7 Best Types of Side Hustles for Women in 2024

Becoming a freelancer is a great way to take charge of your earnings and break through the glass ceiling once and for all.

The best thing about this option is that it gives you absolute control over your work. You can set and negotiate your pay based on your skill level and capabilities.

According to a study of 6,000 US-based freelancers on Upwork, on average, the jobs below are the most lucrative freelance positions for women: 1

• Bookkeeping
• Content writing and copywriting
• Editing/proofreading
• HR administration
• Image editing
• Management consulting
• Public relations
• Researching
• Search engine marketing
• Social media strategy
• Translating
• Video editing
• Virtual assistance
• Website testing

Of course, if your passion is for something that isn’t on that list (such as programming, a field where the pay is particularly skewed towards men), that doesn’t mean you should accept a pay gap. We’ll go over how to ensure you’re paid fairly further down in this article.

Advice on getting your start as a freelancer

We spoke to Jennifer Della’Zanna, a freelancer with around 20 years of experience, who told us a bit about what helped her find success. She says the key is “always being open to learning and improving.”

However, she warns that it’s not always fun. Many people have an idealistic picture of what freelancing entails, but especially in the beginning when you’re still getting established, you’ll probably have to take jobs that you aren’t particularly interested in.

Della’Zanna works as a writer, and she told us that “to make any significant money in writing, you really do have to write about things you don’t necessarily really want to write about.”

This advice applies to whatever field you want to work in, whether it’s design, writing, programming, photography, or something else entirely.

Running your own business has several obvious benefits. You’re your own boss, you get all the profits from your hard work, and you can set your own schedule (this is particularly crucial if you’re also a mother).

Most importantly, there’s no limit on how much you can earn. In a survey conducted by FreshBooks, 70% of women reported earning just as much or more money when working for themselves than they ever earned as an employee. 2

Businesses you can run from home

It’s possible to run a business from your own house—and if you have kids to watch, doing so might be a necessity. See if any of these ideas suit you:

• Flipping and reselling: If you’re crafty or you have an eye for a particular type of product, such as furniture, you can make a lot of money scouting thrift stores for hidden gems, refurbishing them, and selling them for a profit.
• Childcare: Needless to say, this is a good option for women who love children. Running a home-based daycare can be surprisingly lucrative and has very low operating costs. Just make sure to get the proper licensure and insurance beforehand (check your local laws to find out what you need).
• Tutoring: If managing a house full of kids sounds stressful, you can also establish yourself as a tutor and teach one-on-one lessons (either in person or online). If you’re a native English speaker, you’re already qualified to teach English to ESL learners, but you can also teach music, art, math, or any subject you’re comfortable with.
• Media management or marketing: If you have a background in marketing or PR (or if you’re just a social media addict), think about setting up a consulting gig on the side. There are companies that will pay a lot of money for your insights on their ad campaigns, digital marketing strategy, and social media presence.

Businesses that will take you out of the house

If your schedule and commitments allow you to travel to your work, you can explore opportunities in:

• Event planning: This can be a stressful field, but if you’re organized and work well under pressure, it’s also one with very high earning potential. You can coordinate events as diverse as birthday parties, fundraisers, weddings, and bar and bat mitzvahs—and put away hundreds or thousands of dollars per event.
• Makeup: If you’re a skilled makeup artist, more than a few women will be interested in having you do their makeup before big events, such as weddings, proms, or even job interviews. This has a natural synergy with many photography side hustles; many portrait photographers offer makeup and even hair services for an added fee.
• Pet care: This one is for the animal lovers out there. You can earn a surprising amount of money by becoming a pet sitter and taking care of people’s furry friends when they’re out of town. If you’re especially active and want to fit your exercise routine into your work, look into how to become a dog walker.
• Interior design: Creative types can thrive as interior designers. To get started in this space, take some pictures of your own home to show to clients. It can also help to get in touch with your friends and see if any of them are ready for a change in their living space—every home you revamp is a new portfolio piece.

