October 2, 2025
If you’re here, you’ve probably heard the term “freelance,” thought about “what is freelance” and maybe you’re aware of the highs and lows of the freelance work world.
However, you may not know all the different terms organizations use to refer to types of freelance jobs.
First things first. What is a freelance job? And what are the types of freelance jobs available?
Freelance jobs are normally short-term projects that companies need to accomplish or a position a company wants to fill but does not want to hire a permanent, full-time employee to do the job. Instead, a company hires a freelancer with the right skills and talents to complete the project or fill the position.
The company gets what they need without a long-term commitment, and the freelancer has more flexibility with hours, and the ability to work with more than one company. Here are important things you need to know about the various types of freelance jobs available, how they are classified by the U.S. government, and what it means to work one of these.
When making the leap into freelance work, it’s important to know the terms various businesses and freelance hiring managers may use when referring to freelance workers. Most of the terms are interchangeable, but some have distinct differences that it’s important to understand before taking different types of freelance jobs. Here are some common freelance jobs terms you might come across in the U.S.:
Contract work or a contract job is usually when a temp agency places a worker at a company for short periods of time. The time commitment for a specific position can often be for just one day, or it can extend to much longer periods of time.
Normally, you’ll be paid by the temp agency, and must report your worked hours to the temp agency in order to receive a “paycheck”.
Independent contractors, or ICs, are also referred to as a 1099 worker. ICs are a type of freelance jobs where you sign a contract directly with a company, which then pays the IC directly instead of a third-party agency. It’s also called a 1099 worker because you’ll receive a 1099 form at the beginning of the following year around tax time to submit when you complete your taxes. Discover the best tax tips for freelance writers.
When a company struggles with a specific problem, they often seek out help from a consultant in a contract role. Once the issue is handled, and the company can move forward with their in-house team, the contract consultant can move to their next contract with a new company. This is a type of freelance job that can be used interchangeably with “independent contractor” or “1099 worker” by the client but may have various distinctions. Always ask for clarity.
Many freelance and independent contractor positions start out on a contract basis when they secure a type of freelance job, but have an option for it to turn into a regular employee position if both parties find the relationship beneficial. These positions are not a guarantee for a full-time direct hire, but many people hoping to secure a full-time position often look for contract-to-hire freelance jobs to get a foot in the door at a company they wish to join as a permanent employee.
Now that we’re familiar with the terms businesses use for the freelance jobs available to workers, let’s see what types of freelance jobs are offered in various fields., especially if you’re looking into types of freelance jobs for beginners
The truth is, that there are freelance jobs in almost every field of work in existence. Some industries hire freelance workers for in-person positions, and others prefer to hire freelance workers for remote positions.
Fields known for hiring freelance contract workers in types of freelance jobs instead of direct hires are:
Now that you have a better understanding of the terms a freelance job hiring manager or magazine editor might use when searching for freelance help, discover the plethora of freelance jobs to choose from. Whether you want to work in an office, or you wish to work from home, there’s a variety of options for contract work.
Discover the answer to “is freelancing for you” by doing some inner assessments. Working various types of freelance jobs can provide a great amount of time freedom and allow you to be your own boss. You can control your workload, earn as much or as little as you want, and work for multiple companies, garnering multiple streams of income.
However, there are also things you must do for yourself, like making sure you pay the right amount of income taxes along with paying for your own medical insurance. It’s also important to note if you aren’t using a “placement” service, and you aren’t good at networking, or marketing yourself, it can be difficult to find work opportunities on your own.
What it all boils down to is that only you know if working a freelance job is right for you.
With so many different industries that have not only physical locations but also an online presence, it’s one of the best times to work a freelance job. Depending on where you are in life, a freelance job can provide so many different benefits that fit into your lifestyle and career goals.
(This is a guest post from writer Staci Gerardi. New York native Staci is a freelance Integrated Marketing Professional, a digital editor and content creator for NovemberSunflower.com, and spends her offline hours as an active mother to two teenagers and two fur babies.)
Tags: beginner, clients, freelance advice, freelance writing tips
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