15 Side Jobs To Make Extra Money

In today's fast-paced world, many people are looking for ways to make extra money to boost their income and enhance their financial security. Whether you're saving up for a big purchase, paying off debt, or simply wanting to have some extra cash on hand, finding a side job can be a great solution. In fact, according to a study, 1 in 3 Americans already have a side job.

Side jobs are not just part-time gigs; they can provide flexibility, allow you to work as little or as much as you'd like, and pay well for the work being done. Your time is valuable, and your compensation should reflect that. In this article, we will explore 15 side jobs that can help you make extra money in 2023. Whether you prefer to work from the comfort of your own home or venture out into the world, we have options for you.

1. Proofreader: Polishing Content and Earning from Home

Are you someone who constantly corrects grammar mistakes in your head or spots typos in menus? If so, working as a proofreader can be an excellent side job for you. As a proofreader, you will be paid to ensure that written content is error-free and polished. The demand for proofreaders is high, as every form of written content, including blog posts, ad copy, ebooks, novels, resumes, and web copy, requires proofreading.

One of the best things about being a proofreader is that you can work from home and set your own hours. You can earn between $15 to $40 per hour, depending on your experience and expertise. To learn more about how to make money as a proofreader, you can attend the free Well-Paid Proofreader seminar, which provides valuable insights into the five steps to becoming a successful proofreader.

2. Bookkeeping: Organize Finances and Earn on Your Terms

If you have a knack for numbers and enjoy working with financial data, freelance bookkeeping can be a lucrative side job. As a freelance bookkeeper, you will assist business owners in recording and managing their daily financial transactions. This can include tasks such as paying bills, managing payroll, and collecting payments. The best part is that bookkeeping does not require a degree, making it accessible to a wide range of individuals.

To excel as a bookkeeper, you should be familiar with popular financial software like Quickbooks and have a good understanding of balance sheets. On average, bookkeepers earn between $20 to $40 per hour. If you're interested in starting your own bookkeeping business, you can learn the necessary skills and strategies through online courses. For example, you can join the waitlist for the Bookkeeping Course to kickstart your journey as a successful bookkeeper. 

3. Freelance Writing: Express Your Creativity and Earn on Your Terms

If you have a passion for writing and enjoy creating various types of content, freelance writing can be an ideal side job for you. As a freelance writer, you have the opportunity to work on diverse projects such as marketing campaigns, blog posts, email newsletters, articles (online and print), catalog descriptions, ghostwriting, web copy, grant writing, technical writing, content mills, and even resumes.

Freelance writing provides the flexibility to work from anywhere and choose projects that align with your interests and expertise. The earning potential varies depending on the nature of the work and your experience. It's common for freelance writers to earn anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 per month. If you're interested in pursuing a career as a freelance writer, you can take advantage of resources like online courses to enhance your skills and learn how to find clients.

4. Delivery Driver: Flexibility and Earnings on the Road

Over the past few years, food delivery has emerged as one of the most popular side jobs. It offers flexibility and the opportunity to earn extra money while being on the road. DoorDash, the largest food delivery service in the U.S., provides an excellent platform for individuals looking to become delivery drivers, also known as Dashers. Dashers have the freedom to choose their own hours, and there are no minimums or limits on the number of hours they can work in a week.

DoorDash allows Dashers to work whenever they have spare time and even bring a friend along. With DoorDash, you can earn money by delivering takeout orders to customers. To learn more about becoming a Dasher, you can read our comprehensive DoorDash Driver Review.

DoorDash Disclaimer: Actual earnings may differ and depend on factors like the number of deliveries completed, time of day, location, and expenses. 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 peak pay, tips, and other incentives.

5. Take Online Surveys: Share Your Opinions and Earn Extra Cash

If you're looking for an easy and flexible side job that can be done from the comfort of your own home, taking online surveys is a great option. While online surveys may not be the highest-paying side job, they offer extreme flexibility and require minimal effort. Survey sites are always looking for individuals of all demographics to answer questions about various products and services for market research purposes. In return, you can earn anywhere from $0.50 to $3 per survey.

