What gig work pays the most?

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There are many jobs and businesses that are recession-proof so you can still make money during hard times!

Whether you want to keep your day job or say goodbye, there are many popular gig economy jobs that are taking over the market.

But what types of gigs are out there for you to take advantage of when you need extra money?

We’ve seen some pretty weird ways to make money that could work for you, but here’s our tried-and-true list of gig economy jobs that can fatten your wallet.

The Best Gig Economy Jobs

Gig economy apps allow you to break into new opportunities with ease and give you multiple income streams at your fingertips!

Now gig economy jobs provide great things like relaxed scheduling, working at your own pace, and fantastic pay rates.

However not all gig jobs offer benefits, so you may need to decide if insurance is worth staying at your 9-5.

We thought it was worth it because gig jobs could fit our schedule better and we could get health insurance from Christian Healthcare Ministries so you have options too.

So let’s talk about our recommendations so you can find your favorite money-making gig economy jobs:

Using Your Car

Driving your car and getting your money’s worth out of your insurance is a popular gig economy job for frugal people!

If you have a vehicle and all the legal paperwork you need as a good driver should, you’re all set to join services like Uber, Amazon, and more and get a side gig driving around town.

Rideshare Apps

Do you have extra time and a car? Rideshare gig apps like Uber and Lyft allow you to capitalize on your free time by driving app users to their destinations.

This is probably one of the most popular gig economy jobs out there if you want to supplement your income. You get paid to drive and is there any easier side gig than that?

Right now, so many people have the skills and experience to drive people around and make some easy money.

The future of ridesharing is a little bit hazy due to ongoing legal developments. So far, companies are encountering issues with health insurance, employee classification, and so on.

But if you are only looking to make some income on the side and have done your research into the platforms that interest you most, you should have no problem with getting started!

Start Driving & Earning Now

Delivery Apps

Interested in handling deliveries for companies and individuals instead? You can become a delivery driver and find jobs easily on a few apps.

Gig economy platforms like Roadie and Amazon Flex give you the opportunity to drive packages and other products to their destination.

These types of gig economy apps can be quite lucrative for delivery drivers and offer a simple way to make some money with your vehicle.

In fact, Amazon Flex states that the estimated hourly wage for their delivery drivers ranges from $18 – $25 per hour.

Food Delivery Apps

These have become the biggest side hustles for people in 2020 and the perfect job to supplement your income.

Food delivery apps became a staple for many during the pandemic, and they’re unlikely to decline in popularity anytime soon.

Whether you prefer to deliver fast food or essentials like groceries for your gig job, there are plenty of platforms out there that you can join.

Platforms may pay anywhere from $10 – $20 per hour, so see what’s in your area that pays better. You also earn tips per hour, so it bumps up how much you earn per delivery.

A few of the best food delivery service platforms that offer gig economy jobs include:

• DoorDash
• Uber Eats
• Postmates
• GrubHub
• Instacart
• Shipt

We’ve compared Postmates and DoorDash, plus DoorDash and Grubhub, so read up on them to figure out which delivery service you should work for!

Car Rental Apps

You don’t have to get a gig economy job to make money with your car too.

If you have a vehicle sitting around that you don’t use, renting it out will give you access to passive income without having to work a gig job.

If you have a car in great condition that you don’t mind others driving around in, you can use apps like Turo and Getaround to find interested renters.

Then, you can work multiple gigs while earning passively with this model to earn even more!

You can even rent your RV or any other vehicle you have taking up room- everything could be used to make extra money!

List Your RV & Earn Money All Year

Professional Services

You can find gig economy jobs based on any skills you have, making good money in your free time.

Plenty of individuals have marketable and high-demand skills that can be leveraged to make money as independent contractors outside of traditional employment.

Steady is the best app to find side gigs that use your skills to make money. You can find anything on Steady from full-time careers to high-paying side gigs- and make more with their Income Boosters!

Here are a few gig economy jobs that may appeal to your interests and previous experience that have fit into our own lives:

Freelance Writing

Most people are surprised that you can make money writing content on the web or social media in the gig economy.

But in today’s digital world, the opportunities are endless, making it one of the most accessible side hustle ideas out there.

