As of last year, I’ve been using Upwork to increase my side hustle income and land part-time roles. I’ve landed short-term and long-term roles, and my skills have increased immensely. These Upwork jobs have strengthed my resume and have even led to higher paying jobs.
Also, by taking short-term roles on Upwork, I’m learning areas I like to work in, and areas I want to avoid, which has been the biggest benefit of Upwork. I’m in a time in my life right now where I’m trying to figure out where I want to go career-wise, so Upwork has been awesome for this.
Included in this post are job positions I see listed time and time again on Upwork, along with skills needed, average pay, and so on. Let’s gooooo!
Here are 10 in-demand jobs you can find on Upwork.
1. Virtual Assistant
A Virtual Assistant is a position that can include a lot of different tasks including admin support, calendar management, email management, data entry, proficiency in office tools, etc.
I see this job listed on Upwork every day for small businesses, solo entrepreneurs, and seven-figure CEO’s. The average pay is anywhere from $5 an hour to $50 an hour.
Remember, Upwork is a global platform, so some job listings may offer pay as low as $5 per hour, especially for businesses seeking talent from countries like the Philippines and other regions with lower labor costs. When searching for jobs on Upwork, make sure to use the filter to set a minimum pay rate. This way, you can avoid seeing listings that offer lower pay.
2. Graphic Designer
Graphic Designers are one of the top job postings on Upwork, with skills needed usually being Adobe Creative Suite, logo design, branding and identity design, web design, and more. Pay is usually between $25-$75 an hour.
If you don’t have any graphic design skills but think you might be interested in this career, I recommend taking one of the many free and paid courses online. Platforms like Skillshare, Coursea, and even LinkedIn have many courses available for future graphic designers.
This field has a healthy job outlook for the future as jobs will always need graphic design work, and AI simply isn’t there yet to produce high-quality branded content (in my opinion, as well as many others). AI. may also never get there as there’s nothing like a human touch to visuals.
3. Operations Manager
An Operations Manager is similar to a Virtual Assistant, but you tend to have more responsibility and are in control of making sure the business operates smoothly. This position requires skills like process optimization, budget management, project management, team leadership, and delegation, along with communication skills.
Pay for this position ranges anywhere from $30-$50+ per hour with the ability to further your career and continue getting higher-paying jobs.
4. Content Writer
A content writer is in charge of writing – you guessed it, content. This content can be for many things including websites, emails, blog posts, social media, etc. Skills needed for this position include writing and editing skills, SEO knowledge, adaptability in writing style to match the brand, WordPress, or other content management systems, and familiarity with Google Analytics.
Pay for this position varies widely on Upwork since many companies hire this job for pennies on the dollar. Still, I see companies posting listings on Upwork for this job that pay well and are also looking for native English speakers.
5. Social Media Manager
A social media manager is in charge of overseeing and executing a company’s social media across different platforms. For this position, you need skills in social media content creation, analytics, scheduling tools, creative writing for captions, and basic graphic design in Canva or similar tools.
Pay for this position varies widely but I’ve seen companies offer up to $50/an hour for the most experienced social media manager who has proof of amazing results.
Social media management can be one of the more accessible entry-level roles, especially for those who are active on social media platforms and have a talent for content creation.
6. SEO Specialist
It seems like every business out there is looking for an SEO specialist and these jobs tend to be high-paying since few people can do this job compared to how many businesses need it. Skills needed to work as an SEO specialist include keyword research, on-page and off-page SEO, technical SEO, Google Analytics, and more.
I’ve seen positions paying between $20-$30 per hour for entry-level SEO specialists, and up to $75 per hour for experts. and work is easy to come by if you have previous experience and proof of your success with other businesses.
7. Copywriter
One of the other jobs I see the most on Upwork is copywriting positions. Copywriting is all about creating catchy and persuasive content that grabs attention and gets people to take action, like buying something or signing up for a service. This is why businesses are constantly hiring professionals for this role – a skilled copywriter can truly make or break a business.
Skills needed to be a copywriter include writing in different formats like advertisements, landing pages, social media, blog posts, etc. You also need to write in persuasive writing, have SEO knowledge, an understanding of consumer behavior, and pay attention to detail. Pay for a copywriter is usually between $25 – $80 per hour for the most skilled copywriters with proven results of amazing work.
8. Video Editor
A video editor is someone responsible for editing and assembling video footage into a cohesive final product. Think about your favorite YouTuber and their videos – they’re put together into a format that is enjoyable and cuts to different scenes. Video editors work with raw video, audio, and effects to create a polished video for platforms like YouTube, films, commercials, and social media.
Skills needed for this position include proficiency in video editing, sound editing, motion graphics, attention to detail, and creative storytelling. Pay for this role generally starts at $20 an hour for entry-level video editors, and can up to $70 per hour for the most experienced editor.
9. Project Manager
I’ve seen and heard of project managers who completely transform a company for the better. This position is in charge of ensuring projects meet their goals, stay on budget, and are completed on time. They coordinate teams, manage resources, and keep everything on track so the business runs smoothly.
Skills needed for this role include project planning and coordination, risk management, budgeting, scheduling and deadline management, and knowledge of project management tools like Asana and Trello. Pay is usually between $45-$100 per hour for this role as there is a lot of responsibility and even pressure involved.
10. Customer Service Representative
A customer service representative is one of the popular jobs on Upwork but also tends to have the lowest pay. However, you can likely get this job without any previous experience, so it may be worth it to you still. Skills needed to work as a customer service representative may include customer communication, problem-solving, product knowledge, and conflict resolution, which are all things you can learn on the job.
Keep in mind, that you’ll likely deal with upset or impatient people, which is why I could personally never do this job. Shout out to all of the customer service reps who are in this role as it’s not always an easy one. Pay is usually between $12 and $30 per hour.
Summary – Best Upwork Jobs
I have a lot of experience getting part-time and long-term jobs on Upwork and my best friend even landed her previous two full-time jobs from Upwork. If you’re looking for remote work and a career where you can work at home, go for it!
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Alexis Schroeder is the CEO and founder of FITnancials.
With budgeting and side hustles, Alexis paid off over $40,000 of debt and made over $100,000 in side hustles in college.
Since starting this website over 10 years ago, Fitnancials has reached over 3,000,000 readers. We’ve been featured on sites like Forbes, Yahoo, Side Hustle School, GOBankingRates, Mint, and many more.
If you want to contact Alexis, please send an email to alexis@fitnancials.com.
