25 of the best second job ideas: stack up savings

Looking to boost your savings, fund a big life milestone, or have some extra cash in your pocket? A second job can help, but nobody wants one that feels like slaving away.

The good news: you don’t have to burn out to make money.

From flexible side hustles to low-investment gigs, there are plenty of ways to earn extra income without taking over your life. In this article, we’ll break down 25 of the best second jobs, including what they pay, what you’ll do, and tips for finding the right fit.

25 great second jobs to boost your income

Here are 25 legitimate side hustles that can pad your wallet without requiring a complete lifestyle overhaul. I've split them into online and IRL options, depending on how much of a homebody you may be.

IRL second jobs you can pick up fast

1. Pet sitter

Pet sitting is a flexible side job perfect for animal lovers who enjoy caring for furry friends.

You’ll handle feeding, exercise, and general supervision, and may even give medications when needed. Some pet sitters visit clients’ homes, while others offer pet boarding at their own home.

Beyond the basics, keeping owners updated with photos or messages helps build trust and repeat business. It’s a low-barrier way to earn extra income while spending time with animals.

• Earning potential: $15–$25 per hour
• What you need: Love of animals and reliability
• How to get started: Sign up on pet-sitting platforms or advertise locally

Further reading: The best side hustles from home

2. Babysitter

Babysitting is a classic side hustle that provides flexible hours while helping parents manage their schedules.

You’ll care for children, plan activities, and ensure safety. Trust and reliability are key to building repeat clients.

• Earning potential: $15–$25 per hour
• What you need: Experience with children and basic safety knowledge
• How to get started: Sign up on Care.com, Sittercity, or advertise locally

Further reading: Earn an extra $1000 per month with these weekend side hustles

3. Fitness instructor

A fitness instructor leads workouts, either in-person or online, helping clients reach their health goals. This can include group classes, personal training sessions, or specialized programs like yoga or pilates.

A side hustle as a fitness instructor can be flexible, and with experience, you can increase rates or branch into online coaching for passive income. Danni has been a personal trainer for 4 years, and his advice is —

“If you automate things like payments and onboarding, you’ll spend less time chasing clients and more time helping people reach their goals.”

• Earning potential: $25–$75 per hour
• What you need: Fitness knowledge or certification
• How to get started: Join a gym, create online classes, or advertise personal training sessions

4. Delivery driver

Delivery driving for companies like Uber Eats, DoorDash, or local couriers provides flexible hours. You can often choose your shifts, making it a simple way to earn on evenings or weekends.

• Earning potential: $15–$30 per hour
• What you need: A car, bike, or scooter and a valid driver’s license
• How to get started: Sign up with delivery platforms in your area

5. Handyperson

Good with your hands? Manual gigs are a great, flexible side hustle. Help people fix stuff, assemble furniture, or do small home projects. Pick jobs you enjoy, and you could turn random gigs into steady side cash. Local listings or TaskRabbit are gold for starting out.

• Earning potential: $20–$50/hr
• What you need: Tools + general repair skills
• How to get started: Advertise locally or hop on TaskRabbit

6. Mystery shopper 

Mystery shoppers visit stores, restaurants, or online platforms to evaluate customer experience. This side job is flexible and can provide both cash and gift rewards. While it won’t replace a full-time income, it’s a low-commitment way to earn extra money while giving honest feedback to businesses. Reliability and attention to detail are key to building a strong reputation with mystery shopping companies.

• Earning potential: $10–$25 per hour
• What you need: Attention to detail and reliability
• How to get started: Sign up with mystery shopping companies like Market Force or BestMark

Further reading: How Gen-Z shopping habits are shaping the future of ecommerce

7. Bartender

Bartending offers flexible hours and the potential for tips, making it a popular side hustle. It’s ideal for social individuals who thrive in fast-paced environments. Experience with customer service and drink preparation can help you earn more and build repeat clientele. Seasonal or event-based work can also increase earnings.

• Earning potential: $15–$30 per hour plus tips
• What you need: Knowledge of drinks and mixology skills
• How to get started: Apply at local bars, clubs, or restaurants

Further reading: Side hustles for students – make money alongside your studies

8. Sports coach

Sports coaches train athletes in specific sports, teaching skills, strategies, and teamwork. Coaching can be done individually or with teams, youth leagues, or adult leagues. This side hustle is rewarding for those passionate about sports and mentoring others. Over time, successful coaches can expand to camps, clinics, or online coaching.

• Earning potential: $20–$50 per hour
• What you need: Experience in the sport and coaching ability
• How to get started: Volunteer locally, get certified, and advertise coaching services

Online second jobs anyone can do

While the above options are easy to pick up, they do ask you to trade time for money, and they're not scalable without a lot of effort. On the other hand, online businesses and hustles are flexible, scalable, and give you more freedom.

Here are some of the most popular:

9. Blogger

As a blogger, you get to share your expertise across a chosen field through online articles and posts. You'd publish your writing on websites where readers can easily find and engage with your content.

