High-Paying Part-Time Jobs: Make Great Money on a Flexible Schedule
The economy may experience its ups and downs, but that doesn’t mean you can’t snag a high-paying part-time job. Part-time jobs are great for many reasons. Maybe they provide supplemental income that will help you reach your financial goals faster. Or, that’s what works best for you as a student or a parent. From tutoring to food delivery, we found some of the top side gigs that pay at least $20 per hour.
Can You Really Find High-Paying Part-Time Jobs?
Yes, but several factors affect how much you can make. For some of these high-paying part-time jobs, it will depend on how many hours you can work and what skills you have. But flexibility is one of the biggest draws of these jobs outside of the pay. You could work for a company or run these part-time gigs yourself. And if you do the latter, you have more freedom in how much you charge.
9 Side Gigs That May Pay $20 Per Hour or More
Looking to boost your income without quitting your day job? Here are some high-paying side gigs that can help you earn big on your own terms.
1. Uber Eats driver
Getting paid to drive is the perfect sidekick to your main hustle, whether it’s a full-time job, seasonal work or other gig opportunities. If you’re already zipping around town with other delivery services, why not amp up your earnings with Uber Eats?
You can set your own hours — it’s your car, your schedule. Your earnings land in your bank account weekly, and if you’re in a pinch, Instant Pay lets you cash out up to five times a day.
Click here to start delivering with Uber Eats.
2. DoorDash driver
People are busy, but they still love to eat at their favorite restaurants. You can help bring that food to them by delivering food through Doordash.
As a “Dasher,” you’ll work as an independent contractor, setting your own hours and working as much or little as you want, meaning how much you can make is up to you.
You’ll earn a $6 fee for each delivery, plus keep 100% of your tips. Depending on the day, you could earn up to $25 an hour.
All you need to get started is an insured vehicle or a bicycle and a smartphone. You should be at least 18 years old and have a minimum two years’ driving experience.
If you’re interested in becoming a Dasher, you can learn more here.
3. Coach
You can coach basketball, baseball, tennis or even swimming lessons on a part-time basis. If you have experience playing certain sports, approach local teams to see if they need any help. The national average for a coach is $24 per hour, but you can earn even more via private coaching services for kids and teens in areas that place a big focus on sports — like Texas and Florida.
4. Test Prep Instructor
This probably won’t come as a surprise to anyone who has hired a test prep instructor and faced the thousands-plus-dollar invoice. Test prep is big business. Whether you decide to go with a test prep company or work as a solo instructor, you can expect to work after school hours (usually from 3-8 p.m. on weekdays). This makes it a fantastic side gig, especially for parents. According to ZipRecruiter, the average hourly rate in the United States is $27. This is a job where you’re more likely to get gigs if you have an education or some experience.
5. Babysitter/nanny
Parents will pay a small fortune for a good babysitter or nanny. While you’ll earn even more if you have a degree, especially in child development, this biggest prerequisite is giving parents a good reason to trust you with their kids. This may include references in addition to education. The hourly wage varies by state, but according to UrbanSitter, the national average in 2024 was $23.61 for one child and $26.57 for two. Nannies earn an average of $20 per hour, according to Care.com.
6. Tutor
Do you know a lot about a certain subject, like English or history? You can be a tutor. There are no official prerequisites to being a tutor besides being “good at it.” However, this is another job where you’ll get more clients with some education or experience to show you’re a good tutor. It also would help to have a computer and internet so you can offer Zoom sessions. Tutoring has a massive range of pay, with the highest-paid tutors working in cities like New York and San Francisco. But the national average is $35 per hour, according to ZipRecruiter.
7. Personal trainer
Love to exercise? Time to monetize your hard work. A certification isn’t always mandatory, though many gyms will require it (and your clients will appreciate your knowledge). You can work via your local gym or set up your own personal training platform where clients come to you (or vice versa). If you decide to get your certification, look for one accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCAA). The average hourly rate is between $19 and $46 depending on location and experience, according to ZipRecruiter.
8. Translator
Put your bilingual brain to good use. You can earn an average of $28 per hour as a translator — and you can bump this up even more if you can translate rarer languages like Arabic. Move to a big city like New York or San Francisco, and you can earn even more. Freelance translators can work from home or from the office, depending on the gig. Translators who work from home are likely translating files and other materials for clients.
9. Lawn maintenance/snow removal
Keep yourself busy year-round by getting a gaggle of clients who need their lawns mowed and snow shoveled. You’ll need the equipment to do the job, or you can rent everything from your local hardware store. The hourly rate to cut grass is about $55 per hour, while you can earn $35 to $75 per snow removal gig. This job also has some extra leg work of finding clients. But once you build up a base, it becomes a more reliable source of income.
The Penny Hoarder contributor Danielle Braff is a Chicago writer who specializes in consumer goods and shopping on a budget. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Real Simple and more.
