Most lists of self-employed jobs are built on opinion. This one is ranked by a number: the share of people in each job who actually work for themselves, from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data.

This post is about full-time, primary-income self-employment, where clients and business setup are yours to manage. If you want part-time extra income, our side hustle guide is the better starting point.

What is a self-employed job?

A self-employed job is work you do for yourself rather than for an employer. You run it as a sole proprietor, an LLC or an independent contractor, get paid by clients per project or per hour, pay your own taxes, and cover your own insurance, equipment and time off.

Freelancing is one form of that. Knowing what freelancing actually means helps, because plenty of self-employed people are not freelancers at all. Many are farmers, tradespeople, artists or small-business owners.

In this list, working for yourself is most common among farmers and ranchers, photographers, writers, fine artists, and craft artists.

How these jobs were chosen and ranked

The source is Table 1.2 from BLS, "Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025," which you can open on the BLS website. Its self-employment column is labeled "Percent self-employed, 2025," and that is the number we rank by, highest first.

Next to each job we show the BLS median annual wage for 2025. The 17 jobs are a selection, not the 17 highest shares in the whole table: we picked occupations where one person can realistically sell their own services. We only kept a job if we could find its row in the live table and read both figures ourselves. Rideshare and delivery are left out on purpose, because they are gig work with a different set of rules.

Here's the catch: a high self-employment share does not mean a high income. It only tells you how normal it is to work for yourself in that job, which is why the pay section below comes before the job entries.

If you would rather choose by in-demand skills instead of self-employment share, read the most in-demand freelance jobs.

Self-employed jobs compared: share self-employed, pay benchmark and setup

Here are all 17 jobs side by side, in rank order. The wage column is a benchmark for wage and salary workers, not a self-employed paycheck.

Table 1. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Table 1.2, percent self-employed and median annual wage, both 2025. Setup and first-client columns are goLance editorial judgment, not BLS data.

The next sections explain what the wage column means, then take each job one at a time.

What the pay numbers mean (and what they don't)

The median wage next to each job is the middle wage for that occupation as BLS measures it. It is a market benchmark. It is not a forecast of what you would take home working for yourself.

Here's why. The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey "covers wage and salary workers in nonfarm establishments and does not include the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers, or unpaid family workers," according to the BLS OEWS overview. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook FAQ says the same thing more briefly: "Self-employed people are not included in the estimates."

Put plainly, the wage column tells you how big the market for a skill is among employees. What a self-employed person keeps depends on client load, rates, unpaid time, and business costs. When you work for yourself, you pay for your own equipment, insurance and downtime.

BLS has looked at self-employed earnings separately, with older data. In a May 2018 Career Outlook article, BLS reported that self-employed workers in a set of specialized occupations had a median annual income above $60,000 in 2016, nearly twice the $32,020 median for all self-employed workers. It also noted that all of those occupations typically require a bachelor's, doctoral or professional degree for entry. That's 2016 data, so treat it as context.

Here's how to read the table. Use the percent to see how normal self-employment is in that job. Use the wage to see the size of the market, not your paycheck.

The jobs, ranked by share who are self-employed

Each entry uses the same four parts so you can compare quickly. All figures come from the same BLS table (2025 data) and every wage is a benchmark for wage and salary workers.

1. Farmers and ranchers: 66.9% self-employed

What you do: Run a farm or ranch, from crops and livestock to the buying, selling and record-keeping around them.

The numbers: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 66.9% of farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers were self-employed in 2025, and the median annual wage was $89,900 (a benchmark for wage and salary workers).

Setup: Land, equipment and insurance.

First clients: Buyers usually come through trade and community networks, such as local co-ops and farm associations.

2. Photographers: 66.7% self-employed

What you do: Shoot portraits, events, products or commercial work for paying clients.

The numbers: According to BLS in the same table, 66.7% of photographers were self-employed in 2025, and the median annual wage was $44,660 (a benchmark for wage and salary workers).

Setup: Camera or specialist equipment.

First clients: Show your work on portfolio and social platforms, then let each finished shoot bring in the next inquiry.

3. Writers and authors: 64.8% self-employed

What you do: Write articles, copy, books or documentation for clients or for publication.

