11 Side Hustle Ideas to Make $80,000+ in 2024

In 2023, the number of independent content creators in the United States was 8.1 million. Today, that number has risen sharply after a plateau in growth, up to almost nine million in 2024—nearly 10% increase from last year, according to MBO Partners’ latest report, “The State of Independence 2024,” which analyzed freelance worker trends across the United States.

A combined 79% of independent content creators are Gen Z and Millennials, which is hardly surprising, given the continued rise of young TikTok and other social media influencers.

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Notably, when looking at the percentage of full-time versus part-time content creators, the number of those creating online content alongside their full-time job was 65%. In comparison, full-time creators comprised only 35% of the content creation industry. This is attributed to the fact that content creation remains an extremely popular choice for a side hustle for those seeking to boost their salary.

Additionally, content creators are said to make $81,049 on average, according to Salary.com, while those at the upper end of the pay scale can expect to make as much as $90,000 in 2024.

Here are a few reasons why content creation is a smart choice for a side hustle:

• It’s an excellent springboard for full-time entrepreneurial ventures.
• Once you gain sufficient traction, you can easily build a list of potential clients and garner interest in any of your other side hustles.
• You can be a content creator with minimal investment to begin with—just using your phone and laptop.
• Content creation spans several industries and niches, so you’ll be sure to find something catchy that you already take an interest in; in fact, you can start creating content about your hobbies and make money from that.
• When you launch a side hustle as a content creator, you have multiple options for making money, such as affiliate marketing, brand partnerships and ambassadorships, and social media revenue programs such as TikTok, YouTube, and X’s (formerly Twitter) influencer programs. These can all compound into seriously supplementing your income from your day job.

11 Side Hustle Ideas To Make $80,000+ In 2024

However, being a content creator is not all about being a social media influencer (although that helps). If you don’t feel that becoming an influencer is right for you, there are many other ways to make money through creating digital content as a side hustle, such as:

1. Launching a podcast and partnering with brands who pay you for sponsored ads and features.
2. Creating and selling digital products such as templates, art, and other printables on Etsy
3. Offering exclusive content to paying subscribers on platforms such as Patreon, Instagram, and YouTube
4. YouTube ad revenue from ads displayed on your YouTube videos
5. Blogging
6. Providing freelance writing as a service for businesses and popular websites
7. Video editing services
8. Graphic design (this can be offered on Fiverr or Upwork)
9. Online course creation
10. Subscription or membership-based online business
11. SEO writing services

You can even decide to combine several of these options to diversify your income streams and make more money. Your career potential as a content creator, whether full-time or as a side hustle, is truly unlimited.