And you're not alone. Some 16% of adults performed a side gig in the previous month to help them make extra money and, of those, 64% spent less than 20 hours doing those jobs during that period, according to the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2021 report, released in May 2022 by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
Social economy rounded up 25 real ways to make money at home, online or out and about. For each potential side job, we list details like what it takes to get started, age requirements and how fast you can get paid. While most people want to make money fast, don’t discount the “slow” gigs, as they may pay more in the long run.
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Making money online is the sweet spot people look for in the gig economy. Whether you aspire to be a six-figure social media influencer, or are just looking to supplement your regular income with some online side jobs, we've found some viable options.
Make money online through websites such as Upwork, Fiverr and Freelancer.com. These sites offer opportunities to do a variety of freelance jobs, such as writing, programming, design, marketing, data entry and being a virtual assistant. Fluent in a second language? Check sites such as Gengo or Blend Express, or drum up business through a site of your own. No matter what freelancing you do, keep track of the going rate for the kind of work you provide so you know if you’re charging too much or too little. Learn how to get started on Upwork.
Total time: It can take a while to get your first gig.
Setup: 24 hours.
How easy to start: Easy, if you have the expertise.
How fast you'll get paid: Varies by site.
Need to know
Upwork will approve your profile within 24 hours. But keep in mind it can take time to land your first freelance gig.
Payment varies by site. On Upwork, you're paid after you and the client review the work, 10 days after the billing period ends. On Fiverr, you're paid when the work order is complete, but you can't withdraw funds for 14 days.
Another way to make money from home is on sites like UserTesting.com. You get paid for your thoughts on how well — or not so well — certain websites and apps worked. You’ll have to complete a short test to be accepted, then you’ll be paid depending on the test type. UserTesting.com does not disclose an exact amount.
Total time: Approval time can vary.
Setup: Less than an hour.
How easy to start: Easy, if you have the tech gear and complete a sample test.
Age threshold: 18+.
How fast you'll get paid: Seven days.
Need to know
You typically need to complete a sample test as part of the application process.
You will start receiving testing opportunities after your application is approved.
The timeline for approval can vary.
You get paid seven days after completing a website or app test.
Payment is issued via PayPal.
You can make money from home by taking online surveys, but don’t expect to be rolling in the dough. Survey sites don’t typically offer a big payoff, and many sites are more useful for earning gift cards than cash. Some of the more popular survey sites include Swagbucks and Survey Junkie. Read our analysis of survey sites to find out which one is best suited for you.
Total time: It will take a while.
Setup: Just minutes.
How easy to start: Very. Just register and begin.
Age threshold: 13 to 18+.
How fast you'll get paid: Varies by site.
Need to know
Survey sites could be an option for how to make money online for beginners because you can register with a site and start taking surveys in a matter of minutes.
The time it takes to get paid depends on the survey site and how much time you dedicate to taking surveys.
Some sites let you cash out only after you hit a minimum earnings threshold.
Other survey sites issue points, which can be redeemed for cash (via PayPal) or gift cards.
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Turn your cat videos into cash videos. If your YouTube videos or blog posts draw a big audience, you may be able to make money from advertising. YouTube sets 1,000 subscribers as the benchmark creators must make before applying for the YouTube Partners Program. YouTube Partners then get access to Google AdSense, a service businesses pay through to advertise around your content. The service is free, but there are requirements you must meet. Read more about how to make money on YouTube and Google AdSense.
Total time: It can take several weeks to get up and running.
Setup: Not that hard.
How easy to start: Depends on how good you are at producing interesting videos.
Age threshold: 18+.
How fast you'll get paid: Could take a long while to earn the first payout; then monthly.
Need to know
Signing up for Google AdSense is pretty easy, but it can take anywhere from a day to several weeks for your account to be activated.
Allow at least two months for ad revenue to start trickling in.
You need to earn at least $100 before you're eligible for a payout.
Once you hit the $100 threshold, earnings are issued between the 21st and 26th of the month. It can take four to 10 days to receive a payment via electronic funds transfer and up to 15 days to receive payment as a wire transfer.
Gaming could be a way to make money from home if you have a steady following on Twitch, the go-to site for gamers. Broadcasters can receive donations from viewers and even get a share of subscription and ad revenue if they reach Affiliate or Partner status. Learn more about how to make money on Twitch.
Total time: This can be a long game.
Setup: Quick and easy.
How easy to start: Easy to start; takes a while to build a following.
Age threshold: 13+.
How fast you'll get paid: Monthly.
Need to know
You can launch a Twitch channel and start streaming in a day, but it will take weeks or even months to build a following.
Donation revenue can be withdrawn rather quickly, depending on the payout method.