The numbers: According to BLS, 64.8% of writers and authors were self-employed in 2025, and the median annual wage was $76,910 (a benchmark for wage and salary workers).

Setup: Laptop and software.

First clients: A marketplace profile is a common start. See what clients look for in freelance writing to gauge what they ask for.

4. Fine artists: 62.8% self-employed

What you do: Create original paintings, sculpture and illustration, sold or commissioned.

The numbers: According to BLS, 62.8% of fine artists (including painters, sculptors, and illustrators) were self-employed in 2025, and the median annual wage was $55,490 (a benchmark for wage and salary workers).

Setup: Portfolio and reference work.

First clients: Portfolio and social platforms let buyers and commissioners find your style before they contact you.

5. Craft artists: 62.1% self-employed

What you do: Make handcrafted goods such as ceramics, textiles, jewelry or woodwork, and sell them yourself.

The numbers: According to BLS, 62.1% of craft artists were self-employed in 2025, and the median annual wage was $46,080 (a benchmark for wage and salary workers).

Setup: Business insurance and contracts, especially if you sell wholesale or take custom orders.

First clients: Portfolio and social platforms, where photos of finished pieces do the selling.

6. Construction managers: 37.6% self-employed

What you do: Plan, budget and coordinate building projects, often as an independent contractor or owner of a small firm.

The numbers: According to BLS, 37.6% of construction managers were self-employed in 2025, and the median annual wage was $114,990 (a benchmark for wage and salary workers).

Setup: License or credential; requirements vary by state, so check your state's licensing board. If you are weighing trades against the AI question for trades and property work, that post covers it.

First clients: Referrals and past employers, such as developers and contractors you have worked with.

7. Film and video editors: 35.5% self-employed

What you do: Cut footage into finished videos for brands, creators, filmmakers and agencies.

The numbers: According to BLS, 35.5% of film and video editors were self-employed in 2025, and the median annual wage was $75,420 (a benchmark for wage and salary workers).

Setup: Laptop and software.

First clients: A marketplace profile with two or three sample cuts is a workable start. Browse freelance video production jobs to see the projects clients post.

8. Property, real estate, and community association managers: 31.3% self-employed

What you do: Manage buildings, rentals or homeowner associations on behalf of owners.

The numbers: According to BLS, 31.3% of property, real estate, and community association managers were self-employed in 2025, and the median annual wage was $69,990 (a benchmark for wage and salary workers).

Setup: License or credential; requirements vary by state, so check your state's licensing board.

First clients: Direct outreach to businesses and owners who lack time to manage their own properties.

9. Interpreters and translators: 27.6% self-employed

What you do: Convert spoken or written language between two languages for clients, courts, clinics or companies.

The numbers: According to BLS, 27.6% of interpreters and translators were self-employed in 2025, and the median annual wage was $60,170 (a benchmark for wage and salary workers).

Setup: Laptop and software. Most translation work needs no license, though court and medical interpreting may require certification.

First clients: A marketplace profile listing your language pairs. Browse freelance translation jobs to see what buyers request.

10. Interior designers: 26.4% self-employed

What you do: Plan and style interior spaces for homeowners, businesses and developers.

The numbers: According to BLS, 26.4% of interior designers were self-employed in 2025, and the median annual wage was $67,190 (a benchmark for wage and salary workers).

Setup: Portfolio and reference work, showing finished rooms and before-and-after photos.

First clients: Referrals and past employers, plus contractors and real estate agents who send design work your way.

11. Graphic designers: 20.5% self-employed

What you do: Design logos, layouts, social graphics and brand materials for clients.

The numbers: According to BLS, 20.5% of graphic designers were self-employed in 2025, and the median annual wage was $62,960 (a benchmark for wage and salary workers).

Setup: Laptop and software.

First clients: A marketplace profile. Read about freelance graphic design jobs to see what clients want.

12. Tax preparers: 17.6% self-employed

What you do: Prepare returns for individuals and small businesses.

The numbers: According to BLS, 17.6% of tax preparers were self-employed in 2025, and the median annual wage was $54,920 (a benchmark for wage and salary workers).

Setup: License or credential; requirements vary, so check with the IRS and your state before you take paying clients.

