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10 Best Tech Side Hustles

Do you like all things technology?

Are you seeking ideas for IT side jobs?

Are you looking for a tech side hustle to make some extra cash?

Whether you have a full time tech job or not, you can monetize your skills with a side hustle or part time gig. From coding side hustles to web development or computer support, there is a tech side hustle for you.

This article looks at the top side hustles that appeal to your nerdy side and help you earn more money.

This article may contain affiliate links which means that – at zero cost to you – I might earn a commission if you sign up or buy through the affiliate link.

1. Freelance designing

Small businesses, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit organizations are always looking for excellent designers—but often lack the funds to hire an agency. 

This is where freelance designers with no overhead expenses (like you) can be useful.

Having a strong portfolio to showcase your design skills can make you a top contender for most jobs. 

Remember that formal certifications are rarely important in this situation—so if you’re a passionate designer without fancy degrees, this freelance job is a great fit for you.  

The average hourly pay for this role is $30 per hour.

Things to keep in mind: 

  • Your clients can have irrational design expectations, which could affect your quality and deadlines.
  • This is a freelance gig—so most of your work opportunities will depend on your ability to build a sustainable professional network. 

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2. Testing apps and websites

Testing apps, websites, and games is a great side job for tech geeks with no programming experience or other educational qualifications. 

As an app and website tester, you’ll be paid for giving honest opinions on the layout, design, and overall user experience so the business can improve its site. This is also a great way to develop quality analysis skills. 

You can start off with websites like User Testing, UTest, and Enroll. (You’ll need to take a few practice tests before you get hired.)

Expect to earn between $11 and $30 per hour for this job role.

Things to keep in mind:

  • Your job can be monotonous.
  • Work opportunities are inconsistent.

3. Video Editing

Are you someone who can sit at a video for hours and make it great? Then try a video editing side job! 

This is a high-paying side gig, with the hourly pay ranging from $27 to $60. 

Remember that most video editing gigs require you to have proficiency with software such as Adobe Premiere or Final Cut Pro

It’s also helpful to familiarize yourself with various video editing techniques—such as color correction, audio mixing, and compositing.

Things to keep in mind:

  • There’s limited scope for creativity as you have to cater to client needs.
  • This can be a stressful job that requires you to spend a lot of time looking at a computer screen.

4. Web Development or Coding Side Hustle

A web developer is a great side hustle for an IT professional. Web developers ensure that a website is running properly and without issues. 

You’ll need some technical skills to dabble with this side gig—this includes extensive knowledge of coding in languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Python. (Some projects may also require you to work with PHP and Ruby languages.)

On the bright side, web development pays an average of $82,559 a year—and you can work both part-time and full-time.

Things to keep in mind:

  • Most jobs have strict education requirements—you’ll need some certifications to establish credibility. If traditional education is not up to your financial standards enlisting yourself in a coding bootcamp could be the most beneficial way to go.
  • Having a strong work portfolio is the name of the game in this field.

5. Data analysis

With data analysis and visualization job roles, you’ll need to collect, clean, and analyze data.

You’ll then need to present these results in a clear and meaningful way using visualizations such as charts, graphs, and maps. 

Go for this tech side hustle if you’re a tech geek with strong analytical and technical skills. This is because you’ll mostly be working with various data sources—such as large datasets, social media data, or web analytics data.

You can expect an average hourly pay of $46 for this gig.

Things to keep in mind:

  • You may need to use specialized data visualization software like Tableau or a programming language like Java for this job. The data visualization software industry is booming; thus, identifying which of this software you can learn and master is crucial.
  • Marketing your services on online platforms like LinkedIn is critical to bagging good work opportunities.

6. Technical writing

If you’re a tech enthusiast with strong writing skills and a deep understanding of technical concepts, this may be just the side gig for you!

You’ll use your tech knowledge to create clear, concise, and accurate documentation of technical information or systems. 

