Many people choose to take a gig job over the traditional jobs. People that start a driving gig job may love it at first, especially if driving is their hobby. However, over time, it can wear on you. You might get sick of driving. It also puts more wear and tear on your vehicle, which only costs you more money. Your car insurance rates might rise too since it’s no longer a personal vehicle but a “company” one. Those that work for InstaCart might get sick of the traditional time they have to work since it’s based on business hours. Whatever your reason for leaving the driving gig jobs, you can switch without worry.
1. Airbnb Property Manager
Salary Range: Bottom 10% earn $36,700. Median annual salary $50,000. Top 10% earn $100,000 +.
Job Growth: 7.6% by 2029 (faster than average)
Airbnb property managers can manage their own rentals for people to use. You may choose to have your property rented out for vacations full-time or some of the time. Most people rent out their spare properties. Like a regular property manager, you will handle the contract duties, advertise, meet with guests, and upkeep the property. This type of job doesn’t have set schedules, but they usually work during normal business hours.
Transferable Skills:
- Customer service skills
- Strong oral and written communication
- Knowledge of local rental laws
- IT skills
2. Content Writing
Salary Range: Bottom 10% earn $13,000. Median annual salary $50,109. Top 10% earn $101,000.
Job Growth: 8% by 2029 (as fast as average)
Content writers write for clients. You may have a variety of projects sent your way. For example, you might receive a business service page request one day, and a lengthy research article the next. Content writers might work for various content mill sites or independently. When a content writer works for a content mill, they have set prices per word determined by the company. Independent writers can choose the prices they set for a word count or price per word. They may even choose to charge more depending on the subject matter.
Transferable Skills:
- Time management
- Strong written communication
- Copy editing
- Patience
- Strong knowledge of the English language
- IT skills
3. Teacher at VIPKid
Salary Range: Bottom 10% earn $18,200. Median annual salary 23,400. Top 10% earn $46,000.
Job Growth: 4% by 2029 (as fast as average)
You may have always wanted to teach but don’t like the traditional platform of teaching. Now, you can teach real students online for VIPKid. You can choose part-time or full-time work as a teacher and make extra bonuses the more you teach. Each lesson only lasts about 25 to 30 minutes long. Keep in mind you will teach children in a foreign country, so you will teach at unconventional hours.
Transferable Skills:
- Patience
- Active listening
- Strong written and oral communication
- IT skills
- Time management
- Critical thinking skills
4. Movers at TaskRabbit
Salary Range: Bottom 25% earn $25,000. Median annual salary $30,386. Top 10% earn $37,500.
Job Growth: 11% by 2029 (faster than average)
TaskRabbit is a company that offers jobs to those that specialize in a trade career. For example, you might become a professional mover. Movers take all the boxes or furniture you have stored to move to a new location. Some movers may even wrap or box belongings and transport them.
Transferable Skills:
- Detail-oriented
- Patience
- Time management
- Mathematic skills
- Customer service skills
- Mechanical skills
5. Virtual Assistant
Salary Range: Bottom 10% earn $26,880. Median annual salary $67,510. Top 10% earn $40,990.
Job Growth: The BLS doesn’t keep data on this specific category. However, in person assistants are expected to decline by 9%.
Virtual assistants make their own hours. They may receive projects that make them work outside their regular hours. Virtual assistants do what in-person assistants do but they do it from their home or office. They act with the same professionalism. Some may just handle calls, emails, or schedules. Others might do database entry.
Transferable Skills:
- Superior organization skills
- IT skills
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Multitasking
- Customer service skills
- Patience
- Time management
6. Freelance E-commerce
Salary Range: Bottom 10% earn $1,000. Median annual salary $44,380. Top 10% earn $100,000 +.
Job Growth: The BLS doesn’t keep data on this specific category.
The world now doesn’t require you to enter a store to purchase goods. You can do all your shopping online. People now have begun to sell what they no longer what or need. Some people even make their items by hand and sell them on sites like Etsy. The market is saturated, but you can specialize in a niche or sell a specific product everyone wants and make a profit. Until retail stores, you set your prices for what you feel they’re worth. Some sites like eBay allow for bidding on items, so you can make even more.
