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Independent Contractor Jobs

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The most popular jobs for freelancers

The way we work has completely changed over the past few years. There’s been a shift as more individuals choose to work as freelancers or independent contractors, allowing them to follow their passions and set their own schedules. The possibilities for these kinds of jobs, also called 1099 independent contractor jobs because of the main tax form used, are endless. Taxes for independent contractors include estimated taxes and SE taxes. Independent contractor examples include jobs like photographer, freelance writer, personal trainer or massage therapist. It’s never too early or too late to start a new career as an independent contractor, whether you’re ready to take the leap and work full-time or want to begin with a part-time gig. These top 1099 jobs are not listed in any particular order, and each brings its own unique value. It's also important to note that, like any job, the earning potential for independent contract jobs varies depending on your skill level and experience, but we’ve included ballpark figures to help provide some insight. Find out if one of the following best independent contractor jobs is right for you. Key takeaways:

Working as an independent contractor provides opportunities to explore your passions
There are many popular freelance jobs to choose from to suit your skill set
The pay range depends on demand, experience and the client

Table of contents

Photographer...Read more

Social media influencer...Read more

Freelance writer...Read more

Artist...Read more

Real estate agent...Read more

Uber driver...Read more

Airbnb host...Read more

Personal trainer...Read more

Massage therapist...Read more

Consultant...Read more

Designer...Read more

Event planner...Read more

Journalist...Read more

Delivery driver...Read more

Model...Read more

Developer...Read more

Construction contractor...Read more

Online seller...Read more

Online teacher...Read more

Home services...Read more

Photographer

Do you enjoy taking photos? Are you one of those people who carries their SLR camera everywhere they go? A career in photography might be a fit for you. As a freelance photographer, you’ll provide services to your clients on a contract basis or for private sessions. You can shoot weddings, models, graduations, food, sports, families and other special events. The average freelance photographer makes about $25 per hour, but of course, the actual rate depends on the event and how much the client is willing to pay for your services. You could make $500 or more per wedding as a freelance wedding photographer, plus tips. Newborn photography sessions range anywhere from $400-$800.

Freelance writer

As a freelance writer, the possibilities are endless, as you can work in journalism, social media, public relations and custom content, to name a few. Rates are based on the length, word count, technical research or project requirements. Usually, you send an invoice to your client to receive compensation for your work. The average hourly rate is $24, and you can make anywhere from $25,000 to $115,000 a year, depending on your experience level and type of work.

Artist

If you have a talent for painting, drawing, sketching or even doing pottery, you could monetize your skills by working as a freelance artist. Millions of freelance artists are making a living through their work all thanks to the internet. More and more people also look for tutorial videos to watch instead of reading about how to make this kind of artistic work. The reality is that an artist’s salary fluctuates because everything boils down to one question, how much is it worth? For example, an expert comic book artist might make around $800 per comic, and a pottery maker might earn $20 to $50 an hour.

Real estate agent

There’s nothing like setting your hours and being your own boss. Most real estate agents are independent contractors. Becoming a real estate agent is a daily quick process compared to other professions where you might need years of experience or advanced degrees. Plus, there’s a high earning potential. Things like experience, industry niche and hours logged are all a factor in how much you could potentially earn, but the average real estate agent makes $7,700 per month. If you're curious how much your taxes will be as a real estate agent, try out a self-employment tax estimator.

Uber driver

Rideshare options are one of the most popular methods of transportation. If you enjoy driving or want to earn extra income, you could drive for Uber. Uber drivers usually make $24.77 per hour before commission fees, but it all depends on a few factors like how often you drive, the area you work in and the times of day that you drive.

Airbnb host

Opening up your house to guests might not be for everyone, but as an Airbnb host, you have the opportunity to meet people from all over the world. It’s also a great way to get experience managing a business since you need to manage bookings, handle guest requests and complaints, monitor reviews and market your place. The average Airbnb host makes $41,026 a year, which all depends on the location, house size and amenities.

Personal trainer

If you have a passion for fitness and want to share it with others, working as a personal trainer is the perfect setup. You can help people reach their fitness and health goals and continue learning techniques and forms to become fitness experts. Most personal trainers charge between $60 to $75 per session which can be one, two or three hours depending on the client.

