Programmers have a lot of skills that can be monetized outside of their day job.
I actually think many of the best side hustles for programmers are the ones that leverage the knowledge they already have.
From consulting to teaching, and even developing their own products, there are many opportunities for programmers to make extra money.
In today’s post, I want to share some of the best side hustles for programmers that I’ve come across that can actually make a difference in your life.
Furthermore, I’ll also be sharing some tips on how you can get started with each of these side hustles individually.
Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
- 1. Start a blog about your programming journey
- 2. Create a YouTube channel to teach people how to code
- 3. Sell WordPress/Shopify themes or plugins
- 4. Start a meetup for local programmers
- 5. Freelance as a web developer
- 6. Sell e-books or online courses teaching people how to code
- 7. Provide consulting services to businesses
- 8. Start a podcast about the programming industry
- 9. Write articles for popular programming magazines or websites
- 10. Edit code for open-source projects
- 11. Invest in cryptocurrency or the stock market
- 12. Build and monetize SaaS applications
- 13. Drive for ridesharing apps
- 14. Partner with a local business to provide IT support
- 15. Enter competitive programming contests or win prizes in hackathons
- 16. Participate in bug bounty programs
- 17. Start a business buying and selling domain names
1. Start a blog about your programming journey
- Earning Potential: $100 – $10,000+ per month
- Difficulty: 5/10
If you’re a programmer, why not start a blog documenting your journey?
Share your experiences, lessons learned, and advice for other programmers who are just starting.
Not only will you help others, but you’ll also create a valuable resource for yourself – one that you can refer back to when you need a little motivation or inspiration.
It’s also a great way to build your portfolio and showcase your skills.
Starting a blog is one of the most popular ways to make money online and is a great way to share your thoughts, ideas, and experiences with the world.
And it’s not surprising why – it’s also a great way to earn passive income, and you can do it from anywhere in the world.
All you need is a computer and a good internet connection.
It’s also a great way to make a lot of money!
The most common ways of making money from a blog include:
- Affiliate marketing (where you recommend a product or service and receive a commission).
- Sponsored posts (where a company will pay you to talk about them).
- Products or services, e.g., budget binder, coaching.
- Advertising
If you’ve ever been drawn to writing, telling stories, or helping other people answer their questions or fix their problems, then blogging is definitely for you.
Also, it does not require previous experience so you can learn as you go.
You must remember that you have the blog to generate money, so you should focus on selecting what will be the topic you want to talk about and develop a plan for it.
- Earning Potential:
A lot of people are making over $10,000 per month from their blogs!
Of course, it takes time and hard work to get to that level.
But it is definitely possible, and there are many bloggers out there who are proof of that.
Now, not every blog is going to make that much money, though, some others aren’t making even a dollar from their blogs.
But if you’re dedicated and willing to put in the work, you can make a full-time income from blogging.
It really depends on your niche, how well you market your blog, and what type of content you produce.
There are endless possibilities when it comes to blogging, so choose a niche that you’re passionate about and start sharing your thoughts, ideas, and experiences with the world!
Note that the old days of having a blog that’s about your daily life are gone.
You need to have a focus and share content that is helpful, interesting, or entertaining to your target audience.
- How to get started?
The first thing to do is come up with a plan for your blog.
Then, you need to set up your blog by purchasing a domain name and hosting and installing WordPress.
We recommend Bluehost for this matter:
Once your blog is all set up, you need to do keyword research and start creating high-quality content that will help you rank in the search engines and attract readers.
And finally, you need to promote your blog and build an audience.
This can be done by guest posting on other blogs, and social media, and using SEO techniques.
Once you have a decent amount of traffic coming to your blog, you can start making money with affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, products, or services.
We’re definitely leaving a lot of details out because of the scope of this post, but those are the basics of starting.
- Pros:
- Getting started is relatively easy.
- You create a community around the content you publish.
- You manage your time and workspace according to your needs.
- Cons:
- To be a good blog requires periodic publications.