Transferable Skills:
- Critical thinking skills
- Customer service skills
- Strong written and oral communication
- IT Skills
- Time management
- Marketing skills
- Mathematic skills
7. Handyman
Salary Range: Bottom 10% earn $19,000. Median annual salary $49,520. Top 10% earn $57,500.
Job Growth: Little or no change by 2029.
A handyman does various maintenance jobs to the building. Some might work for agencies, independently, or for a property manager. They generally have certification in the trades. Some might have experience with plumbing, electrical wiring, or basic repairs. Others might have experience with carpentry. This means they can repair furniture, build furniture, and more. This trade does come with practice and some aspects of it might require certification. However, you can make a lot of money independently. Depending on your skills, you can make custom furniture pieces for people or work for a management company and do all their repairs.
Transferable Skills:
- Strong verbal and oral communication
- Carpentry
- Organizational skills
- Interpersonal skills
- High attention to detail
8. Freelance Web Development or Design
Salary Range: Bottom 10% earn $18,000. Median annual salary $70,714. Top 10% earn $145,000.
Job Growth: 8% by 2029 (faster than average)
Web designers or developers design, code, and modify layouts. The main goal is to make the website appeal to visitors while providing the client with what they want. Although, you do want to make the site as user-friendly as possible. Many people think you might need a degree in programming or another related field. However, you don’t need any degree at all. Many programmers and web designers are self-taught. While a degree and certifications won’t hurt you, they aren’t necessary.
Transferable Skills:
- Strong IT skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Patience
- Detail-oriented
- Strong problem-solving skills
- Analytic skills
9. Nanny
Salary Range: Bottom 10% earn $18,500. Median annual salary $57,028. Top 10% earn $123,000.
Job Growth: 2% by 2029 (slower than average)
Nannies primarily take care of children. As a nanny, you will be responsible for the health and well-being of the child. Parents often hire a nanny instead of a babysitter because they come recommended and usually have certifications like CPR or child abuse clearances. Nannies can be part-time or full-time and tend to all of the children’s needs. You actively take on a parenting role for the most part. Nannies make much more than a babysitter because of their responsibilities. Sometimes, they will even live in the home or go on vacations with the parents.
Transferable Skills:
- Active listening
- Strong communication skills
- Patience
- Detail-oriented
- Strong Decision-making skills
10. Housekeeper
Salary Range: Bottom 10% earn $21,887. Median annual salary $26,220. Top 10% earn $33,207.
Job Growth: Little to no growth change
Housekeepers go to a person’s home and clean. Some people don’t find the time to clean themselves and will hire a person to do it for them. You may get a client that needs to wash their laundry or do daily tasks like vacuuming or washing dishes. As a housekeeper, you get to set how much you’ll charge per house. Generally, many people can make up to $150 for three hours of work. Others may choose to work for cheaper with more clients. Regardless, it will take time to build up a base of clients before you can make the $150 gig.
Transferable Skills:
- Attention to detail
- Time management
- Customer service skills
- Great organizational skills
11. Dog Walker at Wag
Salary Range: Bottom 10% earn $12,500. Median annual salary $29,921. Top 10% earn $51,000.
Job Growth: 22% by 2019 (much faster than average)
Dog walkers work for various clients. You may walk several dogs at once for a few hours a day or one to two big dogs for a few minutes. Dog walkers will meet with the client and discuss routes to walk the dog(s). They may need to provide water or food for longer walks. You will also have full responsibility for the pet in case of an emergency or any problems with other animals occur.
Transferable Skills:
- Patience
- Strong communication skills
- Previous care for animals
- Physically fit
- Time management
- Strong problem-solving skills
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a gig?
A gig job doesn’t require the typical 9-5 corporate style. You don’t head into the office, and you normally don’t work for a single company. Most gig workers set their own hours and pay.
What are the highest paying gigs?
The true highest gig jobs require driving or delivery services. However, you can make money selling items you have or make, photography, dog walking, Airbnb property management, and content writing.
What are the most popular side gigs?
Some of the most popular side gigs include dog walking, food delivery services, housekeepers, photography, blogging, babysitting, tutoring, and virtual assistants.
Final Thoughts
You may want to change your driving gig job. You might have concerns and fear you’ll need to join the corporate world. Rest assured you can stay in the gig economy. There are dozens of jobs available that don’t require you to drive but you can still make the same amount of money if not more. Many of them have better flexibility than a driving gig job too.