Regardless of what type of business you start, you’ll need to do market research, choose a target customer base, and find a niche you enjoy to maximize the odds of your business succeeding.

If you don’t want the uncertainty and pressure that comes with running your own business or trying to get freelance clients, then taking on another job on the side can be a lower-stress way to earn some extra cash. Just be sure to pick one that will earn enough to make it worth it.

Part-time jobs with minimal pay gaps

Below, we’ve listed a few jobs that often offer part-time hours and aren’t particularly specialized, which makes them a good fit for a side gig alongside your primary career. On average, these jobs also offer competitive pay for women: 3 4

• Postal service clerk
• Receptionist
• Executive secretary or administrative assistant
• Payroll or timekeeping clerk
• Fast food worker
• Legal assistant
• Bank teller
• Customer service representative
• Saleswoman
• Food preparation worker
• Insurance claims processing clerk

Again, while the jobs listed above tend to offer solid pay, you shouldn’t limit yourself to them if your interests lie elsewhere. You can find a few tips for ensuring you’re paid fairly (in any job) near the bottom of this article.

Gig apps generally don’t require you to sign a contract, and you can take on exactly as much work as you want, which means they offer a lot of the benefits of a side job without the commitment.

Look into:

• Pet care: We’ve already mentioned some of the perks of pet sitting as a side hustle. If you’re not ready to start your own business, you can dip your toe in the pet care waters by trying out some of these pet-sitting apps and dog-walking apps (note that there’s a fair amount of overlap between these lists).
• Ridesharing: This is a relatively uncommon side hustle for women (in 2020, around 27% of Uber drivers were female), but if you’re comfortable picking up strangers, there’s no reason you can’t make money driving for Uber or Lyft. Be sure to get all the usual measures to keep yourself safe, including forward and inward-facing dash cams.
• Mystery shopping: Believe it or not, if you’re a fan of shopping, you can actually get paid to do it. If you become a mystery shopper, you’ll evaluate retailers and other businesses that serve customers and provide feedback on how they’re doing. There are dozens of websites that you can use to find mystery shopping jobs.
• Grocery shopping: You can also shop for other people and deliver groceries to them with apps like Instacart and Shipt. Alternatively, if you’re interested in delivery but not in shopping, you can deliver takeout with apps like DoorDash or Uber Eats, or Amazon packages with Amazon Flex.
• Shift hospitality work: If you’re a bartender, server, chef, or have other skills in the hospitality industry, you can pick up work on Qwick, which will pair you with businesses that temporarily need extra hands. As you’d expect, bouncing from event to event like this can be both stressful and exciting, so this is best for women who are high-energy and very adaptable.

Note that gig platforms like this will almost always take a cut of your profits, which is how they stay in business. This means that, while gig work can be a great supplement to your regular income, it’s usually not the best choice of side hustle if you’re hoping to eventually expand it into your main career.

These days, it’s easier than ever to create content (e.g., a blog, YouTube channel, podcast, etc) and earn money from it.

The catch is that to earn a significant amount of money, you’ll need to be quite popular. It will take time to build up an audience, especially in a competitive space like blogging.

That said, even in the early stages, this fits well with some of the other side hustles we’ve mentioned. If you’re establishing yourself as a freelancer or starting a business, it makes sense to start a blog or video series to promote yourself and find clients. If it eventually becomes popular enough to generate its own income stream, that’s even better.

The most popular types of content creation include:

Blog writing

Countless women have turned to blogging to make money. This is a particularly appealing option for stay-at-home moms. It’s an easy, flexible, and low-commitment way to make extra money from the comfort of your home.

You can monetize your blog in several ways:

• Getting sponsored by a company to write content about their products
• Using affiliate marketing
• Selling ad space

If you’re successful, blogging can earn a fair amount of cash. For example, with Google Adsense, you can expect to make anywhere from $168 to $1,600 per month for blog posts that get at least 50,000 monthly views.

When it comes to Google Adsense, some topics (e.g., finance or the “home and garden” space) are more profitable than others (e.g., news, sports, and games). Bear this in mind when deciding what to write about, unless you plan on making ad deals directly with companies in your niche.

