May 6, 2024
Editorial GuidelinesAlba is a writer for SideHustles.com. In addition to writing, she has done work as an independent graphic designer and has...
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Maternity ModelIf you’re pregnant, first of all, congratulations! This is bound to be an exciting time for you. It can also be stressful, and it’s understandable if you’re worried about money. There’s so much to do, so little time, and baby stuff can be so expensive.
If you’re looking for a side hustle that you can do while pregnant (and potentially keep doing once the baby arrives), look no further. We’ve got you covered.
Pregnancy is tiring enough already, and if you take on extra work, you need to pick the right job. Make sure you consider:
Whatever job you end up picking, keep your expectations realistic. You’re going to get tired and you may get morning sickness. You may not be able to do as much as you’d like, and that’s okay.
Once you get started, do your best to create a relaxing environment to work in. Keep healthy snacks nearby, and make sure to take regular breaks and wear comfy clothes if possible.
As a mom-to-be, there are several side hustles that lean on the skills and knowledge you’re developing right now. Consider trying out one of the following jobs:
Earning potential: $10–$16 per hour
Depending on where your energy levels are at, this might sound like a great or a terrible idea. Taking care of other people’s children might be the absolute last thing you want to do right now, but it might also be exactly what you need to put your mind at ease and reassure you that you can do this.
Babysitting is also a great way to get some practice before your own baby arrives—and you’ll get paid for it, too.
If you’re a first-time mom, don’t worry; it’s possible to become a babysitter with no experience. Ask around and lean on your personal network. Make sure people know that you’re available to babysit. Alternatively, have a look online or around your local area.
You can also ask around or put up flyers on notice boards in your local area.
Earning potential: $20 per hour
If this isn’t your first time around and you have fitness knowledge you could share with the first-time mommas out there, then this might be just the side hustle for you.
Bear in mind that becoming a personal trainer of any type often requires you to get certified beforehand. If you’re on a tight budget and you’re looking to make money quickly, this might not be for you.
However, if you’re looking for something that could turn into a long-term side hustle and you’d like to help other women who are going through the same things as you, this could be a great option.
Research pre- and postnatal fitness specialist certification programs and sign up for one that matches your budget, interests and schedule.
You can pursue certification from (and potentially go to work for) FIT4MOM, which runs a network of pre- and postnatal fitness classes. You can also find jobs elsewhere on general-purpose job boards, such as Indeed.
Earning potential: Varies
Do you keep getting told that you’re glowing? Well, maybe you really are, so why not make the most of it?
You may be surprised to know that, due to the temporary nature of pregnancy, maternity models are in high demand. Advertising companies and marketing teams often need them for all sorts of campaigns, ranging from photoshoots to TV commercials.
Keep in mind that modeling is competitive and opportunities will vary hugely based on your location. Your looks aren’t the only factor at play, either. Agents and scouts will be looking for models that fit specific casting requirements, and there’s no way to predict whether you’ll meet them.
If money is a big concern, you could pursue this side hustle alongside a more financially stable one.
Earning potential: $15–$27 per hour
As a native English speaker, you have a skill that’s in demand all over the world. There are thousands of English-teaching jobs out there, and many of them can be done remotely, which is great news if pregnancy is tiring you out.
Many online teaching jobs have flexible hours and feature relatively small classes. This reduces the need for you to manage classroom behavior (kids are lovely until there are 20 of them running around screaming at the same time).
In most cases, you’ll need to complete a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) or a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) program in order to teach English. This can take anywhere between a few days to a few months, and costs can range between completely free to a few thousand dollars.
Again, if you want to teach English online, consider getting a TEFL or TESOL qualification from a recognized provider. (TEFL and TESOL are umbrella terms, not certifications offered by one particular organization.)
Both of the following providers are reputable, and you can use them as jumping-off points:
Of course, if you’re already qualified, you can skip this step and start looking for online jobs straight away.
Look for work on these online English-teaching platforms:
Many TEFL and TESOL providers also offer jobs themselves or provide access to job boards filled with opportunities.
You can also check out local language centers that may be looking for English teachers, or search for people who need English lessons via local Facebook groups or notice boards.
Earning potential: $20–$30 per hour
This is very similar to the previous side hustle, except this one generally doesn’t require any formal qualifications to get started. It’s also less specific; you can tutor people in any subject you want.
You can do this job virtually or in person. Most of your students will probably be children and teenagers, but you may also find university students or adults who are looking for extra support.
You can either specialize in a specific subject or teach a variety of subjects—whatever you prefer.
To tutor students virtually, check out the websites below. To find students near you, make use of your personal network and scour local Facebook groups and notice boards.
Earning potential: $15 per hour
If you like the idea of doing something education-related but teaching sounds too stressful, here’s a simpler job you can do from home.
You’ll work online on an as-needed basis during exam periods. Your job will be to follow the answer keys and grade the exams provided to you. Easy!
Look online for virtual test assessor jobs. Start with the links below.
Earning potential: $25–$40 per hour or $.02–$0.03 per word
If you have a decent command of the English language (or whatever language you want to work in) and you find yourself screaming at your computer when you see a misspelled meme on the internet, this might be for you.
