5+ Best High-Paying Freelance Writing Jobs for Beginners
Do you want to earn money writing? Learn about the top freelance writing jobs for beginners, their pros and cons, and tips on where to find them!
- Freelance writing offers flexibility, diverse job opportunities, and potential for high earnings.
- High-demand entry-level roles include SEO content writing, resume writing, and copywriting.
- Beginners can start with transcription and ghostwriting to build portfolios and skills.
- Key challenges: competitive market, portfolio-building, and mastering client negotiation.
Looking to jump-start your freelance writing career without prior experience? Good news!
Zippia’s freelancing statistics reveal a strong demand for freelance writers across different specializations.
Of the 70+ million freelancers in the U.S., 82% are writers. Even better, you can apply without professional writing experience. But is freelance writing worth it?
Let’s examine a few of the most in-demand freelance writing jobs for beginners.
We’ll show you the pros and cons to help you decide the right career paths for your skills and interests.
Best High-Paying Freelance Writing Jobs For Beginners
A hand-picked collection of the best freelance writing jobs for beginners:
- SEO Content Writing
- Resume Writing
- Copywriting
- Ghostwriting
- Transcription Writing
Why Should You Consider Freelance Writing?
Freelance writing has many variations, giving you enough room for trial and error to see which style fits your skills.
Flexibility aside, it can also help you build your network with long-term employment opportunities.
Here are other reasons why freelance writing is worth your time:
- Multi-disciplinary: Freelancing writing introduces you to unfamiliar and unique topics, making your writing experience fun and educational.
- Flexible Schedule: Work when you want at your own pace. Deadlines will always be there, but you’ll be free to tailor writing hours to when you’re at your best.
- Personalized Rate: Freelance writing builds experience and portfolio over time, which gives you more control over how much to charge from clients.
5 Freelance Writing Jobs That Pay Well
Professional writing covers a lot of areas, but some opportunities are in high demand compared to the rest.
Here are 5 of the best-paying, globally in-demand freelance writing jobs for 2023:
1. SEO Content Writer
A Search Engine Optimization (SEO) content writer is focused on writing web content that can rank highly in search engines.
As an SEO content writer, your job can include blog writing, finding guest post opportunities, article writing for established websites, and crafting compelling short articles for social media.
Because all websites technically need SEO writers, the demand for them is always high, making it one of the best writing jobs, even for beginners.
According to ZipRecruiter’s 2023 data, the average salary of an SEO freelance writer is $37 an hour.
What You’ll Need to Do SEO Writing
SEO freelance writing requires you to understand keyword research and basic analytics.
This means using words that can attract more visitors to your site and that match people’s online searches.
You’ll also need to show flexibility in your writing style and interest in market trends.
The good news is you don’t have to be an expert in these areas to start freelance writing; you become better as you practice.
Although, having relevant knowledge provide an edge.
Pros
- High demand across various industries
- Flexible schedule
- Opportunities to master technicalities in keyword research and analytics
Cons
- High competition
- Potential for writing topics you’re not familiar or comfortable with
Top Platforms to Find SEO Freelance Writing Jobs
2. Resume Writer
If writing a long-form blog post doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, then try applying as a resume freelance writer.
In this role, you create cover letters and resumes to make someone’s credentials, work history, and experiences as compelling and convincing as possible for their prospective employer.
The salary of a resume freelance writer varies a lot. It’s also impacted by the clientele you cater to. Upwork’s salary range for this position is $25–$65 per hour.
What You’ll Need to Do Freelance Resume Writing
The highest-paid resume freelance writers are great listeners.
Your primary source of information is your client, and crafting a convincing resume requires empathy, objectivity, persuasion, and research skills.
Your ultimate goal is to showcase your employer’s skills in the best possible light.
Pros
- High pay for a one to two-page copy
- Networking opportunities
- Chance to make lasting friendships with satisfied clients
Cons
- Landing your first client can take time
- High-paying clients often ask for portfolios
Top Platforms to Find Resume Freelance Writing Jobs
3. Copywriter
Do you have a knack for writing clear and concise copy that move people to act? Then you can start copywriting.
Copywriters are in demand because they’re key elements in getting people to pay close attention to brands.
They create catchy headings and memorable taglines that add personality to a brand’s marketing materials and promote sales.
Your job as a freelance copywriter can include writing text for landing pages, content for brochures, posters, print ads, newsletters, and more.
According to Indeed, this remote writing job can pay up to $40 an hour.
What You’ll Need to Do Copywriting
Copywriting is among the freelance writing gigs that require multiple side skills apart from writing itself.
