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Upwork now allows clients to schedule automatic hourly rate increases for freelancers, fostering long-term engagement without starting a new contract. You can set the frequency and percentage during the offer phase, while freelancers may propose increases themselves. This feature is optional, permanent once agreed, and only available for new hourly contracts.


Note:

We’re gradually rolling out this feature to everyone, so you may not see the option to include a scheduled rate increase in your offer workflow yet.

How it works

Schedule a rate increase

Scheduled rate increases are only available for hourly contracts and entirely optional. Once you schedule a rate increase, the increases will occur at regular frequencies throughout the duration of the contract.

To include a scheduled rate increase in an offer, follow these simple steps:

  1. In the Contract Terms section of your offer, choose the hourly rate you want to pay at the start of the contract. (The rate defaults to the hourly rate on the freelancer’s profile or the bid that they included in their proposal, but you can edit it using the pencil pencil-icon.png icon)
  2. In the Scheduled rate increase section, choose how often you want to increase the rate from the dropdown menu
  3. Choose how much of an increase you want to offer from the dropdown menu or set a custom amount. Amounts are set as a percent of the rate you set in your contract terms

Review a scheduled rate increase in a proposed by a freelancer

If a freelancer includes a scheduled rate increase in their proposal, you’ll see it in the Proposal Details.

If you respond to the proposal with an offer, you can accept the freelancer’s proposed scheduled rate increase, decline it and include no rate increase, or set a different amount and frequency in your offer.

A freelancer you have an existing contract with, have worked with before, or have messaged through Project Catalog or consultations can also propose new contracts and include a scheduled rate increase. You’ll see it in the Rate increase section of the contract. You can approve or decline the contract. If you want to propose changes, you can edit the offer.

Note:

Scheduling a rate increase is optional for you and your freelancer. However, once you both agree to the scheduled rate increase, it is permanent for the duration of your contract. If you want to negotiate new rates in the future, you’ll need to start a new contract.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a rate increase result in a new contract?

No, one of the benefits of including a scheduled rate increase in your contract is that you don’t have to start over with a new contract to give your freelancer a raise.

Can scheduled rate increases be added to existing contracts?

Scheduled rate increases can only be set when you're creating a new contract—they can’t be added to one that’s already active. You’ll need to end the current contract and start a new one in this case.

Can I schedule a bonus payment? Currently we don't have a feature to schedule out bonuses, they need to be processed or sent manually on the current date/day that you wish to give your bonus to your freelancers. Our advice would be to send the bonus earlier or after the holidays.

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