Are you looking for a way to help reach your financial goals? You’re not alone. 44% of working Americans have a side hustle. [1] Whether you’re looking for some extra cash, making ends meet, trying to keep up with inflation or just looking for something to do after work, a side hustle could be right for you. If you want a flexible side job, consider this list of high-paying side job ideas that can help you generate some extra cash
1. Ride-share driver
If you have a car and a smartphone, you can add new earnings to your bank account by becoming a rideshare driver with companies such as Uber or Lyft. Turn your vehicle into a private car service by driving people wherever they need to go when you have free time or on your way to where you planned to drive anyway.
Driving for a rideshare service is a side hustle that can adapt to your current schedule. By providing good service, you’ll get good reviews, which hopefully will translate to more business down the road.
Potential income: About $745 per week (average) [2]
Education or experience required: None
Flexibility level: High. You drive only when you want.
2. Food delivery driver
The growth of food delivery apps has opened a wealth of income-earning opportunities. Drivers get to choose their hours. When you need some extra cash, you can deliver food. When you’re fiscally sound, you can take a break.
Potential income: About $18.40 per hour (average) [3]
Education or experience required: None
Flexibility level: High. Deliver food only when you want.
3. Online writer
If you’re a good writer, there are opportunities for you to use your craft and make some extra money. Whether you want to write freelance articles for a magazine, manage a blog, proofread reports or write short stories, there are many online marketplaces with clients who are looking for great writers and editors.
Potential income range: About $22.46 per hour (average) [4]
Education or experience required: Some writing experience and writing samples can help you land higher-paying gigs.
Flexibility level: High. You can write anytime, from anywhere and apply only for projects that suit your interests.
4. Graphic designer
If you have design skills on your resume, you can probably use them to earn some extra income. Consider specializing in a certain kind of design to help narrow the field, such as logo design. Many sites with online writing jobs also post freelance projects for graphic designers. If you are passionate about creating a sustainable freelance graphic design business, make sure to create a stellar design portfolio, establish regular clients and solidify your online presence.
Potential income: About $31.09 per hour (average) [5]
Education or experience required: Some design experience is best to land better-paying gigs
Flexibility level: High. You can design anytime from anywhere, as long as you have a laptop and the necessary software.
5. Virtual assistant
With more entrepreneurs launching businesses, many are looking for help with everyday tasks to keep their companies running. A virtual assistant helps with scheduling, bookwork, phone calls and more.
Potential income: About $27.36 per hour (average) [6]
Education or experience required: Little to none.
Flexibility level: Moderate. You can assist from anywhere but may have to work certain hours set by the company you assist.
6. Online sales
Everyone is always looking for a deal on home goods, even if they come slightly used. That makes selling items on online marketplaces, such as Facebook Marketplace, Amazon, Etsy, Craigslist, Poshmark or eBay, a lucrative opportunity.
Have a couch or record player you don’t need anymore? How about those designer shoes you never wear? Are they collecting dust in your closet, right alongside your old cellphone and the college textbooks you’ve been meaning to get rid of? Consider selling them online. If you have more than just a few items to sell, you may want to host a garage or yard sale.
Potential income: Varies greatly depending on the item and how often one sells
Education or experience required: None
Flexibility level: High. You sell items as you have them to spare.
7. Deliver groceries
Delivering groceries is a fairly easy side job that offers a lot of the same benefits as being a food delivery driver. Through websites such as Instacart or Shipt, you can earn some additional income by shopping and delivering groceries for customers. Plus, you get to choose your own hours.
Potential income: About $16.60 per hour (average) [7]
Education or experience required: Little. All you need is a driver’s license.
Flexibility level: High. Shop and deliver when you want.
8. Online tutoring
Nowadays, students who need extra help in their studies are going online for support. As an online tutor, you can help students in whatever subject you’re knowledgeable about — all from the convenience of your home.
Potential income: $19.65 per hour [8]
Education or experience required: Tutor students in your specialized fields.
Flexibility level: Moderate. You may need to create a set schedule to meet with students.
9. Provide digital marketing services online
When businesses are looking for freelancers to provide a specific skill or service, they often turn to online marketplaces to find what they need. You can sign up to do anything from designing a logo to writing a song and you get to charge a fee for the service you provide.
For the digital marketers out there, freelancing can be a good side job that allows you to use your skillset in new ways. Whether you have a background in web development, copywriting or sales, websites such as Fiverr and Upwork make it easy to promote yourself to prospective clients and find work.
Potential income: Varies based on type of job and work needed
Education or experience required: Little is required, but you may be able to charge a higher rate if you have more experience in your field.
Flexibility level: Moderate. While you can take on new projects and work on your schedule, you might occasionally have to meet tight deadlines.
10. Dog walking
Dog walking probably doesn’t even feel like a side hustle for dog lovers, making it one of the best side jobs around. Thanks to websites such as Rover and Wag!, all you have to do is create a profile, fill out some basic information and wait to be contacted to take care of a 4-legged friend near you.
Potential income: About $17.93 per hour (average) [9]
Education or experience required: None, though it helps if you’re a dog person.
Flexibility level: High. Walk and take care of dogs when you have time.
11. Use your hobby to make extra money
Don’t overlook your hobby as a way to bring in some extra cash, especially if that hobby is something you love to do. If you’re a photographer who takes great photos, try selling them to others. Maybe you make craft items that could be sold on Etsy or at local craft fairs. And if you’re especially talented at playing a musical instrument, you may be able to charge a fee for music lessons. Get creative and start thinking of your hobby as a possible source of income.
Potential income: Varies depending on task.
Education or experience required: Little is required, but you may be able to charge a higher rate if you have more experience in your hobby.
Flexibility level: Moderate. You may need to create a set schedule to meet customer demand.
12. Take paid surveys
This is not a get-rich-quick scheme, but you can earn some extra cash by participating in online surveys. It’s just a matter of sharing your opinions with companies who want to know what consumers think. A simple search will give you multiple options, but sites such as Survey Junkie and Swagbucks are a good place to start.
Potential income: Varies depending on how many surveys you take
Education or experience required: None
Flexibility level: High. You can take surveys whenever you want.
13. Rent your home to vacationers
Think about the space where you live and whether it could be put to additional use. If you live in a popular vacation area, listing your home as a vacation rental could be a good way to make some significant extra money. Or maybe you travel a lot and your apartment sits idle when you’re on the road. You could rent it to others during that time. Check out websites like Airbnb and Vrbo to learn more about renting your home to vacationers and business travelers.
Potential income: Varies depending on property, location and demand
Education or experience required: You may need to know landlord and tenant laws.
Flexibility level: Moderate. You may need to clean the property and communicate with the renter from time to time.
When your work or lifestyle changes, your insurance should too. Nationwide has insurance coverage options that hustle as hard as you do. Any of these side job ideas could help you increase your monthly earnings, save for a rainy day, or help you achieve a financial goal, such as buying a home or paying off credit card debt. Learn more about freelance jobs you can do from home.
Sources:
[1] “44% of Americans Have a Side Hustle Amid Inflation, Most Popular with Gen Zers,” prnewswire.com/news-releases/44-of-americans-have-a-side-hustle-amid-inflation-most-popular-with-gen-zers-301697437.html (accessed July 20, 2023).
[2] “Driver (Independent Contractor) salary in United States,” indeed.com/career/driver-(independent-contractor)/salaries (accessed July 20, 2023).
[3] “Delivery driver salary in United States,” indeed.com/career/delivery-driver/salaries (accessed July 20, 2023).
[4] “Freelance writer salary in United States,” indeed.com/career/freelance-writer/salaries (accessed July 20, 2023).
[5] “Freelance Graphic Designer Salaries in the US,” indeed.com/career/freelance-designer/salaries (accessed July 20, 2023).
[6] “Virtual assistant salary in United States,” indeed.com/career/virtual-assistant/salaries (accessed July 20, 2023).
[7] “Average Grocery Delivery Driver Hourly Pay,” payscale.com/research/US/Job=Grocery_Delivery_Driver/Hourly_Rate (accessed July 20, 2023).
[8] “Average Online Tutor Hourly Pay,” payscale.com/research/US/Job=Online_Tutor/Hourly_Rate (accessed July 20, 2023).
[9] “Dog walker salary in United States,” indeed.com/career/dog-walker/salaries (accessed July 20, 2023).
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