How to Become a Freelance Computer Scientist in 2024

Freelancing is another way some computer science professionals choose. Working as a freelancer can include contract, part-time, or temporary gigs, though some freelance positions become permanent. Depending on your goals, experience, and budget, freelancing can be your primary role or something you do to subsidize income from another position.

A job board search is typically the best approach to finding freelance work. LinkedIn, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter are among the best examples, but you can find many others. Specify freelance in the search bar to narrow the results.

While not for everyone, freelancing can be a great way to make a living. Read on to learn more about this approach to computer science work.

Freelance vs. In-house Computer Scientist

Most Computer Scientists work as in-house employees at private companies or governmental agencies. However, the number of freelancers across all industries, including computer science, continues to grow. The gig economy now makes up around one-third of the workforce in the United States.

Whereas in-house Computer Scientists may enjoy stable employment and benefits like paid time off, freelancers may prefer having no bosses. The tradeoff between deciding how and where to work and having the security of a full-time job is well-documented. If you want to supplement your income or run your own business, freelancing might be for you.

Benefits & Potential Challenges of Computer Scientist Freelancing

The greatest potential challenge of computer science freelancing can be finding clients. Still, there are always new opportunities available for those seeking freelance gigs. Consider the following advantages or drawbacks of freelancing.

Potential Benefits

• Higher earnings - Freelancing can make you more money than you have ever earned, or it can lead to the lowest-paying period of your work life. Consider the pros and cons of sporadic or inconsistent work before you commit to freelancing full-time.
• Control over scheduling and workload - A flexible schedule you create can be one of the primary advantages of freelancing—especially if you have other obligations like caring for young children or aging parents.
• The ability to work remotely - Working from home has become much more common since COVID-19, and many workers have been able to avoid returning to the office. For freelancers, remote work is part of their routine.
• No annual reviews - Unless you ask clients for reviews, you won't have to worry about getting a negative one. However, online reviews on Yelp or Google are always possible, so you must excel in your freelance work.

Potential Challenges

• Business management responsibilities - Running a business is part of being a freelancer. Be sure you are ready to be President, Human Resources, and Payroll.
• Lack of benefits or PTO - Full-time employees typically get benefits like sick days, healthcare, or a 401(k). If you work full-time running your own business, you must provide benefits for yourself--which won't include paid sick days.
• Inconsistent income - The ups and downs of freelance work can be too much for someone accustomed to a steady paycheck.
• Working solo - Similarly, working alone at home doesn't suit everyone. If you need that office culture, full-time freelancing might not be for you.

What is a Computer Scientist?

The expression Computer Scientist refers to a broad category of computer science roles, including numerous titles. Positions for Computer Scientists can include titles like:

• Applied Scientist
• Computational Scientist
• Computer Vision Scientist
• Cybersecurity Research Scientist
• Machine Learning Scientist
• Research Scientist
• Staff Scientist

These are a few of the many titles these skilled professionals can hold. It can be challenging to determine which online job listings are not Computer Scientist if they have the word Scientist in them. However, here are some of the commonalities among Computer Scientist roles overall:

Typical Responsibilities

Job responsibilities for Computer Scientists vary, depending on level, industry, and title. Computer Scientist roles can require research, communication, mathematics, innovation, and writing for publications. Their tasks can relate to software, hardware, networks, and computer programming languages.

Reporting Structure for This Position

Many Computer Scientists work on large projects for teams, although some may work independently for research and development. They may work in business, medicine, government, system administration, data science, or other fields. Computer Scientists may report to management or team leaders.

Typical Working Environment

While there is no typical working environment for Computer Scientists due to the diversity of positions, a team approach is the most common. In addition to their combination of technical skills, Computer Scientists of all types should expect to use multiple soft skills (communication, time management, attention to detail) to work well with managers, engineers, programmers, and other specialists.

What is Computer Science Freelancing Like?

Computer science freelancers work in varying roles, including Programmers, Analysts, and Support Specialists. If you want to freelance as a Computer Scientist, your best bet may be in a position as a Computer and Information Research Scientist or Computer Network Architect. These roles are in such high demand that you will likely find more opportunities than as a freelance Systems Analyst or Computer Programmer.

Freelancers find work like anyone else, scanning job search platforms like LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, Indeed, Monster, and CareerBuilder, or gig work sites like UpWork and Fiverr. Most find the best opportunities through job search platforms, networking, or professional organizations.

Contract negotiation is an essential skill for freelancers, and the highest-paying gigs may come from savvy negotiating. On the other hand, new freelancers must understand that not all clients are open to negotiation. Be prepared to accept or reject a fixed-rate contract offer.

Client communication is always crucial, and the best freelancers use their clients’ preferred methods. Messaging apps like Slack, online meeting platforms like Zoom, and old-fashioned email are all still popular communication methods in tech roles.

Is Computer Science Freelancing Right for Me?

Only you can say with any degree of certainty whether freelancing is right for you. The challenges are easy to see—running a business, always looking for new gigs, and the lack of healthcare or other benefits are enough to make many people hesitate. Conversely, workers with the appropriate temperament find the benefits of freelancing part- or even full-time rewarding. If you want to work for yourself, choose your working hours, and decide which clients to serve, computer science freelancing might be the perfect lifestyle and career.

Steps to Become a Freelance Computer Scientist

Learn Business Skills

In addition to all the skills of a regular Computer Scientist, future freelance Computer Scientists will need to learn skills for running their own business, such as finance and contract law, and marketing their business, such as web design and social media marketing. Freelance Computer Scientists who plan to contract consultants to help run their small business should have a basic understanding of these areas to understand what type of outsourcing they will need to support their freelance work.

Learn the Skills to Become a Computer Scientist at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop offers multiple training options for students planning to learn computer science, in-person and online through teleconferencing. Topics include web development, data science programming, and software engineering. Consider the following programs:

• Data Science Certificate - One of Noble Desktop’s most popular programs, this course includes Python training as part of a more comprehensive data science curriculum. Attendees learn Python fundamentals like database analysis, automation, and formatting. You’ll also master other topics like SQL and machine learning.
• Full-Stack Web Development Certificate - The Full-Stack Web Development Certificate course provides students with intensive, comprehensive front and back-end coding training, teaching them to build and maintain websites. Through hands-on projects, the students will learn CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, SQL, Python, and Django, eventually becoming proficient in designing and developing complete web applications.
• Python Developer Certificate - The curriculum for this in-depth certificate program includes a 60-hour unit on Python Web Development with Django. In this intensive course, you’ll learn about URL dispatchers, automation, GitHub, and SQL. Attendees should have some experience with HTML and CSS before enrolling.
• Python Programming Bootcamp - The Python Programming Bootcamp is an intensive course designed to thoroughly immerse students in Python, one of the most sought-after programming languages in the tech industry. Not only will students be introduced to the basics of writing and running Python scripts, but they will also delve into more advanced topics such as file operations, regular expressions, working with binary data, and leveraging the extensive functionality of Python libraries.
• JavaScript Development Certificate - The JavaScript Development Certificate covers programming and development basics, including object-oriented programming (OOP), variables, arrays, string methods, and more. Tools and techniques include the MERN tech stack (MongoDB, Express, React, and Node), Visual Studio Code, Git, and GitHub. The course comprises eight 1-on-1 mentoring sessions, and graduates can retake the program for up to one year at no additional charge. Applicants should be familiar with HTML/CSS before enrollment.