Back to Data & Guides
Back
The side hustle industry is booming in the U.S., with people turning their hobbies and skills into businesses they can earn some extra money from. But what does the average side hustle look like in 2025? And how much money can you really make from one of these jobs?
We’ve put together some interesting side hustle statistics, so keep reading to find out more about the industry and those who are a part of it.
A side hustle, also known as a side gig or side job, is an additional job or occupation that brings someone extra money on top of their main source of income. Some common side hustles in the U.S. include selling clothes, making and selling crafts, delivery driving, and freelance writing.
One of the simplest ways to start a side hustle is to take a skill or hobby you already have and turn it into a business. This way you already have the foundations in place and you don’t need to learn a ton of new things.
Data from a survey on behalf of Self shows that 45% of people currently have a side hustle, with these activities ranging across a number of industries. These include gig work like Uber driving and delivery services, online shops, freelance writing and product testing.
The amount of money you can make through side hustles varies depending on the niche you choose to go into, how much time you put in, and a range of other factors.
The survey of 1,439 people conducted on behalf of Self Financial found that most respondents (32.1%) earned between $51-$250 per month from their side hustle. A small percentage (1%) of respondents said they earn over $4,000 per month from their side hustle.
The majority of side hustlers (51.4%) said their side hustle makes up 0-20% of their total monthly income.
| How much do you make from your side hustle per month? | |
|---|---|
| $0 | 0.4% |
| $1-$50 | 26.1% |
| $51-$250 | 32.1% |
| $251-$500 | 16.4% |
| $501-$1,000 | 14.5% |
| $1,001-$2,000 | 8.0% |
| $2,001-$4,000 | 1.5% |
| More than $4,000 | 1.0% |
From the survey data collected, side hustles bring in an estimated average of $442.76 a month, a decrease compared to $688 from the same survey in 2022. Of course, as the split of earnings shows, there will be some side hustlers earning much more, and many earning much less.
That’s not to say it isn’t worth trying your own side hustle, though it may be difficult in the startup stages. There are plenty of people who turn a simple hobby like crocheting or gardening into something that makes them enough money to afford some extra luxuries in life. In fact, 16% of those surveyed said they turned a hobby they enjoyed into a side hustle, and 78% of non-side hustlers would consider turning one of their hobbies into a side hustle.
Of our respondents, over half (52.6%) said that they financially rely on their side hustle earnings month to month, even though 63.6% are working a full-time job. However, this is down from 57.9% who said they relied on these earnings in 2022.
35.8% said they use the money they earn from their side hustle to pay regular bills and household expenses. When answering a separate question, just over a third (34.2%) even said they wouldn’t be able to pay for their basic bills without the additional income.
| What people spend side hustle earnings on | % of respondents |
|---|---|
| Regular bills and household expenses | 35.8% |
| Additional spending as disposable income | 34.8% |
| Savings and investments | 20.5% |
| Paying off debt | 8.9% |
These statistics show that a number of people, even those in full-time employment, still rely on additional income sources to pay their bills and expenses. However, 34.8% said that they use their side hustle earnings for additional spending and as disposable income (up from 30% in 2022), and one in five (20.5%) said they invested the money or put it into a savings account.
When it comes to the most popular side hustles people are choosing to work on, there were a few that stood out from those surveyed. The most popular types of side hustles are related to gig work such as Uber driving and delivery services (16.6%), followed by online shops and e-commerce (13.5%). In 2022, the most popular side hustles were online activities like blogging, affiliate marketing, and social media, but these are now the fourth most popular, accounting for 12.1% of side hustles.
| Side hustle category | % of respondents |
|---|---|
| Gig work, Uber, delivery service | 16.6% |
| Online shop, e-commerce | 13.5% |
| Freelancing | 12.8% |
| Online, blogging, affiliate marketing, social media | 12.1% |
| Market research, product testing | 11.3% |
| Other | 10.5% |
| Selling crafts and designs | 8.4% |
| Software, IT | 7.4% |
| Local work, cleaning, DIY | 2.4% |
| Tutoring, training | 1.9% |
| Dog walking, petsitting | 1.3% |
| Airbnb hosting, renting out a property | 1.1% |
| Babysitting, childcare | 0.8% |
As we can see from this data, many of the most popular side hustles are online-based or run by online platforms and apps. The less popular side jobs were more traditional, including babysitting and dog walking.
The most common reason for people starting a side hustle was that they needed extra money to cover living expenses (35%). A 2024 study by PYMNTS found that the loss of additional side hustle earnings would have a negative impact on financial stability for 30% of side hustlers. [1] PYMNTS, “30% of U.S. Consumers Count On Side Hustles to Pay Bills” https://www.pymnts.com/consumer-insights/2024/30percent-united-states-consumers-need-side-hustles-pay-bills/
Around a quarter (24.5%) of people started their side hustle because they wanted more disposable income, and 16% turned a hobby they enjoyed into a way to make some extra money.
| Why people started their side hustle | % of respondents |
|---|---|
| I needed extra money to cover living expenses | 35.0% |
| I wanted more disposable income | 24.5% |
| It was a hobby I enjoyed | 16.0% |
| To do something productive in my free time | 12.5% |
| To support my family | 4.4% |
| To work towards long-term goals | 7.5% |
Older side hustlers typically make the most money from their additional income, with baby boomers (aged 61-79) making the most on average at $441 per month. Millennials (aged 29-44) make the least from their side hustles with a monthly average of $112. However, millennials are more likely to be employed full-time (46.4%) compared to baby boomers (18.8%).
