Many households in the UK are feeling the pinch of the cost-of-living crisis, with more than two in five Brits having a second job now to earn extra cash.
For those of you who haven’t secured a side gig, no need to panic — there’re currently close to 480,000 jobs across the 25 best-paid side hustles up for grabs, and the top-earning job, Translator, is paying up to £48,000 annually!
We’ve put together some of the most lucrative options that give you the flexibility to fit your 9-to-5 and social calendar.
1. Translator
Average salary: £48,648 (£0.10 – £0.16/word)
Advertised vacancies: 22,327
Requirements:
- A degree or qualification in translation, linguistics, or relevant fields
- Proficient in two or more languages
- Excellent verbal and written skills
- Ability to meet tight deadlines
If you’re bilingual or even multilingual, cash in on your foreign language skills by translating professionally for businesses. As a translator, you’ll be converting written material from one language into the target language. If your day job is in a specific field such as finance, technology, legal, or medical, this will become your advantage as you’re already well-equipped with the industry terminology. The working hours are very flexible since the pay is usually based on a per-word basis. The average project is around 1,000 – 1,500 words.
2. Handyman
Average salary: £36,980 (£12.40 – £80/hour)
Advertised vacancies: 2,160
Requirement:
- A diverse range of competent DIY skills e.g. carpentry, plumbing, electrics, and decorating
Handymen are needed everywhere, whether at someone’s home, within schools, at manufacturers or working for larger construction companies. It’s a great option if you have a range of basic DIY skills such as carpentry, plumbing, electrics, and decorating – typically you’ll be asked to fix minor maintenance issues so that the business can avoid paying specialised contractors for relatively basic jobs.
Fortunately, a lot of handyman jobs can fit around the standard 9-5 work day since businesses prefer to minimise disruption as much as possible.
3. Content Writer
Average salary: £36,635 (£350 – £500/day)
Advertised vacancies: 448
Requirements:
- Degree in journalism, marketing, or equivalent
- Proven experience in writing accurate and grammatically correct copy, editing and proofreading
- Strong research and time management skills
- SEO knowledge
With the rise of digital marketing, companies are looking for wordsmiths to create engaging bite-sized content for their websites, blogs and advertising campaigns. If you’re good at explaining complex ideas and conducting in-depth research independently, content writing could be a great fit. One major benefit of a freelance or part-time content writing gig is flexibility. There will be deadlines to meet, but most of the time you’ll be given 5 days to 2 weeks to complete one task and you can turn down the task if your schedule is too packed.
4. Influencer
Average salary: £36,461 (£98/day)
Advertised vacancies: 139
Requirements:
- Familiar with social media algorithms e.g. how to optimise your profile and build followers
- Sales and marketing skills to attract brands for partnerships and collaborations
- Ability to build long-term relationships with followers and sponsors
How often do you post an Instagram story or a Tiktok video? If you’re already regularly updating your personal social media profile and you’re all about aesthetics, consider monetising your social media accounts. You will be under the spotlight all the time and you can’t completely switch off from work, but your efforts will be paid off through affiliate marketing, brand partnerships and creator funds. If you’ve grown a decent following, be prepared to get invites to the hottest events in town.
Read more: What would the I’m a Celebrity contestants earn?
5. Music Teacher
Average salary: £36,441 (£30 – £150/lesson)
Advertised vacancies: 814
Requirements:
- Vocal or instrumental certification by approved training centres
- Qualification in education or teaching
- Previous experience in solo or group musical performance
- Strong understanding of music theory
- Experience in teaching children and adults
This is a great example of turning your hobby into a career. If you’ve passed the ABRSM or Trinity College London exam grade 8, you’re qualified to teach others how to master a musical instrument and how to sing in tune. The best things about being a music teacher are that students need to work around your schedule, classes can be as short as 30 minutes, and you can ramp up your lesson fees when your student progresses to the next level.
