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Freelance Data Engineer information

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$40.4K

$117.7K

$161.1K

How much do freelance data engineer jobs pay per year?

As of May 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for freelance data engineer in Tennessee is $117,733.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $103,900.00 and $124,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Freelance Data Engineer job?

A Freelance Data Engineer is a self-employed professional who designs, builds, and maintains data systems for clients on a project basis. They work with databases, ETL pipelines, cloud platforms, and big data technologies to ensure efficient data storage and processing. Unlike full-time employees, freelancers have the flexibility to choose projects, set their own schedules, and work remotely. They may collaborate with data scientists, analysts, and engineers to ensure seamless data flow. Freelance Data Engineers need strong technical skills in SQL, Python, Spark, and cloud services like AWS, GCP, or Azure.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Freelance Data Engineer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Freelance Data Engineer, you need strong programming skills (in languages like Python or Scala), in-depth knowledge of data modeling and ETL processes, and a solid background in databases and cloud platforms. Familiarity with tools such as Apache Spark, Hadoop, SQL, AWS, or Google Cloud, as well as relevant certifications like AWS Certified Data Analytics, is highly beneficial. Strong communication, project management, and problem-solving skills help you collaborate with clients and adapt to changing project requirements. These abilities are crucial for efficiently delivering tailored data solutions and building a reputable freelance business.

What types of projects and clients can a Freelance Data Engineer expect to work with?

Freelance Data Engineers often work on diverse projects ranging from building custom data pipelines and automating workflows to migrating databases or developing data integration solutions for businesses of all sizes. Clients can include startups looking to build new data infrastructure, e-commerce companies seeking analytics solutions, or established enterprises aiming to modernize their data systems. Most projects require close collaboration with data scientists, analysts, or software engineering teams, and the scope can vary from short-term assignments to ongoing support. Freelancing provides flexibility to choose projects that match your expertise and interests, as well as opportunities to gain experience across multiple industries.
More about Freelance Data Engineer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Data Engineer jobs in Tennessee? The most popular types of Data Engineer jobs in Tennessee are:
What are popular job titles related to Freelance Data Engineer jobs in Tennessee? For Freelance Data Engineer jobs in Tennessee, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Freelance Data Engineer jobs in Tennessee look for? The top searched job categories for Freelance Data Engineer jobs in Tennessee are:
What cities in Tennessee are hiring for Freelance Data Engineer jobs? Cities in Tennessee with the most Freelance Data Engineer job openings:
Freelance Data Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Freelance Data Engineer job openings in Tennessee as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 49% Full Time, 45% Part Time, and 6% Nights. Highlights an 86% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $117,733 per year, or $56.6 per hour.
Software Engineer - Coding - Remote

Software Engineer - Coding - Remote

Outlier AI

Knoxville, TN • Remote

Part-time

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

Outlier helps the worlds most innovative companies improve their AI agents by providing human feedback. Do you want to shape the future of autonomous agents like OpenClaw?

We collaborate with leading AI organizations to train Large Language Models (LLMs) to function as proactive, multi-step agents. Our projects focus on teaching these systems how to design, coordinate, and optimize complex, real-world architectural workflows.

Whether you are a passionate orchestration guru or experienced software developer -- we want you to help us train the world's most advanced generative systems.


About the opportunity:

  • Outlier is looking for skilled software experts to help train generative AI models.
  • This freelance role is fully remote and offers flexible hoursyou can contribute whenever it fits your schedule.


You may contribute your expertise by

  • Developing objective, verifiable criteria (rubrics) to evaluate system performance and ensure outputs meet strict functional requirements.
  • Reviewing system logs and "trajectories" to refactor code, improve execution paths, and reach a "Golden Path" of perfect reliability
  • Testing systems for vulnerabilities, including improper data exposure, unauthorized access escalations, and edge-case failures.


Were looking for people with

  • 2+ years of experience in backend engineering, AI automation, or complex systems integration
  • Proven ability to build and maintain production-grade software with modular separation (e.g., distinct services for data parsing, logic processing, and reporting)
  • Strong command of at least two major languages (e.g., Python, JavaScript, Go, or Java) and experience working with SQL databases
  • Practical experience building for live, non-mocked environments and handling multi-turn system interactions.
  • Outstanding attention to detail and the ability to provide clear, high-density technical feedback on complex system behaviors



Nice to have

  • Expertise building multi-stage coordination tasks where data acquisition leads to reasoned output
  • Hands on experience integrating agents with live tools such as Supabase, Gmail, and various APIs to solve real-world problems
  • High level of comfort implementing persistent state and session discovery using MEMORY.md to track agent progress.
  • Experience identifying subtle failures like privacy leaks, authority escalation, or indirect prompt injections.


Payment:

  • Project work: Earn up to USD $35 per hour for core project work
  • Additional incentives: On average, Outlier Contributors earn an additional 7.5% on top of the core project rates through Missions Outlier's version of surge pricing. The top quartile of contributors boost their earnings by an average of 11%.
  • Rates vary based on expertise, skills assessment, location, project need, and other factors. For example, higher rates may be offered to PhDs. For non-core work, such as during initial project onboarding or project overtime phases, lower rates apply. Additional incentives data is based on payments made in the past six months and is updated quarterly. Certain projects offer incentive payments. Please review the payment terms for each project.


PLEASE NOTE: We collect, retain and use personal data for our professional business purposes, including notifying you of opportunities that may be of interest and sharing with our affiliates. We limit the personal data we collect to that which we believe is appropriate and necessary to manage applicants needs, provide our services, and comply with applicable laws. Any information we collect in connection with your application will be treated in accordance with the Outlier Privacy Policy and our internal policies and programs designed to protect personal data.

This is a 1099 contract opportunity on the Outlier.ai platform. Because this is a freelance opportunity, we do not offer internships, sponsorship, or employment. You must be authorized to work in your country of residence. If you are an international student, you may be able to sign up for Outlier if you are on a visa. You should contact your tax and/or immigration advisor with specific questions regarding your circumstances.

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