A successful candidate needs to have strong research and interpersonal skills, creative thinking, and problem-solving skills.
A profound understanding of consumer psychology will also give you an edge since it will influence your writing style.
The best copywriters always know how to sell ideas and products with words without sounding too salesy.
Pros
- Build robust writing samples with diverse copywriting types
- Prepare for landing copy editor jobs, which pay more
- Learn more as you write different copies
Cons
- Some clients can be hard to deal with
- Might require lots of flexibility
- Salary fluctuations based on the project’s complexity
Best Platforms to Find Freelance Copywriting Jobs
4. Ghostwriter
Ghostwriting can be your ideal freelance writing job if you want to maintain a low profile.
While that may sound counterproductive to attracting clients, it’s quite strategic. You can work with multiple clients without being tied to a single contract.
As a ghostwriter, you’ll be responsible for writing publication-ready works like essays, books, press releases, magazine content, etc.
A successful freelance writer in this field can get paid between $20 and $45 an hour.
What You’ll Need to Become a Freelance Ghostwriter
While ghostwriting jobs can be a challenging area to crack for a beginner freelance writer, they’re not impossible.
Some companies or clients may require a background in another freelance writing field, a flexible writing style, and the ability to meet deadlines. But you’ll do just fine with decent persuasion and writing skills.
Pros
- Ghostwriting jobs make for excellent portfolios
- Opportunities to work for clients with strong reputations who can refer you to more writing jobs
- Learning opportunities are endless thanks to the number of subjects you’ll write about
Cons
- You won’t get credit for your writing
- Some clients require a solid portfolio
Best Platforms to Find Ghostwriting Jobs
5. Transcription
Becoming a transcriptionist is one of the easiest ways to build a writing career as a beginner freelance writer.
Your job will involve transcribing video or audio content into a written format. In many cases, you’ll also have to take on administrative tasks as part of the documentation process.
Starting in this field can help hone your listening and note-taking skills, which are invaluable assets in any administrative work.
Transcriptionists are paid an average of $19 per hour.
What You’ll Need to Do Freelance Transcription
As a transcriptionist, you must be computer literate and possess excellent reading skills. You should also be detail-oriented and focused, with fast typing skills.
Comprehension skills play a crucial role in the success of this position, as you’ll likely encounter source materials in need of cross-referencing and quick online searches.
You won’t need a specialized degree to land a job unless you plan on becoming a technical writer.
Pros
- Choose what projects to work on
- Work at your own pace
- Improve your listening and typing skills
Cons
- The highly competitive nature of this job makes freelancing opportunities scarce
- You might get bored of working for the same client after some time
Best Platforms to Find Freelance Transcription Jobs
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Need a Degree to Become a Freelance Writer?
Most freelance writers have a degree, but those degrees aren’t always related to writing. Successful freelance writers come from different academic backgrounds, but having a specialized degree, such as one in medicine or law, can help you become a technical writer.
What Are Some Common Problems New Freelance Writers Face?
Beginners often struggle with negotiating pay, not landing enough jobs to build a better portfolio, keeping clients, and marketing their services.
Some unlucky ones also report falling into scam agreements where they don’t get paid for their writing services.
What Are The Biggest Mistakes Beginner Freelance Writers Make?
It’s tricky to gauge which are the biggest mistakes, but common ones from writers who learned it the hard way include not charging an appropriate amount, not setting boundaries with their clients, underestimating personal marketing, and managing their time inefficiently.
Similar Jobs to Check Out
Do you find freelance writing jobs too taxing for starters? Here are alternative entry-level jobs you can try:
- Virtual Assistant Jobs: Enjoy a fully remote setup while helping entrepreneurs run their businesses. Learn about your options and where to get started.
- Food Delivery Jobs: Do you fancy delivering goods to neighbors in your locality? Get paid to deliver food and groceries by signing up with trusted partners.
- Online Tutor Jobs: Grab the chance to show your love for teaching and share your expertise. Get paid to teach students online!
Wrapping Up
Finding freelance writing jobs for beginners involves more strategizing than simply looking at job boards, and with the number of options online, the search can feel overwhelming.
Use the list we’ve provided to narrow your options to jobs that pay well with little to no experience.
Begin with small projects and work your way up to building solid freelance writing gigs that bring you a stable income stream.
Don’t forget to tell us what you think about our recommendations, and feel free to share this list with your writer friends. Good luck with job-hunting!
Brett Helling is the founder and owner of Gigworker.com. Having worked in the gig economy for nearly a decade, he has mastered freelance, remote, and app-based work. You can learn more about his journey in his book, "Gigworker: Independent Work and the State of the Gig Economy", now available on Amazon.