ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

21 high-paying side jobs you can do in your spare time

Trying to make some extra cash? Have free time you don't know what to do with? You should consider getting a side job.

If you love working out, why not get paid to do it in your spare time?

Trying to make some extra cash? Have free time you don't know what to do with? Trying to develop or hone a new skill? You should consider getting a side gig.

FlexJobs, an online service specializing in telecommuting and remote work, recently put together a list of 21 high-paying jobs you can do on the side. To qualify for the list, each job had to be considered "flexible" (and not full time), and had to pay at least double the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, according to the job posting on FlexJobs and data from PayScale.

Brie Reynolds, the director of online content for FlexJobs, says "side jobs" are defined as anything part time, including freelance, temporary, short- or long-term, work-from-home, or in-person flexible gigs.

Here's FlexJobs' list of high-paying side jobs you might want to consider:

ADVERTISEMENT

Group fitness instructor

Pay: Up to $41 an hour

Type of flexibility: P

Description: Group Fitness Instructors are responsible for leading group fitness classes that support gyms and fitness club members with personal fitness goals. Instructors monitor members' needs and progress through safe exercises/routines in a variety of different classes, while creating an exciting and fun workout experience. Classes to teach include Zumba, yoga, Pilates, cycling, and age-specific classes like those for senior citizens. Several years of experience and teaching certifications are typically required.

Project archivist

ADVERTISEMENT

Pay: Up to $26 an hour

Type of flexibility:

Description: Museums and curatorial departments at various organizations sometimes seek archivists for project-based work to help them with a backlog of archival materials. A master's degree in records and archives management and/or previous experience is typically required.

Marketing specialist

Pay: Up to $26 an hour

ADVERTISEMENT

Type of flexibility: P

Description: Marketing specialists are sometimes hired on a part-time, temporary, or project-specific basis. Duties include creating and supporting communications and marketing plans, and creating marketing materials and outreach programs. A background and education in communications or a similar field, and a bachelor's degree, are typically required.

Curriculum writer

Pay:$50 an hour

Type of flexibility:

ADVERTISEMENT

Description:

City-guide writer

Pay: $100 a project

Type of flexibility: Freelance, telecommute

Description: Travel and tourism businesses, as well as real-estate companies, often hire writers to write city and/or neighborhood guides with information about population size, shopping, recreation, culture, entertainment, things to do, climate, transit, and more.

ADVERTISEMENT

Project assistant

Pay: Up to $25 an hour

Type of flexibility: P

Description: Depending on a company or organization's needs, project assistants are sometimes hired on a temporary basis to assist in specific projects. This might include updating or maintaining resources, troubleshooting specific issues, analyzing data, and assisting regular staff with ongoing needs. These part-time roles are often filled by people with experience in the specific industry or field, and a bachelor's degree in a related subject area is sometimes required.

Business consultant

ADVERTISEMENT

Pay:$48 an hour

Type of flexibility: P

Description:

Project manager

Sign-language interpreter

ADVERTISEMENT

Pay:$36.50 an hour

Type of flexibility: Part time

Description: For those with sign-language skills and a license (which are usually state-sponsored), part-time and freelance contracts are often available. Depending on the employer, you'll help different populations with hearing impairments communicate with interpretation.

Web designer

Pay:$32 an hour

ADVERTISEMENT

Type of flexibility:

Description:

Software developer

Pay: Up to $30 an hour

Type of flexibility: Flexible schedule, part time, telecommute

ADVERTISEMENT

Description: Software-development jobs are one of the most in-demand positions available today, and many offer part-time and project-based work. Depending on the gig, you might be updating existing websites, creating new templates, helping to develop new websites and apps, or other related tasks.

Online communications associate

Up to $25 an hour

Type of flexibility: Telecommute, part time

Description: Online-community management positions are a growing area for part-time work. Responsibilities typically include updating web content, managing social media, providing system administration, writing content, and creating reports.

ADVERTISEMENT

Video reviewer

Pay:$25 an hour

Type of flexibility: P

Description:

Accountant

ADVERTISEMENT

Pay: Up to $25 an hour

Merchandise coordinator

Pay:$21 an hour

Type of flexibility: Temporary, freelance, short term

Description: A small amount of merchandising experience is needed for these types of jobs, where you'll support a merchandising team by maintaining and updating information such as reports, samples, and updates from other teams.

ADVERTISEMENT

Bilingual legal assistant

Pay: Up to $21 an hour

Type of flexibility: Freelance, short term

Description: For someone with multilingual skills and legal experience, bilingual-legal-assistant jobs are often available as projects or temporary jobs in which you'll help an organization with a specific case or issue, reviewing legal documents using your language skills.

Lead-generation specialist

ADVERTISEMENT

Pay:$20 an hour

Type of flexibility:

Description:

Freelance product photographer

Pay: Up to $20 an hour

ADVERTISEMENT

Type of flexibility: Temporary, part time, freelance

Description: Make no mistake — photography side jobs require someone who is highly skilled in photography and related software for editing and retouching photos. Photography experience is almost always required, and graphic design and Photoshop experience is a plus.

Bookkeeper

Pay: Up to $19 an hour

Type of flexibility: Temporary, flexible schedule, part-time potential

ADVERTISEMENT

Description: Plenty of part-time bookkeeping jobs exist for both small and large companies. The responsibilities typically usually include using QuickBooks to do reconciliation, accounts payable, accounts receivable, etc. — so at least some experience (and relevant skills) are required.

Copy editor/writer

Pay: Up to $17 an hour

Type of flexibility: Temporary, part time, telecommute

Description: Copy editors and writers can be responsible for the writing, execution, and proofreading of materials across digital and print platforms. Depending on the employer, they may write and edit for marketing materials, editorial content, social media, or other types of material.

ADVERTISEMENT

Temporary transcript processor

Pay: $15 an hour

Type of flexibility: Part time, temporary

Description: Data-entry jobs like transcript processing are a great side job for people who love to work independently, have solid attention to detail, and enjoy the unique challenges of data entry. Data-entry specialists are needed to input data from a variety of sources into the correct corresponding fields quickly and accurately, and working well under pressure is a must.

Jacquelyn Smith contributed to an earlier version of this article.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

Here's everything to know about being a virgin on your wedding night

Here's everything to know about being a virgin on your wedding night

7 do's and don’ts of the Holy month of Ramadan

7 do's and don’ts of the Holy month of Ramadan

Top 5 sweetest celebrity mother-child relationships that stand out for us

Top 5 sweetest celebrity mother-child relationships that stand out for us

International Women's Day: 5 Nigerian female celebrities championing women’s rights

International Women's Day: 5 Nigerian female celebrities championing women’s rights

Top 5 female directors in Nollywood

Top 5 female directors in Nollywood

6 things that will break a Muslim's fast during Ramadan

6 things that will break a Muslim's fast during Ramadan

5 benefits of fasting during Ramadan

5 benefits of fasting during Ramadan

5 reasons Easter was more fun when we were children

5 reasons Easter was more fun when we were children

Dos and don’ts of supporting Muslims during Ramadan

Dos and don’ts of supporting Muslims during Ramadan

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT