So, you want to pack in your full time job and make a go of it as a freelancer. It’s not a terrible idea.

In recent years we’ve seen what pundits are referring to as the “rise of the freelance economy.” More and more people are pursuing independent careers, and, according to Forbes, more organizations are seeking an on-demand workforce. Technology’s facilitating of the remote workforce model means the entire workplace paradigm is changing.

Today, independent contractors and temp workers make up 15% of the workforce – up from 7% in 2005 – and that number is expected to grow to nearly 20% by 2020. Freelancers alone are reportedly expected to grow from 7% to 16% of the workforce, and in just 2014, businesses will spend half a billion dollars hiring remote freelance workers.

This means employers can hire for short stints, and only for specific jobs they needs done, and that workers get flexibility of schedule and location. It’s win win! As long as you can find enough work that pays good money.

To that end, here’s an infographic listing the top 20 highest-paying freelance skills by the hour. The numbers come from the combined databases of Elance.com and oDesk.com, pulling from Jan. 1 to May 31 of this year, reports Business Insider.

At the top are patent law and voice acting, but you can still do OK – not “buy a house in downtown Toronto ” OK, but “rent an place in the suburbs” OK – testing mobile apps.

top_paying_freelance_skills

See also:
High-paying part-time jobs
10 jobs that let you retire early
10 jobs that can make you a millionaire
The highest and lowest paying jobs in Canada
10 surprisingly high-paying jobs