{"id":17694,"date":"2025-03-04T10:55:33","date_gmt":"2025-03-04T09:55:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.accountable.eu\/?p=17694"},"modified":"2025-03-04T10:55:34","modified_gmt":"2025-03-04T09:55:34","slug":"average-self-employed-salary-belgium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.accountable.eu\/en-be\/blog\/average-self-employed-salary-belgium\/","title":{"rendered":"Average salaries of the self-employed in Belgium \u2013 who earns the most?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Are you attracted by the benefits of freelancing, but you still have doubts about the financial side? We get it. Because when you\u2019re self-employed, your income can fluctuate from one month to the next. And this financial uncertainty holds some people back from making the leap.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, some independent professions seem to earn more than others. Is this really the case and to what extent? Accountable has done some digging for you. Here are the top 5 independent professions in Belgium that (typically) earn the most.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The average income of a self-employed person<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Are you wondering how much a freelancer earns in Belgium? The first thing to look at is the average hourly rate.<\/strong> Because freelancers charge different rates. The amount you can charge depends on aspects like your experience, expertise and age.<\/strong> Not to mention the sector of activity, which plays an important role in the rates you set when you\u2019re self-employed.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, don’t forget that there are exceptions to every rule. And that’s normal, because being your own boss means that you decide your own hourly or daily rate. The average amounts below are just an indication, nothing more. Rates are per hour, excluding VAT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The highest paid independent professions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. Liberal professions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

What are the most lucrative professions for the self-employed? At the top of the list are liberal professions,<\/strong> such as notaries, bailiffs and architects.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s worth mentioning that there are quite significant differences between these different categories. In addition, hourly rates within the same independent profession vary greatly depending on individual specialisations.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The average hourly rate for notaries<\/strong> tends to be the highest, at around \u20ac200 to \u20ac250 per hour.<\/strong> Next come bailiffs, with an average rate of \u20ac175 per hour,<\/strong> then lawyers, at \u20ac125 per hour.<\/strong> Architects, on the other hand, charge average prices of between \u20ac75 and \u20ac120<\/strong> per hour<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it\u2019s rare that you pay an architect, bailiff or notary by the hour.<\/strong> Typically, these independent professionals work on the basis of fixed prices for a specific service, or charge a percentage of the total price of your project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Paramedical professions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Self-employed doctors,<\/strong> dentists, physiotherapists, speech therapists or nurses:<\/strong> the medical sector is always looking for personnel. In recent years in particular, Belgium has experienced a serious shortage of healthcare workers. As a result, these independent health professionals<\/strong> can charge high rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sources like Jobat mention that specialised doctors, such as surgeons or cardiologists, can easily earn up to \u20ac250 per hour.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A self-employed dentist charges on average \u20ac100 to \u20ac125 per hour<\/strong> and a nurse \u20ac60 to \u20ac70 per hour<\/strong>. And there\u2019s often a supplement for night or weekend shifts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Tradespeople<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A good tradesperson is priceless,<\/strong> right? This is reflected in the hourly rates of tradespeople like carpenters, plumbers, roofers, and electricians<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the highest paying trades? According to figures from Bouwunie, the federation of SMEs active in construction in Flanders, electricians, plumbers and HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) technicians generally earn between \u20ac50 and \u20ac90 per hour.<\/strong> However, complex installations command higher rates. Demolition workers and earthmovers are also among the highest paid tradespeople (around \u20ac65 per hour).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, tradespeople more often charge a price per project.<\/strong> In addition to their time, this price includes other costs, such as materials and travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Consultants and freelancers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Consultants or freelancers are active across various sectors,<\/strong> from IT to marketing and from graphic design to education. In recent years, there has even been an increase in the number of independent workers in the hospitality industry<\/strong><\/a>, such as self-employed cooks and waiters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the exception of most liberal professions, most freelance work is accessible without a degree.<\/strong> You just need to be an ace at photo and video editing, for example, to start a career as a freelance content creator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With so many freelancers falling into this category, it can be tricky to identify an average hourly rate. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of average rates for some of the most in-demand consultants and freelancers. For this we used several sources including Jellow, Malt<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>and FreelanceNetwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n