By
Justin Heller
From a global pandemic in 2020 to rising inflation in 2022, it’s hard for the average American to catch a break these days. These events have impacted all financial aspects of our lives and have changed our weekly earnings.
The gig economy is no new concept. People have had side hustles since commerce originated. But after quarantines and lockdowns around the globe, the trend toward gig and remote work has only accelerated.
For most of us, greater opportunities abound, from part-timers looking to earn pocket cash to entrepreneurial types wanting to network and make big moves.
Now, with Steady, you can connect with part-time income opportunities that make sense with your skill set and schedule. Here’s your ultimate guide to getting started.
Are you tired of a rigid full-time job and seeking a career where you can choose your own schedule? Are you stuck at home all day at the desk? The perfect part-time gig is different for everyone.
There are gigs for people working remotely or hybrid to get out of the house and socialize. For the night owl, there are openings to deliver food or drive. Even couch potatoes can find a niche to earn some extra cash.
Here is a mix of some of the best-paying part-time work for every person, whether you have a high school diploma, a bachelor’s degree, a LinkedIn page or not.
Airbnb hosts list their room, house, or apartment through the app. Duties include interior decorating, cleaning, communicating, and resolving problems for guests, property maintenance, and property repairs.
Top Features of Airbnb
Airbnb Pay
Hosts can make hundreds of dollars per night, depending on the market, season, and property size. Hosts with superior photography, customer service, social media, and decorating skills can earn high ratings to set their properties apart from the competition.
Bottom Line
Airbnb is great for people with spare rooms, vacant apartments, or frequent travelers. Hosting requires higher effort than some gigs but can be worth the tradeoff.
Amazon Flex is a delivery app. Drivers pick up orders from warehouses, stores, or other facilities and deliver them to customers within their city.
Amazon Flex is highly physical compared to some other driving and delivery gigs. Drivers must be physically able to work in all weather conditions and carry 50 lbs up flights of stairs.
Top Features of Amazon Flex
Amazon Flex Pay
Flex drivers make a minimum of $18 an hour. That rate can go up to $30 in high-volume markets. Working blocks with high demand, such as the winter holiday, increase the chance of a higher pay rate. Working in inclement weather also reduces competition with other drivers and earns you more.
Amazon Flex Bottom Line
For those in search of a driving job with fewer customer interactions than rideshare apps, Flex is a solid choice. Its guaranteed minimum pay sets it apart from many other apps.
A classic side hustle, babysitting is always in demand.
Babysitters typically watch after children in their homes. Typical responsibilities include feeding, supervising homework and playtime, putting children to bed, and driving children to or from school and activities.
Top Features of Babysitting
Babysitting Pay
Families pay anywhere from $15-$30 an hour and often tip or leave money to buy food for the children and sitter. Finding a steady daily job or having weekend availability is a great way to earn more than the average sitter.
Babysitting Bottom Line
For teenagers, college students, or others looking for flexible opportunities to earn extra money, babysitting is a great option. Gigs range from occasional to daily, making this a great fit for any scheduling arrangement. Plus, your co-workers are kids — what could be more fun than that?
The typical house cleaner is responsible for the normal maintenance of a home. Mopping, scrubbing toilets, vacuuming, laundry, making beds, and cleaning windows are just a few of the duties.
Cleaners can also find gigs doing move-in/move-out cleaning and post-construction cleaning.
Top Features of Cleaning Houses
Pay for Cleaning Houses
House cleaners make around $14-$18/hr and often receive tips. Some cleaners are paid per job, making it possible for highly efficient and motivated workers to earn more. It’s not the kind of money you make in healthcare or data entry, but for a part-time side hustle it’s nothing to scoff at.
House Cleaning Bottom Line
Cleaning is a universal part-time job and a skill many people already have. There are always openings for people who don’t mind getting their hands dirty and working fast.
Instacart drivers are personal grocery shoppers. Drivers receive orders through the app, shop for them and deliver them to the customer. This fast-paced side hustle requires being organized to move efficiently through supermarkets and city traffic.
Top Features of Delivering Groceries on Instacart
Instacart Pay
Drivers make between $13-19 an hour and up to $25 with tips.
Experienced shoppers find the shortest lines to increase speed and maximize earnings. Working in red-shaded “hot spots” on the app’s map increases the chance of batching - receiving several orders at once.
Instacart Bottom Line
Instacart is a great job for a high-energy person with a car looking for flexible hours. Drivers can make good money but must consider car maintenance, gas, insurance, and wear and tear costs.
Dog walkers establish a client base and schedule times to walk the owner's pets. These gigs can be up to seven days a week and multiple times a day, depending on the client.
