"Is an independent contractor considered self employed?"
Yes. According to the IRS: If you are an independent contractor, you are self-employed.
See https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/independent-contractor-defined
The general rule is that an individual is an independent contractor if the payer has the right to control or direct only the result of the work and not what will be done and how it will be done.
