Exploring Freelance Salaries Across Three Countries: Czech Republic, Mexico, and the United States
People with two to five years of experience in a job can expect to earn 35% more than those just starting their career.
As the freelance economy continues to grow, it's essential to understand the earning potential for freelancers in different countries and industries. This article will explore freelance salaries in three countries: the Czech Republic, Mexico, and the United States.
We'll look closer at the highest and lowest-paid freelance positions in each country and the factors that affect freelance salary levels, such as years of experience and education.
Freelance Salaries in the Czech Republic: IT and Business Top the List, Manual Labor at the Bottom
In the first quarter of 2023, the median wage was 34,741 Kč, higher by 8.9% than for the same period in the previous year. According to the Czech Statistical Office, eighty percent of employees had a salary between 18,601 Kč and 65,512 Kč in the first quarter of 2023. Furthermore, VZP highlighted that for 2023, the average monthly wage for freelancers is 40,324 Kč, a positive increase from 38,911 Kč in 2022.
Glassdoor reports that the estimated salary for a freelancer residing in Prague is approximately 54,194 Kč per month, with the note that “this number represents the median, the midpoint of the ranges from the Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from their users.” Another source noted that the salary ranges from 15,425 Kč to 271,958 Kč monthly, with a median salary for a person in the Czech Republic of 58,566 Kč. This indicates that 50% of the population earns less than 58,566 Kč and 50% more than 58,566 Kč.
The highest-paid freelance positions in the Czech Republic on the Freelancer Platform include IT Analyst (140,000 Kč), DevOps (130,000 Kč), Developer C++ (100,000 Kč), Business Development Manager (100,000 Kč), and Project Manager (90,000 Kč). On the other hand, the lowest freelance positions in the Czech Republic include Seamstress (19,651 Kč), Fabric Cutter (20,411 Kč), Cobbler (20,625 Kč), Porter (21,116 Kč), and Survey Interviewer (21,507 Kč).
There is a significant difference between the highest-paid and lowest-paid freelance positions in the Czech Republic. The highest-paid positions are mainly in IT and business, while the lowest-paid positions are primarily in manual labor.
From Graphic Designers to Top Managers: Exploring the Spectrum of Pay in Mexico's Job Market
According to Talent, the average salary of a freelancer in Mexico is MXN 7,714 per month or MXN 92,563 per year. More experienced freelancers can make up to MXN 292,500 annually, making Mexico an attractive country for remote work. The Plane, a global HR and payroll platform, reported that the median salary for freelancers is MXN 60,550 per month, excluding benefits. Upwork and Freelancer, two popular freelancing platforms, reported median monthly salaries of MXN 21,000 and MXN 34,137 per month.
In 2019, there were approximately 14 million freelancers in Mexico, with the percentage increasing as age advances. The highest concentration of freelancers is located in major cities such as Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, and Tijuana. The most popular positions include graphic designer, programmer, brand development, SEO specialist, video game creator, telework, and salesperson.
The highest-paid jobs in Mexico, based on the provided average gross annual salaries (in MXN), encompass various industries: Top Management (MXN 827,344), Information technology (MXN 537,642), Management positions (MXN 532,940), Banking professionals (MXN 405,048), Law & Legislation (MXN 410,566). Conversely, the lowest-paying jobs in Mexico, according to their average gross annual salaries, cover a diverse array of industries: Textile, Leather, and Apparel Industry roles (MXN 206,351), General Labor positions (MXN 243,308), Service Industries (MXN 245,326), Agriculture, Food Industry roles (MXN 252,398), and Jobs in Tourism, Gastronomy, and the Hotel Business (MXN 252,570).
This data highlights a significant disparity between Mexico's highest-paid and lowest-paid jobs. High-paying positions are predominantly concentrated in IT and business, while the lowest-paid roles are primarily associated with manual labor.
Breaking the Chains: How Freelancers in the United States are Making More Money Than Ever Before
According to Talent, the average annual salary of a freelancer in the USA is $50,565, or $24.31 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $44,283 annually, while the most experienced workers can make up to $99,017 annually. Interestingly, 70.4 million Americans did freelance work in 2022, contributing $1.3 trillion to the United States economy each year. As of 2022, 36% of the U.S. workforce does freelance work.
Upwork’s past industry research has shown that 60% of freelancers who left full-time jobs to become freelancers make more money than they did in their previous jobs. According to 2020 freelancer research data, freelancers in the United States earn an average hourly rate of $20. The 2022 Payoneer global freelancer income report also revealed a significant global hourly freelancing rate increase from $21 in 2020 to $28 in 2022.
Freelancers working in web/mobile development, marketing, legal, accounting, and other skilled services earn an even higher $28/hour average wage. At $28/hour, these freelancers make up more than 70% of all workers in the United States. With U.S. businesses realizing that talented professionals don’t necessarily have to be bound by geographical location or an employment contract, freelance writers have embraced new opportunities. According to ZipRecruiter, they can earn an average salary of $65,676 in 2022.
According to Upwork data, the highest-paid freelance jobs in the United States include Programmers ($120,000/year), CRM Managers ($120,000/year), Data Analysts ($100,000/year), General Developers ($100,000/year), and Online Marketers ($100,000/year). The lowest-paid jobs, on the other hand, are Transcribers ($32,000/year), Bookkeepers ($40,000/year), Editors ($40,000/year), Photographers ($42,000/year), and Writers ($42,000/year).
The top earners are primarily in roles related to technology and marketing, while the lowest earners are commonly associated with creative and administrative tasks.
Factors Affecting Freelance Salary Levels
There are several factors influencing the salary level for freelancers. One of the most significant ones is the number of years of experience. People with two to five years of experience in a job can expect to earn 35% more than those just starting their career. For people with over ten years of experience in the field, the salary increases by 20%, and then another 15% for those with 15 years or more.
Education also plays a vital role in determining the salary level for freelancers. People with a certificate or diploma can expect to earn approximately 17% more than those who only completed their high school education. Those with a bachelor's degree earn about 25% more than those with a diploma level, and those with a master's degree make 30% more than those with only a bachelor's degree.
Skilled Freelancers in the US, Mexico, and Czech Republic Earn Top Salaries in IT and Business
Freelancing is becoming an increasingly popular career choice worldwide, with countries such as the Czech Republic, Mexico, and the United States seeing significant growth in this sector. In the Czech Republic, the highest-paid freelance positions are in IT and business, with an average monthly wage of 54,194 Kč for freelancers residing in Prague. However, the lowest-paid jobs in the Czech Republic are primarily in manual labor.
In Mexico, the highest-paid jobs are also in IT and business, with top management positions earning an average gross annual salary of MXN 827,344. In contrast, the lowest-paying jobs are associated with textile, leather, and apparel industry roles.
In the United States, freelancers working in web/mobile development, marketing, legal, accounting, and other skilled services earn an average hourly wage of $28, more than 70% of all workers in the country. The highest-paid freelance jobs in the US are in technology and marketing, with programmers and CRM managers earning an average annual salary of $120,000. Conversely, the lowest-paid freelance jobs in the US are in transcription, bookkeeping, editing, photography, and writing.
While there are differences in the types of freelancing jobs that are in demand in each country, it is clear that there is significant earning potential for skilled freelancers in all three countries.
It´ surprising that the average salary for freelancer in Mexico can be between MXN 7,714 and MXN 60,550 per month! That´s a huge difference.
This again highlights the importance of gaining experience in the freelance world. It's not just about the skillset but also about understanding the market and building a reputation.