The IT Freelance Market In Germany – Market Insights [Update 2024]

What does the IT freelance market look like in Germany in 2024? freelancermap asked over 3,000 IT freelancers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland about their rates, income, client relationship, and more. We’ve compiled the most interesting insights!

Freelancing, as a trend, has grown significantly in the last few years.

To keep up with this growth, we’ve once again analysed the freelancing market and collected data from various freelancers in Germany to better understand the trends of the current market.

Let’s take a look at some insights down below:

• Freelance rates: Hourly rates among IT freelancers remain steady
• What are the best-paid industries?
• Pay gender gap among German freelancers
• Is work-life balance a reality in Germany?
• Planning for the future – Retirement
• Do freelancers in Germany have enough governmental support?
• Conclusion: Is freelancing in Germany a good option?
• Past studies and insights (2018, 2020)

Freelance rates: Hourly rates among IT freelancers remain steady

Corporations and small businesses alike make use of freelancers to benefit from their specific expertise. It’s no surprise then that experienced, highly-skilled freelancers are now breaking records in terms of rates.

Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, in 2020 and 2021 freelancers kept their rates almost at the same level as they did in 2019. Luckily, a major slump in hourly rates did not occur.

As you can see from the image above, this year freelancers have a higher average hourly rate (€102) than any other year before.

Freelance rates in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (DACH region):

SAP freelancers, in particular, are in demand and the top earners. On average, they increased their rates by €5 compared to last year.

Average freelance rates in different fields of work (2021-2024):

What are the best-paid industries?

According to our report, the banking industry is the highest paid industry with an average hourly rate of €111. The healthcare and pharma industry is a close second (€110) followed by the industrial sector (€107).

The lowest hourly rates were found in the media industry (€86).

Top paid industries in 2024:

Pay gender gap among German freelancers

In 2024, the gender pay gap is €4. The difference in income between men and women in Germany is less significant than in previous years. Men currently charge on average €102/hour and have a net monthly income of €8,350; whereas women charge €98/hour and have a net monthly income of €5,681. 

What’s more, our report indicates that the vast majority of freelancers (both in Germany and around the world) are currently men (86%). And although there was a 2% increase in the number of women freelancers, this gap between the two genders still exists. 

Freelance rates in Germany by gender (2024):

Is work-life balance a reality in Germany?

A healthy work-life balance is essential to everyone but especially to freelancers who are at risk of suffering from burnout whilst working from home. When asked about their working hours, the vast majority of freelancers in Germany said that they worked an average of 41 hours per week. 

This can be considered a high number, especially if you consider the fact that full-time employees in Germany worked an average of 34.7 hours a week in 2022.

In terms of vacation days, the average number of days that freelancers take off in a year was found to be 27. On the other hand, full-time employees in Germany are entitled to a minimum of 20 vacation days per year. 

In previous studies, freelancers confirmed that it doesn’t really matter for them if it’s Saturday, Sunday, or a national bank holiday.

40% of freelancers confirmed that they work on Saturdays and 21% also work on Sundays.

However, the majority of freelancers did work Monday to Thursday and 7% of freelancers were taking Fridays off (a 4-day working week).

Planning for the future – Retirement

One can never start planning for their retirement too early. Our freelancer market study for this year indicates that freelancers in Germany set aside €1,108 per month for their retirement. 

When asked about the method used to save, the majority of freelancers (58%) stated that they were making use of shares and funds (62%), followed by state pension (53%), and real estate (52%). 

Cryptocurrencies have moved from the unknown to the limelight, with 19% of freelancers investing in them. 

Do freelancers in Germany have enough governmental support?

78% of the freelancers surveyed agree that the German government ought to set up better framework conditions in place for them whereas 6% think that the policies in place already offer freelancers enough support. 

Now that there has been an uptick in the number of self-employed people not just in Germany but all over the world, we should hopefully see more support (in terms of policies and bills) from governments all over the world.

Conclusion: Is freelancing in Germany a good option?

As you can see above, freelancers are now among the fastest-growing segment of the European workforce. And because Germany was one of the first countries in Europe to adopt freelancing, the growth of the freelancing workforce here has not been as “explosive” in recent years as it has in other EU countries. 

According to the Bundesverband der freien Berufe, the freelance market size in Germany was around 1.5 million freelancers in 2023.

Even after the effects of the pandemic on the global economy, or perhaps because of it, the majority of the freelancers in Germany think that the project market is good. 

This is why it is safe to say that freelancing in Germany is a good option not only for freelancers that are currently in the country but also for those hoping to become freelancers in Germany. 

📖 GUIDE: How to become a freelancer in Germany

If are looking to work as a freelance in Germany and are looking for IT jobs, freelancermap is your best ally. We’ve been helping IT freelancers connect with companies in Germany since 2005.

We have job opportunities in the fields of engineering, development, SAP, consulting and design.

Currently, there are:

• ‎‍💻 21,000+ projects listed worldwide – including English-speaking jobs in Germany!
• 👨‍💻 54,000+ German freelancer profiles

Past studies and insights (2018, 2020)

Freelancer study 2020 – Statistics and Trends

2020 started as a great year for many freelancers. Some people had just started their business in January, others were expecting a better workload this year.

However, in March 2020, with the Coronavirus outbreak, everything changed. 

Key findings in the Freelance German market in 2020:

Freelancer study 2020 overview:

Freelancer study 2018 – Statistics and Trends

Freelancer study 2018 overview:

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💡 Would like to get the complete studies? You can download all freelancer reports (in German) here: > Freelancer-Kompass