Change your freelancer's hourly rate

On Upwork, only clients can raise a freelancer’s hourly rate, and only freelancers can lower it. To increase the rate, use the “Increase rate” option in the contract’s (...) menu. Changes apply immediately to future hours; past logged hours are paid at the previous rate.

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Are you an Enterprise customer? If you are enrolled in Compliance Services, please contact your Enterprise Program Success Manager to make contract changes.

Raise the rate on an hourly contract

1. Locate the contract on your workspace dashboard
2. Open the (...) options menu and select Increase rate

3. Enter the new rate and choose Save Changes

   Note: On Upwork, only your freelancer can lower a contract’s hourly rate and only you can raise it.

Important to know:

1. The new rate will take effect immediately for future logged hours. Hours the freelancer has already logged will be paid at the previous rate. 

2. If you want to lower the hourly rate in the future, either ask your freelancer to do so (here's how they can) or end the contract and rehire your freelancer at a lower rate.

3. If your contract includes an automatic rate increase, you'll need to create a new contract by ending the current contract and rehiring your freelancer. Learn about scheduled rate increases here.