If you’re looking to become a freelance writer, you’ll likely want to start with content mills such as Textbroker, iWriter, and Hire Writers.

Content mills don’t offer much for beginner freelancers, but they do provide you with compensation and insight into the writing process.

The key for freelance writers is experience, and there are many writing opportunities online for great side gigs.

As you gain experience, it’s important that you develop a portfolio of live pieces.

Volunteer for organizations in return for a byline, pitch content ideas to paid and non-paid publications, or even start your own blog using platforms like Bluehost to publish your work.

Once you have an established portfolio and experience in your niche, you can then create a profile and find freelance writing jobs on different platforms like:

• Upwork
• ProBlogger
• Scripted

As long as you have a passion for the written word, a desire to grow and learn as a freelance writer, and niches that you have a deep interest in, you can absolutely make a side hustle or career out of freelance writing.

Sign Up To Make Money Writing

Freelance Graphic Design Work

Graphic design is a technical skill that many companies need to develop professional designs for their website and beyond.

As such, having this skill allows you to access opportunities in the gig economy that can pay quite well, whether they’re only one-time gigs or ongoing clients.

You can become a freelance graphic designer and earn $18 per hour as a beginner, and some experienced professionals make as much as $76 per hour!

But where do you get started as a freelancer? A few platforms that are perfect for freelance graphic designers include:

• Upwork
• Behance
• Toptal
• Freelancer.com
• 99designs

Find Perfect Freelancer Now

Becoming a Virtual Assistant

It’s great that so many people can become gig economy workers right from home now. Virtual and remote gig work has certainly changed our lives!

Virtual assistants tackle administrative tasks for busy clients who need help managing their business and personal activities (booking flights, keeping calendar, etc.).

Becoming a virtual assistant is quite easy with the support of the right platform and most people have the skill sets needed for different virtual assitant gig jobs.

You may be asked to help manage social media, answer phones and emails, order office supplies, and more.

Some virtual assistant platforms that advertise freelance jobs include:

• FancyHands
• Magic
• TimeETC
• Vasumo
• VaVa Virtual
• Virtual Staff Finder
• Zirtual

Want to learn about becoming a successful VA? Take this FREE workshop from $10K VA!

Offering Services on Fiverr

Fiverr is an extremely popular gig platform where professionals like writers, designers, video makers, and voice artists can all make extra income as independent contractors with the right Fiverr marketing strategy.

Fiverr did initially introduce $5 gig jobs, but the platform has since grown, allowing you to establish your own service packages to earn money, create an authoritative profile that attracts businesses, and grow your own freelance business on one platform.

You can learn more about Fiverr and the new Fiverr Business platform and how to become one of the successful freelance workers there by visiting their website.

Leveraging Your Past Experience on Upscale Gig Apps

If you have an impressive resume and past experience with major companies, you may want to instead leverage your experience to land higher-paying clients that require an independent worker of your caliber.

Although you can always find larger freelance clients in some of the platforms listed above, a few upscale gig marketplaces are worth looking into if you have many talents and an excellent track record, including Catalant and MarketerHire.

The income potential is often better on these sites because of the “upscale” expectations, making it an interesting gig economy opportunity.

If you’re looking into any of these professional services, it’s important to keep finances in the back of your mind as you’ll be responsible for handling your taxes and beyond.

Using Your House

Renting Your Home Out to Others

If you’re someone with extra space in your home or even a full property that’s going unused, you have a source of income at your disposal that you may not even be aware of!

Consider renting out your space with platforms like Airbnb and VRBO to bring in passive income for full accommodations or individual rooms and spaces.

You simply take photos, upload them, and pick your rates- meaning you don’t work hours to make money this way.

Now m0st people think Airbnb is only for renting full houses, but an easy moneymaker over the past few years includes just renting a room or 2 in a house- basically having short-term roommates!

If you’re only looking to rent out space for events, you can use a platform like Peerspace instead.

Renting Out Space in Your Home

Not everyone may be looking to rent out living space to make a little money in the gig economy.

We get it, you may want to avoid roommate situations after those college years!

