This would be much harder to do today because Upwork now charges $0.15 per connect. Many jobs require 6 connects or $.90 just to apply. I got some good gigs on Upwork by applying to a LOT of jobs, before they stopped giving away free connects. So for a $100 gig, you might apply to 10 places to get the gig, or $9.00; then you've got the 20% so now you're earning $71 for that gig.

Jobs aren't as good, either. I landed some decent paying gigs and earned over $!10K on Upwork. Then they changed their policies and the good jobs went away. Most recently I did get a gig; persuaded them to go off-platform and pay me directly. Much easier.