Think of online surveys as a paid alternative to playing games on your phone. Two popular survey sites to consider are Branded Surveys and Survey Junkie. Branded Surveys is free to sign up for and pays in points that can be converted into PayPal cash, gift cards, or bank transfers. Survey Junkie, another reputable survey site, matches you with surveys based on your demographic information and pays you in points as well.

6. Earn Cash Back: Make Money While Shopping

Feeling the effects of inflation when buying groceries or filling up your gas tank? Did you know that you can actually make money while doing these everyday tasks? There are apps like Upside and Ibotta that offer cashback opportunities. By signing up for these apps, you can earn cashback rewards on your purchases.

Upside allows you to earn cashback on gas purchases, while Ibotta offers cashback on grocery purchases. Both apps are free to sign up for and offer immediate opportunities to make extra money. The Ibotta app has already paid out over $1 billion in cash rewards.

7. Grocery Shop: Get Paid to Deliver Essentials

Next to delivering takeout, grocery shopping has become one of the fastest-growing side jobs. DoorDash, which is primarily known for food delivery, has expanded into grocery delivery. As a DoorDash driver, you can get paid to deliver groceries and takeout for the largest food delivery service in the U.S. DoorDash drivers, or Dashers, have the flexibility to stop and start whenever they want.

If you're at least 18 years old and have access to a reliable vehicle, you can join DoorDash as a driver. You can schedule your hours in advance or hop on the app and deliver when you have extra time. As a Dasher, you keep 100% of your tips.

8. Rent Out Your Space: Make Passive Income with Neighbor

If you have extra space in your house that you're not using, why not turn it into a source of passive income? Neighbor is a platform that allows you to list your extra space for rent, similar to how Airbnb operates for accommodations. Neighbors in your area can rent out your space to store their belongings securely.

Whether you have a garage, driveway, shed, or parking space available, you can earn extra money by renting it out on Neighbor. The amount you earn depends on the type of space you're renting. For example, you can earn between $100 to $600 per month for a garage, $50 to $150 per month for a driveway, $50 to $200 per month for a shed, and $50 to $300 per month for a parking space.

Neighbor is free to join, pays monthly, offers liability coverage, and charges only a small processing fee on each reservation. To learn more about Neighbor, you can read our in-depth Neighbor Review.

9. Start a Blog: Share Your Passion and Earn Big

Blogging is not only a creative outlet but also a potentially lucrative side job. It offers the highest earning potential out of all the side jobs on this list. With a blog, you have complete control over your work schedule, the topics you write about, and how you monetize your website. Many successful bloggers are earning $10,000 or more per month.

Starting a blog is a journey that you can embark on from the comfort of your own home. To learn how to start a blog, you can follow the step-by-step guide, How to Start a Blog. Bluehost is a recommended blog host for new bloggers, as it allows you to have control over your content and how you make money from your blog. When you sign up for Bluehost, you can also take advantage of the free installation and set-up service called Launch That Blog.

10. Tutor: Share Your Knowledge and Help Others Succeed

If you have a passion for teaching and enjoy helping others learn, becoming a tutor can be a rewarding side job. BookNook is an online tutoring platform that connects K-8 students with tutors who can assist them in developing critical math and reading skills. As a BookNook tutor, you can earn between $15 to $22 per hour.

To qualify as a BookNook tutor, you need to meet at least one of the following requirements: have three or more years of teaching or tutoring experience, have one year of teaching or tutoring experience along with a bachelor's degree, or have one year of teaching or tutoring experience while currently enrolled in a teaching credential program. BookNook handles lesson planning, allowing you to focus on teaching.

11. Digital Marketing: Help Businesses Thrive Online

Digital marketing encompasses a wide range of skills and opportunities. One popular side job in the field of digital marketing is running Facebook and Instagram ads for small businesses. Facebook and Instagram are powerful platforms for businesses to increase their visibility and reach a wide audience. As a digital marketer, you can help these businesses by managing their online advertising campaigns.

