Freelance rates decreasing in most sectors

The hourly rates for freelancers have decreased in most sectors. The average hourly rate freelancers charge this year is 44 euros, compared to 45 euros in 2014. This is according to freelancers job site Hoofdkraan.nl based on 13,500 tenders the company processed between May 2013 and May 2015. Freelancers working in the Financial and Administrative sector took the biggest blow with a 13 percent decrease in their hourly rate - from an average of 44 euros per hour in 2014 to 39 euros per hour this year. Marketeers saw their rates decrease by 23 percent to 48 euro per hour over the past two years. The highest earning freelancers in the Netherlands work as project managers, coaches and support staff. On average they charge 65 euros per hour. Translators, salesmen and secretaries are the worst off with an average hourly rate of 35 euros or lower. Of the five major cities, freelancers in Utrecht are the most expensive with an average hourly rate of 47 euros. This is followed by Rotterdam and Amsterdam with 46 euros and 44 euros per hour respectively. Free lancers in The Hague seem to be keeping their rates low to beat the competition. The average rate in the city is 37 euros per hour, 15 percent below the national average. Among the provinces, freelancers in Noord-Brabant are the most expensive, charging an average rate of 48 euros per hour. The cheapest freelancers can be found in Flevoland, where the average hourly rate is 33 euros. The province that showed the largest decrease is Drenthe, where the rate dropped from 47 euros last year to 42 euros in 2015. The rates charged for specific jobs shows a remarkable difference across the Netherlands. The writing of a business plan costs an average of 62 euros in Gelderland, while freelancers in Friesland will do the same job for 21 euros per hour. Friesland is also the cheapest for designing a logo or corporate identity at 28 euros per hour, compared to 51 euros per hour in Utrecht. Building an App is cheapest in Flevoland at 35 euros per hour, while Limburg freelancers charge 62 euros per hour.