6. Graphic Designer
Average salary: £36,145 (£97/day)
Advertised vacancies: 2,767
Requirements:
- A strong portfolio of illustrations and graphics
- Proficient in design software such as InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator
- Ability to handle multiple projects at once and meet tight deadlines
Similar to Content Writers, graphic designers are given a lot of flexibility despite tight deadlines. They brainstorm concepts for their clients and execute those ideas through design software such as Photoshop and InDesign. Since they’re designing images, typography and graphics on the client’s behalf, they need to identify clients’ likes and dislikes quickly and keep an open mind during feedback sessions.
7. Yoga Instructor
Average salary: £35,666 (£12/hour)
Advertised vacancies: 5,554
Requirements:
- A level 2 fitness qualification
- Experienced in performing and coaching yoga
- Classroom management skill
If you’ve been practising yoga for years and enjoy the classroom setting, consider being a yoga instructor to help others learn the poses correctly. You may start by looking for part-time positions at local yoga studios and gyms, or by booking a studio and offering classes to your network.
8. Virtual Assistant
Average salary: £35,521 (£95/day)
Advertised vacancies: 300
Requirements:
- Project management skills
- Basic knowledge of graphic design, social media and email marketing
Virtual Assistants provide a variety of help for businesses, including website graphics, podcast show notes, social media postings, and preparing emails. It’s a great job for flexible working and you can work evenings and weekends, as many online business owners won’t mind when tasks are completed.
9. Personal Trainer
Average salary: £35,443 (£12/hour)
Advertised vacancies: 8,960
Requirements:
- Level 2 gym instructor qualification
- Level 3 personal trainer qualification
- First-aid certificate
If you’ve been going to the gym for years and you know precisely how to tone up your body or bulk up, consider being a personal trainer to help others achieve their body goals. You may start by looking for part-time positions at local gyms, or by reaching out to network to find your first student.
10. Social Media Manager
Average salary: £33,729 (£91/day)
Advertised vacancies: 2,294
Requirements:
- Degree in business, marketing, advertising, or equivalent
- Strong understanding of marketing analytical tools
Social Media Managers are in charge of the company’s online presence. Their core duties include devising strategies, analysing usage data, identifying trends, creating relevant content and responding to the public’s comments and messages. If you’re keen on social media but don’t want to be under the limelight like influencers, a social media manager role may be perfect for you. Expect a blurred work-life balance as you need to stay on top of everything all the time.
11. Photographer
Average salary: 33,306 (£89/day)
Advertised vacancies: 3,461
Requirements:
- Proficient in digital and film cameras
- A strong portfolio showcasing different photography styles
- Knowledge of using photo editing software
If you enjoy photography or have a DSLR gathering dust, you could make considerably more money by putting it to use than selling it on eBay. There are a huge number of options for people who want to make money through photography; you can take a part-time job with a particular employer, set yourself up as a freelance photographer, or just sell your photographs online as stock photographs or as products.
Working for an employer is the most stable way to earn extra money as a photographer and you won’t have to sell to clients or do your own taxes. However, some people enjoy the additional flexibility of freelance work or the freedom of stock photography.
When people think about monetising their photography, they usually think of portrait or wedding photography, but there are plenty of other options. Real estate photography, product photography, and commercial headshots are all stable sources of work and can be extremely lucrative if you have a good portfolio.
12. Proofreader
Average salary: £32,624 (£11 – £15/hour)
Advertised vacancies: 1,575
Requirements:
- Degree in English, journalism, linguistics, or equivalent
- Previous experience in subediting, layout and headline writing
- Experience in editing tools e.g. InDesign and InCopy
- Basic knowledge of media law
If you have an eye for detail, good grammar and possible qualifications in English, proofreading could be a great way to earn some extra cash. You can earn up to £15 per hour, meaning if you can work an additional five hours per week proofreading on the side, you’ll have an extra £286 pre-tax cash each month to spend on all those extra expenses.
13. Seasonal Temp Worker
Average salary: £32,058 (£86/day)
Advertised vacancies: 156,917
Requirement: depends on the job
If only want to do a second job for a set period of time, it’s a good idea to pick up seasonal work. There are a huge number of these jobs available, from delivery drivers over Christmas through to lifeguards in the summer. You can work in a bar, operate CCTVs during sporting events, work as a sales assistant, or clean during business’ busy periods.
