11 Best, Top-Paying Side Hustles You Should Try in 2023

Are you looking for some ideas to make extra money? In this article we are going to talk about some of the best side hustles that pay well and that you can try this year.

So, whether you’re looking to start a business from scratch or supplement your current income, this post will help you get started.

Best, Highest-Paying Side Hustles in 2023

1. Freelance Writing

Freelance writing is a great way to make money on the side. With minimal up-front costs and no specific qualifications required, it’s a great option for those who want to start a business from scratch.

To get started, you’ll need to write down a list of services you can offer (such as writing, editing, proofreading and translating content for example), create a portfolio of your work, and market yourself to potential clients.

You can find clients on platform like Upwork and Fiverr.

Once you have enough good reviews, you can even charge a bit more than average and enjoy the freedom of working whenever and wherever you want.

How much can you make as a freelance writer?

Freelance writing can be one of the highest-paying side hustles. However, the amount you earn really depends on the type of projects you complete and the number of hours you work. Most freelance writers can make anywhere from $0,03 to $0,06 per word depending on the complexity of the project.

Assuming you write a 2000-word article every day from Monday to Friday and your rate is $0.05, you can make $500 per week.

As your experience, reputation and portfolio grow, you can increase your rates and potentially earn even more.

2. SEO Consultant

Starting a business as an SEO consultant is a great way to make money while helping others reach their goals. In this case you’ll need to have a deep knowledge of SEO.

To get started you’ll need to create a list of services you want to offer and promote your service to potential clients. Some of the services most site owners pay for are:

HARO outreach to build high-quality links;
Keyword research;
Content creation;
Site audit;
Starter site creation;
Press releases.

In any case, a good idea is to create a website to showcase your knowledge and build your online presence. Make sure to also build a presence on Twitter and start your own newsletter.

Once you’re ready to go, you can set your own rates and start helping businesses improve their search engine rankings. You can even create your own online course for beginners.

How much can you make as an SEO consultant?

According to Glassdoor, the estimated total pay for an SEO Consultant is $60,540 per year.

However, I know people who make way more than that.

3. Virtual Assistant

A virtual assistant (VA) is a business professional who provides administrative services to clients online remotely from their own home or office.

Virtual assistants can do anything from arranging travel, replying or managing emails, filing paperwork, to setting up social media accounts and conducting market research.

They are generally much more cost effective than hiring an in-office employee, as virtual assistants only charge for the time they put into completing assignments.

What follows are a few steps you can follow to start your VA business.

Research the market: Before getting started, it is important to understand the needs of your target clients and which skills you’ll need. Investigate what similar businesses are offering and what services have seen good results in terms of driving sales or improving efficiency.
Design services: Once you’ve established what types of services are more in demand, it’s time to think about how you will provide them. Consider whether these tasks would be completed through a one-time project, on-going monthly packages, or other options.
Set up a website or a landing page: Building an online presence can help get your name out there as well as advertise the services that you offer.
Gain visibility: Start marketing yourself by attending industry events, reaching out to contacts that could use your expertise, engaging with prospects on LinkedIn, etc. Also, use social media advertising platforms like Facebook or Instagram Ads to target people who may need help to grow their business.

A type of virtual assistant that is trending a lot lately is the Pinterest VA. A Pinterest virtual assistant helps manage, create, and optimize content on a client’s Pinterest account. They can help with tasks such as creating boards, creating and pinning images and videos, writing descriptions and captions for pins.

They often also help with sharing pins on Tailwind to increase the visibility of the content.

How much can you make as a Virtual Assistant?

According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for this job is around $59,000/year. However, there are also virtual assistants who make more. The salary depends on how many hours you work, your tasks, and most importantly, your experience.

In my opinion, this is one of the highest paying side hustles – if you do it right.

4. Social Media Consulting

A social media consultant is a professional that specializes in advising businesses and brands on how to best use social media platforms, like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

They are responsible for developing an effective social media strategy to help businesses increase their visibility and establish relationships with potential customers.

They may also provide guidance on how to build relationships with influencers or offer advice on how to manage paid campaigns.

How much do social media consultants make?

According to Comparably, the salaries of this type of consultant in the US range from $31,690 to $110,080. The average salary is $61,311.

5. Dog Walking

Dog walking is one of the best side hustles you can choose if you’re a dog person. Many pet owners hire people to walk their dogs for them.

You can opt for this extra job as an individual or through a local dog walking service.

This type of side hustle requires knowledge and understanding of proper animal handling and safety procedures, as well as the ability to take responsibility for the care of someone else’s pet.

