A reported analysis of freelance marketplace data points to gender-based rate gaps among photographers, videographers, and video editors, although the underlying figures should be read as platform-rate findings rather than a complete picture of the freelance market.
The report, attributed to Remitly for Freelancers, is said to have reviewed hourly rates from more than 58,000 freelancers across major work categories on Upwork. Because the data reflects listed or observed freelance rates from a marketplace, it does not necessarily capture final negotiated pay, off-platform clients, project fees, local market differences, or experience level. Still, for photographers and video professionals who use hourly pricing as a benchmark, the findings offer a useful warning: public rate comparisons can shape buyer expectations and freelancer pricing decisions.
Where the Biggest Photography Gaps Appear
According to the Remitly-cited figures, the sharpest photography-specific gap appears in real estate photography. Women real estate photographers were reported to charge an average of $21.98 per hour, compared with $28.14 for men. That works out to a stated gap of 21.9%.
Wedding photography showed a smaller but still notable difference in the same dataset. Women wedding photographers were reported at $26.94 per hour on average, while men were listed at $29.85, a gap of 9.8%.
| Freelance role | Women’s reported average hourly rate | Men’s reported average hourly rate | Reported gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real estate photographer | $21.98 | $28.14 | 21.9% |
| Wedding photographer | $26.94 | $29.85 | 9.8% |
For buyers, those numbers should not be treated as a recommended pricing target. Lower hourly rates do not automatically mean better value, and higher rates do not automatically guarantee better work. A more useful comparison is the photographer’s portfolio, rights included, turnaround time, editing depth, licensing terms, travel fees, and reliability on similar jobs.
Creative Roles Beyond Photography
The wider design and creative category reportedly showed women charging less than men in seven of the eight roles analyzed. Roles mentioned in the report include YouTube video editors, Instagram Reels editors, and videographers.
The largest reported gap in that broader creative grouping was for YouTube video editors, at 23.4%. Across the design and creative category overall, the report put the gender rate gap at 9.3%. Across freelancers globally, it cited a wider 19% gap between women and men.
Those figures are best understood as rate signals, not a full wage audit. Freelance marketplaces mix beginners, specialists, agencies, part-time workers, and experienced professionals in the same search environment. Hourly rates can also be affected by location, currency strategy, profile visibility, client type, and whether freelancers price low to win early reviews.
What Freelancers and Clients Should Take From It
For freelancers, the practical takeaway is to avoid setting rates only by copying visible competitors. A sustainable rate should account for unpaid admin time, editing, revisions, equipment, insurance, taxes, software, client communication, licensing, and time spent finding work.
For clients hiring photographers or video editors, the data is a reminder to compare proposals carefully instead of assuming the lowest hourly rate is the fairest or most efficient choice. A quote that looks cheaper upfront can become more expensive if it excludes editing, usage rights, reshoots, rush delivery, or clear revision limits.
A previous 2024 report compiled by Ondeck was cited as pointing in a similar direction for U.S. photographers, with men reportedly earning about $25 more per hour than women. That same earlier report was also said to show the reverse pattern for freelance videographers, with women charging around $121.67 per hour compared with $74.25 for men. Because those figures come from a separate analysis, they should be compared cautiously rather than treated as a direct continuation of the Remitly dataset.
The broader point is less about a single universal rate and more about transparency. Freelance creative work is often priced in private, negotiated case by case, and shaped by confidence as much as by skill. Public benchmarks can help, but only when freelancers and buyers use them as a starting point rather than a ceiling.