Gender pay gap persists in gig economy
US data shows women dominate freelancing but set lower rates than men despite equal performance, widening the pay gap over time.
Women account for the majority of freelancers on Upwork in the US, yet earn less than men, according to analysis from Revelio Labs. The gap is not in access to work or how work is evaluated, it is in how it is priced.
Since 2022, around 63% of US-based Upwork accounts have been created by women. Men and women secure early projects at similar rates and complete comparable volumes of work over time.
Male freelancers are slightly more likely to include identity verification, portfolio items or skills tests when setting up profiles. These are signals the platform rewards, but the difference does not translate into more work early on.
Performance is closely matched. Among freelancers with at least five completed contracts, almost identical shares of men and women achieve a perfect 5.0 rating. Client feedback does not differ in any meaningful way.
Pay diverges
Men post higher hourly rates than women with the same ratings, experience and roles. The gap appears early and widens with experience. After ten or more completed projects, male freelancers charge around $5 per hour more than female counterparts doing comparable work.
Both groups lower their rates after their first one or two jobs, then increase them as they gain experience. Men raise their rates faster, extending the gap over time.
The pattern is consistent with findings from other gig platforms. Research on Uber shows male drivers earn more per hour, linked to differences in experience and working patterns.
The gig economy removes hiring barriers but does not remove pay gaps. Men and women achieve similar outcomes in participation and performance, but attach different prices to that work, and the gap compounds as experience grows.