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Stuart Gentle Publisher at Onrec

Freelance women smash the glass ceiling: 58% of freelance work awarded to women

Pay gaps within gender has long been a subject for debate and whilst the gender pay gap in traditional 9-5 jobs still exists, figures released by PeoplePerHour, an online marketplace for freelancers, today suggest that women moving online into freelancing are bridging the gap and even out earning their male counterparts

  • Women earn more than their male counterparts.
  • Brighton, Bournemouth and Milton Keynes are found to be female freelancer earning hotspots.
  • Female translators earn £4.00 more per hour than male translators.


Pay gaps within gender has long been a subject for debate and whilst the gender pay gap in traditional 9-5 jobs still exists, figures released by PeoplePerHour, an online marketplace for freelancers, today suggest that women moving online into freelancing are bridging the gap and even out earning their male counterparts. 

Women are winning 58% of online work advertised, with an average hourly rate of £22.43 when freelancing. In comparison, men earn an average of £21.57, almost a pound less than women per hour.

The findings show that the highest paid profession listed for both men and women was mobile App development, with women earning more than men at £37 per hour as opposed to £35 per hour for men. 

Female freelance translators earned on average £22 as opposed to men earning £18 per hour, a difference of £4 per hour or 22%. Female administrators earn 35% more than their male counterparts at £11.50 an hour compared to an average of £8.50 an hour for men. (See full table below) 

There are not only differences in pay between genders, but also in location too. Female freelancers based in Brighton, Bournemouth and Milton Keynes are earning the highest percentage over men in the country. 

Table 1 - shows the average hourly rate for men and women according to profession. 

Skill --- Hourly rate Men --- Hourly rate Women --- Difference (£) --- Difference (%)

Translation --- 18 --- 22 --- 4 --- 22.2

Administrator --- 8.5 --- 11.5 --- 3 --- 35.2

Mobile App Development --- 35 --- 37 --- 2 --- 5.7

Bookkeeping --- 14 --- 15 --- 1 --- 7.1

Social Media --- 14 --- 15 --- 1 --- 7.1

Designer --- 29.5 --- 30 --- 0.5 --- 1.6 

Advertising --- 21 --- 21.5 --- 0.5 --- 2.3 

Illustration --- 22 ---22.5 --- 0.5 --- 2.2

Writer --- 25 --- 25.25 --- 0.25 --- 1

Photo retouching --- 20 --- 20.25 --- 0.25 --- 1.25

Xenios Thrasyvoulou of PeoplePerHour comments:

“The growing mumpreneur trend has been bridging the gender pay gap in recent years and with the current boom of women taking the plunge into self-employment it’s no surprise they are out earning men in some professions.”

“It would seem that online and remote work levels the playing field when it comes to earning ability which is at odds with the world of employment. Many women are taking advantage of this trend and taking self-employment to the next level, starting businesses and employing others, a trend that looks set to continue.”