Independent Contractor Statistics (2026)
Independent contracting is one of the most common alternative work arrangements in the United States. Government surveys, industry research and policy studies measure it in different ways, from people whose main job is contracting to anyone who freelanced at some point in the year.
This page collects sourced figures on how many Americans work as independent contractors, freelancers and gig workers, what they earn, how they feel about their arrangement, and what it costs workers when employers misclassify employees as contractors.
40 statistics, each linked to its source. Updated .
Key statistics
- In July 2023, 11.9 million people in the US were independent contractors on their sole or main job, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- 11.9 million
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Contingent and Alternative Employment Arrangements Summary (July 2023)
- In 2023, 64 million Americans performed freelance work, according to the Upwork Research Institute's Freelance Forward survey.
- 64 million
- Upwork Research Institute, Freelance Forward 2023
- In July 2023, full-time independent contractors had median weekly earnings of $949 on their sole or main job, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- $949
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Contingent and Alternative Employment Arrangements Summary (July 2023)
- In July 2023, 80.3% of independent contractors preferred their work arrangement, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- 80.3%
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Contingent and Alternative Employment Arrangements Summary (July 2023)
- In 2025, a typical construction worker misclassified as an independent contractor would lose as much as $20,399 in annual income and job benefits, according to the Economic Policy Institute.
- $20,399
- Economic Policy Institute, Misclassifying workers as independent contractors is costly for workers and social insurance systems
How many independent contractors are there in the US?
In July 2023, 11.9 million people in the US were independent contractors on their sole or main job, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In July 2023, 1.9 million people were independent contractors on their second job, representing 22.8% of multiple jobholders, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Based primarily on 2017 data, the US Department of Labor estimated that 22.1 million people work as independent contractors in any job at a given time.
In July 2023, 6.9 million US workers held contingent (temporary or not expected to last) jobs as their sole or main job, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In July 2023, there were 2.8 million on-call workers in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In July 2023, 945,000 US workers were paid by a temporary help agency on their sole or main job, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In July 2023, 862,000 US workers were provided by contract firms on their sole or main job, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
How many Americans freelance or do gig work?
In 2023, 64 million Americans performed freelance work, according to the Upwork Research Institute's Freelance Forward survey.
In 2023, 38% of the US workforce performed freelance work, according to the Upwork Research Institute.
In 2023, US freelancers contributed $1.27 trillion in annual earnings to the US economy, according to the Upwork Research Institute.
In 2023, more than half (52%) of Gen Zers in the US performed freelance work, according to the Upwork Research Institute.
In 2023, 47% of US freelancers provided knowledge services such as programming, marketing, IT and business consulting, according to the Upwork Research Institute.
In 2026, a record 74.9 million Americans earned income independently, according to MBO Partners' State of Independence report.
In 2021, 16% of US adults had ever earned money from an online gig platform, according to Pew Research Center.
In 2021, 9% of US adults were current or recent gig workers who had earned money through an online gig platform in the past 12 months, according to Pew Research Center.
In 2021, 42% of lower income current or recent gig workers said gig work had been their main job over the past year, according to Pew Research Center.
Who works as an independent contractor?
In July 2023, 36% of US independent contractors were age 55 or older, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In July 2023, 8.7% of employed men were independent contractors, compared with 5.8% of employed women, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In July 2023, 70.7% of US independent contractors worked full time, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In July 2023, 28.1% of workers in arts, design, entertainment, sports and media occupations were independent contractors, the highest rate among the occupation groups the Bureau of Labor Statistics highlighted.
In July 2023, 18.5% of workers in the construction industry were independent contractors, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In July 2023, 84.6% of US independent contractors on their sole or main job were self-employed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
How much do independent contractors earn?
In July 2023, full-time independent contractors had median weekly earnings of $949 on their sole or main job, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In July 2023, full-time workers in traditional arrangements had median weekly earnings of $1,132 on their sole or main job, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In 2026, almost 6 million independent workers in the US earned more than $100,000 per year, according to MBO Partners.
In 2025, 58% of self-employed US adults said their income varied from month to month, according to the Federal Reserve.
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025
In 2025, 22% of self-employed US adults struggled to pay their bills in the prior 12 months because their income varied, according to the Federal Reserve.
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025
In July 2023, 74.2% of independent contractors had health insurance from any source, compared with 84.9% of workers in traditional arrangements, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Do independent contractors prefer their work arrangement?
In July 2023, 80.3% of independent contractors preferred their work arrangement, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In 2026, 78% of US independent professionals planned to stay independent or build larger businesses, according to MBO Partners.
In 2021, 56% of current or recent gig workers cited wanting to save up extra money as a major reason for doing gig work, according to Pew Research Center.
How much does worker misclassification cost?
In 2025, a typical construction worker misclassified as an independent contractor would lose as much as $20,399 in annual income and job benefits, according to the Economic Policy Institute.
In 2025, a typical truck driver misclassified as an independent contractor would lose as much as $23,266 a year, according to the Economic Policy Institute.
In 2025 dollars, misclassified truck drivers in New Jersey stood to lose as much as $31,326 a year in compensation, the highest state estimate, according to the Economic Policy Institute.
As of 2026, at least 18 states and the District of Columbia used the ABC test to determine employee status for certain workplace laws, according to the Economic Policy Institute.
In 2025 and 2026, lawmakers in at least 12 states proposed or passed legislation to address worker misclassification, according to the Economic Policy Institute.
Frequently asked questions
How many independent contractors are there in the US?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 11.9 million people who were independent contractors on their sole or main job in July 2023, or 7.4% of total employment. Counting contracting on any job, the Department of Labor estimated 22.1 million, based primarily on 2017 data.
How many Americans freelance?
The Upwork Research Institute found that 64 million Americans, or 38% of the US workforce, performed freelance work in 2023. MBO Partners reported that a record 74.9 million Americans earned income independently in 2026.
How much do independent contractors earn compared with employees?
In July 2023, full-time independent contractors had median weekly earnings of $949 on their sole or main job, compared with $1,132 for full-time workers in traditional arrangements, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Do independent contractors prefer being independent?
Yes, most do. In July 2023, 80.3% of independent contractors preferred their work arrangement, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and MBO Partners found that 78% of independent professionals planned to stay independent or build larger businesses in 2026.
How much does misclassification cost workers?
The Economic Policy Institute estimates that a typical construction worker misclassified as an independent contractor would lose as much as $20,399 a year in income and job benefits, and a typical truck driver as much as $23,266 (2025 dollars).
Cite this page
You are welcome to use these statistics. Please cite the original source of each number and link to this page:
Oakclause. "Independent Contractor Statistics (2026)." Updated October 2026. https://www.oakclause.com/statistics/independent-contractor-statistics
How we compiled these statistics
Every number comes from a published source that we opened and checked, mostly government agencies, academic research and established surveys. Each statement names the year the data refers to, and we keep the newest edition we could find. We do not combine numbers from different sources into new figures. Read our editorial policy.
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