More skilled professionals are turning to freelance work as artificial intelligence influences which skills command the highest pay. According to Upwork’s Future Workforce Index 2026, more than one in three U.S. skilled knowledge workers now freelance, up from roughly one in four a year earlier.
The report combines a survey of 2,400 U.S. workers with Upwork marketplace data, pointing to a labor market where expertise and judgment are becoming more valuable than simply using AI tools.
AI Skills Alone Aren’t Driving Higher Pay
The findings suggest that AI adoption does not guarantee higher earnings. Freelancers using AI earned 34% more per hour on average than those who did not, but the gains varied sharply depending on the type of work.
Generative AI and creative production projects grew 90% year over year in contract starts, yet average earnings per contract fell 13%, indicating that lower-complexity AI work is becoming more competitive.
By contrast, freelancers using AI to perform more complex, specialized work saw earnings rise 45% over the past year. AI-enabled professional services—including experts applying AI within fields such as consulting, marketing, or finance—also expanded, with project volume increasing 72% and earnings climbing 22%.
Freelancing Continues to Expand
The report found that 38% of U.S. skilled knowledge workers now freelance, up from 28% last year.
Interest in independent work is also growing among traditional employees. Fifty-eight percent of full-time workers said they are considering freelancing, compared with 36% a year ago, suggesting more professionals are seeking greater flexibility and control over their careers as AI changes workplace demands.
The research points to growing demand for professionals who can combine AI tools with industry expertise, business context, and decision-making rather than simply operating the technology.
Freelancers may provide an early indicator of where the broader labor market is heading, as independent workers tend to adopt new technologies faster and adjust their skills more quickly than traditional workforces.
