Freelance Economy Grows Amid Workforce and Economic Volatility, Expanding Across Every Major U.S. City

Core Insights - Las Vegas and Nashville have emerged as the highest-paying cities for freelancers in the U.S., with average earnings of $62,083 and $61,569 respectively, according to Fiverr's Freelance Economic Impact Report [4][5] - The report indicates a significant increase in the number of independent professionals across the top 30 U.S. markets, with a 4.3% annual growth rate, totaling approximately 6.9 million independent professionals [5][6] - Freelancing is reshaping the American workforce, allowing individuals to build flexible careers independent of traditional employment structures [6] Market Growth and Earnings - The fastest-growing markets for freelancers include Orlando and Miami (both at 32%), Nashville (24%), and Las Vegas (22%) [3] - Revenue growth was most pronounced in Miami (71%) and Orlando (62%), while New York, Los Angeles, and Miami had the highest overall number of freelancers [3] - The average earnings for independent professionals in the top 30 markets is $52,002, which is approximately $5,748 higher than the overall U.S. average [14] Economic Contribution - Independent professionals in the U.S. are estimated to generate $319 billion in revenue, contributing 1.1% to the U.S. GDP, with $208 billion generated in the top 30 markets [5] - Professional service freelancers (51% of independent workers) and technical service freelancers (26%) make significant contributions to both the workforce and revenue [14] Demographic Insights - The report categorizes cities into nine groups based on freelance economies, growth rates, and demographics, highlighting trends in younger and more diverse populations in certain markets [14] - There is a notable earnings gap, with a 60% difference between the highest average earnings market (Las Vegas) and the lowest (Minneapolis) [14]