17 Side Hustle Skills For Extra Cash — You Can Start Today
Side hustles are more popular than ever, with over half of Americans—about 54%—engaged in some form of extra work in 2024. This growing trend isn't just about making ends meet; it's about achieving financial freedom and personal satisfaction.
If you want to keep up with this trend, you are on the right track. In this article, we'll explore 17 high-income side hustles you can start today.
1. Digital Marketing
Digital marketing refers to the aspect of promoting products or services online. It covers various activities such as SEO, content marketing, social media marketing, and email marketing. This side hustle job will keep you working with different clients and industries, making it dynamic and changing all the time.
First of all, master the basics of digital marketing using free courses on Coursera and HubSpot Academy. The crux of digital marketing will be easy for one to understand: how to conduct keyword research and ad targeting by audience, how one can analyze campaigns.
For example, Neil Patel is literally a Digital Marketer, one of the most famous. He had built his business by helping small businesses become relevant on the internet. His experienced knowledge and innovative methods have put him at the very top in the digital marketing circle.
2. Web Development
Now, with most businesses moving to online platforms, the demand for web developers has been on the increase.This side hustle idea offers a blend of creativity and technical expertise, allowing you to build functional websites and those that are aesthetically pleasing.
Start to learn the basics of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript through free resources like Codecademy or freeCodeCamp. These are the building block languages for any web page.
This article will help you with top ideas for web development:
3. Data analysis
Data analysis is among high income skills involves an examination of datasets toward the derivation of meaningful conclusions and informative decision-making. It is an important skill for any business to run on a strategic frontier by leveraging the use of data for their competitive advantage. As a data analyst, you can be applied in various industries, from finance and health to marketing and more.
First, learn the basics of data analysis from online courses on Coursera and Kaggle, which are taught by industry experts. Critical tools that you need to be exposed to include Excel, SQL, and Python, which will be important in manipulating, analyzing, and visualizing your data.
4. Podcast Editing
Want to become a podcast editor? The first step would be to learn how to edit audio at all with free packages like Audacity or paid ones such as Adobe Audition. Each of them is very powerful in editing, mixing, and mastering. If you want to make money with it, you'll have to get a portfolio first—so offer to help podcasters with the most time-consuming and hard part: editing. Offer your services voluntarily to local podcasts for experience and references.
Steve Stewart, a professional podcast editor, got started with his business doing some free editing. His dedication and level of expertise were so high that he ended up building a great business and is now co-host of the Podcast Editors Conference. Steve shares some great insights and tips at his site Steve Stewart, helping aspiring editors on their own journey.
5. UX/UI Design
UX/UI design deals with the development of intuitive and user-friendly interfaces of websites and applications. UX/UI designers play a significant role in ensuring that digital products are accessible, pleasurable, and efficient to use.
Start from the basics of UX/UI design on Udemy, Interaction Design Foundation, etc. The websites provide you with courses on all the significant topics related to user research, wireframing, and prototyping.
See Sarah Doody, who began her career working on small projects, moving on to running a consultancy. Her contribution includes workshops to teach what she knows, as well as online courses. Find Sarah's work and insights on her website: Sarah Doody.
Get some inspiration from Brett Williams:
6. Video Editing
Video content is king, and video editing is one of the most sought-after skills. This side hustle requires you to take raw footage and then edit it into polished videos for a YouTube channel, business or event. As a video editor, you can be the person who brings a creative vision to life and captivates audiences with compelling visual storytelling.
Get started with video editing by learning the basics with courses from LinkedIn Learning or Full Time Filmmaker. The second was started by Parker Walbeck, who began his career as a freelance videographer and editor.
7. Financial Planning
The core tip will be to help clients manage their finances, plan for the future, and make good investment decisions. This skill continues to be in great demand as it enables clients to lead lives of financial stability and growth by equipping them with resources and knowledge.
Take different courses and exams to become accredited by agencies such as CFP Board. Begin clients by giving free consultations and other marketing strategies to get your name known within your community.
Sophia Bera, CFP, built Gen Y Planning to serve millennial financial planning. Her approach focuses on addressing major money issues relevant to younger generations in particular. She pens articles about them, speaks, shares tips on her blog—all to make financial planning more approachable and interesting.
8. Project Management
Project management involves the planning, performance, and management of projects. To have a strong base of project management, take classes through Project Management Institute. You will be more accredited with better opportunities once you have become certified, like the Project Management Professional Credential.
