For many, just the thought of being on their own without the safety of a company behind them is enough to put them off from doing it.
Self-Employment
Description
You’re your own boss, accountant, marketer, and occasionally IT support. It’s chaos wrapped in freedom—with a side of “where did my weekends go?”
Responsibilities
- Varies wildly—from bookkeeping to client acquisition, invoicing to inventory
- You’re juggling operations, finance, marketing, and compliance—all under one entrepreneurial hat
Pay range (U.S.)
- No unified salary—depends on trade, scale, and hustle
- Self-employed median income often trails regular employees; but standout niches can be lucrative.
Requirements
- No universal credential—depends on the industry
- Often need trade certifications, business licensing, marketing know-how
Workforce Size in the United States
- 9.1 million unincorporated self-employed workers (2023), ~5.7% of nonfarm employment.
- Back in 2015, 15 million were self-employed (10.1% of the workforce).
Yoga pants? Pajama suit. You work for you—but oh, do you earn those breaks.
A New Chapter: Why Going Self-Employed Might Be Your Next Career Move
Interested in a career change? Have you had a business concept in mind for a while? Do you dream of being your boss?