Side hustle statistics: Everything to know about side hustles
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 2026? And how much money can you really make from one of these jobs?
A survey of 1,001 adults on behalf of Self Financial sought to understand how many
people in the U.S. have side hustles, the most common industries, and how much people make from these extra
jobs.
Key survey statistics
- 59.5% of people surveyed in the U.S.
currently have a side hustle.
- 62.6% of survey respondents with a side hustle
said they rely on the extra money to cover basic costs, and 11.1% said they
couldn’t pay their regular bills without it.
- An average side hustle brings in $553 a month, but 39.2% of
respondents report that they earn less than $250 a month from their side hustle.
- 26.6% of side hustlers report that they make
more than $1,000 a month from their side hustle.
- The highest proportion of side hustlers in the survey (47.1%) spend
5-10 hours per week on their side business.
- Baby boomers earn the most from side hustles with an average
of $776 per month, while millennials earn the least at an average of
$525 per month.
- The most popular side hustles include blogging and
social media (23.3%), and freelancing (16.4%).
What is a side hustle?
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.
How many people have a side hustle in the U.S.?
Data from a survey on behalf of Self shows that 59.5% 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.
How much do people make through side hustles?
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 1,001 people conducted on behalf of Self Financial found that most
respondents (34.1%) earned between $251 and $500 per month from their side hustle. A small percentage (2.2%) of
respondents said they earn over $4,000 per month from their side hustle.
The highest proportion of side hustlers (37.6%) said their side hustle makes up
21-40% of their total monthly income, though 30.9% said it makes up 0-20%.
| How much people make from side hustles per month |
| Side hustle earnings |
Percentage of respondents |
| $0 |
1.0% |
| $1-$50 |
12.9% |
| $51-$250 |
25.3% |
| $251-$500 |
34.1% |
| $501-$1,000 |
15.6% |
| $1,001-$2,000 |
6.5% |
| $2,001-$4,000 |
2.3% |
| More than $4,000 |
2.2% |
From the survey data collected, side hustles bring in an estimated average of $553
per month, an increase compared to $443 from the same survey in 2025. 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, 20.5% of those
surveyed said they turned a hobby they enjoyed into a side hustle, and 55.3% of non-side hustlers would consider
turning one of their hobbies into a side hustle.
Spending side hustle earnings
The highest proportion (34.9%) of respondents with a side hustle use the extra
earnings for additional spending as disposable income, while 33.4% use it for savings and investments. 23.3%
said they use the money they earn from their side hustle to pay regular bills and household expenses. When
answering a separate question, 11.1% said they wouldn’t be able to pay for their basic bills without the
additional income.
| What people spend their side hustle earnings on |
| What people spend side hustle earnings on |
% of respondents |
| Additional spending as disposable income |
34.9% |
| Savings and investments |
33.4% |
| Regular bills and household expenses |
23.3% |
| Paying off debt |
8.4% |
62.6% of side hustlers financially rely on their side hustle
Of our respondents, 62.6% said that they financially rely on their side hustle
earnings month to month, even though 77.2% are working a full-time job. This is an increase from 2025 when 52.6%
of side hustlers said they financially relied on their side hustle. 61.1% also believe they will rely on their
side hustle to make ends meet long-term.
Side hustle earnings by age group
Older side hustlers typically make the most money from their additional income, with
baby boomers (aged 62-80) making the most on average at $776 per month. Millennials (aged 30-45) make the least
from their side hustles, with a monthly average of $525. However, millennials are more likely to be employed
full-time (71.6%) compared to baby boomers (62.5%).
| Estimated monthly side hustle earnings by age group |
| Age Group |
Estimated Average Monthly Side Hustle Earnings |
| 18-29 |
$601 |
| 30-45 |
$525 |
| 46-61 |
$646 |
| 62-80 |
$776 |
Most popular side hustles
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 online
work, including blogging, affiliate marketing and social media (23.3%), followed by freelancing (16.4%).
