37 Side Gig Jobs that Pay Well in 2022 and Make You Richer than Most Salary Earners

Tara Bedford
The BU
Published in
4 min readSep 24, 2022

Recent years have brought quite a shift to the job industry, and the way people work looks different than it ever has before. Instead of acting as a typical employee and working a designated schedule, a growing number of people are choosing to take advantage of the gig economy. And, they’re finding a lot of success in doing so.

In this article, we’re talking about what the gig economy is and discussing the actual benefits of side gigs. Then, we’re sharing 37 different side gig jobs for you to investigate to help you earn money.

What is the Gig Economy?

People who choose to earn their income through the gig economy fully embody the phrase “working for yourself.” In this way of working, independent contractors can pick and choose their “gigs” on a temporary, flexible, and/or freelancing schedule. This economic style puts more power in the hands of workers, and more than ⅓ of all Americans are choosing to earn their income this way.

Benefits of Side Gigs

There are countless benefits to the gig economy and side gigs. It’s why so many people are taking advantage of them. Some of the top benefits seen by this style of working include:

  • More control over your earned income
  • Expansion of knowledge and skills
  • Increased flexibility in the workday

There are a number of different industries for you to investigate before jumping into the gig economy. Some are physically demanding while others can be done on a remote, flexible basis. Here are some of our favorite side gig jobs that tend to pay well for every gig.

16 Manual Labor Gig Economy Jobs

All 16 of these gig economy jobs require physical exertion of some type. It could be driving from one place to another, traveling to a business to collect data, or acting as a babysitter. In manual labor jobs, the pay per gig tends to be quite low. Job opportunities, however, are almost always available.

  • DoorDash
  • UberEats Delivery Driver
  • Uber Driver
  • Grubhub
  • Lyft
  • Instacart
  • Taskrabbit
  • Amazon Flex
  • Rover
  • Bellhops
  • Dolly
  • Gigwalk
  • Shipt
  • TaskEasy
  • YourMechanic
  • Helpr

Gig Economy Jobs for Skilled Workers

People with more education/experience than entry-level workers tend to have higher-paying opportunities available to them. The gigs available to skilled workers include teaching and writing opportunities, as well as potential consultations. The pay range varies significantly, depending on experience. Many people sourcing gigs from these websites can begin earning a liveable income.

  • Education First
  • HelloTech
  • 99 Designs
  • Upwork
  • Fiverr
  • Angi
  • Care.com
  • Soothe
  • Guru
  • Thumbtack
  • Freelancer.com

Rental Gig Economy Jobs

Do you have an apartment unit, RV, or boat just sitting there collecting dust? Why not rent it out to someone interested? There are lots of gig economy websites to help you facilitate these interactions while helping to protect your property.

  • Airbnb
  • Turo
  • VRBO
  • RVShare
  • Boatsetter

High-Income Skills in the Gig Economy

As the article title suggests, you can earn some serious money in the gig economy. In fact, you might even make more than you ever did in a traditional 9–5. These high-earning skills demand highly-technical knowledge. If you can deliver though, the payday will make your friends jealous.

  • Lead Generation Specialist
  • Web Designer
  • WordPress Developer
  • Social Media Marketing Specialist
  • Digital Product Recreation

Do you have a side gig? If not, are you thinking about starting one? There are plenty of great options out there that can help you make some extra money. We’ve shared 37 side gigs that pay well — now it’s your turn to share your thoughts. What tips do you have for someone looking to start a side hustle? Share them in the comments below, and be sure to check out our other blog posts for more great advice.

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