You could earn money by hosting ads on your personal website or working directly with companies to develop content for their digital platforms.

• Earning potential: $35,000–$70,000+ per year
• What you need: A niche, a website, and basic writing skills
• How to get started: Pick a niche, create a blog, and start publishing content

10. Virtual assistant

A virtual assistant is a flexible side job where you help business owners or busy professionals manage their daily tasks remotely.

Duties can include scheduling, managing emails, booking travel, handling social media, and more, depending on your skills — from creating graphics to writing content or organizing finances.

This role is ideal for detail-oriented people who enjoy supporting others and can be done part-time alongside other commitments. It takes some time to learn the ropes, but once you do it can be a very rewarding career. Here's what veteran VA Matthieu has to say:

“I started as a beginner VA, and while it was overwhelming at first, I’ve learned that the real value comes from helping businesses save time. As you gain experience, you get faster, build systems, and eventually free up space to take on more clients—or more freedom for yourself.”

• Earning potential: $35,000–$65,000 per year
• What you need: Strong organization and communication skills
• How to get started: Sign up on VA platforms or reach out to small business owners directly

11. Food server

Working as a food server allows for flexible shifts and tips on top of hourly wages. This can be a side hustle while saving or supplementing income, especially if you work in busy restaurants or high-end venues.

• Earning potential: $12–$25 per hour plus tips
• What you need: Customer service skills and reliability
• How to get started: Apply at local restaurants, cafes, or catering companies

Further reading: How to make money with your phone

12. Tutor

Tutoring is ideal if you excel in a subject and enjoy teaching others. You can tutor students online or in-person for school subjects, test prep, or specific skills like coding or music. It’s a flexible side job that can scale depending on how many clients you take on.

• Earning potential: $20-$60 per hour
• What you need: Expertise in a subject
• How to get started: Advertise locally, join platforms like Preply, or run your own tutoring business on Whop.

13. Web developer 

Web development is in high demand, offering opportunities to create websites, apps, or maintain existing platforms for clients.

You can take on projects part-time or freelance, and your rates grow as your skills and portfolio expand.

• Earning potential: $40–$100 per hour
• What you need: Coding and web design skills
• How to get started: Build a portfolio, join freelance platforms, or pitch local businesses

14. ESL teacher

Teaching English as a second language (ESL) is a flexible way to earn money, often remotely.

You’ll help non-native speakers improve their English, which can include conversational practice, grammar, or business English.

• Earning potential: $15–$40 per hour
• What you need: English fluency; a TEFL/TESOL certification helps
• How to get started: Apply to online ESL platforms like VIPKid or Cambly, or advertise independently

15. Customer service representative

Customer service roles often allow remote work and flexible scheduling. You’ll handle inquiries, complaints, or support tickets, making it a side hustle for those with strong communication skills.

• Earning potential: $15–$25 per hour
• What you need: Communication skills and problem-solving ability
• How to get started: Apply to companies hiring remote or part-time reps

16. Social media manager

Did you know that 82% of small businesses now invest in social media marketing? That's where your side gig comes in. As a social media manager, you’ll create content, schedule posts, engage with audiences, and track analytics to grow engagement.

• Earning potential: $20–$60 per hour
• What you need: Social media skills and creativity
• How to get started: Build your own social media presence, then pitch services to small businesses

17. Transcriptionist

As a transcriptionist, you'll turn spoken words into written text, whether you're working with recordings or listening in real time. It’s like being a professional listener who types up everything from courtroom proceedings to doctors' patient notes. Accuracy and speed are key, and work can be done remotely on your schedule.

Karina Egle has made great money as a freelance transcriptionist, saying —

“I started translating documents as a teenager, and over the years it’s given me steady side hustles and freelance gigs. Whether it’s contracts, shipping instructions, or proofreading student papers, translation work is always in demand.”

• Earning potential: $15–$40 per hour
• What you need: Good typing skills and attention to detail
• How to get started: Join transcription platforms like Rev, TranscribeMe, or Scribie

18. Graphic designer

Turn your love for visuals into cash. You can make logos, social media posts, or website graphics and get paid per project or keep recurring clients. The key? A solid portfolio and knowing your way around design software. Side note: the more niches you can flex in, the more gigs you'll land.

• Earning potential: $25–$75 per hour
• What you need: Design skills and software proficiency
• How to get started: Build a portfolio and join freelance platforms like Fiverr or Upwork

19. Create and monetize a YouTube channel

Have a niche or hobby? Film it.

YouTube pays through ads, sponsorships, or merch once you grow an audience. Consistency is key, but even small channels can pull in some decent side cash if your content hits. Many creators eventually scale into full-time businesses or online brands.

• Earning potential: Varies widely ($100–$10,000+ per month)
• What you need: Camera, microphone, editing software, and a niche idea
• How to get started: Pick a niche, create quality content, and enable monetization on YouTube

20. Dropshipping 

Dropshipping allows you to sell products without holding inventory. When someone orders, the supplier ships directly to the customer, while you focus on marketing and store management. A scalable hustle that requires relatively low upfront investment, making it ideal for testing product ideas.

