The Highest-Paying Freelance Writing Skills

June 21, 2024

As the gig economy continues to gather pace, so too do the opportunities to secure higher-paying freelance writing assignments. But no two scribes are the same. Some seem to scrape by, barely making ends meet (believe me, I’ve been there). Others, on the other hand, take home six-figure freelancer sums.

The difference usually doesn’t always boil down to skill, talent, or education, or even how busy, lucky, or well-connected you are. Rather, your earning potential as a freelance writer is directly related to the types of work you’re willing to take on. Still, you probably want to know the highest-paying freelance writing skills to help you get the most earning potential for your time.

There are some sexy freelance niche subjects, like travel, which seemingly everyone (including me) wants to write about. This has led to a saturated market in which competition naturally keeps the prices down and those who persist (like me) must lump it. Travel might even be one of the places beginner freelancers seek out when asking “how do I find my first freelance writing job?“

Then there are other areas where advancements in AI-driven writing tools are radically reshaping the landscape. For example, the Associated Press uses AI to automate some corporate earnings and sports stories, freeing up its reporters for ‘higher-impact work’. That sounds like a good thing, but it also means that generalists and those with only basic writing skills will need to up their game.

Broadening and deepening your freelance writing skills by dipping your toe in the waters below is one way to rake in more moolah.

The Highest-Paying Freelance Writing Skills of 2024

When you’re ready to level up your freelance writing know-how and hone your skills, look to these types of writing.

1. Technical writing

If you’ve ever struggled with a software installation guide, trawled through an annual report, or tried to make sense of the user’s manual for your new washing machine, you’ll quickly appreciate why skilled technical writers are in such demand. Technical writing aims to break down specialist or complicated subjects in a way that everyday consumers of their product or service can understand.

Instruction manuals, how-to guides, and other supporting information are a technical writer’s bread and butter. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics says employment of technical writers is projected to grow 7% from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations. According to Upwork, technical writers can earn as much as $125 per hour. (BTW, how do you set an hourly rate for freelancers?)

Some potential technical writers worry that the detailed knowledge required to succeed in this field is beyond them; however, one technical writer contributing to one public forum identified that you don’t need higher education as much as a willingness to learn fast on the job. Others noted that six-figure salaries were the norm rather than the exception.

2. UX writing

Could this be one of the best high-paying freelance writing skills to learn? Maybe! UX writers can also assist clients with their websites – from plotting the path a user would take to reach conversion, such as signing up for a newsletter, or making a purchase. UX writers may plan the website’s structure to ensure smooth navigation, write targeted content for landing pages, design compelling calls to action, and ensure the website is well well-optimized for mobile devices.

Like technical writing, user experience (UX) writing shares the goal of making information accessible and user-friendly. It also requires a high level of know-how. But instead of creating documentation, user manuals, or the like, UX writers guide users gently by the hand through different digital interfaces. Think of the screen of your mobile phone or laptop, the buttons you click on an app, or the voice you hear when you’re talking to Amazon’s Alexa, according to the UX Content Collective.

UX writers’ work is designed to create a seamless user journey, reducing the friction points that lead frustrated users to abandon their (virtual) shopping carts or click the ‘close screen’ button. So UX writers who are doing their job well will be, essentially, invisible.

The field is relatively new, with a look at Google Trends revealing that ‘UX writing’ didn’t start to take off as a term until 2018. But growth in the field will continue to ‘boom’, according to the UX Design Institute, with increasing specialization seeing the emergence of UX writers for chatbots, UX writers for virtual reality, and more. While the UX Design Institute lists the average UX writer salary in the USA as $74,997, senior UX writers in San Francisco can earn as much as $132,000.

3. Digital content writing

The online world is expanding like never before. With every click, people and organizations are sharing information, deepening virtual connections, and building new communities. Statista figures show that between 2015 and 2023, average daily internet use increased by 16 minutes – which doesn’t sound like much. But multiply that by all the people on the planet and all the days in the year and the potential for the digital marketing industry becomes apparent. Digital ad spending is expected to grow to $730 billion annually by 2027, according to MarketWatch.

This translates to a plethora of opportunities for writers who are adept at creating content and copy for a range of digital platforms, including websites, blogs, videos, social media posts and ads, infographics, whitepapers, advertising, and email marketing campaigns.

Those who’ve cut their teeth in editorial offices will find that writing copy that drives conversions, or sells, is totally different to the freelance skills required to write articles for mainstream media publications. But copywriting or content marketing writing for brands tends to pay more than editorial writing for magazines and websites.

Freelance writers who do both sometimes say they take on editorial writing for the prestige, and UX writing for the paycheque. Some digital content writers claim that it’s entirely possible to earn six figures from freelance writing gigs—but you’ll need to put the hard work and the hours in to do so, particularly as a beginner freelance writer.

