Top 10 Tech Side Hustles You Can Start Today

Are you struggling to make ends meet and manage expenses and wish to increase your income without giving up your current job?  Look no further because the answer is in the world of tech side hustles! It has become necessary for people to have multiple sources of income in today's world. These jobs mentioned below will pay you around $32/hr to $75/hr. Big technological leaps have led to several tech side hustles that will help you generate extra money.  So take your chance with these IT side hustles.

Why start a tech side hustle?

Learning in-demand tech skills is the most effective way of starting an online side hustle and gives you an upper hand in the growing gig economy. You can sign up for freelance marketplaces like Upwork or Fiverr to acquire clients and establish your brand. Tech side hustles offer flexibility and freedom to work on your terms. Getting a college degree or years of work experience is not compulsory. All you need is a desire to learn tech. Starting a tech side hustle is right for you if you wish to embark on the journey to financial freedom.

Top 10 Tech Side Hustles You Can Start Today in 2024

Below are the ten best tech side hustles that pay generously and the average rates of freelancers on Upwork. Start today to boost your income and achieve your financial goals!

1. Web Development

The average rate on Upwork: $15 - $30/hr
Job type: Web development can be both freelancing and full-time.

Web development involves building, designing and maintaining websites. Web developers are in great demand as more companies conduct business online. If you have the skills required to design and create websites, working as a web developer for small firms and entrepreneurs is a great side income idea.  

Common tech stacks used by web developers to build websites include HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP. They use content management systems (CMS) like WordPress and Shopify to build websites effectively. Create websites for friends, relatives, or nearby businesses as side gigs to expand your portfolio as a web developer.

2. Mobile App Development

The average rate on Upwork: $18 - $39/hr
Job type: Similar to web development, app development can also be either freelancing or full-time.

App development involves designing, building, and testing applications for iOS, Android, and web platforms. If you are experienced in developing apps, a great online side hustle idea would be to offer your skills to small businesses and startups that want to build apps for their companies. Similar to web development, app development can also be either freelancing or full-time.

Having prior experience building applications using Java, Kotlin, Swift, and HTML5 is required to begin your career as an app developer. You must be familiar with tools like Xcode, Android Studio, and Visual Studio. Build and deploy different kinds of apps to expand your portfolio as an app developer and secure well-paying tech side hustle jobs!

3. Graphic Design

The average rate on Upwork: $15 - $35/hr
Job type: Graphic design can be both freelancing and full-time

The process of creating visual content to deliver a message or a concept is known as graphic design. Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign are common tools used by graphic designers. You can provide services like creating logos, infographics, social media graphics, and marketing collateral like brochures and flyers. 

To assist firms in developing a consistent brand identity, you can also provide branding services. This is a great IT side hustle. You can implement this great side income idea by designing for friends and family, nearby businesses, or participating in design competitions. This will help you create a solid portfolio and draw in more clients. 

4. Social Media Management

The average rate on Upwork: $14 - $35/hr
Job type: Social media management can be both freelancing and full-time

Social media management involves managing and optimising the online presence of people and small businesses. The need for social media managers is ever-increasing due to integrating social media habits into many businesses' marketing strategies. You can provide various services as a social media manager, including content creation and curation, posting scheduling, account management, engagement and analytics tracking, and social media advertising. 

You can provide consultancy services to enhance small businesses' social media presence and reach. Setting up social media accounts for yourself or your clients is an excellent way to develop your portfolio as a social media manager and secure online side hustle jobs.

5. SEO Consulting

The average rate on Upwork: $15 - $35/hr
Job type:  SEO consulting is commonly done as freelancing work

SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) consultation is a great tech side hustle idea involving optimising websites for search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. SEO specialists are in demand as more companies try to establish an online presence. One must know about SEO and how to optimise websites to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). Get familiar with SEO tools like Google Search Console and Google Analytics. 

Why is this a great IT side hustle? You can provide local SEO, link building, technical SEO, on-page optimisation, and keyword research. You can also provide SEO consultancy services to startups to assist them in raising their search engine ranks and increasing the volume of natural website visitors. You can exhibit your abilities by optimising your website to create a strong portfolio and secure side gigs. SEO consulting is commonly done asfreelancing work, with SEO professionals offering their services to multiple clients.