Technical writing includes writing user manuals, white papers, technical reports, or online help documentation. Something to keep in mind is that you can find technical writing gigs in almost any technology related field. So this is great, regardless of your background.

Technical writers can earn anywhere from $26 to $32 per hour.

Things to keep in mind:

  • This gig is very detail-oriented and requires a lot of focus and concentration.
  • There’s very little scope for creativity when compared to other writing roles.

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7. Computer support

A Zety study shows that the IT side job is among the most popular in the gig economy with a whopping 37% admitting as such. is IT and software. The U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics says there are about 75,000 openings for computer support specialists each year—with a background in computers and the right skills, you can provide in-person or remote support to different clients.  

It’s easier to market your services once you’ve picked your niche in this field. Most computer support specialists choose to specialize in certain areas—including troubleshooting hardware issues, optimizing system performance, or helping users learn new software. This could also be a good side hustle for programmers.

Expect to earn between $14 and $30 per hour for this role.

Things to keep in mind:

  • You’ll need to stay on top of new technologies, software, and system updates.
  • The actual work can be somewhat repetitive.

8. Web Designing

With web designing, you’ll ensure that a website is aesthetically pleasing to look at, while also having a sensible and user-friendly layout. 

You’ll be using software like Photoshop to create mockups of how your actual website will look like.

Depending on your knowledge and existing skills, you can choose to enroll in a web designing course to get started. 

Freelance web designing gigs pay anywhere between $30 and $80 per hour. 

Things to keep in mind:

  • You’ll deal with inconsistent work opportunities—periods of high demand can be followed by a lull.
  • This is a highly competitive field.

9. Tech Blog

Combine your tech knowledge with your writing abilities to create a tech blog. 

This usually isn’t a well-paying side gig from the get-go, and wrongfully has gotten some bad rep in the last years, but it can eventually become lucrative—Glassdoor says a blogger can earn anywhere between $29,000 and $83,000 a year. 

Get started by identifying a niche or focus area for your blog—this could be a particular technology, a programming language, and so on. You’ll also need a blogging platform like WordPress or Blogger to get going. 

Things to keep in mind:

  • Building a successful blog takes time, constant effort, and consistency. 
  • In addition to writing and promoting your blog, you’ll also need to manage the technical aspects—such as hosting and security. 

10. Tech Reviews on YouTube

Creating tech reviews on YouTube can be fun, rewarding, and lucrative. 

Unbox therapy—a top tech review channel on YouTube—garners over 500,000 views every day, making approximately $1.4 million a year.  Of course, revenue can vary and larger channels make more than new YouTube channels, with fewer viewers.

With this gig, you can try new tech products and share your knowledge and opinion with a wider audience. Once you have a sizable subscriber base, you can monetize your channel.

Things to keep in mind:

  • You may have to make a significant initial investments to get your YouTube channel going—this includes buying filming equipment, the products you’re going to review, and the like.
  • This is a competitive space—not every YouTube channel is successful. 

Key Takeaways

The right tech side gig can give you a unique opportunity to learn new skills, build a portfolio, and gain more experience in the tech industry—and, of course, there are many financial benefits as well. 

Go through our list of the top tech side hustles—and pick the one that aligns with your interests, strengths, and resources.

By, Lizi Gigauri of LifeandMyFinances.com

Sources

  • https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Part-Time-Product-Tester-Salary-per-Hour
  • https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Freelance_Graphic_Designer/Hourly_Rate
  • https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/web-developer-salary-SRCH_KO0,13.htm
  • https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/blogger-salary-SRCH_KO0,7.htm
  • https://www.waveapps.com/freelancing/web-designer-salary
  • https://www.salary.com/research/salary/benchmark/technical-writer-i-hourly-wages
  • https://www.salary.com/research/salary/posting/freelance-video-editor-hourly-wages
  • https://www.talent.com/salary?job=data+visualization+analyst
  • https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Computer_Support_Specialist/Hourly_Rate

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