How to read these rates
Employee references are annual US median wages for the cited BLS occupation, which may cover several career paths. Freelance examples add $15,000 for benefits and $20,000 for business costs, then divide by 1,200 billable hours a year. Annual figures are rounded to the nearest $1,000 and hourly figures to the nearest dollar. Figures are before personal taxes, with no percentage fees. Open a guide to see the source or adjust the assumptions in the calculator.
Defense
- Employee reference
- $82K/yr
- Freelance example
- $98/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Logisticians
Plan support and maintenance logistics for unclassified, nonoperational scenarios. Compare capacity, lead times, and service requirements while documenting assumptions that limit the usefulness of a proposed support arrangement.
View career → Defense Logistics Planner
Defense
- Employee reference
- $89K/yr
- Freelance example
- $103/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Operations Research Analysts
Analyze authorized maintenance records for unclassified support equipment. Help teams understand recurring faults, record quality, and service patterns without exposing sensitive operational information or overstating prediction accuracy.
View career → Defense Maintenance Data Analyst
Defense
- Employee reference
- $102K/yr
- Freelance example
- $115/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Industrial Engineers
Improve documented manufacturing workflows for unclassified components and support equipment. Connect process evidence, inspection needs, and production constraints while reserving technical release and controlled changes for authorized reviewers.
View career → Defense Manufacturing Engineer
Defense
- Employee reference
- $78K/yr
- Freelance example
- $94/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Buyers and purchasing agents
Support purchasing analysis for ordinary unclassified goods and services. Compare specifications, supplier evidence, and commercial terms while maintaining documented evaluation rules and leaving award decisions to authorized procurement officials.
View career → Defense Procurement Analyst
Defense
- Employee reference
- $102K/yr
- Freelance example
- $114/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Project management specialists
Evaluate schedules, dependencies, and reported progress in unclassified defense programs. Help decision-makers compare options using clear assumptions rather than treating planned milestones or available funding as guaranteed delivery.
View career → Defense Program Analyst
Defense
- Employee reference
- $77K/yr
- Freelance example
- $93/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Writers and authors
Help teams assemble coherent responses to public, unclassified defense opportunities. Align evidence, requirements, responsibilities, and review schedules while keeping unsupported capabilities or approval claims out of proposal narratives.
View career → Defense Proposal Strategist
Defense
- Employee reference
- $102K/yr
- Freelance example
- $115/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Industrial Engineers
Review manufacturing and verification evidence for unclassified defense-related products. Translate requirements into quality questions and traceable findings while preserving designated authority for product acceptance and release.
View career → Defense Quality Engineer
Defense
- Employee reference
- $90K/yr
- Freelance example
- $105/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Technical writers
Organize unclassified program records so authorized users can find evidence and understand retention responsibilities. Maintain version, access, and disposition records without independently deciding restricted information handling or legal retention obligations.
View career → Defense Records Management Specialist
Defense
- Employee reference
- $102K/yr
- Freelance example
- $115/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Industrial Engineers
Evaluate reliability evidence for unclassified equipment and support processes. Compare failure definitions, maintenance records, and uncertainty while distinguishing limited observations from a justified claim about future performance.
View career → Defense Reliability Engineer
Defense
- Employee reference
- $104K/yr
- Freelance example
- $116/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
Evaluate software assurance evidence for unclassified support applications. Connect requirements, tests, dependencies, and change records so reviewers can judge software quality without unsupported claims that all failures have been eliminated.
View career → Defense Software Assurance Engineer
Defense
- Employee reference
- $82K/yr
- Freelance example
- $98/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Logisticians
Assess sourcing and continuity risks for unclassified defense supply chains. Connect part requirements, supplier records, and delivery assumptions while respecting restrictions on technical information and authorized purchasing decisions.
View career → Defense Supply Chain Analyst
Defense
- Employee reference
- $102K/yr
- Freelance example
- $115/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Industrial Engineers
Build simulations for unclassified maintenance, training, or administrative planning questions. Make model assumptions and validation limits explicit while avoiding operational targeting, weapons performance, or sensitive deployment scenarios.
View career → Defense Support Simulation Engineer
Defense
- Employee reference
- $135K/yr
- Freelance example
- $142/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Aerospace Engineers
Translate unclassified program needs into traceable requirements and verification questions. Coordinate interfaces and decisions without assuming that a complete requirements document proves a system's operational suitability.
View career → Defense Systems Requirements Engineer
Defense
- Employee reference
- $90K/yr
- Freelance example
- $105/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Technical writers
Create clear unclassified technical documents for civilian support, training, or program administration. Maintain source permissions and review records so simplification does not expose controlled information or conceal important limitations.
