Earn Up to $60/hour: 10 Top-Paying Side Hustles That Let You Work From Home

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Even though some companies are requiring employees to go back to the office, many Americans still want to work from home. If you have the right in-demand professional skills and can make good use of a flexible schedule, finding a work-from-home side hustle is a great way to boost your income.

According to recent survey data from FlexJobs , some of the best side hustles let you work from home -- and pay $30 to $60 per hour on average. Let's look at some opportunities that pay the highest hourly rates.

1. Software developer ($59.71 per hour)

If you have software skills, companies might want to hire you on a freelance basis. Software developers are always in demand for creating, maintaining, and updating software apps and websites. If you can work in a flexible, collaborative way, FlexJobs survey data shows that the median software developer gig pays about $59.71 per hour -- and this career field is growing much faster than average (25% per year).

2. Project manager ($45.85 per hour)

Companies need project managers for a wide range of purposes, like IT modernization projects, marketing campaigns , or driving results on a strategic business transformation. Project managers need to be organized, detail-oriented, and able to communicate effectively to coordinate people's efforts and marshal expertise.

Being a work-from-home project manager can be a great side hustle, especially if you can do most of your meetings via video calls. FlexJobs' survey shows that this gig pays a median of $45.85 per hour.

3. Consultant ($45.81 per hour)

All kinds of organizations hire outside experts to help achieve specific results or get a fresh set of eyes on a problem. This is what being a consultant is all about: You get hired for a short-term project, you offer your expertise, you make recommendations, and you ideally leave the client in a better situation -- while getting paid a good hourly rate.

FlexJobs' survey found that consultants earn a median of $45.81 per hour, with faster-than-average career growth expected for this field.

4. Account manager ($43.57 per hour)

"Account manager" is another job title that sounds a bit vague and all-encompassing -- but most often, this gig is all about sales and client service. Account managers work in sales, sales development, client success, or another client-facing role where you help drive strategic results and earn revenue. Many prospecting activities, sales calls, and client meetings can be done via video call nowadays, which makes this gig a great fit for working from home.

FlexJobs found that this side hustle earns a median rate of $43.57 per hour.

5. Web designer ($38.81 per hour)

Like software developers, web designers seem to be constantly in demand. Companies always need help with building websites and mobile apps, updating their existing sites, or migrating content to a new platform. As a work-from-home side hustle, web designers can expect to earn a median hourly rate of $38.81.

6. Technical writer ($38.44 per hour)

Companies hire technical writers to create brochures, white papers, user manuals, and other complex content to explain their technologies, products, and services. If you have strong writing skills and a good eye for detail, getting a work-from-home side hustle as a technical writer might be right for you. And the pay is pretty good: a median rate of $38.44 per hour, according to FlexJobs.

7. Market researcher ($32.80 per hour)

Companies always want to know what their customers are thinking, how consumers are shopping, why people are buying (or not), and what the future might hold for their brand, business, and industry. This makes market research an in-demand side hustle. And you can work from home -- as long as you have the right skills and resources to conduct surveys, analyze market data, and offer well-informed perspectives about changing consumer behavior.

FlexJobs says that the median pay for market researchers is about $32.80 per hour.

8. Recruiter ($30.88 per hour)

What if you could get a side gig...helping people find a new gig? Recruiters have been in strong demand recently since unemployment is so low; companies have been trying harder to find workers to fill the available jobs. Working from home as a recruiter is more possible than ever before, with Zoom calls, LinkedIn, and other online tools letting you do the work on a flexible schedule from any location. FlexJobs' survey found that recruiters earn about $30.88 per hour.

9. Legal transcription ($30.56 per hour)

Legal proceedings, such as depositions, court proceedings, and civil and criminal trials, have to be recorded in writing. That creates mountains of work for court reporters, and legal transcriptionists can help! Working in legal transcription can be a good work-from-home side hustle if you type quickly, have a laser-sharp eye for detail, and have a good ear for legal terminology. Legal transcriptionists can earn about $30.56 per hour, according to FlexJobs.

10. Video editor ($30.01 per hour)

It seems like there's more video being recorded and shared online now than ever before -- and this creates more work for video editors. Companies need to hire video editors to make YouTube videos, advertisements, social media posts, and more. Video editors earn an average of $30.01 per hour, according to FlexJobs.

Bottom line

Some of the best side hustles pay up to $60 per hour on average, and you can work from home. Use your career skills to earn extra income on a flexible basis. Check out FlexJobs (flexjobs.com) for more ideas and gig postings.

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