- Internal errors can occur within the code and you need time to fix it.
- It takes time to generate significant income.
2. Create a YouTube channel to teach people how to code
- Earning Potential: $0 – $$$
- Difficulty: 3/10
- Earning Potential:
The most successful YouTubers, like PewDiePie or MrBeast, can make upwards of $5-40 million a year.
- How to get started?
- Pros:
- Can be done from home.
- No need for special qualifications.
- Very profitable if done correctly.
- Cons:
- Can be time-consuming.
- Requires consistency and dedication.
- Needs to be interesting and valuable to the viewer.
3. Sell WordPress/Shopify themes or plugins
- Earning Potential: $100 – $10,000 per month
- Difficulty: 3/10
This side hustle is for programmers who want to make extra money by selling WordPress or Shopify themes or plugins.
Themes and plugins are pieces of code that can be used to change the look and feel of a WordPress or Shopify site or add new features to it.
By selling these themes and plugins, programmers can earn a commission on each sale.
Plus, selling themes and plugins can be a great way to build up a portfolio of work and showcase one’s programming skills.
- Earning Potential:
Money could be made from this side hustle through affiliate marketing, programming, and selling services.
The earning potential for this side hustle is I would say anything from $100 – $10,000 per month if you’re very successful with it.
Programmers can charge anywhere from $5 to $100 for a single theme or plugin.
And, if they can sell a few hundred themes or plugins per month, then they can easily make a few thousand dollars per month.
To increase earnings, you could create different versions of the same theme, or completely new products.
On top of that, providing services to help others install or customize their themes and plugins is also among the best ways to monetize this side hustle.
- How to get started?
To make a theme or plugin for WordPress, you need to have a basic understanding of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP.
Once you have that, you can start creating your themes and plugins or modifying existing ones.
If you want to make money from selling your themes and plugins, you should check out marketplaces like ThemeForest or CodeCanyon:
From there, you can upload your themes and plugins and start earning commissions on each sale.
To provide services to help others customize and install WordPress themes and plugins, you can even sign up for a freelancer marketplace, which we’ll talk about more below.
Even then, most of these marketplace we listed above have a way to add this option very easily.
If you’re new to this, you may want to start by offering your services at a discounted rate to build up a portfolio of work.
Once you have some satisfied clients, and a few good reviews, you can start charging your full rate.
- Pros:
- Can work from anywhere.
- Flexible hours after you get started.
- Can be a great portfolio builder.
- Cons:
- Can be difficult to stand out from the competition.
- Requires some programming knowledge.
- Can be time-consuming.
4. Start a meetup for local programmers
- Earning Potential: $100 – $500 per event
- Difficulty: 3/10
Are you a programmer looking to connect with other like-minded individuals in your area?
If so, starting a meetup for local programmers could be the perfect side hustle for you!
This way, you can share your knowledge and expertise with others while also networking and meeting potential new clients or collaborators.
Besides, it’s a great way to stay up-to-date on the latest industry trends that are currently happening around the world.
A meetup is essentially a gathering of people who share a common interest.
As the organizer, you’ll be responsible for finding a venue, promoting the event, and ensuring that everything runs smoothly on the day of.
- Earning Potential:
The earning potential for starting a meetup for local programmers is $100 – $5000 per event.
This is because you will likely need to spend some money on promoting the event and securing a venue, and you may also offer refreshments or other perks to attendees.
However, if your meetup is successful, you could potentially make more money through sponsorships or charging more for tickets.
- How to get started?
To do a successful meetup, you’ll need to put some effort into finding the right venue and promoting your event.
You can start by searching online for meetup groups in your area, or look for programming-related events that might be a good fit.
Once you’ve found a few potential venues, reach out to them and see if they’re interested in hosting your meetup.
Finally, start promoting your event online and through word-of-mouth to get people to attend.
The venue you choose can make or break your event, so it’s important to take the time to find a place that’s comfortable and has enough space to accommodate your expected attendance.
After that, promote, promote, promote!