| Most common side hustle categories |
| Side hustle category |
% of respondents |
| Online, blogging, affiliate marketing, social media |
23.3% |
| Freelancing |
16.4% |
| Online shop, e-commerce |
13.3% |
| Software, IT |
11.6% |
| Gig work, Uber, delivery service |
11.2% |
| Selling crafts and designs |
7.9% |
| Market research, product testing |
7.7% |
| Airbnb hosting, renting out a property |
3.0% |
| Other |
2.2% |
| Tutoring, training |
1.3% |
| Babysitting, childcare |
1.0% |
| Local work, cleaning, DIY |
0.7% |
| Dog walking, petsitting |
0.3% |
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.
Why people started side hustles
The most common reason that respondents gave for starting a side hustle was that
they wanted more disposable income (32%), while 21.6% needed extra money to cover living expenses. This is a
change from 2025 when the highest proportion of side hustlers (35%) needed the extra money to pay for living
expenses.
A 2026 study by Quicken found that 51% of side hustlers were pushed into independent
work by economic need, but 55% were motivated by entrepreneurial ambition. [1] PR Newswire, “Side Hustles Become Permanent Careers Despite High Personal Cost” https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/side-hustles-become-permanent-careers-despite-high-personal-cost-quicken-survey-reveals-302762464.html
Around one-fifth of respondents (20.5%) said they started a side hustle because it
was a hobby they enjoyed, and 13.9% wanted to do something productive in their free time.
| Reasons people started a side hustle |
| Why people started their side hustle |
% of respondents |
| I wanted more disposable income |
32.0% |
| I needed extra money to cover living expenses |
21.6% |
| It was a hobby I enjoyed |
20.5% |
| To do something productive in my free time |
13.9% |
| To work towards long-term goals |
6.4% |
| To support my family |
3.9% |
| To pay off debt |
0.8% |
| To save up for a specific purchase |
0.8% |
Alongside the main reasons people decided to start their side hustle, other factors
also influenced people’s decisions to seek extra earnings. Some of these include inflation rates (61.6%),
economic uncertainty (35.6%), and the COVID-19 pandemic (33.6%).
Who do side hustlers work with?
The majority (58.1%), of those asked work on their side hustles by themselves. The
next most popular set-up was working with a romantic partner, with around a quarter (25.7%) of the share in
comparison. The least common setup among side hustlers was working with multiple people (2.2%).
| Who people work on their side hustles with |
| Who side hustlers work with |
% of respondents |
| By myself |
58.1% |
| With my romantic partner |
25.7% |
| With a friend or family member |
11.4% |
| With a business partner |
2.7% |
| With multiple people |
2.2% |
Though some people say they work on their side hustles with friends or family
members, 82% said they sometimes sacrifice spending time with friends and family to work on their side hustle.
How much time do people spend on side hustles?
The survey found that the most common amount of time people spend on their side
hustles is 5-10 hours per week, with 47.1% saying they spend this much time, followed by 33.1% who said they
spend 11-20 hours per week on their side hustle.
| How much time people spend on their side hustles per week |
| How much time people spend on side hustles per week |
% of respondents |
| Less than 5 hours |
6.0% |
| 5-10 hours |
47.1% |
| 11-20 hours |
33.1% |
| 21-30 hours |
9.6% |
| 31-40 hours |
2.7% |
| More than 40 hours |
1.5% |
The survey also found that the most common time people worked on their side hustles
was on the weekend, with 31.4%, while 24.3% chose the evening. The least popular time to work on side hustles
was the morning; however, 21.6% of people still say they work on their side hustles in the mornings.
How many days off do side hustlers have?
Side hustles can take up a lot of free time, especially alongside a full-time job.
We asked those with a side hustle how many days off they usually have per week outside of their regular job and
their side hustle. 44.5% said they have two days off per week, and 32.7% said they only have one day off per
week. 9.7% of people said they regularly have less than one full day off work each week.
