18 Good Second Jobs To Make Money on the Side

The financial rewards of a good second job can help you pay off debt, save for a big purchase, or just have a bit more financial breathing room. You might even find a second job that lets you try out a new career. 

But how do you figure out which side jobs will fit your lifestyle, schedule, and goals? That’s where we come in. In this article, we’ve curated a list of second jobs good for any moonlighter to make more money and find a second gig you love. 

1. Delivery Driver

Earning potential: Varies by delivery

If you’re looking for a good second job to fit around your unpredictable free time, consider food delivery services like DoorDash and Instacart. You decide when you want to work and whether you want to accept an order. You can even pick up an order on your way home from school or your primary job.

To get this gig going, you’ll need a car (in some cities, you can use a bike or scooter) and a smartphone. You can learn more in our article: How to Become a DoorDash Driver (Requirements and Signing Up).

2. Proofreader

Earning potential: $20 to $50/hour

Proofreading pays you to find and correct errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling in published writing. With a computer and an internet connection, you can do this second job from anywhere and set your own hours as long as you deliver the finished product on time.  

3. Bookkeeper

Earning potential: $20 to $40/hour

Bookkeepers help clients record and manage their business expenses and financial transactions like payroll, purchases, and billing customers. You can do bookkeeping as a side hustle alongside your day job, because it only takes a few hours a week for each client, and it can all be done online. 

4. Run Facebook and Instagram Ads

Earning potential: $1,000 to $2,000+/month

Digital marketers manage Facebook and Instagram ads for local businesses. Like bookkeeping, this second job can earn you decent money with just a few clients and a relatively small time commitment. And you can run this business 100% online, so you can squeeze it in around your full-time job.

To take the guesswork out of getting started, check out How to Become a Digital Marketer (2024 Guide).

5. Freelance Writer

Earning potential: $500 to $5,000/month

If people have always told you, “You’re a great writer!” you may have what it takes to freelance. Writing for money includes assignments like writing blog posts, ad copy, technical papers, marketing emails, and pretty much any type of writing you see in print. 

Before you get started, it helps to figure out if you want to specialize in a certain area of expertise — tech gadgets, natural cleaning products, low-carb baking — or in a specific content type like photo captions or long form blogs. Having a niche allows you to stand out in this competitive market.

6. Take Online Surveys

Earning Potential: $1 to $3/survey

Did you know you can get paid in cash or gift cards to take surveys online? It won’t make you rich, but you can turn down time like waiting in line or doomscrolling into a paid activity.

Survey Junkie has become one of the most popular sites to take surveys for money. Survey Junkie is free to use and it only takes about five minutes to sign up.

7. Blogger

Earning potential: $500 to $10,000+/month

Writing your own blog lets you focus on topics that are most important to you. But to make money blogging takes more than just writing random journal entries. Your secret weapon is posting frequently and writing consistently in your niche. This draws followers, advertisers, and affiliates.

Our posts on how to start a blog and avoiding blogging mistakes can help you learn the do’s and don’ts of blogging so you can make money faster. Blogging isn’t an overnight money maker, but it’s a good second job with one of the highest earning potentials on our list. 

8. Virtual Assistant

Earning potential: $500 to $1,000+/month

We know this second job is good because we have several virtual assistants (or VAs) on our team to help us with our social media accounts, inbox management, scheduling, data entry, WordPress tasks, and more. Business owners know that having a reliable VA is well worth the money.

VAs can support clients all over the world, so even if you need to work outside 9-to-5 hours, there’s always a business in another time zone that needs you. Start with our article on how to find virtual assistant jobs or Gina Horkey’s course Fully Booked VA to learn more about this great side gig.

9. Pet Sitter

Earning potential: $15 to $25/walk and $35 to $70/overnight stay

Students love pet sitting and dog walking as a good second job because they control which jobs they take and how frequently they work. Check out platforms like Rover to connect to pet owners in your area. 

How much you make will depend on where you live, what services you offer, and whether you provide specialized care like giving medicine. You’ll also be able to set higher rates in an urban area. Rover takes a fee for each job you complete, but you can always list your services on social media instead of using an app. 

10. Sell on Shopify

Earning potential: $500 to $5,000/month

If you want a user-friendly platform to run an e-commerce store as a second job, the Shopifyplatform is the place to start. It makes such a great side gig because you can manage this work at any time of day or night. 

You choose items to sell via drop shipping, which means there’s no inventory for you to maintain or shipping for you to personally handle. To learn how Shopify works and how to set up your digital storefront, read our full Shopify review.

11. House Sitter

Earning potential: $25 to $50/day

If you’d rather take care of a house than a pet, consider house sitting as a good second job. Clients will pay you for drop-ins, collecting mail, watering plants, and in many cases staying overnight. 

To find jobs consistently, word of mouth and good referrals work surprisingly well. But sites like Trusted Housesitters may be worth checking out if you’re open to trading housesitting for having a free place to stay in a beautiful location.

12. Website Developer

Earning potential: $30 to $50/hour

So many business owners need to build or improve their websites but do not have the time or skill for the task. As a freelance web developer, you are your own boss and you hire yourself out to clients at the pace that works for you.

