150 Ways To Make Money Without Having To Get A Traditional Job

Working 9 to 5: What a way to make a living.

Or not.

Roughly one in four Americans now earns at least some of their income from the gig economy — be it driving an Uber or Lyft, selling goods online on a site like eBay or babysitting through Care.com — according to research published in 2018 by market research firm Edison Research. For 44% of gig workers, that side hustle is their primary source of income.

So what are these workers earning? It varies widely (though it’s important to point out that it’s often not enough, as 80% of gig-economy employees whose work is the primary source of income say that an unexpected expense of $1,000 would be difficult to pay, Edison found).

People who participate in the leasing gig economy (like renting a home on Airbnb) earn the most, at over $2,000 a month on average, according to data from JPMorgan Chase. But most others earn significantly less with the average across sectors only about $800 a month.

How much workers in the gig economy earn, by sector.

Despite sometimes low earnings, people choose gig work for a variety of reasons, including flexible scheduling and loss of a traditional job. And thanks to myriad apps and sites, they have a lot of options for side hustle work — as this fascinating graphic from lending company TitleMax shows.

Various apps that may help you earn money in the gig economy

Considering a side gig? Read MarketWatch’s guide on how to make money with a side hustle. And be sure to carefully vet any app and site before using.