How much can you make walking dogs for others?

The average rate for dog walking is around $15-20 per 30 minute walk or $25-30 for an hour long walk.

6. Tutoring

A tutoring side hustle consists of offering tutoring services, usually on a part-time or occasional basis.

Tutors can provide help with school subjects ranging from English and Math to Science and History, as well as foreign languages.

They may also specialize in areas such as test preparation or college admissions counseling. Tutors may work with students of all ages – from elementary school to college level – both online and in person.

Rates are typically negotiated between the tutor and the student/parent, although some tutoring agencies set standard rates for their services.

How much can you make as a tutor?

The average rate of tutors is $25-$30 per hour, which makes it a pretty good side hustle.

7. Blogging

As I mentioned in other articles, blogging is probably the best side hustle you can choose. If you do it right, it has a very high Return on Investment (ROI), as the initial investment is very low.

Also, if you consistently write good content that targets low competition keywords with a good search volume, after one year you can make $1,000 and more per month just with display ads.

If you want to know more about how to start a blog, here’s a detailed guide I wrote about this topic.

How much can you make blogging?

Well, it depends on many factors like how many blogs you have, your niche, your monetization strategy and how often you publish content. It also depends on the period of the year. However, most bloggers start to make at least $1,000 after one year blogging.

Experienced bloggers make much more than that. I know people who make more than $80,000 per month. Yes, it’s not a mistake and you red it right, 80 thousand per month.

8. Selling Products Online

One of the top paying side hustles is selling products online. It’s an easy way to make some extra money and there are several options available, depending on the type of products you want to sell.

For example, you could open an Etsy shop to sell handmade goods, create your dropshipping business to resell goods from vendors, or use Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) which allows you to store your products in their warehouses and have them ship items directly to customers.

You can also sell digital products like e-books or printables.

How much can you make selling products online?

It depends on how many products you have in your catalog and on their value. If you give your store and your products the right visibility, you can expect to make anywhere between $200 and $15,000 per month.

9. House Sitting

One of the best side hustles you can try is what they call house sitting.

House sitting is a job in which someone hires you to look after their home while they’re away. This service can include different tasks from simply keeping an eye on the house to taking care of pets, plants, and mail.

House-sitters may also be asked to do other tasks such as cleaning and general upkeep.

How much can you make as an house-sitter?

Rates for this type of work vary depending on the specific duties involved, but typically start at $15 per hour and it can be negotiated on a job basis.

10. Photography

Starting a photography business can be an enjoyable and profitable way to make money from your passion for taking pictures.

To start it’s important to research the local market and choose a specialty on which you would like to focus (e.g., wedding, portraits, landscape).

Then create an online presence – such as a website and social media accounts – where potential customers can see your portfolio and get in touch with you.

I personally recommend Instagram. If people love your photo and video there, they can easily find you through the link in your bio and even hire you.

Last but not least, make sure to invest in quality tools such as cameras, lenses and lighting equipment as well as stands or backdrops to set up professional photo shoots.

How much can you make as a photographer?

According to Indeed, the average salary of a photographer is $43,329 per year in the US. However, you can make much more if you establish a solid presence online and gain visibility.

11. Voiceover Work

One of the top paying side hustles is voiceover.

If you’re wondering what I’m talking about, voiceover is basically the art of providing a voice to an audio production.

Voiceovers can be used in media such as television, radio, film and video games.

The voice artist reads scripts (such as commercials or radio imaging) that are then recorded and used in the production of the media. Voiceover artists may also provide narration for documentaries or audiobooks, narrate phone systems/IVRs, and record character voices for animation or games.

How much can you make as voiceover artist?

As with any side hustle, the amount of money you can make as a voiceover artist depends on the amount of work and preparation you put into it.

Rates vary greatly depending on factors such as your level of experience, quality of delivery and type of job.

Generally speaking, beginner voiceover artists can expect to earn around $40-$100 per hour for commercials or ad reads. More experienced VO professionals can charge higher rates for longer projects or larger tasks.

Conclusion

Side hustles are a great way to make extra money on the side and supplement your primary income.

There are many options available, from selling products online or walking dogs to tutoring or providing voiceover services. Each of these opportunities has its own potential for success and earnings, so it’s essential to do your own research before taking the plunge.

With careful planning and preparation, anyone can find a side hustle that fits their skills and interests – allowing them to develop an enjoyable source of extra income.

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Photo by Emmanuel Ikwuegbu on Unsplash