According to recent data from Pew Research, 14.6 million Americans were self-employed in 2014, and those individuals provided jobs for 29.4 million other people.
It's easy to see why people would want to be self-employed. Aside from the oft-quoted perk of "being your own boss", there are other potential benefits to self-employment as well. Just to name a few:
- Limitless income potential -- Self-employed individuals' income isn't limited to a set salary. In fact, the average self-employed American makes 45% more per year than the average employee.
- More enjoyment in work -- Self-employed people get to choose which projects to focus on, leading to an overall greater level of satisfaction.
- Tax benefits -- Self-employed individuals can qualify for additional tax deductions, including vehicle mileage, business expenses, and the home office deduction.
- No dress codes -- When you're not bound by corporate dress codes, you can work in whatever attire makes you the most comfortable.
With that in mind, there are some industries with high concentrations of self-employed workers. Here are the top 10 industries for self-employment in the United States, as of 2014.
Top self employed industries from The Motley Fool. Note: Photos in slideshow don't necessarily depict self-employed individuals.