Unlike a lot of these jobs, seasonal work typically works on a traditional payroll system so you will generally get paid at monthly intervals – this can either be very helpful for people who are trying to save, or counterproductive if you need to make money quickly and see the results soon.
Read more: Top 10 Christmas employers still hiring right now
14. Grocery Delivery Worker
Average salary: £30,059 (£10/hour)
Advertised vacancies: 1,296
Requirement:
- A full manual or automatic driving license
If you’d rather drive packages than people, you can work as a courier for large e-commerce companies or food services. These positions often offer additional benefits, like repaying petrol money, discounts from selected partners, and you can choose your own hours. Most of these delivery driver positions also offer company vehicles, so you don’t need to have your own car to get started.
It’s important to be careful when choosing your options – parcels sent by courier can be up to 25 kg so if you’re not physically fit and strong, it can be a difficult job. If you don’t want anything physically taxing and are comfortable on a scooter, food delivery may be a better option.
15. Tutor
Average salary: £29,997 (£10 – £50/hour)
Advertised vacancies: 30,285
Requirements:
- Strong subject knowledge, ideally supported by at least a BA degree
- Good communication and teaching style
- Good organisation skills
Tutoring is one of the best-paying options here – you can make up to and over £50 per hour if you have the right qualifications and a good reputation. It’s important that you’re extremely organised, build rapport with both parents and students, and you should try to have a good grasp of the national curriculum. If you cover these requirements, you should be able to get word out mouth referrals rather than chasing each booking separately.
Tutoring is generally associated with academic subjects but you can also teach skills – if you’re a great cook or very computer-literate, you can pass on that knowledge as well. Adult tutors are in increasing demand, so think about what you have to offer and build on that expertise.
16. Housesitter
Average salary: £29,867 (£10/hour)
Advertised vacancies: 126
Requirement: depend on the family
If you have pet allergies or just don’t really want to clean, house sitting is a great option. You just need to check in one somebody’s home while they’re on holiday – the biggest tasks are often picking up the post or watering the plants, so it’s an extremely low-impact job that easily fits around other things. Most people prefer house-sitters to visit in the evening so somebody is there after dark, so it’s perfect for people who work 9-5.
17. Driver
Average salary: £29,616 (£9.90/hour)
Advertised vacancies: 96,669
Requirements for an Uber driver:
- Access to a car (which meets their requirements, such as being <5 years old)
- A driving licence (the number of years held depends on where you are)
- A Private Hire Vehicle licence (which you can get from the local council)
- Suitable car insurance
- A smart phone
Companies like Uber and Lyft make it easier than ever to become a driver in your free time, with great opportunities to earn more on evenings, weekends, around sporting events, and during holidays thanks to surge pricing. They do take a % service fee from everything that you earn, and you will also need to consider how much additional maintenance your car needs because of the extra miles, but it is a quick and easy way to get set up as a driver. Alternatively, some drivers hire a car and still make a profit on their monthly work.
18. Gardener
Average salary: £28,539 (£9.50/hour)
Advertised vacancies: 13,448
Requirements:
- Previous experience working in a gardening environment
- Knowledge of COSHH Regulations and the Health & Safety Policies
Gardeners help homeowners or businesses maintain their gardens. You might be expected to plant flowers or trees, weed a garden, prune the trees in late springs. As gardening can be noisy, you might need to work during regular working hours on a weekday for domestic environments and on weekends for businesses.
19. Cleaner
Average salary: £26,910 (£9.50 – £12/hour)
Advertised vacancies: 106,751
Requirement: no set requirements
Cleaning businesses, homes, or more specialised areas can easily fit around your work – typically you can earn £9.50 – £12 per hour as a domestic cleaner and you can book regular hours with the same people to ensure a steady stream of income. The structure and type of work depend on the type of cleaning you would like to do – some businesses will hire a cleaner directly part-time rather than going via an agency, and domestic cleaners can advertise on websites and work as freelancers. You can get paid per job or monthly, depending on the agreement, and structure both the work and the income around your needs.