Subscription and ad revenue earned as a Twitch Partner or Affiliate is paid out on the 15th of every month, and you must have a balance of at least $50 for most payout methods (it's $100 for wire transfers).
Even in the age of automation, some jobs still require a human touch. Companies often outsource those jobs via services like Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. As a “worker,” the tasks you’ll be assigned can be tedious — tagging images, transcribing videos, classifying receipts — and can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. Temporary employers or “requesters” set the price for each task and get to approve the finished product before paying you. That can leave room for scams, so do your research. Join a community like the MTurk Crowd forum, or the MTurk and Turker Nation subreddits, which can steer you away from shifty dealers. These communities and fellow “workers” can answer questions and give a realistic idea of how much money you can expect to make. Read more about Mechanical Turk as a way to make quick money online.
Total time: Several days to find out if you're approved.
Setup: Depends on the task you choose.
How easy to start: Easy if you have certain skills.
Age threshold: 18+.
How fast you'll get paid: You get paid following work approval, which can take up to 30 days.
Need to know
It’s unclear how long it takes Amazon to review your application, but according to the MTurk subreddit, it can take several days to learn if you were approved or denied.
After you submit your work, the requester has 30 days to approve it.
You can have your earnings deposited into your bank account or put on an Amazon gift card.
Turn your photographs into cash via sites like Fine Art America, which lets you upload your images to sell as prints, T-shirts, phone cases and more. Other marketplaces for photographers include SmugMug, 500px and PhotoShelter. Some sites require a subscription but may provide features ranging from cloud storage to password-protected galleries and a customized website.
Total time: Buyers need to find you — and like your work.
Setup: Just a few hours.
How easy to start: If you have a library of photos, you're on the way.
Age threshold: Any.
How fast you'll get paid: Depends on your sales platform.
Need to know
You can set up a profile with sites like SmugMug, PhotoShelter or Fine Art America in a few hours, assuming you have a body of original work.
Payment varies widely depending on the site.
Fine Art America: Payment issued after 30-day return window expires. Sent on the 15th of each month.
PhotoShelter: Payment issued at time of sale to your chosen payment method (PayPal, Stripe, etc.).
SmugMug: You can request payment be issued the following month if you have a balance of at least $5.
Renting out your home or spare bedroom on vacation rental sites is another way to make extra money. Be prepared to spend some money to clean and keep up the property, replace home goods and pay toward service fees. And scrutinize your rental agreement before you get started.
Total time: Demand drives success, and that depends on your location.
Setup: A listing can be created and live in hours.
How easy to start: If you have a place to rent, it's a simple process.
Age threshold: 18+.
How fast you'll get paid: About one day.
Need to know
You can create a listing and start accepting reservations in the same day.
Payment is typically disbursed about 24 hours after your guest’s scheduled check-in time, but processing time for that payment depends on the payout method. PayPal, Western Union, and Payoneer Prepaid debit cards are the fastest options; payment through them appears within one business day.
City-dwellers often don’t use their cars for days or weeks at a time. That idle time can translate to extra money with services like Getaround and Turo, which let you rent out your car by the hour or day. You take home the majority of those earnings, while Getaround or Turo takes a cut for protecting your car while it’s being rented.
Total time: Demand for your car will depend on the local market.
Setup: It takes about a half hour to set up an account.
How easy to start: With an appropriate vehicle, it's easy.
Age threshold: A valid driver's license and 21+.
How fast you'll get paid: Varies by site.
Need to know
You can create a listing on Turo or Getaround in under 30 minutes.
Turo initiates payment within three hours of the end of the rental. (This is the case for all trips after the first one, which takes a few days for Turo to send.) Payment is issued via direct deposit and can take up to three business days to appear in your account. For rentals longer than one week, Turo issues partial payments every seven days.
Getaround rental earnings accrue monthly and are paid out by the 15th of the following month. Payments are made via check or PayPal.
Companies are using Instagram influencers — people with large, dedicated followings on the platform — to rep their products. You can get in on the action by applying for opportunities via a marketing platform like Open Influence or Aspire, or by contacting the brands you want to work with. Read more about how to make money on Instagram. (You can also make money on TikTok this way.)
Total time: You'll need to stick with it.
Setup: Quick and easy.
How easy to start: Not that easy. It's a very competitive platform.
Age threshold: 13+.
How fast you'll get paid: Varies on partnerships.
Need to know
Creating an Instagram account is quick, but building a following takes time. Allow a few months to build a large enough following to attract advertisers.
Once you have the numbers, you'll need to find paid opportunities. You can do this via affiliate networks or by pitching brands you want to work with.
The time to receive your payment will depend on the terms of your agreement, but affiliate networks typically pay out earnings the month after a campaign is completed.