Hire top freelancers in the United States

Post a job for free in minutes and connect with vetted professionals ready to work.

Post a job Find work

Why businesses in the United States choose Upwork

Access 18 million freelancers across 150+ categories

Hire across time zones and languages

Connect with talent that fits your schedule and communication needs.

Pay in your local currency

Send and receive payments in the currency you prefer.

Built-in legal & tax compliance

Hire confidently with support for contracts and documentation.

Explore top talent across every category

Development & IT

Design & Creative

AI Services

Sales & Marketing

Writing & Translation

Admin & Support

Finance & Accounting

Legal

HR & Training

Engineering & Architecture

Algorithm Developers Artificial Intelligence Engineers Artificial Neural Networks Experts Cluster Computing Developers Computer Vision Engineers Data Scientists Deep Learning Experts Jupyter Specialists Machine Learning Engineers NLP Engineers OpenCV Developers Pandas Developers PyTorch Freelancers Reinforcement Learning Freelancers Sentiment Analysis Specialists TensorFlow Developers

Posting jobs is always free
Generate a job post with AI or create your own and filter talent matches.
Create a job
Get proposals and hire
Screen, interview, or book a consult with an expert before hiring.
Explore experts
Pay when work is done
Release payments after approving work, by milestone or upon project completion.
View pricing

Don't just take our word for it

“Our very specific requirements can be a challenge—With Upwork, we’re able to access a bigger community to ensure the success of our projects.”
Katja Krohn
Summa Linguae
“Upwork provides an umbrella-level of security. I can see a talent’s work history and ratings. I can hold payments in escrow. I can communicate through Upwork Messages instead of working through my email address.”
Kim Darling
Emerald Tiger
“Upwork is the best platform to hire skilled professionals when we're not looking for a full-time employee. All the companies in our portfolio use Upwork to find talent across a wide range of fields.”
David Merry
Kinetic Investments

United States outsourcing guide

The United States offers clients access to a large freelance workforce with experience across technology, creative services, marketing, finance, and consulting. Upwork’s Freelance Forward 2023 found that 64 million Americans performed freelance work in the past year, and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis identifies major services-producing industries that align with many common freelance hiring needs.

United States’ freelance market at a glance

The freelance market in the United States is known for its scale, professional maturity, and broad coverage across knowledge-based services. Upwork’s Freelance Forward 2023 found that 64 million Americans performed freelance work in the past year, while MBO Partners reported 27.7 million full-time independent workers in 2024, underscoring the depth of freelance talent in the country.

Skills and specialties commonly hired from freelancers in the United States include:

Software development and engineering
Content writing and copywriting
Graphic design and creative services
Digital marketing
Finance and accounting
Administrative and executive support
Business consulting
Legal and compliance support

Many freelancers in the United States have experience supporting startups, mid-market companies, and large enterprises, which can be helpful for projects that require strong communication and familiarity with U.S. business practices.

Costs and hourly rates of freelancers in United States

Freelancer pricing in the United States often sits toward the higher end of global marketplace ranges, especially for experienced professionals in software, consulting, and specialized business services. Upwork’s hourly rates guide shows examples such as software developers at about $15 to $100+ per hour, graphic designers at $15 to $35, digital marketers at $15 to $45, writers at $15 to $40, and project managers at $19 to $45. Highly specialized consultants and AI-focused experts may charge more, especially for strategy-heavy or niche work.

Rates can also vary by specialty, experience, turnaround expectations, and local market conditions within the country. For a detailed breakdown by skill category, see Upwork's hourly rates guide.

This is intended for educational purposes and should not be viewed as legal or tax advice. Please consult a professional to find the solution that best fits your situation.

Frequently asked questions

What time zone do United States freelancers operate in?

Freelancers in the United States work across multiple time zones. The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s time zone map covers the main U.S. business-hour zones, including Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific time, with additional U.S. time zones also in use for Alaska, Hawaii, and certain territories. This spread can give clients flexibility when they need real-time collaboration during U.S. business hours.

How do I pay freelancers in the United States?

On Upwork, clients typically pay by adding a billing method such as a credit card, PayPal, Venmo, or, for qualifying U.S. clients, a bank account (ACH). Hourly contracts are billed weekly, while fixed-price contracts are funded upfront through project funds and released after work is approved. Freelancers then withdraw available earnings using their own withdrawal methods, which may include ACH or PayPal depending on availability.

What industries is the United States known for?

The United States is known for large and mature industries across technology, finance and insurance, health care, media and entertainment, and professional services. The Bureau of Economic Analysis groups these among the country’s major services-producing industries, which helps explain why many clients look to freelancers in the United States for specialized knowledge work and business support.

What tax considerations apply when hiring from the United States?

Tax considerations when hiring freelancers in the United States depend in part on where the client is based and how the engagement is structured. The Internal Revenue Service explains that businesses use Form 1099-NEC to report nonemployee compensation when reporting requirements apply, and U.S. clients may also need a W-9 from the freelancer. Clients outside the United States may have different obligations, so it is best to confirm the rules that apply in your jurisdiction.