Running Facebook and Instagram ads can be a part-time job that allows you to earn between $1,000 to $1,500 per month per client. With just a few hours of work each week, you can help businesses optimize their advertising strategies and achieve their goals. The FB Side Hustle Course provides comprehensive training on online advertising with Facebook and Instagram ads.

12. Freelancing: Utilize Your Skills and Earn on Your Terms

Freelancing allows you to use your existing skills, such as graphic design, bookkeeping, web development, or copy editing, to work as an independent contractor for multiple clients. Many companies outsource work to freelancers, making it a viable option for earning extra money. Freelancers can earn anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 per month, depending on their skills and the demand for their services.

To find freelance jobs, you can explore job boards like FlexJobs, which specialize in remote and work-from-home opportunities. FlexJobs provides a curated list of freelance, work-from-home, and remote jobs, making it easier for freelancers to find suitable opportunities.

13. Caregiver: Provide Compassionate Care and Earn Extra Income

If you have a nurturing personality and enjoy taking care of others, becoming a caregiver can be a rewarding side job. Families are often in need of kind and caring individuals to assist them with childcare or senior care. Care.com is a popular platform that connects families with caregivers and offers opportunities in childcare, senior care, and housekeeping.

As a caregiver, you can earn between $300 to $500 per week per child by providing childcare services from your own home. Care.com is free to join and allows you to list your services. If you wish, you can include a background check on your profile for a small one-time fee.

14. Dog Walker & Pet Sitter: Combine Your Love for Animals with Earning

If you're an animal lover, why not turn your passion into a side job? Dog walking and pet sitting are popular side jobs that allow you to spend time with furry friends while earning extra income. Dog walkers typically earn between $10 to $25 per walk, while overnight pet sitters can make $30 to $50 per overnight stay.

Platforms like Rover provide opportunities for individuals to offer their pet care services. Rover is trusted by thousands of pet owners and offers a platform for pet sitters to connect with potential clients. By joining Rover, you can create your own schedule, set your rates, and start earning money by playing with pets.

15. Virtual Assistant: Provide Online Support and Earn on Your Terms

If you're organized, detail-oriented, and enjoy helping others, becoming a virtual assistant (VA) can be a great side job. As a virtual assistant, you can provide online support to individuals or businesses by handling tasks such as scheduling meetings, managing inboxes, performing basic bookkeeping, publishing blog posts, and more. Virtual assistants can earn between $15 to $40 per hour, depending on their skills and experience.

Gina Horkey's VA Success course offers valuable insights and teaches essential skills for becoming a successful virtual assistant. The course covers topics like finding clients and building a successful VA business in 90 days or less.

Where to Find Side Jobs: Explore Opportunities

If you're ready to explore side job opportunities, there are various platforms and resources available. Here are a few places where you can find side jobs:

• FlexJobs: This job site specializes in work-from-home and remote side jobs. It offers excellent filtering tools to create personalized job searches.

• Craigslist: Despite its reputation, Craigslist can be a reliable source for finding side gigs. Browse the Gigs section for opportunities related to domestic work, crew jobs, computer work, event assistance, talent gigs, and writing gigs. Be cautious of scams and ask detailed questions before committing to any job.

• Your network: Don't underestimate the power of your network. Reach out to friends, family, and acquaintances to let them know you're looking for side work. You never know who might need help with tasks like lawn care, bookkeeping, or running errands.

The Final Word on the Best Side Jobs

In conclusion, there are numerous side jobs available that can help you make extra money and achieve your financial goals. Whether you prefer to work from home or venture out into the world, there is a side job that suits your interests and lifestyle. From proofreading and bookkeeping to freelancing and pet sitting, the opportunities are endless. Take advantage of the resources and platforms mentioned in this article to find the perfect side job for you.

Remember, side jobs not only provide additional income but also offer the possibility of personal and professional growth. Embrace the opportunities, explore your passions, and enjoy the journey of making extra money through side jobs.