The Best Side Hustles and Gig Jobs of 2024
Gig jobs are a very popular form of employment in the U.S., with around 50 million Americans participating either full, or part time. Whether you're looking to make some extra cash, or you're hoping to make a career change, there are plenty of side hustles available in Pennsylvania. In fact, a study found that gig workers in Pennsylvania make more there than anywhere else in the country. So if you want to take your job hunt into your own hands, here are a couple of the best side hustles you should check out in PA in 2024:
How can I make extra money in 2024?
1. Uber Eats Delivery Driver
Uber Eats is a delivery service that allows you to earn money on the go. You can make deliveries for restaurants that don't have their own drivers, or work directly with restaurants that want to deliver food themselves.
In order to become an Uber Eats driver, all you need is a car and smartphone. You'll also need to pass a background check and get approved by Uber (which takes about five minutes). Once you're set up as an official delivery partner, it's time to hit the streets!
Uber pays $18-25/hr plus tips for delivering food from restaurants in your area--and if there aren't any restaurants nearby? No problem! You can still earn money by picking up takeout orders from customers who order online through UberEats' app or website.
2. Postmates Delivery Driver
Postmates is an app that connects customers with local couriers. The app allows you to work as a delivery driver, delivering food and other items from local businesses. You can choose the hours you want to work, so if you're only looking for part-time gig jobs, this might be a good option for you.
The pay rate varies depending on where in Pennsylvania your deliveries are being made:
Philadelphia: $25/hour + tips (must complete delivery within 30 minutes)
Pittsburgh/Southwestern PA: $20/hour + tips (must complete delivery within 45 minutes)
3. Lyft Driver
Lyft is a ridesharing app that allows you to make money by driving people around in your car. You can choose to drive part-time or full-time, depending on what works best for you.
Lyft pays drivers $1 for every mile they drive, as well as 25 cents per minute spent waiting for a request. So if it takes 20 minutes to pick someone up and drop them off at their destination, you'll earn $4 total from that ride ($2 base fare + 25% time).
In addition to these earnings, Lyft also offers weekly bonuses based on how many rides you give during that week:
Weekly Bonus 1 ($200): Give 50 rides within 7 days of signing up (or 70 rides within 14 days) and get an extra $200 bonus!
4. DoorDash Delivery Driver
DoorDash is a food delivery app that allows users to order from their favorite restaurants and have them delivered straight to their door. As a DoorDash driver, you can set your own schedule and earn up to $25/hour. The best part about this gig is that it requires no background checks or car requirements--you just need to be over 21 years old with a valid driver's license!
5. Amazon Flex Delivery Development Contractor
Amazon Flex is a program that allows you to deliver packages for Amazon. As an Amazon Flex delivery development contractor, your job is to pick up packages from one location and deliver them to another location. You will be paid hourly and can earn up to $18/hour!
You'll work during evenings and weekends--no minimum hours required--and receive paychecks weekly by cash at the end of each shift.
6. Freelance writer
Freelance writing is a great gig if you're looking to make money and work from home. You can get started by setting up your website, which should include information about your writing experience and samples of your work. Then, it's all about networking with potential clients via social media and other platforms until one bites!
For example: "Freelance writer" is a broad term that encompasses many different types of jobs. Some freelancers write blogs or articles for websites or magazines; others ghostwrite books; still others create content for businesses' websites or advertisements. How much do these gigs pay? Well...it depends on who hires them! But according to PayScale's latest report on the best paying gig jobs in Pennsylvania based on median salary per year (as opposed to hourly rate) for full-time workers only, freelance writers fall into the mid-range of pay, with their median annual salary coming in at $53,000.
7. Freelance software developer
Software developer is the most popular gig job in Pennsylvania, and it's also one of the highest-paying gigs on this list. The average annual salary for a software developer is $70,000--but you'll need to have a degree in computer science and experience as a software developer before applying. To work as a freelancer, you'll need to be able to work remotely from your home office (or wherever else you want).
8. Web designer
If you're looking for a side hustle that will pay well and offer flexibility, web design might be the perfect fit. Web designers are in high demand, especially with more companies offering e-commerce options on their websites.
Web designers must have strong knowledge of design principles as well as an understanding of user experience (UX), which is how people interact with websites and apps. They also must be able to work with clients from various industries and backgrounds--from small businesses to large corporations--to create visually appealing sites that meet their needs.
9. Substitute Teaching
Substitute teachers play an important role in Pennsylvania's education system. They are responsible for filling in for regular teachers when they are unable to be present in the classroom.
According to data from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the average daily pay for substitute teachers in Pennsylvania during the 2020-2021 school year was $110.64. This figure represents the state-wide average, and pay rates can vary significantly from district to district. In some school districts, substitute teachers may earn more than the state average. For example, the Philadelphia School District pays substitute teachers $120 per day.
You can make a decent living doing gig jobs or side hustles in Pennsylvania. Gig jobs are flexible and great for people who don't want a 9-5 job, or who want to be tied down to one company. Gig jobs are also great for people who have flexible schedules who would like extra money on the side of their current career path.
We hope that this list has given you a good idea of what jobs are out there and what they pay. We know that it can be hard to get started in the gig economy, but it doesn't have to be! If Substitute teaching is a path you'd like to follow, check out HelloSubs for great opportunities to substitute teach at school districts all around Pennsylvania. There are plenty of opportunities for people who want to make extra money or even build their own business from home.