There are a lot of myths out there about How much can you make as a freelance web developer? And while it varies depending on your skills. Experience, and what kind of work you take on. There are definitely some jobs where you can make a very good living as a freelance web developer. So if you’re thinking of making the leap to freelance work. Or simply want to know what’s possible, read on for some insights into what kinds of rates you might be able to expect in this field.
How much can you make as a freelance web developer? That all depends on your client list. Your geographical location, and the going rates for web development services in your area. In general, though, you can expect to make anywhere from $10 to $200 per hour as a freelance web developer. Of course, rates will vary depending on the scope of the project and the level of experience required. But if you have a strong portfolio and are able to market your services effectively. You should be able to command top dollar for your services. So if you’re looking to make a good living as a freelance web developer. There’s no reason why you can’t achieve that goal.
From Where it All Starts?
If you’re new to freelancing or web development. Never ever think you’re going to start making a lot of money in the beginning. As a beginner, you’ll have to learn about Freelancing Platforms and the skills that you need to learn to become a successful freelancer. After that, You’ll start with Freelance Marketplace like Fiverr and Upwork. To get clients you’ll have to struggle a lot.
Here are a couple of pieces of advice that I can give you as a senior freelancer:
- Upskill yourself with time
- Improve your communication skills
- Work only on projects that you can complete confidently
- Don’t overload yourself with a lot of projects
- Stay consistent
How much time does it take to become a developer?
If you’re wondering How much can you make as a freelance web developer. Then you must be thinking of a timeline as well. So, there is no exact time for you to become a successful and expert freelance web developer. It all depends upon how much time you spend on learning.
I started working as a full-time freelance web developer 2 years back and today may have more expertise and experience than someone who has been working for the last 4 or 5 years. This is because I worked 16 hours a day, remained consistent, and kept learning.
Here are some tips for you to learn and start earning as soon as possible:
- Don’t rush for money, focus on learning until you’re capable of earning.
- Schedule your routine and stick to the plan.
- Don’t learn everything, focus on one skill and master it first before moving forward.
Which Development skills should you choose?
If you’re relating development technologies with How much can You make as a Freelance Web Developer? Then you may be wrong. Earning depends on your expertise and experience in any programming language. Even developers of old programming languages like PHP an C++ are making thousands of dollars a month. Moreover, You can check my recent article on some of the best Web development technologies that you can choose as a freelancer
Best Freelancing Marketplaces for Beginners
There are several traditional and non traditional freelance marketplaces such as fiverr, Upwork and Guru. However, The competition has grown a lot in the past couple of years. For beginners, I will highly recommend you find jobs on social media platforms. Finding jobs on social media is relatively easy as compared to freelance marketplaces. As a beginner, don’t think of How much can You make as a Freelance Web Developer. Focus on learning and communication skills. you’ll end up being a successful freelancer.
Read More: Best Freelance Websites for Beginners
How to pitch your first client?
Getting your first client will be very hard for you. To prove yourself, you should be prepared for everything. Here are some tips:
- Communicate effectively.
- Work on practice projects. And show them to your client during communication.
- Create or Get a Portfolio website
- Don’t market yourself. Present a solution to the problem.
Fixed Price vs Hourly?
As a senior, I would highly recommend you go for fixed-price projects. Until you become confident on your skills and timelines. Indeed, hourly projects are more profitable but you’ll end up losing clients. I you complete a project in double or triple what its price should be.
Read more: 5 Best Freelance Programming Languages
How much can You make as a Freelance Web Developer?
Here are some Upwork Screenshots of Top Sellers on Upwork:
Freelancer web developers are charging from $10 an hour to $200 per hour depending upon their experience. When I began to work as a freelancer, I used to charge somewhere around $5 an hour to get as many clients as I can. That low price, good quality work was useful in building client base. Now I’ve several long-term and returning clients. Today my rates are $25 an hour to $35 an hour depending upon the nature of the project.
As a beginner, you can easily make around $1000 a month if you’ve skilled. with the passage of time your earnings will increase to several thousand dollars a month.
Conclusion
Your Earning as a freelance web developer depends totally on your skills and time you’re willing to spend on freelancing. If you work full time as a freelancer, you can easily make 2x or 3x of what people are earning with full time job.