Be sure to promote your event through social media, online forums, and word-of-mouth to get as many people as possible interested in attending.
You should ideally have some audience built already before you try doing this, but even then, nothing is impossible.
On the other hand, make your meetup stand out from the rest by offering something unique, such as refreshments, door prizes, or guest speakers.
Plan everything so that you’re not scrambling at the last minute, including creating a schedule of events, preparing materials, and having a backup plan in case something goes wrong.
After the event, take the time to follow up with attendees and get their feedback.
This will help you improve your meetup for next time.
- Pros:
- IMake a lot of money through sponsorships.
- Can help you stay up-to-date on the latest industry trends.
- Great networking opportunity.
- Cons:
- Requires some effort to find the right venue and promote the event.
- May require some upfront costs.
- Can be time-consuming to plan and organize.
5. Freelance as a web developer
- Earning Potential: $3,000 per month
- Difficulty: 5/10
Developing a website is the process of creating and maintaining a website.
This can be done by writing code, using a web editor, or managing a website with a content management system.
A web developer is a programmer who specializes in the development of web applications.
Working freelance as a web developer could involve creating a website for a small business, or designing and building a custom web application for a client.
It could also involve working on an existing website to make changes or add new features.
As a freelance web developer, you would be responsible for all aspects of the development process, from researching and planning to coding and testing.
- Earning Potential:
In general, the hourly rate for web developers ranges from $25 to $100 per hour.
However, several factors can affect this rate, such as the complexity of the project and of course your experience in the industry.
It is also worth noting that some web developers may charge a flat fee for their services, regardless of the number of hours required to complete the project.
If you can find a steady stream of clients who are willing to pay for your services, then it is possible to earn a very good income from this.
You could also offer additional services such as search engine optimization (SEO) or social media marketing as add-ons.
Nevertheless, it is important to keep in mind that this is not a get-rich-quick scheme and it will take time and effort to build up a client base.
- How to get started?
If you’re interested in getting started in this side hustle, the first step is to brush up on your web development skills and create a portfolio of your work.
Once you have a strong foundation, you can start offering your services to small businesses in your area.
At first, I’d recommend you stick to one or two clients so that you can give them your full attention and deliver high-quality work.
On the other hand, make sure to find your niche so that you can attract the right clients.
For example, if you’re especially good at designing e-commerce websites, then you should focus on targeting businesses in that industry.
Some other examples can be dentists, real estate agents, restaurants, and so on.
I would also sign up for websites such as Upwork or Fiverr so that you can get started building your client base:
The key is to identify a need in any market and fill it with your service.
If you do a great job for your clients, then they will be more likely to leave positive reviews which will attract even more clients in the future.
- Pros:
- Potential to make a lot of money.
- Possibilities of work in a variety of industries.
- You can learn new skills quickly.
- Cons:
- The job market is very competitive.
- The work can be very stressful.
- You may have to work long hours.
6. Sell e-books or online courses teaching people how to code
- Earning Potential: $500 – $2,000 per month
- Difficulty: 4/10
It’s always great to be able to help others fulfill their dream, but it’s even cooler when you do it and also make money from it.
As a programmer, you can sell e-books or online courses about this fascinating computer world.
In these materials you can include introductory, intermediate, or complex content on coding, learning new languages, or tips and tricks.
You can also make videos to accompany your e-books or courses, which will help people visualize the concepts you’re teaching.
This is a great way to earn some extra income, and it’s also a fantastic way to give back to the programming community.
One of the only downsides is that technology is moving fast nowadays, so what works now, might be outdated in 1-2 years.
So, my advice is to go for a topic that’s mostly evergreen and that won’t require rewriting the entire project from scratch.
- Earning Potential:
The earning potential for this side hustle is $500 – $2,000 per month.
There is a large demand for people wanting to learn how to code, and as a programmer, you are in a great position to sell e-books or online courses teaching them this skill.
You can create additional content such as videos or blog posts, and promote your courses through social media or online ads if you want to make more money from it.
