Best Side Hustles in 2024: 20 Ways to Earn Extra Money

Why Start a Side Hustle?

A side hustle can help you:

• Pay off debt faster
• Build an emergency fund
• Save for goals
• Develop new skills
• Test business ideas
• Create financial security

The average side hustler earns $483/month—that's over $5,700/year extra income.

Flexible Gig Economy Jobs

1. Rideshare Driver (Uber/Lyft)

• Earnings: $15-30/hour after expenses
• Requirements: Car, license, clean background
• Flexibility: High—drive whenever you want
• Best for: People who like driving and flexible schedules

2. Food Delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart)

• Earnings: $12-25/hour
• Requirements: Car, bike, or scooter
• Flexibility: Very high
• Best for: Those wanting quick cash with minimal commitment

3. TaskRabbit/Handy

• Earnings: $20-50/hour depending on task
• Requirements: Varies by task
• Flexibility: High
• Best for: Handy people, furniture assembly, moving help

Online Freelance Work

4. Freelance Writing

• Earnings: $0.05-$1+ per word
• Requirements: Writing skills, computer
• Flexibility: High
• Best for: Writers, former journalists, subject matter experts

5. Graphic Design

• Earnings: $25-100+/hour
• Requirements: Design skills, software
• Flexibility: High
• Best for: Creative types with design experience

6. Web Development

• Earnings: $50-150+/hour
• Requirements: Coding skills
• Flexibility: High
• Best for: Developers wanting extra income

7. Virtual Assistant

• Earnings: $15-40/hour
• Requirements: Organization, communication skills
• Flexibility: Medium to high
• Best for: Detail-oriented professionals

Service-Based Side Hustles

8. Tutoring

• Earnings: $20-80/hour
• Requirements: Expertise in subject
• Flexibility: Medium
• Best for: Teachers, experts, college students

9. Pet Sitting/Dog Walking (Rover, Wag)

• Earnings: $15-40/walk, $25-100/night sitting
• Requirements: Love of animals
• Flexibility: High
• Best for: Animal lovers with flexible schedules

10. House Cleaning

• Earnings: $25-50/hour
• Requirements: Cleaning supplies, transportation
• Flexibility: Medium
• Best for: Detail-oriented people who don't mind physical work

11. Photography

• Earnings: $100-500+ per event
• Requirements: Camera, skills
• Flexibility: Weekends typically
• Best for: Photographers wanting to monetize their hobby

Selling Products

12. Reselling (Poshmark, eBay, Amazon FBA)

• Earnings: Varies widely—$100-$10,000+/month
• Requirements: Eye for deals, time for sourcing
• Flexibility: High
• Best for: Bargain hunters, thrift store enthusiasts

13. Etsy Shop

• Earnings: Varies—$100-$5,000+/month
• Requirements: Craft skills, creativity
• Flexibility: High
• Best for: Crafters, artists, vintage sellers

14. Print on Demand

• Earnings: $5-20 per sale
• Requirements: Design skills
• Flexibility: Very high (passive after setup)
• Best for: Designers who want passive income

Online Business/Content

15. YouTube Channel

• Earnings: $0 initially, potentially $1,000s/month
• Requirements: Camera, editing skills, patience
• Flexibility: High but requires consistency
• Best for: Those comfortable on camera with unique knowledge

16. Blogging

• Earnings: $0 initially, potentially $1,000s/month
• Requirements: Writing skills, patience
• Flexibility: High
• Best for: Writers with expertise in a niche

17. Online Courses

• Earnings: $100-$10,000+/course sold
• Requirements: Expertise, course creation skills
• Flexibility: High after creation
• Best for: Experts in any field

Lower Time Investment Options

18. Surveys and Microtasks

• Earnings: $1-5/hour (low but very flexible)
• Requirements: Computer/phone
• Flexibility: Very high
• Best for: Filling spare minutes, not serious income

19. Rent Your Space (Airbnb, parking)

• Earnings: Varies by location
• Requirements: Extra space
• Flexibility: High
• Best for: Those with spare rooms or parking

20. Rent Your Car (Turo)

• Earnings: $200-800+/month
• Requirements: Car you don't use daily
• Flexibility: High
• Best for: Car owners who don't drive daily

How to Choose the Right Side Hustle

Consider Your Goals

• Quick cash: Gig economy jobs
• Skill building: Freelancing
• Scalable income: Online business
• Passive income: Content, products

Evaluate Your Constraints

• Time available: 5 hours/week vs. 20+ hours
• Upfront investment: $0 vs. $500+
• Risk tolerance: Guaranteed income vs. potential

Match Your Skills

• Write well → Content, copywriting
• Tech skills → Web dev, virtual assistant
• People skills → Tutoring, consulting
• Handy → TaskRabbit, services

Key Takeaways

1. Match side hustles to your skills and schedule
2. Gig work offers flexibility; online businesses offer scalability
3. Start with low-investment options to test the waters
4. Consider tax implications (set aside 25-30% for taxes)
5. Don't let side hustles burn you out—balance is key