Podcasting

Similar to writing a blog, starting your own podcast can be a good way to make money. Your podcast can be tailored to female listeners, but it doesn’t have to be, although picking a target audience of some type will help you make more money.

Here are a few ways that Spotify allows you to monetize a podcast:

• Running automated ads
• Sponsoring products
• Running affiliate ads
• Asking for donations
• Selling subscriptions
• Selling merchandise

The main drawback to podcasting comes in the form of your startup costs. You’ll need recording and audio editing equipment (and the skills to use them) to create a professional-sounding podcast that can actually earn you money.

Video blogging

Vlogging on platforms like YouTube can earn you money through ads and affiliate marketing if you can attract a lot of viewers. Bear in mind that this is still a primarily male-dominated sector, but it’s possible to break in. 5

There’s a much heavier emphasis on appearance in vlogging than podcasting or blogging. If you have an interest in beauty, fashion, makeup, or fitness, or you want to profit off of your good looks, then starting a YouTube channel may be worth considering.

Creating certain types of content can be risky

There’s an uncomfortable truth when it comes to video content: these days, one of the areas with the highest earning potential is online sex work on platforms like OnlyFans.

This type of work is still acutely controversial; some people consider it harmless or even empowering, while others find it exploitative. Even if you have no problem with it yourself, it can be a liability when you’re looking for more traditional employment.

If you’re considering getting into this space, be careful and do your homework. Don’t take the plunge unless you’re 100% sure you’re comfortable with it.

Starting an artistic side hustle can be a fulfilling way to make extra money, and it’ll allow you to strengthen your skills in your medium of choice.

Fine art

Different types of art require different materials. You may also need studio space. But if you’ve got the time and the skills to create art, then selling your work could be the ideal side hustle.

Here are a few examples of types of artwork you can sell:

• Paintings
• Drawings
• Photography
• Sculptures
• Digital art
• Pottery

To solidify your reputation and increase the number of potential buyers who see your work, it’s a good idea to create your own website or social media account to display your art. As mentioned, you can do this in tandem with the blogging side hustle that we mentioned above.

You can also use these online platforms to sell your work, or you can go the more traditional route of selling your pieces at local galleries, art fairs, or markets.

Crafts and household items

Making your own products to sell is a great side hustle you can do from home, and it’s a popular option among women. Etsy, a major online platform for selling handcrafted products, claims that a whopping 79% of their sellers are women. 6

Below are examples of popular products in this female-dominated marketplace:

• Candles and diffusers
• Soaps and lotions
• Jewelry and accessories
• Personalized gift items (e.g., phone cases, mugs, or T-shirts)
• Clothing and shoes
• Party supplies
• Rugs and mats
• Toys and games
• Knitted or crocheted clothing or blankets
• Craft supplies
• Homeware

Of course, the key to getting sales with handcrafted products is standing out from the crowd, so feel free to deviate from this list and let your imagination run wild. Just be sure to pick something that’s useful or that would make a good gift since these are features that attract buyers.

In addition to Etsy, you can sell your homemade crafts through other shopping platforms (like Amazon Handmade) or your own website, or you can set up a booth at a craft fair, flea market, or local farmers’ market.

Food and drinks

If you’ve got a knack for cooking or baking, then why not use that to make money? This way, you’ll be able to make a few extra bucks while also bringing joy to others.

Many women use social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to sell homemade food products because of how easy it is to get visibility and reach potential customers. When you’re just starting out, you’ll be way more likely to have success selling to people who you already know (or who are at least in your network).

The best part of using social media is that it’s easier for your friends to share info about your products with people they know, which is an effective way to rapidly expand your customer base.

If you’re a busy woman, it can be tough to find the time and energy to take on some of the more lucrative side hustles on this list.

Thankfully, there are a few ways you can quickly earn a little cash on the side without sacrificing too much of your time.

Taking surveys

If you have at least 5 minutes to spare between tasks, then you have time to make quick cash by taking paid online surveys. There are countless survey websites to choose from, and the more you sign up for, the more opportunities you’ll have to earn.