4. Ghostwriting

When it was released in 2023, Prince Harry’s memoir Spare became the fastest-selling non-fiction book of all time. But it wasn’t actually written by Prince Harry. That honor belongs to ghostwriter JR Moehringer, who worked with King Charles’ youngest son for two years in order to capture his story, in his voice.

Of course, ghostwriters don’t just put together non-fiction (or fiction) books. They are also engaged in writing articles, thought leadership pieces, stories, reports, website materials and any other content which is, officially at least, attributed to another person.

Because ghostwriting is such a broad church, pay rates and arrangements vary widely. According to Compose.ly, ghostwriters can command anywhere from 10 cents to $4 per word—or even more—depending on their reputation and skills, and the nature of the project. Depending on the circumstances, they might even get a share of royalties.

Celebrities and influencers who want to produce content, but don’t want to invest the time themselves, are fuelling increased demand for ghostwriters. And as high-powered executives seek to build their personal brands, Business Insider reports that in-demand LinkedIn ghostwriters can command in the range of $500 to $700 an hour.

5. Healthcare and medical writing

Developing print or digital documents that revolve around medicine or healthcare is another highly lucrative niche. With drivers including technological advancements, an aging population, and increased demand for services, the global healthcare market (including pharmaceuticals, medical devices and biotechnology) is poised to reach $37.4 trillion in value by 2030, according to Deloitte United States. This means that writers who can tackle this subject with the right blend of creativity and scientific rigor will be in high demand. It’s why these are among the best-paying freelance niches of 2024.

The American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) explains that freelance writers in this niche can expect a varied workload involving the production of research papers, regulatory documents, and educational materials for healthcare professionals and patients. Grant proposals, poster presentations for medical conferences, medical and health care books, and more, also fall within medical writers’ remit. But the technical and regulatory scrutiny surrounding this work means you can’t just skate through with a minimum of knowledge.

Almost four in five (78%) of medical writers have a PhD, Masters, or other advanced degree, the AMWA’s 2019 Compensation Survey found, and nearly half (42%) have been at it for more than a decade. (Results of its equivalent 2024 survey are still being calculated). But the rewards are considerable, with the median gross income for full-time freelance medical communicators reaching $151,000, with those working in the regulatory corner of the niche earning as much as $203,000. If those rates sound good to you learn how to become a freelance medical writer.

If you love health topics, this might be one of the best freelance writing skills to learn to find high-paying freelance clients.

Frequently asked questions about the highest-paying freelance writing skills

Here are common freelance skills questions asked and answered:

I keep hearing how ‘the riches are in the niches.’ What’s that all about?

This common saying highlights the financial advantages associated with focusing on one or more specific areas of expertise—aka “freelance niches”—in freelance writing. Specialists can develop deep expertise, making them highly sought-after by clients who are willing to pay a premium for their unique insights and skills.

Popular and general writing fields are also saturated, making it hard for individual writers to stand out, and thus command higher fees. Specializing in a niche also allows writers to build a portfolio of work that is irresistible to their target clients. And once you’ve established a rock-solid reputation, it’s easier to secure repeat business, long-term contracts, and referrals, further benefiting your bank balance.

What if I don’t know anything about software, or healthcare, or any of the freelance writing skills that pay well?

Good writers can turn their hands to just about any subject. Sometimes, it can be an advantage to approach a subject knowing little to nothing, because an outsider’s perspective is exactly what’s needed to translate something complex into something relatable to the average reader. I’m not recommending that you ‘fake it till you make it’ when it comes to applying the best freelance writing skills. Rather, it’s about doing enough research to really get to grips with a subject—and then communicating what you’ve learned.

The alternative is to skill up in the area that interests you. For example, there are a host of courses designed for budding UX writers, including those offered by the UX Writing Hub or UX Content Collective. Relevant professional associations usually also offer training, conferences, and more, along with the opportunity to network with others who are more experienced. For example, though it’s a relatively new field, the User Experience Professionals Association (UXPA) International now has 2400 members online.

Or, get in touch with freelance coach Diana Kelly Levey to learn more about how to find the best freelance writing skills for you and hone them so you can find high-paying freelance work.

How can I safeguard my freelance writing earnings into the future?

Though the field of freelance writing has been battered by many outside forces – such as the shift to online news which shuttered many editorial offices and, more recently, the adoption of AI for some forms of content creation – it continues to morph and change, rather than collapse altogether.

Safeguarding your freelance earnings into the future involves a combination of diversifying income streams and engaging in ongoing professional development. Taking on different types of writing projects, offering additional services and creating passive income streams (such as by writing and selling ebooks or online courses) can minimize the risk of future shocks.

Engaging in ongoing professional development is also key to shoring up your financial security into the future. Improve your skills by taking courses, attending webinars and reading industry publications. Obtaining relevant certifications can also enhance your credibility and help attract higher-paying clients – with the added benefit that you can then stash more away for a rainy day.