With more people than ever looking for flexible ways to make money, the internet side hustle industry is thriving. According to an Upwork survey, roughly 59 million Americans freelanced in 2020 alone, and the number is likely to continue increasing. If you've been waffling about starting a side hustle, it’s not too late!
Naturally, we’ve got some ideas about which key skills can help you pick a high-paying online side hustle and how to learn about the remote opportunities available. Plus, don’t forget to check out SkillCrush for expert-led online courses that can help you learn the tech and creative skills needed to land a high-paying online side hustle. The more you learn, the more you earn!
1. Web development (WordPress, HTML, CSS, JavaScript)
Skill set: Web development skills are in high demand, whether you're developing a WordPress site or creating custom websites with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Related side hustles: Website development, e-commerce site design, website management, and WordPress theme/plugin development are all great options for freelance services.
Earning potential: Experienced web developers might charge between $50 and $150 per hour, depending on their specialization. In fact, WordPress developers can frequently earn more than $60,000 per year working part-time or just on freelancing assignments.
Why it works: Most businesses require a website, and many small businesses and entrepreneurs need to outsource web development to professionals so they can focus on their primary goal - the actual business! As more people start enterprises from home, the demand for website construction and design is greater than ever.
2. Graphic design (Photoshop, Illustrator, Canva)
Skill set: Every business requires graphic design, whether it’s logos, social media, graphics, websites, or printed products.
Related side hustles: Related side hustles include graphic design, social media, branding, logo creation, print design, e-book and course design, and even the creation of digital products such as templates and printables. We’d be remiss not to mention how many graphics Twitch streamers and Youtubers require, too! Did you know you can find work just creating video thumbnails?
Earning potential: Freelance graphic designers typically charge between $40 and $80 per hour, depending on their experience and the intricacy of the assignments. Beginners can earn $25 to $35 per hour, while experienced designers can make up to $100 per hour.
Why it works: With so many organizations operating remotely and often not requiring a full-time designer, the demand for skilled freelance designers grows every day.
3. Social media management
Skill set: Social media managers need to know how to create engaging content, monitor analytics, and use scheduling tools like Hootsuite or Buffer.
Related side hustles: Managing social media accounts for small businesses, entrepreneurs, influencers, and major brands. This could also include building content calendars, launching marketing campaigns, and enhancing audience engagement. In some cases this can involve creating content, so make sure you know what they’re asking for.
Earning potential: Social media managers can make between $25 and $75 per hour, based on their experience and the amount of accounts they manage. The typical yearly income for full-time social media managers is from $50,000 to $60,000, including remote roles.
Why it works: Almost every business (even B2B!) needs a social media presence, and with algorithm changes occurring on a regular basis, experts who can keep up with trends and engagement methods are in high demand. Influencers are still on the rise and also need social media managers to help them keep up with the pace.
4. Copywriting & content writing
Skill set: Copywriting is the production of marketing materials such as advertisements, emails, and landing pages, whereas content writing consists of blog posts, articles, or product descriptions.
Related side hustles: Freelance copywriting, blogging, email marketing, website content writing, and even technical writing in fields such as software, finance, and healthcare.
Earning potential: Freelance writers are often paid between $50 and $100 per hour, depending on their profession and skill level. Experienced copywriters working on high-level campaigns might earn $150 an hour or more.
Why it works: Brands and enterprises require content that converts, whether for their website, email marketing, or commercials. As a writer, you can work on a wide range of projects, making it a very flexible hustle.
5. Virtual assistance (admin, email, scheduling)
Skill set: Virtual assistants (VAs) are still people! They may manage calendars, schedule meetings, react to emails, and provide customer assistance. It's an important function for busy entrepreneurs, or small business owners that require extra administrative assistance.
Related side hustles: Virtual assistant services include executive assistance, project management, customer service, and data input.
Earning potential: VAs can expect to earn between $20 and $60 per hour, with higher rates for specialized VAs who handle complicated duties or operate in high-demand industries.
Why it works: Many entrepreneurs and small business owners prefer to focus on building their businesses rather than dealing with administrative responsibilities. As a result, virtual assistants play an important role in many remote organizations.
