As someone who has worked from home for nine years, I can say without reservation that I love my office. It’s conveniently located just steps from my bed and I haven’t had to change into uncomfortable work clothes or chat with my coworkers in years.
If you want to earn some extra money and prefer not to have to drive around making deliveries or showing up at a job site, a work-from-home (WFH) arrangement could also be perfect for you.
According to a Robert Half survey, 88% of American employers now offer hybrid or fully remote work options. So for those who want to start a side hustle from the comfort of your home, here are some ways to get started.
Transcribing involves listening to recordings of presentations or conversations and writing down what you hear.
If you want to become a transcriptionist, you have two options to choose from:
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General: Able to transcribe general, non-specialized topics.
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Specialized: Trained or certified to transcribe audio for specific fields, such as legal, medical, or academic.
According to ZipRecruiter, WFH transcriptionists earn between $9.38 and $30.05 per hour, with $20 per hour being the national average. For medical transcriptionists, the median wage was $18.05 per hour in 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
You can get started with transcription work using job websites like Fiverr or Upwork, although you may need to pass a typing speed test or obtain a specific certification to be considered for most jobs. Alternatively, you can find an employer that offers on-the-job training.
If you are a teacher or have knowledge of a specific topic, you can potentially make money online as a tutor.
Rates for online tutors start at $10 per hour, but if you teach in-demand subjects, you can earn between $50 and $90 per hour. The highest paying subjects for tutors include:
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business english
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STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics)
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Standardized Test Preparation
According to Teachers of Tomorrow, some of the best websites you can use to find online tutoring jobs include Preply, Magic Ears, and Qkids.
As a social media manager, your job is to help businesses promote themselves by creating, planning, and managing their social media posts.
Social media management is a growing field and there are a few different ways to get started with this type of work. To get hired, you usually need a bachelor’s degree, and understanding marketing concepts can be helpful. However, there are other ways to qualify, including:
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Building and managing your own online brand
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Create a solid portfolio of work
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Obtain a Social Media Marketing certification or related certificate
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary for professional managers in this field was $76.76 per hour in 2024.
You don’t have to be a creative writer to make money as a writer or editor. In fact, there are several ways to get paid for your words. For example, you could provide one or more of the following services:
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Drafting: Creating written marketing materials, also known as copy. This could include writing things like website content or ads.
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Content writing: Informative or entertaining writing, such as blog posts, e-books, or newsletters.
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Technical writing: Make highly technical information understandable. This may include case studies or instruction manuals.
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Edition: Correct or check written work and improve grammar, punctuation or clarity. This may also include collaborating with writers to help them develop concepts and outlines.
As someone who has been a freelance writer for almost a decade (as well as an occasional editor), I can tell you that rates vary greatly in this field and have been decreasing due to the popularity of AI tools.
Can you still make money working as a freelance or part-time writer? Yes, it’s just more challenging than it was a few years ago. According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for a freelance writer is currently $23 per hour. However, you are likely to earn more if you have training and experience in a specialized topic, such as healthcare, insurance, or finance.
Dropshipping is a method of selling products online without having to store the inventory yourself. This is how drop shipping works:
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You sign an agreement with a product supplier.
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Lists the supplier’s products for sale online.
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Someone orders a product through your website.
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Place an order for the product from your supplier.
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The supplier packages the product and ships it directly to the customer.
It is not that difficult to start dropshipping. According to Wix, you can do it for just $100 by setting up one of their dropshipping websites that has payment processing and integrates with dropshipping providers. Alternatively, you can purchase an Amazon Professional selling plan, which starts at $39.99 a month, and then sell through the Amazon store.
That being said, it takes more than just listing products to make big money as a dropshipper. For full-time beginners, Zendrop estimates they could earn between $1,000 and $2,000 a month. That breaks down to between $6.25 and $12.25 per hour.
If you want to make your side hustle more successful, try to choose products where there isn’t much competition from other dropshippers, making sure your site has a user-friendly design, and choosing a reliable supplier.
Do you have experience in a certain profession or vocation? If so, you can offer your guidance to people or organizations by working as a consultant. Common areas of consulting include:
How much can you earn as a freelance consultant? The average hourly wage is around $30, but there is the possibility of earning up to $150 per hour or more.
Many companies require a consultant to have an advanced degree, such as an MBA. If you do not have an advanced degree, a combination of relevant experience and professional certifications may be sufficient.