SHANGHAI, June 5 -- A LOWER than expected income and a high level of uncertainty are the biggest problems facing freelance workers, according to a recent survey.

ChinaHR.com, a leading Web-based headhunter, asked more than 2,200 freelancers, including writers, artists and designers, about their attitudes towards their job, payment and future career plans.

More than 75 percent of the respondents said that they expected to earn a minimum payment of 3,000 yuan (US$392) a month, with 31 percent saying they hoped to earn 10,000 yuan or more.

Only about 40 percent actually earn 3,000 yuan a month, with about nine percent making more than 8,000 yuan, according to the survey.

"Most freelancers are young people with strong educational background and outstanding competence that makes them very confident about their own ability and the modern 'small office, home office' work model," said Zhang Tingwen, a human resources specialist at ChinaHR.

About half of the surveyed freelancers said they are satisfied with their income, while about 20 percent said they are barely able to eke out a living.

"My income is so-so, but the biggest problem is that you might earn several thousand yuan today and then sit idle for the rest of the month," said Zhu Jie, a freelancer who teaches Chinese to foreigners.

Zhu is not alone. The survey suggested that unsteady income was the biggest headache for freelancers, followed by a lack of career development prospect.

While freelancers have a great deal of freedom, more than 53 percent of respondents said they are confronted with high mental and financial pressure.