Poll: Average Age of Freelancers
Call me a cyberstalker, a netcreeper, or a webpeeper – but I’ve been reading your comments and checking out your pages for a little while. Without exception, I have found anyone who shares a link back to their website is unbelievably talented. One of the things that I have noticed, is that the apparent average age of a freelancer is older than I had first suspected.
So – because apparently I need to quantify everything, I thought it might be interesting to have a quick post to see how old, or young, the readers here on FreelanceSwitch really are.
Do you want to know where everyone else is finding their work, or how long an average project takes? I don’t think we want to get into “how much do you make,” but perhaps “how long have you been freelancing” might be useful. Is there something that you want to know about your fellow freelancers?
I’m currently 19 but I started doing web development when I was 13 and started freelancing at 16…
Web development at 13 is impressive… I wish I would have started earlier.
I started 6 years ago at age 23, so that makes me 29 now. I started in my spare bedroom and now have a small office and a great team of designers working with me. Business is booming and life is good. No complaints and no regrets here.
- Matt B.
I first started web design/development when I was about 13 on piczo learning basic HTML and I have stuck with it. I’m 17 now and I have done freelance work for several people although now I have all my cool stuff and enough money I’m going to go it alone and make a website for myself instead of watching other people make loads of money off sites I make for them.
i started making websites also when i was 13. i have been freelancing sense i was 17 to help pay for college. i am now 20 and jsut finishing up college for my degree which will be glade to finsih.
I started around 13 also, I learned HTML in 4′th grade.
YEAH! I’m in the majority!
I’m 20, stop reminding me!
I am 25, but my body feels like I am 40.
I’m 33 going on 60! Sitting for 12 hours a day is catching up.
Almost exactly the same here…26 on 41.
maybe the next poll should be…”how often do you get carpal tunnel?”- every other day lol
I’m 25 and I am just starting to create a name for myself in a professional sence. Good to kmow that there are a lot of my peers. Cool pol question btw.
I’m 14
I’m 35 but my mind feels like I’m… 14!?
I was far more spry when I started… But I agree with Miguel. I feel like I’m 14. Thats what happens when you’re doing what you love.
I’m 44. Started freelancing when I was 30.
I’m 44. Now I feel ancient!
Interesting poll! I’m in the majority.
If you do another, I’d like to know how freelance programmers find their projects. AdWords? Banners? Craigslist? Word of mouth? Answer ads placed by others? ODesk or Elance?
Thanks Scott – I am interested in learning more about these as well
Jason, you could create a poll on this. It would be a great idea.
I’m 17 and I have done 4 freelance jobs all of which I got from posting my services on forums etc. You shouldn’t pay for advertisement, as I learned when I payed £100 on adwords and got nothing.
Also don’t bother with sites like “RentACoder” and “Craigslist” because all the people on there are cheapskates who want you to work for £5/hour. From advertising my services on forums and arranging deals with other sites when I pay them referral money I can easily charge £30/hour and have plenty of business, and I’m only 17! So I’m sure you can do it if I can.
I’m 36 and my children make me look like 46 but feel like 26.
Ok, all of you youngsters….I am just beginning and I am 57. I hope that makes Matt feel less ancient.
I think as young freelancers grow older they will become more of a full time business owners rather than freelancers. I think the older business owners have less time to hangout on these forums, which is kinda sad because we all are learning from each other. Don’t ask me how old I am ;P
Good point Behzad. I do consider myself a full time business owner, but as the sole proprietor, I face many of the same challenges as a younger “freelancer” so I tend to check in on sites like this for new ideas and new resources.
good points – currently writing about post that briefly examines the difference between freelance and self-employed
18-25 will definitely win. I have to admit that I know very few freelancers or even web developers in general who are 40 and older. A lot of people have pointed it out, but it seems like no one wants to reeeeeeeeeeally address it – most freelancers are young. Does it mean freelancing isn’t a secure career and most people have to move away from it when they reach 35-40? Or does it mean most freelancers that old keep to themselves? I’d like to know, because the former explanation doesn’t bode to well for the most of us. *Que tritone*
I have a few friends who are in their early to mid 40′s, sure many of my other friends could not take the heat and went back to working for someone or started something new. But if you are a true fighter and believe in yourself and your work, then you will be happy and even if you don’t get rich doing this the rest of your life, you will be your own boss
Yeah, this would be pretty interesting to know, so I second what ‘TheAL’ said.