The good news? You can rent out space for storage instead so you share your space with stuff rather than people.

Whether you have an extra room or a garage that isn’t used for parking, you can turn to platforms like Neighbor Storage or Store At My House to find interested parties.

Many times, people develop a passion for their side gigs. The income starts small, but it can grow over time.

John at HowtoFire.com explained, “Our favorite side hustle (freelancing) has turned into a full-time gig for my wife.

She’s now making well over six figures per year from her freelance business and loves what she does. She’s passionate about teaching others about taking their side hustle and turning it into a flourishing freelance business.”

Old-Fashioned Gigs That Still Work Great

As more and more people are vaccinated and the world prepares to reopen, old-fashioned gig economy jobs that were previously inaccessible are beginning to open up as well.

If you’re not looking for jobs on social media or online, or want a job that’s under the table, these may be better for you.

If you’re more interested in this type of work, here are a few old-fashioned gig work ideas that may appeal to you once they’re hiring again.

Four Options From My Experience

Now I have been an independent contractor here and there between deliveries and tutoring, but you don’t have to be an independent contractor to earn money in the gig economy.

There are four side gig jobs that I did in my pre-professional career and absolutely loved them.

I don’t see people talking about these often, but they are a great way to make extra cash on your own schedule.

DJ Events

I got a job as an event DJ. My boss sent me out to weddings, company parties, and birthday parties. Overall, it was a ton of fun!

You need a little showmanship and marketing ability to get these types of gigs. We were charging $450 – $900 per 3-5 hour event.

I got paid $150 per hour to do a short event, usually on a Friday or Saturday night.

If I had my own equipment, I could have kept all the profits and made $500+ per night. And it was a ton of fun!

Flipping Furniture on Craigslist

Many people are becoming gig economy workers simply by flipping furniture (and other great items!).

When I was a struggling pizza delivery driver, I used to make money reselling used furniture.

People give away free furniture on Craigslist all the time. It tends to go fast, though. If you’re the first one to respond and show up, you can usually get it.

Then, you clean it, get rid of any smells, and later list it for a charge. The free stuff usually went for $50-$200.

People with a knack for this kind of thing have figured out ways to make a legitimate business by buying low and selling high. But picking up free furniture is an easy way to get started!

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Mowing Lawns for Money

Of all the side hustles that I did, this is one that I wished I had stuck with for longer. People tend to dismiss lawn mowing and lawn care as a 12-year-old kid type of business.

But the truth is that any adult can do well here!

To advertise you can knock on doors, pass out fliers, and put up free Facebook and Craigslist ads. I mowed lawns for about $50-60 per month and got up to about 15 clients.

I figured that I made about $30 per hour doing the actual work – not bad!

Getting Signatures for Political Petitions

This is the weirdest one that I did, but was also the most profitable. It’s a top pick from my own experience for increasing my income!

My first week of signature gathering netted me $1,000, and I averaged about $1,500 per week. People that worked 12-hour days were able to pull $2,000+ weeks regularly.

In California, Washington, and a few other states, initiatives require a certain amount of signatures from registered voters to appear on election ballots.

Issues like legalizing marijuana and minimum wage increases often end up here.

Hundreds of thousands of signatures are required to get those issues on the ballot. Thousands of workers are needed since volunteers usually can’t get nearly enough signatures.

They typically pay workers by the signature. Signatures typically pay about $1 per signature and range from anywhere between $0.50 to $3.

In California, it’s legal to stand outside of big-box retail stores like Walmart and Target to collect signatures. It can add up quickly!

The downside is that this type of work is only available for a few months during election years.

Other Old-Fashioned Gigs that Pay Well

Bartending or Waiting Tables

Bartending and waiting have always been great gigs to pursue, largely because of the tips that are associated with this type of work.

Even self-made billionaire Mark Cuban has said that he would return to this if he somehow lost his fortune, stating in an interview: “I would get a job as a bartender at night and a sales job during the day, and I would start working.”

Set aside some time to look online for work at local bars or restaurants if you need working gigs that can offer you some extra cash.

Babysitting

The babysitting industry was one of the industries hit the hardest during the pandemic. This is because some families may not have been comfortable with potentially exposing their children or themselves to the virus while others may not have been able to afford childcare.