• Earning potential: $200–$5,000+ per month
• What you need: Ecommerce store, marketing knowledge, supplier access
• How to get started: Set up a store on Shopify or WooCommerce and choose a reliable supplier

21. Event planning

If you're good at planning events or have a knack for keeping things organized, Event planners coordinate parties, weddings, and corporate events, managing logistics, schedules, and vendors. Starting small with local events allows you to build a portfolio, and over time, referrals can lead to higher-paying gigs and ongoing contracts. Strong communication skills help you stand out in a competitive market.

• Earning potential: $25–$75 per hour
• What you need: Organizational and communication skills
• How to get started: Start with small local events, build a portfolio, and network with vendors

22. Sell digital products

Selling digital products like ebooks, templates, courses, or printables allows you to generate passive income. Once created, products can be sold repeatedly with minimal ongoing effort. Cha-ching.

• Earning potential: $100–$5,000+ per month
• What you need: Product idea, digital creation tools
• How to get started: Use platforms like Whop, Gumroad, or Etsy

23. Become a game or website tester

Game and website testers provide feedback on usability, bugs, and user experience before products launch. This side hustle can be done remotely on your own schedule and offers insight into product development processes. It’s a good fit for detail-oriented individuals who enjoy technology or gaming.

• Earning potential: $15–$30 per hour
• What you need: Attention to detail and basic tech skills
• How to get started: Apply to testing platforms like UserTesting or PlaytestCloud

24. Become an influencer

Influencers build an audience on social media platforms, partnering with brands to promote products or services. This side hustle requires consistent content creation, engagement, and authenticity – but it's worth it if you enjoy content.

Over time, influencers generate revenue through sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and digital products. Choosing a niche you’re passionate about helps maintain long-term audience growth.

• Earning potential: $100–$10,000+ per month
• What you need: Social media presence and niche expertise
• How to get started: Grow a social following, collaborate with brands, and monetize content

25. Sell templates

Creating and selling templates for presentations, social media, or design work provides a low-maintenance side income. Once made, templates can be sold repeatedly online. This is ideal for designers or creative individuals looking for passive income opportunities. Marketing your templates effectively can significantly increase sales.

• Earning potential: $100–$2,000+ per month
• What you need: Design skills and creativity
• How to get started: Create templates and sell on platforms like Etsy or Whop

Benefits of a second job

Picking up a second job isn’t only about stacking bills. It’s a shortcut to new skills, fresh connections, and that satisfying flex of watching your savings grow faster than your houseplants.

• Extra money: More cash in your pocket. Whether it’s hitting big financial goals, covering everyday expenses, or surviving emergencies, a second job gets you there faster.
• New experience: Test-drive a new industry or job type without quitting your day gig. It’s like a career trial run before committing full-time.
• Skill boost: Learn new software, sharpen soft skills, or master something totally different (resume points).
• Expand your options: Multiple income streams give you freedom. You’re not stuck on a single career path, and opportunities multiply.

Tips for picking up a second job

Balancing two jobs takes strategy. Here’s how to make it work without burning out:

• Put your main job first: Your day job is your anchor. Nail that before going all-in on side gigs. Do it right, and your side hustle might even turn into the main event.
• Flex your second job smartly: It’s okay to mention your side hustle in interviews; juggling multiple gigs shows drive and time management. Just make it clear it stays outside work hours so your main job doesn’t suffer.
• Stick to your lane… Or don’t: Your side gig can match your current industry or go completely separate. Freelancing, contracting, or consulting can grow your skills and portfolio.

Start earning extra income with Whop

Who says your skills should sit there? With Whop, you can turn what you know (dropshipping, fitness, design, or literally anything you’re good at) into actual cash.

Build a paid community, sell a course, drop an ebook, or push templates; your call.

Whatever you choose, you can launch your side hustle in minutes, reach the right people, and let us handle the boring stuff. You get paid, you grow, you stay in control.

Stop trading hours for money. Start your side hustle with Whop and get paid for what you already know.

FAQs

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about second jobs or side hustles, answered for you below. 

What are some good second jobs?

Popular second jobs include freelance writing, virtual assistance, food delivery, rideshare driving, tutoring, pet sitting, online teaching, transcription work, and retail/customer service. These roles often offer flexible hours and can be balanced with a primary job's schedule. 

What are good second jobs for teachers?

Teachers often find success with flexible side gigs like virtual tutoring, writing educational content, online ESL teaching, exam prep coaching, and selling lesson materials online. These roles require teaching expertise while offering adaptable schedules.

What are some side hustles from home that I can consider?

Freelance writing, virtual assistance, online tutoring, social media management, transcription services, web design, bookkeeping, selling digital products (courses/templates), proofreading, and dropshipping are viable work-from-home options. Each requires different skills and time commitments but can generate additional income.