40 Best Weekend Side Jobs To Earn Extra Money

Do you have flexibility and interest in making more money on the weekends?  With an open mind, motivation, and grit, find weekend side jobs to put extra money in your pocket to benefit your budget. Many of these jobs are fun and lucrative. You can expand your knowledge in many areas by using your creativity and skills. Try these low-risk side hustles to make extra money legitimately in your spare time by working from home, caring for others, or using your car.

• Growing supplemental income will help you move closer to your financial goals and build wealth.
• Extra income will improve your budget if you already have a tight budget.
• Boost your emergency fund for unforeseeable events.
• Use some of the income to pay off high-cost debt from credit cards.
• Increase your savings to pay bills, buy groceries, set up a high-yield savings account, and make investments.

1. Drive For Uber or Lyft

Have spare time and access to a car? You can drive for ride-sharing services like Uber or Lyft. There are a few requirements, like having a driver’s license and meeting the minimum age requirement in your chosen area. The average hourly wage for an Uber driver in the US is $19, which falls between $15 and $23.  You can make $100 a day for a six-hour shift, though if you hustle (safely), your pay can go higher.

They’ll want to review your driving record, make you have a four-door car, preferably not a 20-year-old model, and have insurance and registration.

2. Food Delivery Services

You deliver prepared meals and groceries in your free time. At the same time, you are on your way to a destination. The demand for ordering delivery jumped significantly and remained strong since the pandemic. The success of Uber Eats, DoorDash, Postmates, and GrubHub has been astronomical. Most DoorDash drivers range between $15 and $25 per hour plus tips. If your car is too old to drive for Uber, you can still use your car for Uber Eats to deliver food or go by scooter, bicycle, or foot.

The delivery of grocery shopping got a similar boost, benefiting companies like Instacart, AmazonFresh,  Shipt, and FreshDirect. Those working for Instacart make an average of $13-$15 per hour, depending on location.

3. A Private Chef

Can you cook with flair for others on your weekends? People like hiring skilled personal chefs for special events or long-term culinary needs. Education requirements for being a private or personal chef may exist unless it’s a less formal arrangement. Hiring a chef may be for varying purposes such as nutrition, elderly or ill, parties, or in-home eating for busy people. Hourly rates are about $30-$40 per hour. However, charges vary by person for large parties.

4. Sell Baked Goods

Do you enjoy baking cookies, pies, and cakes? Selling these baked goods can be fun if you can do this from home for pickups or delivery on the weekends. You do this word-of-mouth or use a Facebook Page for ads to reach out beyond family, friends, and neighborhood folks. This side hustle can provide supplemental income while doing what you like and expanding at your own pace.

5. Tutor Online

Do you have a passion for teaching, credentials, and flexibility? Become a tutor online or in person and share your knowledge in high school and college subjects, ACT, SAT, or graduate exams. Consider tutoring privately or in groups. Typical hourly pay of $30 or higher will depend on the subject, with a more challenging curriculum like math getting higher demand and pay.  A few companies to consider working with are the Tutoring Company, Tutor.com, and TutorMe.

6. Private Coaching

Becoming a sports coach can be very rewarding. Coaching is mentoring that you provide to help transform a part of their lives. Private coaches are in demand in various sports, either privately or in groups. Parents are willing to pay extra help for the kids or adults who want a running or tennis partner to get stronger.

You can either work freelance as a coach with a large gym or school or work for companies like CoachUp, CoachNow, or TeamPro that can help you build your portfolio for one-time fees and a small percentage of your pay.

7. Answer Online Surveys

You can make cash, get gift cards and coupons, and earn redeemable points or rewards by answering online surveys and participating in polls. Signing up, contributing your opinions on market research and brands, and watching movie trailers in your free time is easy. While earning money, you may learn something new in your free time on the weekends. Established names are:

• Swagbucks
• Survey Junkie
• InBoxDollars
• Pinecone Research

8. Customer Call Center

This job is available for those who can devote time over the weekend from home to manage communication scripts, handle customer engagements, answer questions, resolve their needs, and potentially upsell products and services. The average hourly pay is about $18, according to ZipRecruiter.

9. Work For Amazon

If you need flexibility, you can work for Amazon in various ways, including weekend shifts. While it depends on the job, Amazon offers sign-on bonuses of up to $1,000 and $20 an hour to work in their workforce, and part-timers tend to get the same benefits as full-time employees. You can work for:

Amazon Flex, and using your car to make deliveries for $18-$25 per hour, depending on the location.