| Age Group | Estimated Average Monthly Side Hustle Earnings |
|---|---|
| 18-28 | $269 |
| 29-44 | $112 |
| 45-60 | $372 |
| 61-79 | $441 |
The majority, almost three-quarters (71.5%), of those asked, work on their side hustles by themselves. The next most popular set-up was working with a romantic partner, but this only took 15.3% of the share in comparison. The least common set-up among side hustlers was working with multiple people (1.6%).
| Who side hustlers work with | % of respondents |
|---|---|
| Who side hustlers work with | % of respondents |
| By myself | 71.5% |
| With my romantic partner | 15.3% |
| With a friend or family member | 9.1% |
| With a business partner | 2.5% |
| With multiple people | 1.6% |
The survey found that the most common amount of time people spend on their side hustles is 5-10 hours per week, with 36.2% saying they spend this much time each week. The next most popular answer was 11-20 hours a week (29.7%), followed by those who spent fewer than 5 hours per week on their side hustle (19.5%).
| How much time people spend on side hustles per week | % of respondents |
|---|---|
| Less than 5 hours | 19.5% |
| 5-10 hours | 36.2% |
| 11-20 hours | 29.7% |
| 21-30 hours | 8.1% |
| 31-40 hours | 3.8% |
| More than 40 hours | 2.8% |
The survey also found that the most common time people worked on their side hustles was in the evening. Over a third (38%) said they spent time in the evening working on their side jobs. The least popular time to work on side hustles was the weekend, however, 14.8% of people still say they work on their side hustles on the weekend.
Survey respondents were asked how long they had been working on their side hustles. The most popular answer was 1-2 years (28.2%), closely followed by those who had been working on theirs for less than 6 months with 21.2%.
Over three-quarters (79.9%) of those who answered said they had been doing their side hustle for less than 3 years, so for most people, taking on side jobs is a relatively new pursuit. When asked whether they started their side hustle as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, 37.2% of people said they did.
| How long people have been working on their side hustles | % of respondents |
|---|---|
| Less than 6 months | 21.2% |
| 6 months-1 year | 18.1% |
| 1-2 years | 28.2% |
| 2-3 years | 12.4% |
| 3-4 years | 5.6% |
| 4-5 years | 5.4% |
| More than 5 years | 9.1% |
Of the 28.5% of respondents who don’t have a side hustle, 83.3% said they would consider starting one, and 63.5% said they were planning to start one in the next year.
The most common reason that people said they don’t have a side hustle is that they don’t have the time (43.7%) followed by not having the appropriate skills (35.5%).
| What is stopping people from starting a side hustle | % of respondents |
|---|---|
| I don't have the time | 43.7% |
| I don't have the appropriate skills | 35.5% |
| I don't want to work more | 14.5% |
| I don't need extra money | 6.3% |
Being aware of some of the fastest-growing industries predicted for the next decade can help you choose a lucrative side hustle or small business to pursue. If you already have particular skills or are looking to develop new skills in a certain area, these could give you some ideas. These estimates are based on someone working full-time in these roles.
Every organization and business from every sector needs accounting and financial services. Things like tax filing, auditing, and bookkeeping can be carried out remotely by a freelance accounts professional.
Employment of accountants and auditors is projected to grow by 6% from 2023 to 2033 which is faster than the average across all occupations. Around 130,800 openings for accountants and auditors are projected on average each year over the next decade. [2] BLS, “Accountants and Auditors: Occupational Outlook Handbook” https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/accountants-and-auditors.htm So, for people who have skills in finance and banking, this could be a great option to consider if you’re thinking of starting your own business.
For freelancers looking to get into the digital marketing space, there are several routes you can go down. Things like data analytics, branding, social media management, and search engine optimization all fall into this sector.
The field of advertising, promotions, and marketing managers is expected to grow 8% between 2023 and 2033 with 36,600 job openings per year expected in this industry. Note that these figures are based on highly-trained management positions within this field rather than roles for someone just starting out. [3] BLS, “Advertising, Promotions, And Marketing Managers: Occupational Outlook Handbook” https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/advertising-promotions-and-marketing-managers.htm
Estimates from Cyber Defense Magazine expect damage from cybercrime to cost $1.2 trillion annually by the end of 2025. This includes the costs of business losses, brand reputation, and cyber insurance payouts. [4] Cyber Defense Magazine, “The True Cost of Cybercrime: Why Global Damages Could Reach $1.2-$1.5 Trillion by the End of 2025” https://www.cyberdefensemagazine.com/the-true-cost-of-cybercrime-why-global-damages-could-reach-1-2-1-5-trillion-by-end-of-year-2025/
The employment of information security analysts is projected to grow by 33% between 2023 and 2033, much faster than average across all occupations. There are expected to be around 17,300 openings for information security analysts each year over the next ten years. [5] BLS, “Information Security Analysts: Occupational Outlook Handbook” https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm
So if you have skills relating to cybersecurity, there might be an opportunity for you to start a side hustle in this niche.
If you’re planning on starting a side hustle or running a small business alongside a full-time job, you’ll need to make sure that working on the side hustle won’t affect your day job. Consider that you may eventually choose to take on your side hustle full-time, meaning you’ll have to leave your regular job. Be sure to communicate with your employer so that you can work on your side hustle without any repercussions.
So, there you have it, some interesting statistics surrounding the side hustle industry and the people who work in it. Side hustles have become increasingly common over the last few years, with many more people looking to supplement their income by making money from their hobbies and interests.
A survey of 1,439 people was carried out in March 2025 asking a range of questions relating to side hustles including who has them, how much they earn, and the most popular industries for side hustles.
This article discusses the largest credit unions in the U.S. alongside other credit union statistics like total assets, total members, and average outstanding loan amounts.
Survey of 1,001 people on behalf of Self Financial reveals how much it costs to maintain a social life in the modern world.
This article discusses the average income by age for Americans, how our income changes over time, and how it varies by state.
Money 