Elizabeth Harrin is a freelancing project manager with a history of success in managing projects from different sectors. She passes her experience and knowledge through the blog, Rebel's Guide to Project Management, which is rich in great pieces of advice for people starting a career in project management.
Elizabeth Harrin
9. Affiliate Marketing
You'll make an earning from the commissions on each sale that such products or services realize through your referral-link. It is a side hustle from home that can be done through monetizing your online presence with the view of making some passive income.
Pick a niche you are passionate about and sign up for related affiliate programs such as Amazon Associates or ShareASale. Create converting content that includes your affiliate link and promote it through a blog, social media, or a YouTube channel. Overall, for success within an affiliate marketing campaign, one needs to create high-quality content consistently enough to engage and attract a loyal audience. For some inspiration and guidance, check out Smart Passive Income, from Pat Flynn, who achieved tremendous success through affiliate marketing.
10. Technical Writing
Technical writing involves the development of manuals, guides, and other product and service documentation. Technical writers are mostly required when users have to be trained on how to put products into proper use. One such seasoned technical writer, Tom Johnson, documents his journey and resources on his blog entitled I'd Rather Be Writing. He shows what is happening in the technical writing industry and further gives tips to the new entrants on how to navigate in the field and shape successful careers.
11. SEO Consulting
SEO consultants help companies improve their ranks on search engines through website content optimization, improvement of site structure, and building backlinks. Because of the growing competition online, these skilled SEO consultants are in constant demand.
First, build a basic foundation of SEO through courses on Moz or SEMrush Academy. Then, explore Brian Dean of Backlinko, who was able to build a highly successful SEO consulting business simply by publishing many of his strategies and insights on his blog. He helped so many businesses improve in the search engines with really detailed guides and innovative techniques.
12. Software Development
Software development involves designing an application or a system that will solve some problem or enhance productivity. This high income skill remains in demand due to the changeability of technology and the need for business innovation to find solutions to make their operations better.
Start learning the basics of programming languages such as Python, Java, or JavaScript through online platforms like Codecademy. Practice your skills with small projects to include in a portfolio. This will yield experience and networking: participate in coding boot camps or online communities like GitHub. On GitHub see Max Howell. He has grown into a reputable leader among software developers. Max publishes his projects and shares his experience on his GitHub profile.
13. Social Media Management
The social media manager works on the increase in online presence by posting relevant content and thus engaging followers. This is a perfect side hustle to make money for a person who has been savvy in the use of such platforms as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Dana Nicole had built her career in social media management and currently runs a rather successful agency. She shares resources on how to level up others in building their businesses around this niche.
14. E-commerce
Starting an e-commerce store involves selling products online. The line of items may range from handmade craft to dropshipping. E-commerce opens ways for access to the global market and establishing a scalable business.
Pick out a niche and source the products from suppliers. Set an online store with platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce. Drive traffic and sales by marketing products through social media, search engine optimization, and email marketing.
15. Copywriting
The copywriter is a person who creates content meant for sales, audience engagement, and brand loyalty. It is among the most in-demand skills and can be done remotely with flexible hours, which helps to make extra income while working full-time.
Take courses like Copyblogger. Build a portfolio through writing for local small businesses or nonprofit organizations to prove that you can write effective copy. Get inspired by Joanna Wiebe, the founder of Copyhackers. Following her quite successful career in copywriting, Joanna is now an individual coach on writing great copy.
Tara Robertson
16. AI and Machine Learning
AI and machine learning are the innovative areas of development of algorithms and systems 'learning' by experience and performing based on that experience. Businesses are seeking all possible ways to apply AI's power in driving efficiency, customer experiences, and innovation.
You can start learning AI and Machine Learning on Coursera. One of Coursera's co-founders, Andrew Ng, is an AI pioneer with huge contributions related to machine learning. His courses at Coursera, such as the extremely popular "Machine Learning" course, are among the top-rated ones.
17. Virtual Bookkeeper
Virtual bookkeeping involves managing financial records for small businesses remotely. This may very well turn out to be an ideal skill for people who have a head for numbers and are meticulous.
Building a side hustle virtual bookkeeper requires one to learn to use accounting software like QuickBooks. Take courses to do so on websites like LinkedIn Learning or Bookkeepers.com, then find clients by offering your services to small businesses and networking in your community.
Each of these side hustle skills brings along the works that are independent, flexible, and easily done from home. Go for the one that connects with your spirit of adventure and takes off on your entrepreneurial journey.
It will be that side hustle that naturally goes in line with your skills and your passion. Happy hustling!
Member discussion