Pet sitters usually stay over at a customer's home to feed, walk and care for the pet while the owners are away.
Top Features of Dog Walking/Dog Sitting
Dog Walking/Pet Sitting Pay
Dog walkers typically make $10-$20 per dog for a 30-minute walk. Walking multiple dogs at a time is a great way to scale up and earn more than the average walker. Some freelance dog-sitting gigs pay upwards of $1000/week.
Bottom Line on Dog Walking/Pet Sitting
This job is great for physically active and social people who enjoy networking. Building trust and rapport with owners can help entrepreneurial types capitalize on the massive pet service market.
Freelance writers produce content for companies or individuals. This can include blog posts, marketing emails, educational articles, or other writing needs. Proofreaders read through documents to check for errors and prepare content for delivery.
Top Features of Freelance Writing/Proofreading
Freelance Writing/Proofreading Pay
Entry-level writers can earn $15-25 an hour, depending on their output. With more experience, writers can finish more jobs in a day and increase their earning potential.
Freelance Writing/Proofreading Bottom Line
These gigs are ideal for passionate people looking to earn cash while honing their craft. Writing and proofreading require skills, but many will find the flexibility appealing. You can make up your own hours and generate extra income from a coffee shop, making freelancing the perfect opportunity for aspiring creatives.
Possibly the most well-known job in the gig economy, ridesharing has exploded since Uberarrived in 2009.
Rideshare drivers receive requests through the app, pick up customers and drive them to their destinations. Other duties include customer service and maintaining a clean vehicle.
Top Features of Ridesharing
Pay for Rideshare Driving
The typical driver makes $20-30 an hour before costs are factored in. Drivers can gain an edge by working peak hours and busy locations - airports tend to have high demand.
Ridesharing Bottom Line
Ridesharing is a good option for people with cars looking to supplement their income. Drivers must consider the cost of car maintenance, insurance, gas, and wear and tear.
In warmer parts of the country, mowing lawns is a year-round job. In New England, lawn mowing and shoveling alternate with the seasons.
Lawn care typically includes cutting grass and weed whacking; not as in-depth as landscaping. Snow shovelers usually have designated areas or clients they are responsible for maintaining if a storm hits.
Top Features of Seasonal Work
Pay for Seasonal Work
Clients can pay $100 every two weeks for lawn care. Rates can increase depending on property size and other factors. Lawn mowers can stack several jobs in an afternoon to maximize earnings.
Shovelers can earn $20-30/hour working for the city. Snow shovelers can make even more by establishing their client network and charging per job.
Seasonal Work Bottom Line
People who have their afternoons or weekends free can rake in on these often-lucrative gigs. With basic equipment and determination, you can even transform this side hustle into your mini-business.
Poshmark is a marketplace for selling clothes. Sellers create a closet and connect with buyers and each other through the extensive C2C platform. Men’s, women’s, and children’s fashion items are the main focus here.
Top Features of Poshmark
Poshmark Pay
The average sale on Poshmark is $28. Jackets, coats, and shoes fetch prices higher than other categories. Poshmark is a volume game, so those with extensive closets and an eye for value do well in the marketplace.
Poshmark Bottom Line
Poshmark is a great fit for collectors, thrifters, and people looking to downsize their closets.
Despite the 14.9% Poshmark takes, sellers usually make more than a typical consignment shop. The time to create a curated closet with great photography is the biggest commitment.
Taskrabbit “taskers” do everything from electrical work, moving furniture, and waiting in lines to one-off gigs bartending, helping as a barista, or catering. Taskers create a profile to showcase their skill sets and network with clients.
Top Features of Taskrabbit
Taskrabbit Pay
Delivery tasks pay between $25-$65 per project. In some cities, clients will pay $30 an hour for line waiters. Furniture assembly can pay anywhere from $60-$150 per project.
Taskrabbit Bottom Line
Jacks of all trades can look no further than Taskrabbit. The more skill sets someone has, the more likely they can reap the benefit of this marketplace.
Despite the doom and gloom of the past few years, more creative opportunities to earn are emerging. Whether you live in a remote location or in the heart of the big city, there is a gig that fits your skills, schedule, and lifestyle.
With dedication, a positive attitude, and the guidance of Steady and partners, everyone can find a great fit to help gain more financial freedom, stability, and flexibility in their work lives.
Sources:
30 Telling Gig Economy Statistics | Small Biz Genius
10 Part-Time Jobs to Pay the Bills | U.S. News
Average Hourly and Weekly Earnings | Bureau of Labor Statistics