Amazon Fresh is grocery delivery of fresh food and Whole Foods Fresh Market orders for Amazon Prime Members.

You can become an MTurk employee for Amazon Mechanical Turk employee in your spare time and be part of their global on-demand workforce, apply your skills to available tasks, including research data processing, data verification, details, image/video processing, transcribing audio recordings, and information gathering. The hourly pay varies from low single digits to $16 per hour depending on the task, plus some jobs pay bonuses.

10. Dropshipping

You can designate your weekends initially to learn how a dropshipping business works. Dropshipping can be lucrative if you have at least 10-20 hours, even if you only have 15 hours a week. Due to low startup costs, zero overhead, and a simple model, it is possible to start your side hustle. Some experts make $100,00 annually by finding multiple new products to dropship on weekends. Dropshipping is one of the best online businesses to make money from home. You don’t need to store any products with you.

Sellers manage an online store and market private-label products. Once you get an order, you forward it to the supplier, who will dispatch it. You can find reliable suppliers for your dropshipping business on platforms like AliExpress and DSers.

11. Become A Local Guide

You can become a local guide on the weekend if you have specialized knowledge, speak more than one language, and are passionate about your area. People enjoy learning about things off the beaten path from the typical tourist stops. The guides are usually experts in nature, history, food, wine, or cemeteries.  People will pay up for a quality tour, plus tips. You can freelance or list on Rent A Local Friend or Traveling Spoon.

12. Become A Tasker With TaskRabbit

Are you handy and have some flexibility? You can become a Tasker that fits your skills in over 50 categories for TaskRabbit and earn extra money during the weekend. They’ll have a task waiting for you, and you can set your own rate, depending on the job and location. Can you wait in line to get tickets for a show in NYC? They will pay you $43 per hour. TaskRabbit takes a 15% cut of your pay before tips for popular tasks such as deliveries, handyman, TV mounting, hanging pictures, moving, and furniture assembly.

13. Transcriptionist

Transcribers can work from home and on the weekends. They convert audio and video recordings into written form, often used for subtitles or close captions. Transcription jobs are great for those who prefer to work remotely and can type efficiently without errors. The more niche your topic area (such as legal or medical), the more you get paid. According to ZipRecruiter, entry-level transcriptionists make about $17.43 hourly, on average, in the US. 

14. Proofreading and Editing

As a proofreader, you will review content and identify and correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, and syntax errors. On the other hand, editors focus on clarity and concise written presentation. 

Individuals and businesses seek out proofreaders and editors who manage their time with potential deadlines. If you have these skills, you can apply for either job. Offering both services is a valuable package for higher pay. On average, proofreaders make $25 per hour.

15. Data Entry Clerk

 For those seeking to work from home weekends, a data entry clerk is an excellent side hustle for making extra money. The skills to do data entry work require you to type fast and accurately, have a keen eye for detail, and be proficient in most Office tools. Data entry clerks make $16 to $25+ hourly and can work from home. 

16. Freelance Writing

Do you enjoy writing? If you write well, you may want to consider doing it as a freelancer. You want to consider a desirable niche that works for you. It takes time to develop your niche, writing skills, and voice.

There are many ways to land some writing jobs online. If you have a professional blog, you can point to your work. However, you can start by doing cold pitches and contacting editors online. When you’re new to freelance writing, check the job board for freelance writers and ask around if you can guest post. Freelance writers can charge $15 to $40 per hour, though technical writers get a bit more.

17. Become A Blogger

Like a freelance writer, you must find your niche if you are interested in blogging. Earning money from a blog takes longer than in many other areas. Some upfront costs include building, designing, and hosting your website. Go at your own pace, working on your blog on weekends. You’ll need to build your traffic and a following before you can earn money from ads, affiliated marketing, sponsored posts, selling courses, and other products. Consider blogging a longer-term proposition to make a living on a flexible schedule.

Become a social media influencer by setting up social media accounts like Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram, and engage your readers with relevant content and recommendations you use and enjoy.

18. Repair Electronics

Like to fiddle with computers, smartphones, and electronics overall? You’ll be in demand by those who don’t know what is wrong with their things (like me). This kind of work can be done locally on weekends or when you’re free. The compensation for repairing electronics varies in the $15-$20 per hour range.

19. Selling Spare Electronics

Like repairing electronics, you can sell spare, used, or unused electronics such as iPads, media players, smartphones, printers, cameras, or headphones and raise some cash. You want to expand your business selling electronics by collecting parts from others who are decluttering their homes and have an abundance of these things. The parts from these devices are valuable and profitable.