First clients: Repeat clients and retainers, since a household or business that trusts you returns every year. If you also want to see how clients describe finance work, browse freelance accounting jobs.

13. Web developers: 17.5% self-employed

What you do: Build and maintain websites and web apps for businesses and individuals.

The numbers: According to BLS, 17.5% of web developers were self-employed in 2025, and the median annual wage was $92,650 (a benchmark for wage and salary workers).

Setup: Laptop and software.

First clients: A marketplace profile with live projects. See freelance web development work for the kinds of requests clients post.

14. Computer programmers: 14.6% self-employed

What you do: Write and test code, often as a contractor on a defined project.

The numbers: According to BLS, 14.6% of computer programmers were self-employed in 2025, and the median annual wage was $100,390 (a benchmark for wage and salary workers).

Setup: Laptop and software.

First clients: A marketplace profile that names your languages and shows finished work. Browse freelance software development jobs to see how clients scope projects.

15. Management analysts: 14.0% self-employed

What you do: Advise organizations on how to run more efficiently, usually as a consultant.

The numbers: According to BLS, 14.0% of management analysts were self-employed in 2025, and the median annual wage was $101,860 (a benchmark for wage and salary workers).

Setup: Business insurance and contracts, since advice work carries liability.

First clients: Direct outreach to businesses facing a problem you have solved before.

16. Tutors: 12.3% self-employed

What you do: Teach one student or a small group a subject, skill or test.

The numbers: According to BLS, 12.3% of tutors were self-employed in 2025, and the median annual wage was $43,350 (a benchmark for wage and salary workers).

Setup: Portfolio and reference work, such as results, testimonials and lesson samples.

First clients: Local word of mouth from parents, schools and other tutors.

17. Event planners: 10.1% self-employed

What you do: Organize meetings, conferences and events, from venue and vendors to schedules.

The numbers: According to BLS, 10.1% of meeting, convention, and event planners were self-employed in 2025, and the median annual wage was $61,160 (a benchmark for wage and salary workers).

Setup: Business insurance and contracts, especially for vendor agreements.

First clients: Referrals and past employers, since planning is a trust business.

The trade-offs of working for yourself

Working for yourself is not automatically better, but many people who do it like it. According to the Pew Research Center (June 2023), 62% of self-employed workers said they were extremely or very satisfied with their job, compared with 51% of workers who are not self-employed. Pew also found that 65% of self-employed workers find their job enjoyable and fulfilling. Among other workers, 50% said their job was enjoyable and 47% said it was fulfilling.

The upsides people report most:

• You choose your clients, projects and schedule.
• Your effort connects directly to your results.
• You can build a business you own.

The trade-offs are just as real:

• Income can be irregular from month to month.
• You buy your own health insurance, equipment and time off.
• You are responsible for your own taxes, covered in the next section.

BLS makes a similar point. In its February 2024 Career Outlook piece, it says self-employment "may also mean long hours and increased financial risk." Weigh both columns before you leave a paycheck.

Taxes and legal setup when you are the business

This section is general information, not tax or legal advice; a tax professional or attorney can advise on your situation.

Self-employment tax

According to the IRS, the self-employment tax rate is 15.3%. That is 12.4% for Social Security and 2.9% for Medicare. It is the self-employed version of the contributions an employer and employee would otherwise split.

The IRS says you generally need to file if your net earnings from self-employment were $400 or more. Net earnings means what is left after business expenses.

Estimated taxes

An employer withholds tax from a paycheck. When you work for yourself, nobody does, so you pay during the year through estimated payments. The IRS says individuals, including sole proprietors, generally have to make estimated tax payments if they expect to owe $1,000 or more when their return is filed.

The IRS divides the year into four payment periods, each with its own due date. Check the schedule the IRS publishes on that page before you make your first payment.

Sole proprietor by default, and when to look at an LLC

The U.S. Small Business Administration explains that you are automatically considered a sole proprietorship if you do business activities but do not register as any other kind of business. Your business assets and liabilities are not separate from your personal ones, and the SBA says the structure can be a good choice for low-risk businesses and for owners testing an idea.

Higher-risk work or larger client contracts lead some people to look at other structures, such as an LLC. The SBA page compares them side by side.