6. Blogging and Content Creation

The average rate on Upwork: $15 - $40/hr
Job type: Blogging and content creation can be both freelancing and full-time.

One of the best tech side hustles to make money, blogging and content production involve producing written or graphic content for blogs, websites, or social media platforms. People passionate about writing, photography, or videography should try this online side hustle idea. Services provided may include writing blog posts, articles, social media posts and shooting videos. 

Fine-tune your skills in content creation tools like WordPress, Canva, or Adobe Creative Suite to land side gigs fast. Knowing how to write captivating and relevant content that connects with the target audience is also important. Publish your blog or write one for others to enhance your portfolio. 

7. Online Tutoring and Coaching

The average rate on Upwork: $16 - $30/hr
Job type: Online tutoring and coaching can be both freelancing and full-time. 

Online coaching and tutoring involve guiding students or professionals in various subjects or skills using online platforms. Online coaches and tutors are in greater demand due to the advent of online learning. You can provide various services as an online tutor or coach, such as teaching academic courses, coaching professionals in skills like writing, public speaking, or programming, and offering online test preparation services. 

You can also provide consultancy services to assist students or professionals in their career paths. To conduct online sessions, it helps to use tools like Marlee, a performance and collaboration AI that offers specialized AI-powered coaching, alongside other platforms like Zoom, Skype, or Google Meet. You can develop online courses, blogs, or videos on your line of work to expand your portfolio as an online coach or teacher. So why not use this IT side hustle and earn some extra cash?

8. Quality Assurance Testing

The average rate on Upwork: $12 - $20/hr
Job type: Quality assurance testing can be both freelancing and full-time.

Quality Assurance (QA) Testing involves testing software to ensure they meet certain quality standards and perform as expected. QA testing aims to fix bugs and ensure that the software is user-friendly and error-free. 

A QA tester's daily work includes designing and carrying out test plans, reporting bugs, and collaborating with developers to resolve issues and find solutions. Having adequate knowledge about testing methodology, tools, and software development life cycles is important. Being meticulous and possessing critical thinking skills is crucial for this role. This makes Quality Assurance Testing a great side job for IT professionals.

9. Digital Marketing and Advertising

The average rate on Upwork: $15 - $45/hr
Job type: Digital marketing and advertising can be both freelancing and full-time. 

Digital marketing and advertising involve promoting companies and their services via social media, email, and display advertising. Suppose you have prior experience in digital marketing. In that case, you can start a tech side hustle by providing your services to small businesses and startups who wish to advertise their firms online. Common services a digital marketer provides include pay-per-click marketing, search engine optimisation, email marketing, content marketing and social media marketing. 

You must know data analysis, campaign optimisation, and interesting content creation. Get familiar with using platforms like Google Ads, Facebook Ads, LinkedIn Ads and Twitter Ads to land an online side hustle job. You can design online campaigns to display your abilities and build your digital marketer portfolio to land high-paying side gigs! 

10. Tech Support

Average rate on Upwork: $10 - $19/hr
Job type: Tech support roles can be both freelancing and full-time.

A tech support job requires technical support for people facing problems with their computers, software, or other digital devices. It is a great computer side hustle. Tech support jobs can be remote or in-person. You can provide various services like resolving and configuring hardware or software, carrying out routine maintenance and upgrades, and assisting companies in streamlining their digital infrastructure and decreasing downtime. 

You must be well-informed about operating systems, software applications, and hardware troubleshooting and repair. A great online side hustle idea would be to provide services to small businesses, startups, or people who require assistance with their digital gadgets. You will eventually expand your portfolio as a tech support specialist and land high-paying side gigs in the future!

Starting a tech side hustle can be an excellent way to increase your earnings and gain useful skills. There are numerous side hustle ideas that you can explore to earn extra money, regardless of your level of experience. Focus on your talents, develop your portfolio and market your services effectively to achieve success in your career. You may make your tech side hustle a successful and rewarding profession with commitment and effort. Therefore, don't hesitate to explore the tech side hustle world!