You can contact several companies to sell your electronics, notably Decluttr, Swappa, Gazelle, and Facebook Marketplace. You can trade in your electronics for cash; these companies will refurbish and sell certified pre-owned.

20. Sell Used Items On Craigslist or eBay

You can sell used items like electronics, appliances, and furniture online. You don’t have to limit yourself to these things. Consider adding other unwanted things people are getting rid of but are in demand by others. Craigslist is more like an online community board with free advertisements while eBay has various fees, and you will pay them a percentage of the final value.

21. Sell Your Crafts

In recent years, selling homemade crafts and unique goods to a seemingly boundless market has become much more manageable. Many people have hobbies they monetize into income streams. These online marketplaces may charge listing, transaction, and payment processing fees, so you must check each company. The best-known companies are:

• Etsy
• Shopify
• Big Cartel
• Zibbet
• IndieMade
• ArtFire

 

22. Freelance Your Professional Services Online

Besides writing, there are expanding platforms to sell your professional services as a freelancer. Among the places you can list your services and bid for jobs are Fiverr, Upwork, and 99 Designs. You can name your price starting at $5 and give your experience and how you work. Among the services you can offer:

• Graphics Design
• Digital, Email, and Social Media Marketing
• Web Development
• Writing & Translation
• Videos & Animation
• Music & Audio

23. Sell Unused Gift Cards

Do you have some gift cards in a drawer? I do, too. Legally, gift cards cannot expire less than five years after the purchase, but you may incur inactivity fees. You should use your gift cards to get the total value immediately. Sometimes, you may get a gift card from a well-meaning friend who wants you to try out her favorite place that you have little interest in shopping for.

Instead, sell your unused gift cards for up to 80% of their value on Raise, CardCash, and Cash Star, among others.

24. Become A Mystery Shopper

Do you like to shop and have flexible time? Marketing research companies will hire mystery shoppers to buy items in retail stores, eat at restaurants, and ask questions of salespeople and customer service folks.  They provide a detailed account of their experiences. These companies engage with these shoppers to collect valuable data to measure sales and service quality and understand the market, including its competitors.

The mystery shoppers have to buy the products but usually receive reimbursement for their expenses or purchases. The companies pay a flat amount for their assignment, which can go up to $50-$100, or provide them with discounts. You can become a mystery shopper with BestMark, the first and largest measurement company. Others are Market Force, IntelliShop, and Second to None.

25. Become A Virtual Assistant (VA)

A VA contractor works remotely and provides general administrative support by performing various tasks: email management, content creation, bookkeeping, scheduling, graphic design, social media, copyrighting, and e-commerce. Outsourcing to a virtual assistant has been in demand by online businesses and entrepreneurs in recent years. You can list with Fiverr, UpWork, VaNetworking.com, oDesk, Linkedin, and Indeed. According to UpWork, you can earn $18 to $35 per hour. More experienced VAs can earn higher rates of $50 or more.

26. Participate In Focus Groups

Market researchers rely on consumers to participate in focus groups to retrieve invaluable opinions on new and existing products and services. You can participate one-on-one by phone, in small groups on Zoom, or meet in person or online. Each focus group will be different. Your compensation could be on an hourly basis ranging from $50-$400 or per research session, depending on the amount of time assigned.  For those with flexible schedules on weekends, this can be a lucrative gig for your participation. Recommended focus groups are:

• User Interviews
• Respondent.io
• Recruit and Field
• FocusGroup.org
• Probe Market Research

27. Sell Unused Clothes

Have an eye for fashion but still have tags or gently used clothes hiding in your closet? There’s a market for that. You can sell unused clothes that may give you up to 80% of the cost of the item. Some will take a small commission. Sites to consider selling your clothing to:

• ThredUp (easy to deal with)
• Poshmark (original reseller)
• The Real Real (luxury design)
• eBay
• Depop

28. Sell Baby Gear

Do you have baby clothes that are either gently used or with tags you want to sell? You can collect your stuff and raise cash, or combine your stuff and pick up other peoples’ baby gear as a decluttering service to them.   List on Kidizen for free, but they take a percentage of your selling price on various items. You can also sell maternity clothes, bags, and children’s books. Alternatives to Kidizen are Letgo, Mercari, and OfferUp.

29. Closet or Home Organizer

Want to organize someone’s closets or drawers professionally? If you know how to declutter someone’s home or closet, there is a job for you in this market. If you have these skills, you can make hourly rates of $20 or more, or it can sell as a package deal, such as sorting out someone’s garage or basement for $250-$300 or more.

