This article explains the benefits and criteria for earning the Top Rated badge on Upwork. We use this designation to recognize freelancers who consistently deliver great work and receive positive feedback. As a Top Rated freelancer, you'll get a badge on your profile, faster payments on hourly contracts, and the option to offer consultations. To qualify, you need a Job Success Score of 90% or higher, a complete profile, a set earnings threshold, and regular activity on the platform. It's also important to follow our Terms of Service to maintain your status.
You work hard to build your business and provide your clients with an exceptional experience. We created the Top Rated designation to recognize that hard work, help you stand out, attract more clients, and grow your business.
Top Rated highlights professionals who consistently earn positive client feedback and have built a strong reputation on Upwork. They represent the top 10% of talent on Upwork.
Top Rated freelancers and agencies worldwide work at all experience levels and in every category.
Benefits
When you’re Top Rated, we put a dedicated badge on your freelancer, agency, or agency members’ profile, your proposals, and your projects on Project Catalog. This badge lets clients know you have a track record of great work and may increase your chances of being invited to interview. You also get these additional benefits:
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Our Job Digest email to make it easier for you to find jobs that are a great match
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Faster payments on hourly contracts
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Ability to offer consultations to share expertise with clients
Note:
If agency members have enough history to have a Job Success Score, their badge will display as a Top Rated badge. If they do not yet have enough history, it will be a Rising Talent badge as long as their profiles are at least 60% complete.
Become Top Rated
You earn a Top Rated badge by building an impressive reputation on Upwork. This includes a proven history of success with multiple clients, consistently delighting your clients with your work, and contributing to a safe and vibrant marketplace by knowing and following the Upwork Terms of Service.
Achieving Top Rated status can help you grow your business and become even more successful.
Note: If you direct or accept payments outside of our payment system, or repeatedly communicate off Upwork before a contract is in place, you'll lose your Rising Talent, Top Rated, or Top Rated Plus badge. You won’t be eligible to earn them again for a period of six months.
You can protect your reputation and standing on Upwork by adhering to our Terms of Service. Learn more about Circumvention and why it’s against the rules here.
Criteria
Developing great relationships with your clients is the first step toward becoming a Top Rated freelancer or agency. Communication and professionalism are essential. Successful freelancers also choose projects that match their skills, provide quality work, and complete projects on time.
You can monitor your progress and help manage your success by using your My Stats page to track your Job Success Score, 12-month earnings, and more. To become Top Rated, you must have the following qualifications:
- A current Job Success Score of 90% or higher
- First project on Upwork was more than 90 days ago
- Maintained Rising Talent status or a Job Success Score of at least 90% for at least 13 of the last 16 weeks
- A 100% complete profile (90% for those who brought their profiles over from Elance)
- 12-month earnings of at least $1,000
- Up-to-date availability (if unavailable now, set a date estimate)
- An account in good standing with no recent account holds
- Activity on the platform (proposal, accepted invitation, or earnings) in the past 90 days
- An agency Job Success Score of 90% or higher
- An agency owner Job Success Score of 90% or higher (or none earned yet)
- Maintained agency Rising Talent status or an agency Job Success Score of at least 90% for at least 13 of the last 16 weeks
- A 100% complete agency owner profile with photo
- An agency profile with a logo, overview, and services offered
- Agency member profiles that are at least 60% complete on average (50% for those who brought their profiles over from Elance)
- 12-month agency earnings of at least $10,000
- Up-to-date availability (if unavailable now, set a date estimate)
- An account in good standing with no recent account holds (including yourself, your agency, and all agency members including agency owners)
- Activity on the platform (proposal, accepted invitation, or earnings) in the past 90 days