I don’t think it means the freelancing is not a secure career. I think, the entire realm of anything connected with the computer or internet is still relatively new, hence the reason more of the “over 40″ group is not into it.
I think your conclusion about “the younger you are the better you’ll be” is a bit flawed. The question which matters is how long you have been freelancing for, not how old you are now or how old you were when when you started. Now the web industry provides anyone and everyone with the resources and ability to start freelancing. Younger kids are exposed to this realization more than adults I feel, but an adult starting at the same time as a kid would have a lot better go die to experience, financial stability and time. The problem with starting young is that you still have up to 10 years of study left and you need to earn money to even afford food. So really I think the elders have a huge head start. But alas this is just generalisation and there will always be the exceptions. What do you think?
Well, I’m officially a geezer! (I’m 52.)
@Martha: Me, too! Geezer Gals.
Oh, I like that…..Geezer Gals!
I’m 31. It’s a good age.
I would like to know freelancer’s first gig. how they got started and how it developed. i’m thinking of starting to freelance by doing a couple of side jobs here and there as a starter, but feelings of doubt and mountains of questions still spring up that keep me from actually starting.
Lots of people here to answer your questions, Andre.
ask questions in the articles that you want to know more about, or check out the forum for more info. http://forum.freelanceswitch.com
or email me – I can make up all sorts of answers for you!
J
A 23 one here
is it bad im 30 and havent even started yet…although…im seriously considering it
not bad at all Jack – just further proof that you get wiser as you get older!
Well, I just turned 26 a few months ago, and now I’m thrown into 26-35! I guess I’ll buy some suspenders…
Oh god, same here, it’s so depressing suddenly being in the next “category”.
Considering I only got the internet at age 22, doing ok so far
I am a 58-year-old freelancer. Quit my last job at a startup in 1989, tried real estate for a couple years, the recession killed that, so I came back to software. Built desktop apps for defense contractors and others with embedded systems that needed something to control and monitor them, lots of Microsoft Visual Studio. Worked remotely for AT&T as a full-time contractor for 3 years. Found myself with out-of-date skills, looked around for what seemed to be the most fun and dynamic. Answer: web development with Ruby on Rails. In the local Ruby meetup I am the senior member, for sure. But I know how to advertise, how to talk to potential clients, and after avoiding management for all these decades, how to hire others remotely via oDesk to get more done and increase my income. It’s harder than ever to keep up with the technical changes, but no one will hire me at my age except possibly as a manager. You can have my keyboard when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers!
I’m 32 years old, After 9 Years of working experience in different organizations , I just started my career as Full-time Freelancer, though freelancing is not new for me and I have been doing it in my spare time for around 3 years, but converting them into full time job was a big decision for me.
29 and refusing to go corp!
Hi my name is Jordan and I am a freelancer. I’m 26 and have been working on the side for 4 years, all of my clients have come from word of mouth.
25 with an office arse – already! Repeat after me “MUST…. walk… the dog…..”
I am 16 years old, and i was working in a company too, but the freelancing it better for me because i am still a student and didn’t finish the school
I started freelancing as a writer at 17. I’m 20 now and am enjoying every bit of it. I wonder what will happen if I decide to try out the corp life… I’ll probably get fired for calling my bosses by their first name as I always do with freelance clients. XD
I’m 55 this year and been working with Mac’s and design/video/photo/web work since the Mac Plus! Those were the days. oh… except for the long hours I still quite enjoy it and working as a freelance. Looking at the age stats I’m glad to say I really don’t feel that old. : )
I am 40-but was an English major years ago in university-am just about done a Freelance writing certificate-have been home for six years with my child-and want to write full time now.
27! Although I have been doing the odd freelance job on the side for the past 4 or so years I have only officially started freelancing full-time this year. I spent my early 20′s working in full-time employment to gain industry experience and contacts.
I’m 18, but I got my first freelancing project when I was 15.
Me too! I’m 18 and got my first freelance project when I was 15.
I start freelancing at 16, and make a mix of freelance and corporate jobs. Now I’m a 46 freelancer.
I’m a 25-year-old who looks like a teenager but feels (and sometimes acts) like a kid.
Hi, am 28 but have an energy of 12 yr old kid…may be coz am loving what i do and actually look forward to it everyday…I agree with Scott love to see the poll on how freelancers across market…Jason you are really making freelanceswitch interesting to read now, infact daily i look forward to read atleast one innovation from you
Hi,
Great poll. I am 22 so I’m in the 18-25 group (currently 36%).
