Top Rated

Upwork's criteria for a freelancer: a current JSS of 90% or higher; a first project more than 90 days ago; Rising Talent status or a JSS of at least 90% for at least 13 of the last 16 weeks; a 100% complete profile; 12-month earnings of at least $1,000; up-to-date availability; an account in good standing with no recent holds; and activity (a proposal, an accepted invitation or earnings) in the past 90 days. The "eligible weeks" figure in your stats counts the 16-week window and updates weekly; eligibility itself is updated every two weeks.

What it gives: a badge on the freelancer, agency or agency members' profiles, proposals and Project Catalog projects; the Job Digest email; faster payments on hourly contracts; and the ability to offer consultations. An agency's members without a JSS of their own show a Rising Talent badge as long as their profiles are at least 60% complete.

The badge can be lost. Directing or accepting payment outside Upwork, or repeatedly communicating off-platform before a contract, removes Rising Talent, Top Rated or Top Rated Plus, with no chance to earn them back for six months.

How Upsight uses it. Badges are read, not awarded: Upsight shows each member's badge on the roster and records which profiles on page one of a tracked keyword carry Top Rated, Top Rated Plus or Expert-Vetted, because the badge is one of the things a client sees before opening a proposal. For the badge as a market statistic, see Upwork Insights.