As the economy recovers and families can once again afford childcare, they’re going to be looking out for these services. If you’re on the hunt for stay-at-home mom jobs, babysitting is at the top of the list.

If you love children and have the necessary qualifications (phone, car, past experience, first-aid training, etc.), you can use an online platform like Care.com to advertise your services and connect with interested parties.

Who knows? You may even find similar gigs you love as well!

Housekeeping

Housekeeping often gets a bad wrap for being a job that no one wants to do, but you don’t have to have a passion for cleaning to see the potential in this type of work.

Housekeeping is something that everyone has some skills and experience in, but as a side gig you can earn extra money easily or even make it a new full-time source of income.

Plus who doesn’t enjoy setting their own hours and being their own boss?

Take, for example, Anthony and Jhanilka Hartzog, a couple who pursued several side hustles and managed to grow their housekeeping business to the point that it brings in $20,000 to $25,000 in revenue per month.

Of course, you don’t have to start your own business, but it goes to show just how profitable housekeeping can be with the right focus and marketing strategy.

Take a look around at how others have achieved success and try emulating these strategies yourself if it interests you.

Rent Out Bounce Houses

The more creative gig ideas often offer the most revenue, and can be a fun source of income that you don’t expect!

One such creative example is a bounce house business.

Did you know that bounce houses often rent out for anywhere from $30 to $50 per hour?

Although you have to pay for the bounce house itself as well as the transportation and setup, you can easily scale your bounce house business over time by acquiring more.

If this doesn’t appeal to you, look at other items you may be able to rent out with ease to make some extra money on the side.

From high-end clothing to musical interests, there are always interested individuals who will want to rent what you have instead of buying it outright.

Job Websites for Flexible Work

The type of gig jobs that you choose will depend on how much time you have, what the location requirements are, and what you’re looking to do.

The in-person ideas above are great for people who have extra time to invest in their side-hustle, but not so great for individuals with more demanding schedules or difficulty getting from place to place.

Is there an alternative? Of course! You can look for remote job listings using apps like Steady, Fiverr, Upwork, and more!

If you’re solely looking for how to earn money online, some platforms that can help you find remote work opportunities include FlexJobs, Remote.co, and WeWorkRemotely.

No matter what your ideal gig or schedule looks like, you’re sure to find something that works for your situation.

Gig Economy Statistics

With developments like AB5 in California and rumors about Biden’s PRO Act interrupting the state of freelancing, many potential gig economy workers are concerned about the future of gig economy jobs.

However, they shouldn’t be because most business pros will give you some professional financial advice that leads you to join the gig economy!

Plus, the gig economy statistics speak for themselves!

• 80% of gig workers say they’re satisfied with their current job and only 33 percent of gig economy workers would prefer to find a traditional job.
• Freelance job postings increased by 41% during the second half of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The number of freelancers grew by 2 million between 2019 and 2020, reflecting an 8 percent increase in contingent workers.

Put simply, many gig jobs and freelancing careers are valued due to their flexibility, the abundance of work available, and the ability for individuals to work these gig economy jobs alongside their full-time job or part-time job.

Gig labor statistics support this and demonstrate how much you can benefit from joining the gig economy!

If you are currently considering finding gig economy jobs of your own, the statistics above are an encouraging reflection of the growing interest in this digital economy and all the work that can be found by gig employees because of this strong demand.

Want to join the gig economy with other great job opportunities? Sign up with Steady and find side gigs or full-time careers that benefit you.

Conclusion

If you’re looking to make extra money to replace lost income or save for something important, you can find some simple gig jobs that can make your life easier.

In today’s world, there are so many gigs and freelance jobs at your disposal to increase your earning potential. You can work and get paid same day, making your finances a steady stream of money.

Just take a look at these recent gig economy statistics if you don’t believe us and start thinking about the best gig economy job that can improve your personal finance journey!

That being said, the biggest challenge for gig workers is finding the right job opportunities. If joining the gig economy has been a thought you’ve been entertaining, turn to the 19 best gig economy jobs in 2022 listed above to help you start your gig worker journey.