To get started, check out these popular survey sites:

• Survey Junkie
• Swagbucks
• LifePoints
• OneOpinion
• Branded Surveys

This is a common side hustle for people who already have full-time jobs since it doesn’t involve much of a time commitment. Try taking a survey over your morning coffee or on your lunch break.

Be aware that this isn’t exactly a reliable “get rich quick” plan. With Swagbucks, for instance, you can realistically expect to make a few extra dollars per day or around $25 per week. That isn’t much, but it also isn’t nothing.

Some sites pay you via PayPal, whereas others give you vouchers or gift cards.

Testing websites and apps

The digital world is an ever-evolving place, and companies need users like you to help them test new features on their websites and apps.

Some of them will pay decent money for your time and feedback. Basically, you’ll try out websites or software and answer questionnaires or upload videos of your experiences.

All of these companies will pay you to test websites, apps, and software:

• UserTesting
• Userfeel
• Userlytics
• Ferpection
• UserPeek
• Beta Family
• Enroll
• uTest
• Trymata

Playing games

Believe it or not, there are websites and mobile apps that will actually pay you to play games on your computer or phone. This is arguably the easiest way to earn money as a woman, and it’s probably the most fun.

If gaming sounds like a good side hustle for you, check out these companies:

• Swagbucks (this site features games as well as surveys)
• Mistplay
• InboxDollars
• Skillz

Depending on the platform, you may need to clock in a fair bit of game time to actually make money. Nevertheless, it’s a convenient and fun way to earn extra cash, whether you’re a hardcore gamer chick or a working woman looking to blow off a little steam.

Hustling isn’t easy as a woman, and you’ll face obstacles standing between you and your financial goals. Here are a few things you can do to earn the most money possible and avoid setbacks.

Get a certification

Once you’ve decided on the side hustle you want to pursue, look into certifications related to the type of work you’ll be doing. Showing that you’ve done an online course, taken a class, or received some sort of specialized training will give you an edge over the competition.

To research the type of certification you need, check the eligibility requirements listed for similar positions posted on job search sites like Indeed or LinkedIn. You can also look at the qualifications held by successful people in your field.

Use your strengths

If your main goal is to make lots of money as quickly as possible, there’s no sense in making things harder for yourself by choosing a side hustle that requires special skills or training that you don’t have.

Make a list of all your skills and work experience and look for gigs that complement your strengths. Of course, also think about what you actually enjoy doing so that you pick a hustle that you won’t quickly give up on.

Don’t undervalue yourself

The counterpoint to playing to your strengths is to make sure you properly value the skills and experience that you have.

A study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that “Women subjectively describe their ability and performance to potential employers less favorably than equally performing men.” 7

Avoiding this trap is particularly important when you negotiate pay as a freelancer. Acknowledge your skills to yourself and your clients or employers, and always ask for fair compensation.

Be prepared to negotiate your salary

If you apply for a side job, don’t be afraid to negotiate. Depending on your personality, you might not be comfortable with this—on average, women are less likely to negotiate for higher salaries than men. 8 However, if you don’t do it, you’re leaving money on the table.

Prepare yourself by researching salaries for the work you’re going to be doing at your experience level. Alex L., one woman we spoke to, said that to negotiate a fair wage, it’s important to “research the hell out of both the company and the role” using websites like Glassdoor, Fishbowl, Blind, and Reddit.

She says these resources are key to understanding what constitutes a good salary for your position. “Ground your asking range firmly in the data to justify it,” she added. Most importantly, never lowball yourself—be confident and ask for what you deserve.

Don’t be afraid to experiment

As you’ve seen, there are a lot of choices when it comes to side hustles for women. If you’re having trouble picking, there’s no law that says you have to choose just one. Especially when it comes to low-commitment options like freelancing and gig work, you can try out a few and stick with your favorites.

Whatever you choose, research it so you know the common pitfalls to avoid, be prepared to work hard, and you’re sure to find success.