It can be gratifying work, too, not only tapping into your creative and technical skills but being part of helping a business succeed. Advertise your skills on social media or look for opportunities on freelance platforms like Upstack or TopTotal.

13. Handy Person

Earning potential: $15 to $25/hour

Customers who don’t have the time or skill to clean gutters or hang pictures are out there ready to hire you. The flexible hours and the chance to do something that’s either right in your wheelhouse or radically different from your day job make this a good second job, and you can often make $20 an hour or more. 

Be sure to focus on maintenance and repair tasks that don’t require a license or state certification — like carpentry, painting, or odd jobs — rather than something like HVAC, plumbing, and electrical. You can advertise services on social media or microjob sites like TaskRabbit.  

14. Referee or Umpire

Earning potential: $15 to $30/hour

Every sport needs refs and umpires, and most of these activities take place outside business hours. That makes this second job a good option alongside full-time work.

It’s also great for students who only have free time in certain seasons and need a solid side hustle stack. You can turn years of experience in athletics into a business while engaging in a sport you love. Your local recreational center, community team, or Little League typically has job leads.

15. Tutor

Earning potential: $15 to $40/hour

Many teachers already know they can tutor on the side for extra money, but might not know how to find tutoring jobs that fit their busy lives. Sites like BookNook connect K-8 students with tutors who can help them develop math and reading skills all from the comfort of home. 

There’s no lesson planning required, which makes this a good fit for your spare time. You do need to have teaching certification and experience, but that also means your rate of pay could be higher than entry-level second jobs.

16. Social Media Manager

Earning potential: $20 to $250/hour

If you have a knack for setting up killer social media profiles and knowing how to help a business attract followers, your best second job might be social media manager. You can use your spare hours to plan a schedule for posting, and you may be asked to produce videos or visual content like Pinterest boards or infographics.

Job sites like FlexJobs, Upwork, or Fiverr list social media jobs, and you can learn more from our reviews of FlexJobs and Upwork.

17. Server/Bartender

Earning potential: $15 to $25/hour

Restaurants and caterers hire servers and bartenders not just for regular shifts but for special events like weddings and parties. These events can be some of the best ways to manage a second job since you’re not expected to maintain a regular shift. 

To be a bartender, you do need to be proficient in the most common drink recipes and be at least 18 years old. Check local restaurants and college job boards for openings.

18. Babysitter

Earning potential: $12 to $20/hour

Babysitting as a second job isn’t just good for teenagers. Parents often want sitters who can drive, stay overnight, or work consistently, and they advertise their needs on sites like Care.com. You can create a profile and look for jobs on their site, or you can spread the word with friends and family. 

Take a CPR class and get permission to share references and referrals from satisfied clients, and you may be able to charge more.

Why Second Jobs Make Good Sense

Increasingly, we’re all looking for financial security. But it’s not just about making more money. A second job — a freelance gig, a part-time job, or a small business — can also provide:

• A sense of purpose and the chance to do work you love
• Additional skills and experience that might be your gateway to a new career
• Perks like discounts, freebies, or access to travel and exclusive events

How to Balance Life With a Second Job

The key to a successful side job is managing your time and energy. It’s crucial to remember that the reason for taking up this extra work is to benefit, not burden, your primary career or personal life. Here are three tips for making it work:

• First, sort your schedule. Start by looking at your current commitments. If you’re working a 9-5, weekends and evenings might be your only openings. If your weekdays are packed with homework or family time, a few select hours on Saturdays could do it. The best part about many of these jobs is their flexibility, so choose something that can realistically fit within your available timeframes.
• Next, assess your availability and energy levels. Be honest with yourself about how much spare time and energy you have. Burning the candle at both ends can quickly lead to burnout and compromise the quality of your work in both jobs. Remember, a second job should supplement your life, not replace it.
• Finally, communicate and manage expectations. It’s not just about your schedule; it’s about the people in your life, too. Ensure that your partner, family, or roommate is aware of your plans, and be clear about when you’re available.

Final Words

A good second job can be a powerful tool for taking control of your financial destiny. Each job listed above has its own set of pros and cons. To find the one that’s best for you, take the time to reflect on what you want out of a second job. 

If you’re anxious to start making money right away, second jobs like food delivery with DoorDash and pet sitting have no startup costs, training, or long-term commitment — and they pay fast.

On the flip side, a second job can be a great excuse to dip your toes into a new field. If you’ve been curious about coding or carpentry, why not use this as your chance to check it out? It may take longer to build your income, but you can lay the long-term foundation for your dream business.

Doordash Disclaimer:

Earning more on certain types of orders (ex. alcohol): Earn more per order as compared to restaurant orders. Actual earnings may differ and depend on factors like number of deliveries you accept and complete, time of day, location, and any costs. Hourly pay is calculated using average Dasher payouts while on a delivery (from the time you accept an order until the time you drop it off) over a 90-day period and includes compensation from tips, peak pay, and other incentives.

Get paid instantly (DasherDirect): Subject to approval

Cash out daily (Fast Pay): Fees apply

Start dashing today: Subject to background check and availability

Dash anytime: Subject to availability