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A new Upwork report has revealed that AI-focused jobs are significantly shaping income trends in 2025, with freelancers blending AI tools into their existing skill sets seeing far higher earnings than their peers. The data shows how artificial intelligence is not just changing how work is done on freelance platforms but is also driving major shifts in income across the global gig economy.
According to the Upwork data, freelancers engaged in AI-related fields have experienced a 25% jump in earnings over the past year. Even more striking, on average, these roles pay over 40% more per hour than jobs unrelated to AI. This highlights how AI is propelling income trends in 2025, especially for professionals who integrate AI into domains like graphic design or machine learning.
Kelly Monahan, managing director at the Upwork Research Institute, explained that the biggest beneficiaries are those with strong existing expertise who incorporate AI tools into their workflows. This trend underscores how AI is boosting rather than replacing specialized skills, allowing experienced freelancers to command premium rates.
Businesses Still Prefer Humans Augmenting AI Over Full Automation
Interestingly, the report also found that despite AI’s rapid rise, most companies are cautious about full automation. Upwork data shows employers prefer human talent that leverages AI as a supportive tool over entirely automated systems. Roles where workers use AI to augment their tasks outnumber fully automated positions by more than two to one.
This cautious embrace of AI mirrors findings from Anthropic, which previously noted that managers are more likely to trust humans working with AI than autonomous systems running independently.
While simple, repetitive coding jobs have seen a dip, demand for seasoned developers tackling more complex projects remains strong. Freelancers dedicating at least a quarter of their work to coding now earn 11% more than they did in late 2022, around when ChatGPT first gained global attention.
Meanwhile, a growing practice called “vibe coding”—using AI to write code without deep technical knowledge—is opening doors for a new type of generalist who blends design and development with AI help. This evolution continues to redefine freelance opportunities and shape income trends in 2025.
