100,000 gross by the end of the year, I need to earn about $1,923.07/week (if I don’t take any weeks off). If I want to take two weeks off, that’s $2,000 a week gross I need to be billing clients.
Identifying a financial number you aim to earn monthly or quarterly is crucial. This awareness helps you know when to actively seek new clients. When all my freelance assignments are paid, and business slows, I know it’s time to start pitching editors with new ideas.
(I can show you how to turn your article ideas into paid assignments in my freelance writing e-course. Enroll today!) This is vital for understanding how much freelance writers can earn per hour and achieving a good freelance writer salary.
If you want to make six figures as a freelance writer, you’ll need to aim for a higher hourly rate and higher-paying assignments or commit to working more hours to hit your $100,000 goal. In 2020, I scaled my freelance business to earn a little over half of a six-figure salary by working just 10 hours a week.
Finding higher-paying clients pays off. If you’re writing 500-word articles for $50 each, that’s manageable as a beginner. However, to hit that $2,000 a week, you’d need to write 40 articles—a daunting task that isn’t sustainable for your health or sanity!
If you’re ready to graduate to better-paying clients, get details about my one-on-one freelance coaching services.
Here’s how many hours freelancers work each week.
Even experienced freelancers dislike thinking about paying quarterly taxes, but once you’re freelancing full-time, it’s a necessary consideration. Small business owners know it feels more painful to pay the government from funds already in your account than when taxes are deducted automatically.
In recent years, I’ve paid between $2,500 to $3,500 quarterly in estimated taxes. That’s nearly a week and a half of income each quarter that goes into my “taxes” bank account. To earn a six-figure income, freelancers need to be proactive in marketing themselves—here’s why.
The debate over taking lower-paying assignments is common. It often depends on your current situation—like needing money due to lost high-paying clients during COVID-19.
Consider how much time you have and the rate being offered. Print magazines may pay more, but the writing and editing process can take a long time, with delayed payments until the issue hits newsstands.
You might not see a $3,000 check for an assignment turned in last February until August.
I believe beginner and intermediate freelancers shouldn’t wait solely for high-paying projects unless they have a robust savings net. Having a few steady clients with monthly projects can keep you afloat during slow periods and is a solid strategy for a freelance writer salary.
I occasionally take on lower-paying assignments if they involve interesting topics or opportunities to connect with authors I admire. It’s a chance to gain valuable clips for my portfolio.
Here’s how long it takes to write a 500-word article.
Common Questions About Making Money as a Writer
How can I start making money as a freelance writer?
What are the best-paying writing niches?
How do I negotiate my rates?
Can I make a full-time income from freelance writing?
What’s your freelance daily rate goal? Or do you have a weekly or monthly freelance quota you try to hit?
If you enjoyed this post, share it on social media or email it to a friend!
Tags: freelance rates, freelance writing tips, making six figures freelancing, online course, productivity, six figure freelancing, six figure income, time management, work at home, work from home, writing rates
Leave a Reply