Side hustles are an easy way to earn extra income without a full-time commitment.
Freelance jobs are available in almost every industry and offer competitive pay and flexible hours. While freelancing can feel daunting, there are many well-paying, accessible positions. Depending on your strengths, skills, and professional experience, you can make good money through freelance work.
Step up your side hustle game with these easy freelance jobs that pay surprisingly well.
Copywriter
Copywriters write text materials, such as newsletters and articles, for marketing purposes. They are fantastic entry-level freelance jobs for those with solid writing skills. As a copywriter, clients will provide messages you must rework into persuasive and engaging text. Copywriters must be confident in writing, researching, and editing but can earn up to $100 an hour, depending on their experience level.
Photographer
Consider freelance photography if you have a creative eye and a decent camera. Many styles of photography can be profitable for freelancers. Photographers specialize in documentary, studio, portrait, landscape, commercial, event, and other visual art forms.
High-quality camera gear is vital for freelancers, but you don’t need the most expensive equipment to make good money. Focus on identifying your niche, honing your skills, and crafting a solid portfolio to find clients. Freelance photography rates vary, but the U.S. average, according to ZipRecruiter, is $63 per hour.
Virtual Assistant
A virtual assistant provides clients administrative support for their personal or professional lives. Rather than an in-person employee, virtual assistants perform their tasks remotely. Daily responsibilities may include scheduling appointments, answering emails, and coordinating travel.
Virtual assistance is the ideal freelance job for detail-oriented workers with excellent time management skills. CNBC reports freelance virtual assistants can earn anywhere from $18 to $100+ an hour.
Content Writer
Freelancers who can write concise and engaging content often work as content writers. Content writing involves producing blogs, website materials, and social media posts on a specific topic of interest.
This content provides particular information to a targeted audience to educate or persuade them. Upwork estimates most freelance content writers in the U.S. earn $15 to $40 hourly.
Social Media Manager
Managing social media for businesses, brands, and influencers is an increasingly popular freelance job. A social media manager handles content creation, scheduling, and analytics across multiple platforms.
Social media plays a significant role in digital marketing, so having a strong presence is essential. According to Upwork, social media managers can expect to earn upwards of $35 an hour through freelancing.
Graphic Design Artist
One easy way to make money freelancing is through graphic design. Graphic design artists create digital pieces of art for various objectives. Some specialize in creative artwork, while others design branding materials for corporations.
The graphic design field is easy to break into, and anyone with an artistic side can try it. ZipRecruiter estimates freelance graphic designers in the U.S. make an average of $35 per hour.
Tutor
Tutoring has existed for centuries, making it an accessible freelance job. A tutor works with students to help them study and better understand various subjects. Tutors can specialize in any topic, such as math, writing, or a foreign language.
Tutoring aims to help students grasp new concepts more easily through academic resources. Preply estimates the average hourly rate for freelance tutors is around $18.
Editor
Freelance editors review copy materials and make last-minute changes before finalizing them. They also proofread written content for grammar, accuracy, and clarity to ensure its effectiveness.
Many companies and individuals utilize editors for projects like press releases, reports, and blog posts. To be successful, editors must have a keen attention to detail and a thorough understanding of the written language. Salary.com says freelance editors earn an average of $31 per hour.
Marketing Consultant
Providing marketing services for a company as a freelance consultant can be incredibly lucrative. Many brands and businesses use marketing professionals to increase exposure to potential clients. The advantage of a marketing consultant is that they can offer specialized recommendations for short or long-term projects.
While marketing industry knowledge is crucial for freelancers, consulting can be an easy, high-paying job for many. According to Indeed, the average rate for freelance marketing consultants ranges from $50 to $200 an hour.
Translator
Being fluent in multiple languages is a highly marketable skill for freelancing. People who speak more than one language can apply their skills as translators. Translators convert material written in one language to another, such as Spanish to English.
In numerous professional and creative industries, translation is essential to communicate the same message in multiple languages. ZipRecruiter estimates the national hourly rate for freelance translators is $28 an hour, though some charge a set fee per word.
Transcriber
Transcribing is an easy freelance job for those with limited professional experience. Transcribers create written versions of video or audio content. They listen to audio and compile everything said into grammatically correct text.
Transcribers are essential to companies that need video or audio-recorded materials converted to written text. SideHustles.com reports most transcribers in the U.S. charge $19.50 per hour for freelance jobs.
Data Entry
You can earn a good amount of money through freelance data entry. Data entry involves entering information into an electronic database or system. Many industries use data entry to keep information organized and accessible.
While data entry may require time and patience, the effort can pay off. According to Zippia, freelance data entry clerks in the U.S. make around $15 hourly.
Bookkeeper
Bookkeepers are similar to accountants, though their duties vary slightly. A bookkeeper helps organize a business or individual’s finances. Bookkeeping tasks include tracking finances, recording transactions, and generating invoices.
Bookkeeping services are highly sought after, and freelance jobs have the potential to pay well. Millennial Money Man estimates most freelance bookkeepers charge between $18 and $25 an hour.
Coach
Many people employ freelance coaches to further specific aspects of their lives. Freelancers can coach clients on everything from fitness and nutrition to career advancement. Coaches provide motivation and support to encourage personal development.
Consider freelance coaching if you thoroughly understand and feel confident teaching others about a specific topic or principle. ZipRecruiter says life and career coaches earn nearly $50 an hour.
Customer Service
Customer service is one of the most well-known freelance jobs. As a freelance customer service representative, you will help customers by answering questions and providing solutions for various problems.
Traditional customer service roles are phone-based, but many virtual freelance opportunities have emerged recently. According to Upwork, freelance customer service representatives charge up to $19 per hour.
These jobs aren’t as tricky as they seem
Professionals are speaking out, claiming that stereotypically “demanding” jobs like engineering and accounting simply aren’t as tough as they’re made out to be.
They’re claiming these jobs can be done by anyone.
Create an inspiring freelance work environment at home
At-home offices are an excellent way to boost productivity and efficiency. An organized office space with bookcases and shelves displaying your favorite decor will inspire you to accomplish more.
Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
