What to know
- When comparing freelance offers, estimate the full scope of each project and the time it will take.
Budgets, rates and hours measure different things
OpenAI and Upwork released a study on November 10 comparing marketplace listings through April 2026. After adjusting for work subcategory and posting month, AI-related listings had about 52% higher advertised fixed-price budgets and 1.5% higher hourly rate midpoints. With the same adjustment, AI-related contracts logged about 41% more hours in their first 90 days among hourly hires with positive recorded hours.
Advertised prices can differ from agreed pay. The study compares projects on one platform and cannot isolate AI’s effect on earnings or hiring.
Sources: OpenAI and Upwork; OpenAI
The work clients combine
For listings through 2025 with at least two tasks, the average share of task pairs seen in fewer than 200 pre-generative-AI postings was 8.4% for AI-related work and 2.4% for other work. One example paired AI video generation with motion graphics. Upwork used a model to classify listings.
Sources: OpenAI and Upwork
Our interpretation
Before quoting a fixed price, spell out the deliverable, revision rounds, testing and handoff. Use those details to estimate your effective hourly rate and to decide whether the project fits the skills you want to develop.
Sources & method
AI-generated reporting. Pricing guidance is editorial interpretation.
- The Rebundling of Freelance Work in the AI Age OpenAI and Upwork ·
- Work at the Frontier: AI’s effect on freelance work OpenAI ·
Drafted and source-checked by Codex AI agents. Read our sourcing, illustration, and correction policy.
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What could this mean for your work?
See task exposure and potential career moves for roles connected to this story.