View career → Defense Technical Writer
Defense
- Employee reference
- $102K/yr
- Freelance example
- $114/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Management analysts
Coordinate movement of unclassified research concepts toward approved civilian support applications. Connect evidence maturity, stakeholder needs, and development dependencies without promising procurement success or readiness beyond available validation.
View career → Defense Technology Transition Manager
Defense
- Employee reference
- $135K/yr
- Freelance example
- $142/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Aerospace Engineers
Plan verification evidence for unclassified civilian support systems. Connect test cases with requirements, configuration records, and limitations rather than treating a successful demonstration as proof of complete suitability.
View career → Defense Test Evaluation Engineer
Defense
- Employee reference
- $69K/yr
- Freelance example
- $87/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Training and development specialists
Develop learning materials for unclassified civilian support and administrative tasks. Align objectives, practice activities, and assessments while maintaining subject-matter review and appropriate boundaries around restricted operational knowledge.
View career → Defense Training Specialist
Business & leadership coaching
- Employee reference
- $102K/yr
- Freelance example
- $114/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Management analysts
Helps leaders transfer work with clearer outcomes, decision boundaries, and support, examining why tasks repeatedly return to managers or depend on informal oversight.
View career → Delegation coach
Transport & logistics
- Employee reference
- $102K/yr
- Freelance example
- $114/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Management analysts
Organizes delivery workflows, staffing, communication, and exception handling so customers and operations teams can understand responsibilities when plans change.
View career → Delivery operations manager
Design
- Employee reference
- $79K/yr
- Freelance example
- $95/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Market research analysts
Organize participant recruitment, study schedules, research assets, and consent workflows so researchers can carry out consistent and traceable studies.
View career → Design research operations coordinator
Cross-industry
- Employee reference
- $104K/yr
- Freelance example
- $116/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Web and digital interface designers
A design systems designer creates reusable interface patterns and rules for product teams. The role improves consistency and collaboration by connecting accessible components, design guidance, and practical governance across products.
View career → Design systems designer
Travel & hospitality
- Employee reference
- $72K/yr
- Freelance example
- $89/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
Coordinate relationships and joint activities among destination organizations, venues, or experience providers while keeping shared expectations, commitments, and approval routes visible.
View career → Destination partnerships coordinator
Travel & hospitality
- Employee reference
- $77K/yr
- Freelance example
- $93/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Writers and authors
Investigate practical destination information and experience options through reliable sources so planners can compare suitability, constraints, and details needing direct confirmation.
View career → Destination research specialist
Software & AI
- Employee reference
- $136K/yr
- Freelance example
- $142/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Software Developers
Build tools and workflows that help developers complete everyday tasks reliably. Evaluate setup friction, documentation, and user feedback while avoiding a new abstraction that adds maintenance without solving a demonstrated problem.
View career → Developer Experience Engineer
Content writing
- Employee reference
- $78K/yr
- Freelance example
- $94/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Editors
Help an author resolve structural, argumentative, or narrative problems before sentence-level polishing through prioritized feedback and a practical revision plan.
View career → Developmental editor
Cross-industry
- Employee reference
- $99K/yr
- Freelance example
- $112/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Network and Computer Systems Administrators
Improve how software moves from a developer change to a reliable release. DevOps engineers connect build automation, deployment controls, and operational feedback so teams can find failures and recover with less confusion.
View career → DevOps Engineer
Nutrition & wellness coaching
- Employee reference
- $64K/yr
- Freelance example
- $83/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Health Education Specialists
Provides structured diabetes education within professional qualifications and care-team protocols, helping people understand agreed care information without exceeding authorized clinical responsibilities.
View career → Diabetes education specialist
Music & audio
- Employee reference
- $73K/yr
- Freelance example
- $90/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Sound engineering technicians
Assemble usable dialogue from production recordings while maintaining continuity, intelligibility, and transparent editorial decisions.
View career → Dialogue editor
Negotiation & communication coaching
- Employee reference
- $69K/yr
- Freelance example
- $87/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Training and development specialists
Structures sensitive group conversations so participants understand the purpose, boundaries, and decision process, using facilitation appropriate to consent, power differences, and the issue involved.
View career → Difficult conversations facilitator
Fintech & financial services
- Employee reference
- $104K/yr
- Freelance example
- $116/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Web and digital interface designers
Designs understandable banking interfaces around user goals, financial comprehension, accessibility, and trustworthy communication of balances, permissions, and transaction status.
View career → Digital banking UX designer
Architecture & construction
- Employee reference
- $115K/yr
- Freelance example
- $125/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Construction Managers
Coordinate digital information practices across construction teams and project stages. Align models, records, responsibilities, and handovers while ensuring digital process decisions do not replace licensed design or contractual approvals.