Jobs in this field don’t tend to require specific qualifications—you don’t need an English degree to become a proofreader or editor, particularly if you do it on a freelance basis.
That said, most companies will require some experience or expect you to prove your skills by providing a portfolio of your past work. If you don’t have a portfolio already, create one.
While it isn’t a requirement, you might want to take an online course to prepare you for this side hustle. Fortunately, there are dozens of online proofreading certifications you can get.
Afterward, create a profile on a freelancing site and start applying for work. If you’re open to a traditional proofreading job, you can also check out job boards for companies that are hiring for remote positions.
Earning potential: $12–$22 per hour
With this gig, you’ll receive an audio or video file and write down what you hear.
Unless you have a hearing impairment or your environment is particularly noisy, this is one of the easiest side hustles to break into on our list. You don’t need any qualifications to apply for jobs and you can work remotely, usually on a freelance basis, so you’ll have control over your schedule.
However, you do need to be a relatively fast typist to be a transcriptionist. You’ll need to be able to sustain a speed of at least 40 words per minute, and the faster you are, the better.
There are entire sites dedicated to transcribing gigs, so you can register and get started straight away. Alternatively, you can create a profile on a general-purpose freelancing site and offer transcription as a service.
Earning potential: $13–$32 per hour
This is a great option if you happen to be fluent in more than one language. Most translators handle written material and translate into their native language. (Spoken-word translators are usually classified as “interpreters” and generally have significantly more training.)
You can look for remote positions at translation companies or work as a freelancer (which is the easiest way to get started if you don’t have any experience or relevant qualifications).
Earning potential: $15–$30 per hour
With this side gig, you’ll book and confirm flights and hotel reservations for other people. You may also help them plan their travel itineraries and perform other related tasks.
You’ll work remotely and spend most of your time checking and replying to emails and making phone calls.
Note that this role can be stressful during peak travel seasons (especially if anything happens to cause a large number of cancellations, such as a natural disaster). You’ll need patience and great communication skills. On the plus side, there are normally no formal qualifications required.
Apply to a travel agency remotely or offer your services online via a freelancing website. If you want to make this a long-term gig, you can also set up your own website and specialize in specific destinations or types of trips.
Earning potential: $25–$40 per hour
Virtual assistants help businesses and clients with their everyday operations. The job can vary greatly; you might find yourself making flight reservations one day and proofreading a speech the next.
You could look for a side gig assisting just one person or company all the time, or you could offer different tasks to different clients.
To become a virtual assistant, set up a profile on a freelancing website and start bidding for your next task.
Earning potential: $12–$23 per hour
Are you good with people? If so, this role might be for you. It consists of helping a business field questions or complaints from their customers, either virtually or over the phone.
While it isn’t the most exciting role on this list, it offers a consistent paycheck and doesn’t usually require a long-term commitment. If you reach a point where you’re happy with the amount of extra money you’ve earned and you’re ready to focus on the dozens of other things you have to think about during your pregnancy, you can quit without leaving anyone in the lurch.
You can find customer service jobs online. Start your search by following the links below.
Earning potential: $25–$35 per hour
If you’re good at something and it can be done remotely, there’s probably a market out there for it.
You can do almost anything on a freelance basis. Popular and in-demand services include content writing, graphic design, web design, and social media management. You can get an idea of what services people need by looking at freelancing sites and paying attention to the job ads that you see.
To start freelancing, follow these steps:
Earning potential: $3–$15 per printable or digital product, or 93.5% of the item’s sale price for physical products (on Etsy)
Do you have a creative gift? Now could be the perfect time to share it with the world.
Engaging in a creative activity is a great way to practice self-care for you and the baby, and it can also bring in a decent side income if you sell the fruits of your labor on a site like Etsy.
Once again, consider your interests and skills and develop one or two products you can create with a minimal budget (or ideally no budget at all).
Earning potential: Varies depending on the type of test
If you want a job that you can keep doing once you have a baby balanced on your lap, look no further. Plenty of companies will pay you to try out their websites. They want insights to help them understand what they can improve, and you, as a potential customer, can help them figure that out.
All you need to do is follow their instructions and share your opinions afterward. You can do this on your own schedule, from the comfort of your home, and without any long-term commitments.
Check out web testing gigs on the platforms below.
Average rates: $25–$200 per hour
Businesses use focus groups to poll their potential customers for their feedback. If you join a focus group, you’ll be given the opportunity to test products or services, then offer your opinions about the experience.
There are quite a few focus groups aimed specifically at mothers-to-be, often focused on maternity products of one type or another. Their feedback sessions are often virtual (conducted via webcam, etc.), meaning that if you’re far along in your pregnancy and you’d rather not travel to another location, you might not have to.
We’ve included several links below that you can use to find focus group opportunities (although this list is by no means exhaustive). Click into a few of them and search for calls for pregnant mothers or other opportunities you’re interested in.
We hope that at least one of those side hustles resonated with you, but if they didn’t, there are still other options.
If you’re struggling financially and need urgent support, check out your local community service office. They can assist you and point you towards resources to help you make ends meet during your pregnancy and beyond.
If you need a second job but none of the gigs we listed above resonate with you, don’t worry. You can explore more ideas in the lists below.
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