Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Freelance Developer in California is $75,422 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $36.
However, a Freelance Developer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Recruit with AI
Smart Recruiting
Freelance Developer Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $84,705 | $7,059 | $1,629 | $41 |
| Average | $75,422 | $6,285 | $1,450 | $36 |
| 25th Percentile | $65,743 | $5,479 | $1,264 | $32 |
Crypto Pro Network - Los Angeles, CA
WordPress - Los Angeles, CA
ManTech International - HARMANS, MD
ManTech International - SAVAGE, MD
A Freelance Developer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Freelance Developer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Freelance Developer | $74,481 |
| Intermediate Level Freelance Developer | $74,750 |
| Senior Level Freelance Developer | $78,180 |
| Specialist Level Freelance Developer | $82,332 |
| Expert Level Freelance Developer | $82,629 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Freelance Developers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
For Freelance Developer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and MFG Durable sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Freelance Developer positions in Hospitality & Leisure or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Freelance Developer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | $98,048 | $47.0 | 30% |
| MFG Durable | $90,506 | $44.0 | 20% |
| Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit | $82,964 | $40.0 | 10% |
Understanding how a Freelance Developer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $84,705 | $7,059 | $1,629 | $41 |
| Average | $75,422 | $6,285 | $1,450 | $36 |
| 25th Percentile | $65,743 | $5,479 | $1,264 | $32 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Freelance Developer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
ManTech International
SAVAGE, MD
ManTech International | SAVAGE, MD
ManTech is seeking a skilled CNO Developer to join our dedicated team in support of national security objectives. As a developer in our dynamic IT and Cybe... more
7 Days Ago
ManTech International
HARMANS, MD
ManTech International | HARMANS, MD
ManTech is seeking a skilled CNO Developer to join our dedicated team in support of national security objectives. As a developer in our dynamic IT and Cybe... more
7 Days Ago
ManTech International
CHANTILLY, VA
ManTech International | CHANTILLY, VA
ManTech seeks an Application Developer dedicated to supporting our mission-critical programs for the intelligence and defense communities. In this role, yo... more
7 Days Ago
SimVentions, Inc
ISSUE, MD
SimVentions, Inc | ISSUE, MD
SimVentions is seeking a Software Developer to design, build, and maintain mission-critical solutions for Defense & Aerospace customers within our IT depar... more
10 Days Ago
SimVentions, Inc
PORT TOBACCO, MD
SimVentions, Inc | PORT TOBACCO, MD
SimVentions, Inc. (Glassdoor 4.6) seeks a Software Developer to build secure, mission-critical solutions for Defense & Aerospace customers within our IT de... more
10 Days Ago
SimVentions, Inc
CHARLOTTE HALL, MD
SimVentions, Inc | CHARLOTTE HALL, MD
SimVentions, Inc. (Glassdoor 4.6) seeks a Software Developer to build secure, mission-critical solutions for Defense & Aerospace customers within our IT de... more
10 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