How long have people been working on their side hustles?
Survey respondents were asked how long they had been working on their side hustles.
The most popular answer was 1-2 years (46.5%), followed by those who had been working on their side hustle for
2-3 years at 16.8%.
| How long people have been working on their side hustles |
| How long people have been working on their side hustles |
% of respondents |
| Less than 6 months |
8.7% |
| 6 months-1 year |
16.4% |
| 1-2 years |
46.5% |
| 2-3 years |
16.8% |
| 3-4 years |
5.4% |
| 4-5 years |
1.8% |
| More than 5 years |
4.4% |
How people feel about their side hustles
The majority of side hustlers say they like their side hustle (52.3%) while 24.7%
would go as far as saying they love it. Only 1.3% say they don’t like it at all, and 21.6% say they are
satisfied with it.
The extra income is the part people like the most (46.5%), followed by the freedom
and choice of work (34.7%). However, when asked what they liked the least, 35.9% said working longer hours, and
32.6% said unsteady earnings.
People who don’t have side hustles
Of the 40.5% of respondents who don’t have a side hustle, 56.8% said they would
consider starting one, and 55.1% 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 (57.5%) followed by not having the appropriate skills (17.8%).
| What is stopping people from starting a side hustle |
| What is stopping people from starting a side hustle |
% of respondents |
| I don't have the time |
57.5% |
| I don't have the appropriate skills |
17.8% |
| I don't want to work more |
12.6% |
| I don't need extra money |
12.1% |
Fastest-growing industries to consider for your own business
Knowing which industries are forecast to grow over the next decade can point you
toward a side hustle or small business worth pursuing. Whether you're drawing on existing skills or looking to
build new ones, the sectors below are worth considering.
Accounting and Finance
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 5% from 2024 to 2034,
which is faster than the average across all occupations. Around 124,200 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.
Digital Marketing
Digital marketing covers a broad range of disciplines, including data analytics,
branding, social media management, and SEO, making it a flexible entry point for freelancers with different
skill sets.
The field of advertising, promotions, and marketing managers is expected to grow 6%
between 2024 and 2034, with 36,400 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
IT and Cyber Security
Estimates from Cybersecurity Ventures expect global damage from cybercrime to cost
$12.2 trillion annually by 2031. [4] Cybersecurity Ventures, “Global Cybercrime Damage Cost Predictions” https://cybersecurityventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/CybersecurityCost.pdf
The employment of information security analysts is projected to grow by 29% between
2024 and 2034, much faster than average across all occupations. There are expected to be around 16,000 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.
Working a side hustle alongside a full-time job
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.
2025’s survey results
We ran the same survey into side hustles in 2025 to understand how many people have
a side hustle, how much they make, and the most common types of side jobs. Here are some of the results from the
previous survey:
- The March 2025 survey of 1,439 people found that 45% of respondents had a side hustle.
- Among side hustlers, the most common monthly earnings band was $51-$250, reported by 32.1% of respondents,
while side hustles overall brought in an estimated average of $442.76 a month.
- Older respondents reported earning more from side hustles on average, with baby boomers (ages 61-79)
reporting the highest monthly average at $441, compared to millennials (ages 29-44) at $112.
- The most common reason respondents gave for starting a side hustle was needing extra money to cover living
expenses, cited by 35% of respondents, and 34.2% said they wouldn't be able to cover basic bills without that
income.
- Gig work such as rideshare and delivery driving was the most common side hustle category, reported by 16.6%
of respondents, followed by online shops and e-commerce at 13.5%.
- Most side hustlers (71.5%) said they work on their side hustle alone, and the most common time commitment
was 5-10 hours per week, reported by 36.2% of respondents.
Summary
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.
Methodology
A survey of 1,001 people was carried out in June 2026, 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.
Sources
Money 
