Find out when your Upwork earnings become available, how to set up and manage withdrawal methods, and troubleshoot common payment issues.
Note:
To access your earnings, first you'll need to enter your tax information, then add a withdrawal method.
When will my Upwork earnings become available?
It depends on the contract type and payout process. Here's a quick look:
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Hourly contracts
- Hours billed weekly (Monday–Sunday)
- Earnings available ten days later (the following Wednesday)
- If you're eligible, some contracts may offer faster payments
-
Fixed-price contracts
Funds released five days after a client approves a milestone (standard security period)
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Project Catalog
Same as fixed-price — funds clear five days after client approval
-
Bonuses
Funds available five days after the client's payment is processed
Want a quick walkthrough? Watch how different contract types payout:
What withdrawal methods can I use on Upwork?
Available options may vary and change over time. You'll see your choices when you add a withdrawal method, but they may include:
-
Bank transfers:
- Direct to U.S. Bank (ACH) — Free
- Direct to Local Bank (outside of U.S.) — $0.99 USD per transfer
- U.S. Dollar Wire Transfer — $50.00 USD per transfer
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Instant Pay for U.S. Freelancers — $2.00 USD per transfer
-
Third-party payment providers:
Some banks or vendors may charge fees on their end, and processing time varies by method, so it's worth comparing local options.
Important: The beneficiary name on your withdrawal accounts must match your verified name on Upwork (including middle names, additional family names, or special characters).
Exceptions may be considered for common name variations (like Robert vs. Bob) and for transgender users — but keep in mind that your bank or provider still might reject a mismatch.
If your withdrawal method is flagged for a name mismatch:
- Add a method that matches your Upwork name, OR
- Reply to Upwork's email to verify you're an authorized user
How do I set up a withdrawal method on Upwork?
Once you enter your tax information, you can set up your withdrawal method:
- Go to Account settings (desktop) or Settings (mobile app) > Withdrawals
- In the Withdrawal methods section, choose Add a method
- Click Set up for your chosen method and enter the information
- Click Next
- Choose an automatic withdrawal schedule (optional)
Once you've entered your info:
- Double check your account number and details carefully — they must be accurate to make withdrawals
- For security reasons, your method will become active in three calendar days
Note: You can add multiple withdrawal methods — consider adding a backup just in case. Then if your primary method isn't available, you'll still be able to access your funds.
What's an automatic withdrawal schedule?
It's an optional setting that sends money to your preferred withdrawal method automatically on a schedule you set. You can still manually withdraw available funds at any time.
Learn more about setting up an automatic withdrawal schedule.
What's a reserve balance on Upwork?
It's an optional way to hold some of your earnings on Upwork — to use for things like Connects or your membership. You can withdraw these funds manually, but they won't be released with automatic withdrawals.
Learn more about how reserve balances work and how to set one up.
How do I edit or remove withdrawal methods?
- Go to Account settings (desktop) or Settings (mobile app) > Withdrawals
- In the Withdrawal methods section, find the one you want to update
- Choose Edit or Remove
- Follow the prompts based on your choice
To protect your account security, you can't edit:
- Email addresses
- Bank account numbers
- Bank codes
If these change, you'll need to add a new withdrawal method, which will go through a three-day security hold. Remember to remove the old one.
How do I withdraw my earnings?
First, make sure you've entered your tax info and set up a withdrawal method — this is where your payments will be sent.
Then, to withdraw your earnings:
- Go to your Manage finances > Withdraw earnings
- Select Withdraw now
You can also select Withdraw now by going to:
- Manage finances > Financial overview > Available tab
- Manage finances > Transactions > Available balance
- Account settings (desktop) or Settings (mobile) > Withdrawals
- Your find work page, in the sidebar
Where can I check my available earnings?
You can check the status of your earnings on your transactions page:
- Go to Manage finances > Transactions
- See available earnings on the dashboard under Available balance
To see a more detailed breakdown of when funds are expected to be available or arrive, select a contract.
Can I cancel or pull back a withdrawal?
No — once a withdrawal is started, it can't be canceled or reversed.
If your funds were sent to an invalid or closed account, they'll usually bounce back to your Upwork account within four to eight business days. If they don't, check in with Upwork.
Important: See a withdrawal you didn't make? Report it right away.
Troubleshooting common withdrawal issues
For troubleshooting tips for non-received or returned withdrawals, go here.