20. Data Entry Clerk
Average salary: 25,380 (£68/day)
Advertised vacancies: 11,662
Requirements:
- Excellent administration and basic computing skills
- Attention to detail
Do you stare at your computer screen or TV after coming back from work? If so, data entry clerks might be perfect for you who don’t mind getting sore eyes from blue light. Data entry clerks enter and update information into the company database. They are usually charged for an hourly rate.
21. Pet Sitter
Average salary: £24,863 (£9.50/hour)
Advertised vacancies: 1,190
Requirement: depend on the family
Pet sitting is the perfect option for people who love animals – you get to relax, play with cats or dogs, and even get paid for it. Some animals are high maintenance and generally you will need to clean up after them and occasionally administer medicine, but on a day to day basis it’s quite a low-stress, high-reward job.
You can be self-employed, set up a doggy day care on weekends, or you can get up and running using one of many pet-sitting platforms. That means the requirements depend largely on the end client rather than a single employer – some may prefer someone older, some may want someone who can be with their pet during the daytime, but everyone will want someone who is naturally caring and good with animals.
22. Receptionist
Average salary: £23,723 (£9.50/hour)
Advertised vacancies: 2,952
Requirements:
- Excellent administrative and customer service skills
- Basic IT skills and previous experience working with booking or payment systems
Picking up part-time work as a receptionist, perhaps at a hotel or clinic, is generally low stress and you can likely find businesses in need of evening and weekend cover – shifts that permanent workers generally won’t want to volunteer for. If you work an additional five hours per week as a receptionist at £9.50 per hour, you could be bringing home an extra £190 per month pre tax – perfect for those unexpected bills.
23. Waiter
Average salary: £23,591 (£9.50/hour)
Advertised vacancies: 4,869
Requirements:
- Strong customer service skills
- Excellent verbal communication skills
- Ability to carry multiple plates at once
Working as a waiter or waitress in a café, pub or restaurant is one of the most popular ways to earn some extra money on an evening or weekend. There’s currently 742 part time jobs onsite at Adzuna, and you can be paid monthly, or sometimes daily after each shift.
You can pick up additional work when it suits you and your schedule, but if you can spare 5 hours each week waiting tables at £9.50 per hour, then you can take home an extra £190 pre tax each month – ideal for helping towards monthly energy bills and additional expenses. For those who are interested, apply for waiter positions online or simply go to your neighbourhood restaurants during non-peak hours and ask if they’re hiring.
24. Babysitter
Average salary: £21,020 (£9.50/hour)
Advertised vacancies: 915
Requirements:
- Finished basic babysitting course
- First-aid certificate
- Clean background check
If you like children, baby sitting is the perfect way to make some extra money. Families often like to use the same baby sitters over and over again, so it’s a good option if you want repeat work and a family atmosphere. If you branch out into being a nanny you can even get benefits like free accommodation, but these jobs typically require you to work every weekday.
Good baby sitters tend to build references so that they can book more work and you may want to go on some short courses in things like first aid to reassure parents and ensure that you get as many jobs as possible.
25. Mystery Shopper
Average salary: £20,166 (£54/day)
Advertised vacancies: 1,232
Requirements:
- Ability to stay anonymous during the assignment
- Observant and give accurate feedback
This is the ideal option if you want your job to offer you free stuff as well as an additional income. Mystery shopping typically pays a lot less per job than the other options here and can be far more sporadic, but the jobs don’t take an hour and you can incorporate it into your shopping or going out with friends. Jobs vary, but practically every type of shop uses mystery shoppers so you can get everything from fast food meals through to luxury goods if you claim the job on time.
By the way, check out our ValueMyCV tool to see how much your resume is worth. And if a second job is not enough to fulfil your dreams of having extra cash, check out our guide on how to change careers when you’re 40.