Massage therapist

A passion for health and wellness is the perfect combination for a massage therapist. There’s a high demand for massage therapists, and the training is fast and affordable. It can be a low-stress career choice and offers much flexibility. As a massage therapist, the average hourly rate is $60 plus tips, with the potential to earn up to $59,000, depending on your skill level.

Consultant

A freelance consultant works with a business on a contractual basis. The field you work in can be anything, including project management, finance, marketing or accounting. It just depends on your interests.

You might be compensated hourly, per case or per day. For example, if you work as a marketing consultant, your earnings can range anywhere from $25 to $300 an hour with the average being $100.

Designer

Working as a designer is a good choice if you’re creative and tech-savvy. Designers need to incorporate text and graphics into their designs while considering the brand image and nees of the client. With each client, you have opportunities to showcase your creativity and can really stand out with your style. An experienced designer can charge between $65 to $150 per hour. If you’re just starting your rates will fall into the range of $25 to $50 an hour.

Event planner

As an event planner, your creativity and organizational skills have a chance to shine. There’s a lot of variety in the work, and you have the opportunity to travel and meet new people. The average hourly rate for an event planner is $24, depending on the type of event and clien. If you’re planning an event for the White House or a celebrity, your compensation would be much higher.

Journalist

If you enjoy writing and keeping up with current events, media or news, a freelance profession in journalism could be a great fit for you. As a freelance journalist, you have the freedom to work on a variety of stories simultaneously and can set your own rates. The average pay range per hour for a journalist is between $21 and $38 an hour, depending on the article’s type, length and word count.

Delivery driver

If you have a car, working as a delivery driver is a great way to earn extra cash or become a full-time gig. You have the flexibility to choose when and where you want to drive. There are several different platforms you can choose from depending on which option best suits you.

The average delivery driver makes $19 an hour, plus an extra $50 in tips. You have the potential to earn more depending on the frequency and times you drive.

Quick tip

Don’t forget to write off any deductions from your delivery driving gig, such as uniforms and courier bags.

Model

If you were blessed with the gift of good looks, modeling might be in the cards for you. As a model, you have the opportunity to travel, get pampered, have flexible hours and have sneak peeks into upcoming fashion trends. You could make anywhere $125–$175 an hour. If you model for a pharmaceutical or healthcare shoot, you could make $2,500–$20,000 per session.

Developer

Writing code might be one of your favorite activities. As a developer, in addition to writing code, you can also develop websites. This job also involves being a good salesperson and a project manager. The average hourly rate for a developer is $60, but you may choose to charge your client on a project basis instead of an hourly rate.

Construction contractor

If you like building with your hands, getting dirty and spending time outside, you might be best suited as a construction contractor. You can supervise and inspect job sites and manage a team. Construction contractors average about $31 an hour but can make upwards of $59 an hour.

Online seller

One of the most popular contractor jobs is working as an online seller. If you like to collect or refurbish items, you might have a lot of stuff lying around that you want to sell. Or maybe you have a brand or a product that you want to promote and market. If any of these is the case, online selling could be a great gig for you. The range is endless when it comes to profits as an online seller because anything can be sold online, for any price, quantity and profit, and every online platform charges a different commission.

Online teacher

There’s nothing like teaching from the comfort of your own home. Thanks to technology, online teachers don’t even need to be in a classroom to teach. Every subject requires teachers to teach the material, whether it's school-related subjects, business or university courses or even test prep. You can make anywhere from $15 to $40 an hour, depending on your qualification level. For example, if you’re a CFA tutor, you’re starting rate should be $28.

Home services

Providing home services is a great opportunity to put your cleaning and organizational skills into practice or have the option to work outside. Whether you help with landscaping, lawn services, painting the ceiling or cleaning homes or offices, these skills are always in demand. The average landscaper makes around $46 per hour, and the average house cleaner can make around $15 to $20 an hour.

Modified Adjusted Gross Income

Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) can be found by adding back certain deductions to AGI. Use MAGI to check your eligibility for tax credits.