Whether a layoff, an unexpected bill, or a desire to try something new has you seeking gig work, there’s never been a better time to explore this way to earn. These jobs can be used to fill in earnings gaps to help you find some financial freedom when it's needed most, as they don’t require the same commitment as typical employment. People also appreciate that gig work often allows them to work when they want and take time off as needed to care for their families or attend school.
Read on to learn about the best gig jobs for extra income, no matter the season. We’ll share who each job is best suited for, what you can earn, and pro tips for enjoying your work.
Best year-round gig economy jobs
Looking for a way to boost your income without the commitment of full-time employment or pursuing higher education? These jobs can be done at any time of year and aren’t location-dependent.
Reselling opportunities
If you’re good at following trends and can spot a deal, you may have what it takes to be a reseller. Take a look at YouTube, where you’ll find flippers and resellers of everything from baseball cards to vintage handbags sharing their strategies for finding deals and marketing their goods. Reselling is among the best for people of all ages seeking flexible jobs, with low barriers to learning and getting started.
Pay varies widely, with store owners earning just a few dollars per sale (or “flip”) to hundreds or more for high-value items. Online sales can be very competitive, with dozens of competing listings for similar products, so take extra time to learn how to photograph, describe, and list your item to attract the right buyer.
Where to find work: Places to sell include Etsy, eBay, Mercari, 1stDibs, and Vinted. You can also start your own shop on a website hosted by Shopify or another e-commerce platform.
Pro tip: It’s often easier to buy items to resell than it is to actually resell them. Avoid large stashes of products that you don’t have time to market. These “death piles,” as resellers call them, eat into your profit and take up space in your home or garage.
Caregiving positions
Do you like being around others and paying attention to their needs? Whether you prefer babies, the elderly, or green-leafed plants, you may be a good fit for caregiving. These jobs can be quick, lasting under an hour a visit, or require up to 40 or more hours a week. You’ll use your skills of patience, proaction, and personality to connect with others and resolve issues — often with people from different backgrounds and lifestyles.
Some gig economy jobs examples that let you care for others include babysitter, dog walker, pet sitter, plant care provider, senior companion, and mother’s helper. Gig workers in this category typically provide a wide range of services, so it’s an excellent opportunity for those who crave variety.
These jobs pay as little as the minimum wage and as much as $21 an hour, depending on your area of the country. While not as high-paying as some other jobs on our list, they can be very personally rewarding and offer steady, long-term contracts.
Where to find work: Look for jobs on sites like Leaf 'Em, Care.com, Sittercity.com, or UrbanSitter.com. You can also find work on local Facebook groups, neighborhood apps, community bulletin boards, and through direct outreach to potential clients.
Pro tip: People who do best tend to stack several caregiving streams, such as dog walking and after-school care, so that when one service is slow, another can fill in the gaps.
Driving jobs
Not everyone has a car, but most need to get around. That’s why driving jobs make excellent gig work for consistent income.
While we often think of ride sharing (Uber, Lyft) as the most common way to use a car for cash, delivery apps have added more opportunities to the mix. You can deliver food, groceries, or documents, with many opportunities available for sign-up through a simple phone app. Before you begin, you’ll need to provide some documentation (ID and proof of car licensing and insurance), as well as a way to collect your payments.
Pay ranges widely for driving jobs, with Lyft claiming its drivers average just over $23 per hour. Delivery drivers have reportedly made much less, but there’s a trade-off in not having strangers in your car. Deciding which to do depends on your priorities, with some drivers working in both industries to make the most money from their phone.
Where to find work: Start with the apps you already know and love, from Instacart to GrubHub to Uber. While they may have separate apps for the drivers themselves, the consumer-facing app can at least point you in the right direction.
Pro tip: Focus first shifts on known neighborhoods and high-demand windows (commute times, lunch/dinner, weekends) so you can learn the app without getting lost and maximize active, paid time.
Creative gigs
Do you have great ideas for content, designs, or the written word? You may have what it takes to earn money from your work. The best gig economy jobs require a proven skill set, such as writing or design, and you should be willing to invest in design or editing tools, as well as a professional website with a portfolio.
Whether you make content for a wide audience through blogging or sell directly to a select set of ghostwriting clients, your unique perspective is what helps differentiate your work from the rest.
Pay ranges from a few cents a word for local business copyediting to up to $1 or more when writing for Fortune 500 brands. Designers can average $35 an hour or more. Expect to start low until you can build a reputation in your industry and ask for more cash.
Where to find work: First-time creatives can find jobs on LinkedIn, job sites like Indeed.com, and by calling around to local businesses. You can also try platforms like Upwork.com, which may require payment to bid on projects or get access to better-paying gigs.
Pro tip: Consider doing a free project or two for friends or relatives. These samples help you show off your skills and prove you’re ready for paid work.
Tips for managing your gig income
Before you transfer that first payment into your bank account, consider the financial responsibilities for handling this additional income.
Count every penny
Money earned from part-time gigs can be sporadic, even if you work year-round, and the amounts can vary greatly. That can make it easy to lose track of all the money you take in. It’s still very important to track every penny, as you’ll need to figure out if your jobs are profitable and worth your time to keep doing.
For example, you may make $1,000 or more each week from ride-share jobs. If your fuel, car payments, and insurance exceed that, you may question the return on your earnings. However, if you’re already paying for car payments and insurance anyway, the additional fuel and maintenance costs may be a small price to pay for a healthy weekly paycheck. Each gig worker will need to decide if the wages and costs balance out and if they fit individual financial goals.
Separate business and personal
While not an absolute necessity, many gig workers find it easier to use a dedicated or prepaid debit card for their work expenses. Whether it’s for fueling up your ride-share car or buying ink for a business printer, keeping expenses separate from your groceries or kids’ daycare costs can help you track earnings and prepare you for tax time.
A great option is to have your gig income paid onto a Netspend® Prepaid Card.1 That way, you can access your money when shopping for much-needed business supplies. The card also supports instant payments from many popular freelance platforms, so you can get your money in minutes.
Get to know taxes
You will likely need to file both a state and federal tax return, reporting the money earned, expenses paid, and any special credits or deductions for business owners. While you’re at it, look at the requirements for paying estimated quarterly taxes, which are a combination of the employee portion of payroll taxes, as well as the employer portion.
Since you work for yourself when doing gig work, you’re responsible for both, and you’ll owe it throughout the year. Failure to pay regularly and on time could result in late payment fees and interest. For guidance on how to approach self-employment and quarterly estimated taxes, see this guide from the Internal Revenue Service and your state’s treasury website.
Note: Netspend is not a tax advisor or CPA. The knowledge in this post is general information and should not replace the advice of a tax professional. For more information, please reach out to a tax professional in your area. Link (https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/choosing-a-tax-professional)
Gig work to boost income and reach financial goals
Many depend on flexible, year-round gig work to create consistent extra income for many reasons. Whether it’s to pay down debt, save for a home, or build a bigger nest egg, these jobs can help you meet both short- and long-term financial goals.
How should you begin? First, decide what kind of work fits your strengths and lifestyle, whether it’s housekeeping or design work. Then list the tools, certifications, and skills you’ll need (e.g., a reliable car, basic supplies, or a computer and portfolio) and map out how many hours a week you can offer.
Year-round gig work rarely pays off overnight. But with consistency, clear rate-setting, and a focus on repeat clients, you can grow your gig into a meaningful, dependable stream of income that supports the future you want.
