In recent years, economic pressure and a more flexible work environment have led many people with fixed jobs to seek side jobs to earn extra income. Platforms like Fiverr or PeoplePerHour allow individuals to register, browse various job listings, get hired, and receive compensation in just a few hours.
Side jobs like these used to be a way of survival for some individuals, but since the Covid-19 pandemic, more professionals are utilizing such work to increase their income. Meredith Meyer Grelli from Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business told the BBC that these professionals are positioned higher in the job value chain. They are now finding ways to integrate their main job and side job to fully utilize their skills and maximize income.
According to a freelance outlook survey released by Upwork in December 2023, 38% of the U.S. workforce (64 million Americans) were engaged in freelance work in 2023, an increase of 4 million professionals from 2022. While some work full-time in freelancing, many others do it on the side as a way to boost their income.
If you feel that you’re not fully utilizing your skills or professional knowledge in your main job and have a few hours of spare time each week, engaging in a side job can help improve your financial situation and even enhance your performance in your primary job. However, pursuing a side job also requires strategy.
To help people find the most effective job opportunities, the NetCredit team analyzed thousands of public job listings on the freelance service platform Fiverr to identify the highest-paying side jobs that can be completed within 24 hours.
Here are the top ten highest-paying side jobs in the U.S. according to NetCredit:
1. Marketing Strategy: $178.08
2. Mobile App Developer: $164.15
3. Presentation Design: $163.62
4. Website Designer: $162.18
5. Songwriter: $158.14
6. 3D Industrial Design: $142.34
7. Brand Style Design: $136.43
8. AI Spokespersons Videos: $134.40
9. Packaging and Label Design: $122.66
10. UX Design: $122.09
Marketing strategy ranks as the highest-paying side job, with an average daily earning of $178.08. NetCredit mentions that an effective digital marketing strategist brings expertise, networks, and professional knowledge that small businesses may lack internally. Companies hiring marketing experts aim to profit from digital marketing investments. While studying marketing at a university may be ideal to become a high-earning marketing strategist, competitive skill levels can also be attained through on-the-job learning or online courses from home.
If you possess the skills mentioned above and are willing to put in extra hours after work, engaging in a side job could be a good way to earn extra income.
How can you find good side jobs online? Ben Gran, in a post on the private finance and investment advisory company Motley Fool, listed several options.
You can apply for freelance gig jobs with companies that are hiring through various freelance marketplaces or talent platforms.
There are various online talent marketplaces suitable for different freelance skill sets. Prominent platforms include Fiverr (rated as one of the best for creative professionals), Toptal (ideal for technical workers like developers), and Upwork (offering a wide range of freelance opportunities).
If your schedule is flexible, you can find remote side jobs like customer service that you can do from home. Alternatively, if you’re handy with tools, you can start a side job in home maintenance projects.
Some of the best channels to find these part-time and contract side jobs include FlexJobs and ZipRecruiter, which offer positions for freelancers, part-time workers, flexible and remote/at-home roles such as customer service, copywriting, administrative roles, and more. TaskRabbit allows you to earn extra income by performing small tasks like yard work, deliveries, furniture assembly, and moving. Rover offers opportunities to earn extra income by providing dog walking or pet hosting services.