It depends on the party’s specific needs, as they may want you to go through a family member’s papers to find essential documents or redo entire closets or rooms. People often hire others for this task because of the emotional baggage, especially when a loved one has passed away.

30. Become A House Sitter

When people take vacations or travel for work, they consider hiring a house sitter. Owners worried about burglaries seek security and peace of mind. Professional house-sitters may water plants, collect mail and packages, take out the trash, and do pet care. They can earn $25-$45+ per hour, depending on the location. House sitters may do short overnight stays or more extended stays.

The owner must trust someone temporarily residing in your home, caring for beloved pets or plants. They will want a background check. You can register with organizations such as TrustedHouseSitter.com or HousesittersAmerica.com, where reviews and verification are helpful for prospective customers.  When pet sitting is the primary function, you can hire a pet sitter (see below).

31. House or Property Watcher

A house or property watcher is different than a house sitter. The person who visits the house may monitor the home a few times during the week. They look for disturbances and leaks, flush toilets, and check the temperature inside the house to avoid burst pipes or boiler problems. This job can be seasonal when areas are primarily for summer or winter homes. The house watcher’s pay is likely weekly, less than the house sitter’s,  but they can do more houses in total.

34. A Pet Sitter

We love our pets and will do almost everything to keep them comfortable when we are away. When pet sitting is the primary concern, owners will seek out experienced pet sitters to care for them by feeding, walking, and paying attention to them. Let’s face it: we love these essential family members and want to avoid the kennels. We also want to travel without guilt.

Pet sitters can be paid per hour or daily for visiting the pets during the day or staying overnight either in the person’s home or your home. They make $20 to $30 daily or more if they are there overnight or with additional pets. The house-sitting organizations mentioned above do pet-sitting as well. Try Rover, a well-regarded pet-walking service that is reliable.

35. Become A Caregiver

Are you passionate about caring for others, have flexibility, and earn extra money? Caregiving looks after a child (e.g., babysitter), a sick, elderly, or disabled person, and is in high demand. It can be for hours a day, evening, or regularly, requiring different skills. The hourly pay average is from $15 to $20 or higher when caring for children, depending on the location and circumstances. The payment will be higher if you are preparing meals or helping them with their homework.

Caregivers help adults with their day-to-day needs, and there is always demand for caregivers on the weekends. Their duties could include keeping them company, monitoring, helping them with their mobility, medication, hygiene, grocery shopping and meal prep, running errands, picking up prescriptions, and doctor visits. Professionals may need CPR certification or other training to administer drugs and physical therapy. Caregivers may average $30 per hour, depending on their skills.

36. Become A Hair & Makeup Artist

There is a high demand for people who can do hair and makeup in their homes for special occasions, work events, parties, weddings, and bar/bat mitzvahs. This freelance job is lucrative for those with talent and flexible schedules. If you have the flexibility to do the work at odd hours, like six AM, during weekends or holidays, you can earn $150-$600+ or more for this job, depending on if multiple people want hair and makeup services. You may need some training to learn about different styles and cosmetics.

37. Become A Photographer

Do you enjoy photography as a hobby and have skills? Why not take it to the next step and pursue what you love doing, whether portraits, family photography, travel, sports, nature, stock photographs, or candid photography? Sell your photos online or to companies specializing in your area of expertise. Consider listing on Fine Art America or stock photo sites like Getty Images or Shutterstock.

38. Make Honey

Do you have an interest in beekeeping and honeybees? Learn about this sophisticated area before you purchase a colony of bees to manage. It is a fascinating area that friends have done it and found it exhilarating. You can devote time on weekends to care for your colonies. Learn how to make honey, store, and sell honey. It can be rewarding.

39. Party Entertainer

If you can do some of these skills like singing, dancing, magic, comedy, clowning, juggling, balloon modeling, or puppetry, you may want to be a party entertainer for children of all ages or adults. You’ll need a costume, props, and gear to start. Most events will be on the weekends, where you can put on your show for multiple events like children’s birthdays, corporate events,  and weddings.

40. Flip Cars

Are you crazy about cars, popping your head under the hood, and don’t mind dirty hands? You may have a future in flipping cars. You can learn the basics of car repair and specialize in areas you enjoy. You can help and charge others with their vehicles. Alternatively, buy an old car to refurbish and flip them for a higher price. You can also learn car detailing, which is in demand.

Final Thoughts

Earn extra income to save more, pay down debt, or build your investment portfolio. Consider your skills and interests, and find time to spare to find a suitable way to build your path to wealth.