Where Are the Best Side Jobs?

Recently, there has been a huge buzz around the idea of side jobs, or, as they are more affectionately known – side hustles. As with all trends, there is a good reason for this surge in popularity. According to a 2017 CNN Money report, an astounding 44 million Americans have established a way in which to earn extra income on top of the wages from their regular employment. It’s a staggering figure, but as the country’s economic landscape continues to evolve, folks of all income levels, especially recent grads, are feeling the need to pad their biweekly paychecks.

This is where the idea of “side jobs” come into play. But, before we take a deep dive into today’s best side jobs, let’s take a look at its definition so that we are all on the same page. At Wonolo, we define a side job, or side hustle, as being “any type of employment undertaken in addition to one’s full-time job.” Generally, a side job is “freelance or piecework in nature, providing a supplemental income.” In some cases, side hustles are the beginning of a business, which, if successful, could become to vessel that takes its creator out of the normal employee-employer scenario.

Now, that we’ve established the parameters of a side job, let’s take a look at the very best side jobs that are available today:

Warehousing

Warehousing is one of America’s fastest-growing industries. As a matter of fact, warehouse employment has risen an astonishing 90% in the last decade – with no hint of slowing down. This is due to the current e-commerce boom; with a record number of orders coming in year after year, operations must find ways to augment their workforces, especially during peak periods.

Because of this reality, warehouse associate positions make great side jobs, as the nation’s top warehouses contract with on-demand services, like Wonolo, to bring in temporary employees as needed. Most warehousing positions require little training and no previous experience, a big plus for those desiring a side job that is a departure from their 9 to 5.

Interested in securing an on-demand warehousing gig? We’ve got you covered!

On-Demand Jobs

The “gig economy” has officially evolved into the “on-demand economy,” making way for a new framework that allows companies, like Wonolo, to flourish. As a cutting-edge, on-demand staffing platform, we are able to quickly onboard workers like you, providing you with a range of employment opportunities that you can accept on the fly. No matter your skill set, there is a temporary job that fits your interests and abilities, such as general labor, warehouse operations, delivery driving, merchandising, event staff, administrative support, and more.

Download the Wonolo app to get started.

Rideshare Driver

Ridesharing apps, Lyft and Uber, have completed changed the way our country views transportation. That being said, they have also changed the way we view side hustles. If you own a car, have a clean record, and are 21 years of age, you, too, can become a rideshare driver. It typically only takes about 3-5 days to go through the onboarding process, and, depending on the hours and the areas in which you drive, you could be making an average of $30/hour. The best part? This 24/7 job is super flexible as it allows you to set your own hours – evenings, weekends, holidays, you name it.

Pet Sitter

Are you a pet lover? If so, you can make taking care of man’s best friend your side hustle. Apps like Rover connect pet owners with pet sitters offering all levels of services, from simple dog walking to full-time home boarding. Rover takes care of the payments and necessary background checks so that both parties do not need to worry about handling transactions. Pet sitting and dog walking is a particularly good fit for those with remote or flexible day jobs as most requests are scheduled during the daytime hours.

Virtual Assistant

If you have a background in administration and have the ability and desire to work from home, a virtual assistant position may be the side job for you. A virtual assistant performs many of the same tasks that an in-house personal assistant does – scheduling, bookkeeping, handling phone calls/emails, booking travel, managing social media, research, etc.–except the work is all done remotely. While some bosses require their virtual assistants to keep regular business hours, it’s quite normal for alternative schedules to be negotiated.

As you can see, there is a host of side jobs that can be picked up on a temporary or as-needed basis. For more information on the pros, cons, and best practices of the on-demand economy, be sure to read our guide.