6. SEO & digital marketing
Skill set: Learning how to optimize digital content, manage ad campaigns, and track performance can lead to a wide variety of online opportunities!
Related side hustles: SEO consulting, managing Google Ads or Facebook Ads campaigns, and creating digital marketing strategy for websites and small businesses.
Earning potential: SEO specialists can make anywhere from $50 and $100 per hour, depending on their expertise and niche. Digital marketing consultants might earn $75 to $150 per hour or more, depending on the scope of the project.
Why it works: As more businesses move online for their exclusive marketing presence, there is a high demand for SEO experts who can boost search ranks. Plus, algorithms change pretty frequently so having a dedicated SEO expert who understands how to adjust on the fly and make new strategies can be a game-changer.
7. Video editing and production
Skill set: Produce sophisticated movies and other video content using tools such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or even beginner-friendly solutions like iMovie and Canva.
Related side hustles: Freelance video editing includes generating promotional videos, editing YouTube content, producing short-form videos for social networking platforms (TikTok, Instagram), video marketing for businesses, and providing video editing services to online course makers.
Earning potential: Freelance video editors can earn anywhere from $40 to $80 per hour, depending on the complexity of the tasks. High-end, specialist video editing might cost $100 to $150 per hour or more.
Why it works: Many businesses, influencers, and content creators require assistance with editing and generating high-quality video content. With the popularity of TikTok and Instagram Reels, short-form video content is definitely in popular demand.
8. Translation and transcription
Skill set: Translators convert written or spoken text from one language to another, whereas transcription converts audio or video content into written form, typically for accessibility purposes.
Related side hustles: Freelance translation (documents, websites, marketing materials), transcribing services for podcasts, videos, interviews, and legal/medical transcription.
Earning potential: Translators can earn anywhere from $25 and $60 per hour, depending on the language pairing and competence. Transcriptionists often make from $15 to $40 per hour, with specialized fields (such as medical or legal transcribing) giving higher income.
Why it works: Whether it's translating a website for a foreign market or transcribing a podcast episode, increased digital content and awareness over accessibility means there’s an increased demand for these services.
9. Online tutoring and teaching
Skill set: Whether it's academic disciplines like math or science, or non-academic skills like coding or guitar, online tutoring can be a lucrative side venture! VIPKid, Tutor.com, and Chegg Tutors are all online platforms that connect educators and students. Independent tutoring is also an option, although that can involve more risk and set-up on your part.
Related side hustles: Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL), tutoring math, science, other languages, musical instruments, providing online fitness coaching, or even coaching professional skills (public speaking, business writing, etc.).
Earning potential: Online tutors can make anywhere from $20 and $80 per hour, depending on the subject, level of experience, and whether they teach through a platform or independently. Specialized tutoring, such as test preparation (SAT, GRE), typically attracts higher prices, with top tutors earning more than $100 per hour. Coaching can vary wildly depending on your experience, niche, results, and clientele.
Why it works: If you teach a skill that’s in high demand, such as coding or exam preparation, you can charge a decent rate for that knowledge.
10. Data analysis and data science
Skill set: Data analysis and data science are the processes of gathering, processing, and interpreting huge amounts of data in order to assist organizations in making educated decisions. Proficiency in programs such as Excel, SQL or Python, combined with a knowledge of statistical analysis can make you well-suited to several freelance jobs.
Related side hustles: Running reports for companies, evaluating marketing data, assisting e-commerce sites in optimizing their sales data, providing insights for startups, or even offering data science consultancy are all examples of freelance data analysts. AI training also relies on data handling so keep that in mind as well!
Earning potential: Based on the intricacy of the work, data analysts can make between $50 and $100 per hour. One of the highest-paying remote side jobs is data science, which can fetch up to $150+ per hour for data scientists with advanced machine learning or artificial intelligence expertise.
Why it works: Businesses require qualified experts who can transform data into useful outcomes, whether they are examining sales patterns, monitoring website performance, or comprehending consumer behavior.
Start your online side-hustle journey!
Take our Skill Gap Quiz to determine what skills you already have and where you may upskill to maximize your earning potential.
Want more ideas for your next hustle? Explore our post on 15 side hustles to boost your income or learn more about finding your “gig” in the gig economy!
