Freelance Income Satisfaction (2025 Research)

With the notable growth of freelance work in recent years, the perception of fairness and satisfaction with income has gained increasing importance, though it has often been overlooked in international surveys and research. To address this issue, in our annual freelance research, we asked our 3,400+ participants: “Are you satisfied with your income?”

In this article, we share the results from 2025, where 66% of freelancers reported being satisfied. We will also go through the evolution of income satisfaction from 2017 to the present day.

• What is Freelance Income Satisfaction?
• Difference Between Job Satisfaction and Income Satisfaction
• 7 Factors That Influence Freelance Income Satisfaction
• Freelance Income Satisfaction 2025
• Evolution of Income Satisfaction 2017-2025
• How to Improve Your Freelance Income

What is Freelance Income Satisfaction?

Income satisfaction refers to how a worker values their income in relation to their expectations and the effort invested. In freelancing, it is crucial because it impacts well-being, motivation, and talent retention. Understanding it allows us to determine whether freelancers feel fairly compensated, which influences their productivity and decision to stay in the independent market.

Difference Between Job Satisfaction and Income Satisfaction

Job satisfaction refers to how a worker values their job overall, taking into account factors such as the work environment, tasks, and work-life balance. Income satisfaction is a part of job satisfaction, focusing on the perception of fairness in income. Both are interconnected: a fair income can enhance job satisfaction, but it doesn’t always guarantee that the worker is fully satisfied with other aspects of their job. However, high levels of job satisfaction can compensate for lower income satisfaction, and vice versa.

7 Factors That Influence Freelance Income Satisfaction

• Perception of Fairness: How a freelancer values their pay in relation to the effort and work put in. If they feel fairly compensated, their satisfaction increases.
• Experience and Skills: Freelancers with more experience and specialized skills often negotiate better rates, which boosts their satisfaction.
• Industry Demand: If a freelancer’s field is in high demand, they are more likely to earn better income, improving their income satisfaction.
• Job Stability: Having a steady stream of projects positively impacts satisfaction by reducing financial uncertainty.
• Comparison to Traditional Jobs: If freelance income exceeds or matches that of a traditional job, satisfaction tends to be higher.
• Cost of Living: Freelancers in areas with a high cost of living need a higher income to feel satisfied with their earnings.
• Personal Expectations: Individual goals and expectations regarding income also play a role; the more aligned the income is with expectations, the greater the satisfaction.

Freelance Income Satisfaction 2025

In our 2025 survey of 3,571 freelancers, 66% reported being satisfied with their income, while 34% expressed dissatisfaction. This indicates a generally positive outlook, though a significant portion of freelancers still feel they are not adequately compensated.

When analyzing income satisfaction by industry, notable variations are observed:

• SAP: 82% Satisfaction
• IT Infrastructure: 69% Satisfaction
• Development and Technology: 67% Satisfaction
• Consulting and Management: 67% Satisfaction
• Engineering: 65% Satisfaction
• Marketing: 48% Satisfaction
• Design and Content: 37% Satisfaction

The analysis reveals that freelancers in SAP, IT Infrastructure, Development and Technology, and Consulting and Management are generally satisfied with their income, with satisfaction rates exceeding 67%.

In contrast, Marketing, Design and Content have much lower satisfaction levels, at 48% and 37% respectively. This suggests that these sectors face significant compensation challenges, indicating a need to adjust salary expectations and improve pay structures in these areas to boost satisfaction

Evolution of Income Satisfaction 2017-2025

We have been asking this question in our freelance research since 2017. Here is a summary of previous years’ data.

• 2017: 67% income satisfaction
• 2019: 68% income satisfaction
• 2020: 71% income satisfaction
• 2021: 66% income satisfaction
• 2022: 66% income satisfaction
• 2023: 62% income satisfaction
• 2024: 64% income satisfaction
• 2025: 66% income satisfaction

The evolution of income satisfaction from 2017 to 2025 shows a slight fluctuation in freelancers’ perceptions. After a steady increase from 67% in 2017 to 71% in 2020, satisfaction fell to 62% in 2023. However, there was a partial recovery in 2024 and 2025, with respectively 64% & 66% satisfaction. These data indicate a general trend of fluctuation in satisfaction, with a recent rebound suggesting a possible stabilization in salary expectations and adjustments in the freelance market conditions.

How to Improve Your Freelance Income

If you’re unhappy with your income as a freelancer, there are several strategies you should consider to address the issue:

• Let Go of Low-Paying Clients: These clients are holding you back. Focus on landing higher-value projects. Here are some tips on how to end a freelance contract and end a client relationship.
• Increase Your Rates: As time goes by, you’ll improve your skills. Use these enhanced abilities to negotiate a higher rate and increase the prices of your freelance services.
• Try New Things: If you feel your current niche isn’t providing sufficient income, acquiring new skills relevant to your field can lead to better clients and new challenges, even in a different niche.
• Learn from Other Freelancers: Collaborating closely with others is crucial when aiming to improve. It’s difficult to identify areas for improvement if you only focus on your own processes.

Would you like to see all the insights we gathered from the survey? Download a free copy of our freelance study.