Understanding Upwork Payments

Payment Methods

Upwork offers several methods to get paid for the work properly done, including:

• Direct to U.S. Bank (ACH)
• Direct to Local Bank
• Wire Transfer
• Payoneer
• PayPal

Processing Time

Once the funds are released, the time to reach your account can vary depending on the payment method you have chosen. For example, payments via Direct to U.S. Bank usually take 1-2 business days, while other methods such as Wire Transfer might take a longer time.

Earning Security

To assure that freelancers get paid for their work, Upwork has implemented a secure system – Upwork Escrow Inc. It’s a licensed online escrow company that protects freelancers from potential payment issues.Once a contract starts, the client’s funds for the given project are securely held in an escrow. When the work is completed and approved by the client, the funds are released from the escrow to the freelancer’s Upwork account.By using this system, freelancers on Upwork are ensured they will get paid for the work completed according to the contract, as long as they deliver it properly and within the agreed timeframe.

Upwork Service Fee

Remember, Upwork charges a service fee on each payment you receive which is a sliding fee based on your lifetime billings with each client:

• 20% for the first $500 billed with the client
• 10% for lifetime billings with the client between $500.01 and $10,000
• 5% for lifetime billings with the client that exceed $10,000