Our side hustle guide covers the hobby-versus-business question, so we will not repeat it here.

How self-employed people find their first clients

The first client is the hard part. Most self-employed people find one through four routes.

• Referrals and past employers. People who already know your work are the warmest audience. Tell them you have gone independent and what you offer.
• Direct outreach to businesses. Pick a short list of businesses that need what you do and write to them one at a time.
• Portfolio and social platforms. Posting finished work lets clients find you when they are ready to hire.
• A freelance marketplace. You set up a profile once and apply to posted work.

Knowledge-work jobs on the list, such as writers, designers, developers, editors, translators, tax preparers and management analysts, can use a marketplace profile to start. Local trades and property roles usually begin with local word of mouth instead.

On goLance, freelancer sign-up is free. goLance charges a flat 7.95% platform fee that can be split between the client and the freelancer. To see what clients are asking for, browse open freelance jobs, or look at freelance jobs by category to compare fields. If you are starting from nothing, how to start freelancing from zero walks through it step by step.

Full-time self-employment vs side hustle vs gig work

These three get mixed up, but they differ in how much of your income they carry and who sets the terms. This post covers the first row.

BLS notes that some driver occupations show very high self-employment shares. Its February 2024 Career Outlook piece puts taxi drivers at 92% in 2022. That's gig-style work, and BLS pairs high self-employment rates with the same warning about long hours and financial risk.

Which self-employed job fits you?

Use this as a starting point, not a prediction. None of these rows guarantees income or a timeline.

If two rows describe you, start with the job that appears in both.

How to start working for yourself: 6 steps

1. Choose one job from the list and check its row in the BLS table so you know how common self-employment is in that field.
2. Confirm what license or insurance you need. Your state and your clients set the requirements, so check both before you take work.
3. Set up the business basics: a business bank account, simple bookkeeping, and a way to invoice.
4. Put together a portfolio or proof of work that shows a client what you can do.
5. Pick a first-client route and contact ten people or businesses that week. Action beats planning.
6. Set money aside for taxes from your first payment and read the IRS estimated tax page so the first quarter does not surprise you.

If you are starting from zero, our how-to-start-freelancing guide fills in the details.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best self-employed job?

There's no single best one. It depends on your skills, any license you need, and how much irregular income you can handle. Use the ranked list to see how common self-employment is in each job, and the decision table to match the jobs to your situation.

What jobs are self-employed?

Any job where you work for yourself. According to BLS Table 1.2, among the 17 jobs in this list, the highest shares in 2025 were farmers and ranchers (66.9%), photographers (66.7%), writers and authors (64.8%), fine artists (62.8%) and craft artists (62.1%).

What is the easiest self-employed job?

"Easiest" depends on you, and no job is guaranteed easy money. Jobs with a "laptop and software" setup and no license, such as writing, graphic design or web development, have fewer steps before you can take a first client. You still need to find that client.

What is the highest paying self-employed job?

BLS Table 1.2 does not publish a self-employed pay figure per occupation. Among the 17 jobs here, the highest median wage is construction managers at $114,990 in 2025, but that describes wage and salary workers. Self-employed income varies with clients, rates and costs.

What do I need to start a self-employed job?

You need a service to sell, any license your state requires, a way to invoice and track income, insurance where relevant, and a first-client route. Under the U.S. Small Business Administration's rules, you are a sole proprietor by default if you do business without registering another entity.

Do I have to pay taxes if I am self-employed?

Yes. The IRS sets the self-employment tax rate at 15.3%, and you generally file if net self-employment earnings were $400 or more. You generally make estimated payments if you expect to owe $1,000 or more. This is general information, not tax advice.

Is self-employment the same as freelancing?

Not exactly. Freelancing is one common form of self-employment, where you sell a skill to clients project by project. Self-employment is broader: it also includes tradespeople, farmers and small-business owners who may sell products, not just services.

Ready to find your first client?

You may still be choosing between two or three jobs, and that's fine. The ranked list and the tables are meant to help you narrow the field before you put in real work.

When you're ready to see what clients are asking for, sign-up for freelancers on goLance is free, and the flat 7.95% platform fee can be split with the client. Browse the open listings, save the ones that match your job, and send your first proposal this week.