Kindest,
Nabeel
Just started as a fulltime freelancer. I already have worked 2 years as a freelancer after my day job hours. I’m now 24 years old.
32 this month!
I will be 21 tomorrow, august 13. I’m a freelance web developer.
Freelance work going steady.
You’re all young whippersnappers. I’m 64 and have been freelancing for 39 years: first 15 years as a graphic designer, last 24 as a copywriter. Still going strong. Still in demand. Still loving it. Still learning. Still earning.
I’m 40. Started freelancing at 29, but didn’t get what I would call “successful” until I’d been freelancing for about 6 years. By then, I guess my preparation met up with my opportunity
I think you should do a survey and match up the age with the type of freelancer. I’m a designer (web and print).
I’m 32 with 15 years of advertising and design experience. I guess that makes me 47ish? Which is odd because I feel like 60.
I like Melissa’s survey idea.
I think there’s a massive age range here. The reason one might think that the age is lower than it is may be because the ‘new’ discipline’s based predominantly around the web have attracted a lot of young people.
Count me in with a 25 done a few days ago. Body feels like 30 sometimes (for all those loooong nights i guess), but i can’t imagine myself older than 20-22.
started freelancing about 3 years ago.
@ Jason Schmidt “33 going on 60″
)
I’m 22 started web development when I was 16 and started freelancing my web designs 5 years ago.
25 here – but currently an ‘on hold’ freelancer as one of my clients hired me full-time in October 2009.
28 here (is it bad that i had to really think about that?)
16, but 17 in 2 days! Yay! Happy birthday to me
27 and counting XD
33 years old in two weeks. I’m freelancing since I was 24 but I’m a full time freelancer since I was 28.
Its interesting to me that the large majority of the poll is between 18-35. Basically 20’s and early 30’s. I wonder why that is, and if it something to do with the recent economy. Perhaps, and this is what I think, is we just have a different view and have a greater generational freedom. We do what we love.
I’m 27 so I guess I hit the Majority too, actually a little surprised with that. I started about a year ago but currently only part time, hope to be full time within 2-4 years though!
I’d like to see a poll for location, i’m from Los Angeles C.A, and you?
Hey I’m in Los Angeles, California too! Born and raised.
I just turned 20 but I’ve been doing design since I was 15 and I started freelancing at 17.
I’m 17 and started 4 years ago…
I’m currently 18, will be 19 in a few months, and I started off about 5 years ago, though it wasn’t for money, it was for free and on myspace, but it’s a start and that’s all that matters.
29 and look forward to the upcoming years.
Currently freelancing at 21, but been doing it since I was 16. Started websites at 10 though as part of a enriched learning course which I owe for my success today! Wish I never got my degree though and freelanced full-time instead of part-time instead.
I’m 17, started web design when I was about 13 and started charging people when I was 16. 6 months later and I’ve got an iPhone 4, MacBook Pro and a kick ass office in my house. All I need to do now is get a social life!
23 year old full time freelance writer and started about a year ago part-time.
I stopped my paying job as a designer to stay home with my young family, and “freelance” on the side. I really didn’t want any work until they were both in school though.
I just turned 51. I started freelancing full time (I’m a copyeditor of book and of articles for peer-reviewed journals) when I was 35 and had just given birth to my second child. Nearly 7 years after that, I gave birth to my third (and last!) child and kept right on freelancing. In January, I’ll be starting my 17th year an a freelancer. Every one of those years has been totally worthwhile, and each one has been more profitable than the previous one.
And with my previous comment, I proved the adage that everyone needs an editor.
I meant to write that I’m a copyeditor of *books* and journals and that in January I’ll be starting my 17th year *as* a freelancer.
See, younger freelancers? Even lots of experience doesn’t make a freelancer immune to making goofy mistakes.
Just turned 27 today.
My first freelance job went something like this:
“I heard you draw.”
“Yup.”
“Can you draw me something?”
“Got a quarter?”
“No! That’s a lot!” D:
“Oh…how about a cookie?”
“Sure! I have two anyways!”
This was kindergarten. XD The next drawing was done for 10 cents.
I have started freelance approx 5 years back when I was 20, I am 25 now.
I’ve learned a lot in this time but the main points always remained same, good client service, going a little farther than actual scope and be on time.
I’m 31 – started designing about twelve years ago. Loving it still! Woop!