View career → Digital Construction Manager
Education & learning
- Employee reference
- $69K/yr
- Freelance example
- $87/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Training and development specialists
Organize the criteria, evidence records, issuance steps, and maintenance responsibilities behind a learning credential so its meaning remains clear to participants and reviewers.
View career → Digital credential coordinator
Cybersecurity & IT
- Employee reference
- $129K/yr
- Freelance example
- $137/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Information Security Analysts
Examine authorized digital evidence using documented preservation and analysis practices. Distinguish observations from interpretations while respecting privacy, legal process, and the limits of conclusions drawn from incomplete records.
View career → Digital Forensics Analyst
Media & entertainment
- Employee reference
- $75K/yr
- Freelance example
- $92/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Camera operators, television, video, and film
Support camera-to-postproduction consistency through image checks, recorded settings, monitoring references, and coordination of the production's agreed color and media workflow.
View career → Digital imaging technician
Public sector & nonprofit
- Employee reference
- $69K/yr
- Freelance example
- $87/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Training and development specialists
Support adults practicing everyday digital tasks through accessible instruction, patient feedback, and clear boundaries around personal information or actions the learner must control.
View career → Digital inclusion trainer
Cross-industry
- Employee reference
- $167K/yr
- Freelance example
- $168/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Marketing managers
A digital marketing strategist coordinates audience research, channels, and measurement around a business objective. The value is a realistic plan that connects available resources with priorities, experiments, and clear decisions.
View career → Digital marketing strategist
Design
- Employee reference
- $63K/yr
- Freelance example
- $82/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Graphic designers
Design screen-based publications that balance responsive reading, navigation, multimedia behavior, and accessible content structure.
View career → Digital publication designer
Content creation
- Employee reference
- $75K/yr
- Freelance example
- $92/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Camera operators, television, video, and film
Combine interviews, photographs, sound, and text into a coherent audience journey with a clear point of view and traceable source material.
View career → Digital storytelling producer
Healthcare technology
- Employee reference
- $89K/yr
- Freelance example
- $103/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Operations Research Analysts
Analyzes product use and evidence questions for digital therapeutic services, separating engagement metrics from clinical effectiveness and preserving qualified ownership of treatment claims.
View career → Digital therapeutics product analyst
Content creation
- Employee reference
- $78K/yr
- Freelance example
- $94/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Editors
Curate a cohesive independent digital publication while balancing contributors, editorial standards, accessibility, and a manageable issue-production process.
View career → Digital zine editor
Cybersecurity & IT
- Employee reference
- $102K/yr
- Freelance example
- $114/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Project management specialists
Coordinate documented technology recovery plans around business priorities and verified dependencies. Clarify responsibilities, recovery objectives, and exercise evidence without promising that a plan will prevent every loss or interruption.
View career → Disaster Recovery Planner
Optical & photonics
- Employee reference
- $47K/yr
- Freelance example
- $69/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Opticians, Dispensing
Help customers obtain correctly specified eyewear by combining fitting measurements, frame and lens knowledge, order accuracy, and clear communication with the prescribing eye-care professional.
View career → Dispensing Optician
Software & AI
- Employee reference
- $136K/yr
- Freelance example
- $142/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Software Developers
Design services that coordinate across machines and failures. Make consistency, retry, ordering, and recovery assumptions explicit so a successful happy-path demonstration does not conceal data loss or duplicate business actions.
View career → Distributed Systems Engineer
Transport & logistics
- Employee reference
- $82K/yr
- Freelance example
- $98/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Logisticians
Compares distribution structures using demand, service, capacity, and cost assumptions, explaining uncertainty and practical dependencies before recommending a network change.
View career → Distribution network analyst
Media & entertainment
- Employee reference
- $77K/yr
- Freelance example
- $93/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Writers and authors
Investigate a nonfiction production's central questions through reliable sources, interview preparation, and clear separation between documented facts and untested story hypotheses.
View career → Documentary researcher
Cross-industry
- Employee reference
- $90K/yr
- Freelance example
- $105/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Technical writers
A documentation specialist organizes and maintains reliable instructions, procedures, and reference material. The role makes operational knowledge easier to find and update, reducing dependence on informal explanations and outdated files.
View career → Documentation specialist
Design
- Employee reference
- $63K/yr
- Freelance example
- $82/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Graphic designers
Build reusable document structures that help teams produce consistent, readable material without redesigning every new page or report.
View career → Document template designer
Public sector & nonprofit
- Employee reference
- $77K/yr
- Freelance example
- $93/hr
BLS · May 2025 · Writers and authors
Explain an organization's work and funding needs through credible stories, clear requests, and evidence that respects the people represented in the material.
View career → Donor communications writer