My expertise is infrastructure, Linux, Java and SQL. But I usually build web applications for my clients. Most of my sales has happened through networking where friends or earlier colleagues has recommended me. It's much harder to go to "regular" companies because I'm just a guy who is not employed. Freelancers are almost non-existent here in Norway and those who are freelancers are usually considered to be unable to get a real job.
I love the freedom, the daily variation where I either talk to clients, do accounting or coding. I also love that if the weather is nice outside I can shut off my computer and go out and enjoy the sun. Another plus is that I usually get to choose what technology stack I will be working with. Which really makes me happy as I can usually focus on solving problems for the client and not spending time looking for documentation that is either badly written or not existing at all. When I solve something quickly, my clients also get extra happy!
What I do miss is more social interaction with other people. I spend a lot of alone, solving technical challenges alone and so on. I would love to have some one to do technical discussions with more often.
My specialties are roughly in the space of data science. I have one really consistent client that provides a base. I helped build and now maintain a system that scrapes data from multiple web sites and then we combine that data into a cleaned integrated view of the market that drives automated buying and selling for a portion of their business. I put in 8 to 12 hours weekly keeping an eye on the system, doing analysis to ensure data quality, finding emerging market trends, and analyses of the data sets to support more strategic business decisions.
Projects for other clients include technical writing and developing web based reporting applications that layer over legacy systems. I have also gone into companies and just did a week of working with a small R&D group to be an outside catalyst - shake up their thinking and get a fresh perspective.
I have found work through network of friends and former co-workers. I also maintain a site with some of my own writing and interviews with people that I find interesting. http://computationalimagination.com/interviews.php
I charge in the range of $80 to $130 an hour depending on the type of work and the client. I am on track to bill about 800-900 hours this year.
I work mostly on upwork projects. Located in AL(local jobs are EXTREMLY shitty). Started 2 years ago @10$/hour, currently @ 34$/hour. 62K last 2 years (only did fulltime ~8 months). Mostly backend, sometimes full-stack (no fancy angular though). After building a profile it's pretty easy to get new jobs. Nice if you live in cheap country.
Pros: Compared to local it's insanely better(local sucks). Better than a job I got in NL doing back-end-python for 42€. Better compared to a remote-job I got in Ireland for @20$/hour. Work from your toilet etc. Cool way to build portfolio. Sucks if you are in (expensive place to live) etc.
Cons: Ceiling is at about 40-50/hour so I'm getting out. Always be on the lookout outside (ex: went to final stages of job for 2.5x my income which I found on other site).
How to do it: Apply to small jobs and ask only for rating(they will still pay you). Get 5stars rating. Incrementally apply to bigger jobs by building your cv and successfully doing them all. Focus + be expert in an area (only way for humanity to advance).
I want from a job: great payment or free time to work on my stuff(strict 8 hours) or crazy stuff + getting smarter at work (don't have time to get smart on weekends). Hopefully it has them all (they exist!).
I've heard contrary things about Upwork from people in the U.S. saying they didn't really land nice contracts until after they went above $50-$60/hr gigs. Not sure if it only works for people located in the U.S., but with your English skills, I doubt you'd run into the same issues as a lot of non-U.S. based devs.
Of course projects get better and client treats/respects you better the more $ you get.
What I mean, if you go above certain $, then US/CA/AU is your only employer. EU is a cheap client. It's why they'll never have a "San Francisco" (other reasons being not homogen market + no investors).
ps: It's strange for people to mention 2-letter-country-codes with states and not countries.
I didn't realize the platform blocks you by location, but I guess that makes sense if that is what the customers want. Thanks for the explanation.
I do web & mobile dev, mainly the latter these days.
Annually bringing in around £160k - but that's a recent thing - good few years of £10-30k before I really found my feet.
Hard to really gauge the pros/cons with regard to FTE as I was never much use as an employee, I did little and was paid less (went full time freelance when my first side job earned me 6 months wages). I am naturally lazy and can procrastinate for days sometimes (before going on a mad streak) but I'm getting better at that. Don't think I could ever go back to working for someone else.