On top of that, you could also increase your prices if you feel that your content is valuable and in high demand.
- How to get started?
To get started with this side hustle, you will need a computer and an internet connection.
You will also need some coding knowledge to create the content for your courses and at least be somewhat comfortable talking to an audience.
Once you have created your course material, you can start selling it online through platforms such as Teachable, Udemy, or your website.
Teachable is very nice because it gives you a lot of freedom to structure your content how you want, and you can host it on a custom domain and create some brand awareness that way.
Udemy on the other hand is very useful because the platform already has millions of users, so you can definitely benefit from it in that sense.
Now, the second thing you can do is sell an e-book, and this can be done by yourself, or you could hire a ghostwriter.
One perfect example of a book that’s doing pretty good nowadays is Peter Levels‘ MAKE:
But do you want to know what’s even better? He’s openly sharing the stats for it,
As you can see, Peter has made about $344,489 since he first published, and today alone he’s made about $150 at around 2:00 PM.
- Pros:
- Can make a lot of money.
- Can work from home.
- Cons:
- Requires some initial investment (computer, internet connection, course material).
- Competition is stiff in this field.
7. Provide consulting services to businesses
- Earning Potential: $60,000 per year
- Difficulty: 6/10
If you consider yourself an expert in some area of knowledge and practice, then you will love this side hustle.
As a programmer, you could help businesses with their programming needs, such as creating websites or developing software.
This is a great way for programmers to make extra money and use their skills to help businesses succeed.
It’s very important that you identify a problem that people have and then offer your services as the solution.
- Earning Potential:
The amount of money that an online consultant can earn depends on a variety of factors.
Among many others, some include your experience, the services you offer, and the number of clients you have.
With that being said, an online consultant can earn a substantial income.
The average income for a consultant in the United States is $60,000 per year.
However, those with more experience or who offer additional services can easily earn double or triple that amount.
In fact, some consultants make over $1 million per year!
- How to get started?
To start providing your services as a consultant, you’ll first need to identify your area of expertise.
Once you have a strong understanding of your particular skill set, you can begin marketing your services to potential clients.
To attract the attention of potential customers, you’ll need to create a strong online presence.
This can be accomplished by creating a website and/or blog that showcases your skills as a consultant.
You should also consider creating social media accounts on popular platforms such as Twitter and LinkedIn.
By establishing yourself as an expert in your field, you’ll be more likely to attract the attention of potential clients.
Once you’ve established an online presence, you can start reaching out to potential clients.
A great way to find potential customers is to search for job postings that relate to your area of expertise.
You can also network with other professionals in your field to find potential customers.
- Pros:
- You gain even more experience in your area of expertise.
- Schedule flexibility.
- Cons:
- The stress of managing it can be constant.
- It involves hours of contact and discussion with clients.
8. Start a podcast about the programming industry
- Earning Potential: $0 – $$$
- Difficulty: 7/10
Podcasting is a great way to connect with people who share your interests, and it can be a great source of supplemental income.
A podcast is simply an episodic series of digital audio files a user can download to listen to.
By starting a podcast, you can become an authority in the programming industry, and help others to learn more about this ever-changing field.
You can discuss topics like the latest programming languages, tools, and techniques, and share your insights and experiences with other programmers.
By providing listeners with informative and engaging content, this podcast could become a valuable resource for those seeking to learn more about the legal system.
The advantage of podcasts over other forms of content is that they can be consumed while commuting, working out, or doing any other activity.
What that means is that you have a captive audience, and if your podcast is interesting enough, people will subscribe to it and listen to every episode.
The key to making money with a podcast is to find sponsorships from companies that are willing to pay you to plug their products or services into your show.
You can also sell advertising directly to businesses, or accept donations from listeners.
If you build up a large enough following, you can even get paid to speak at events or sell merchandise connected to your show.
- Earning Potential:
This is a difficult question to answer because there are many variables involved.
Podcasters can make anywhere from a few dollars to thousands of dollars per episode, depending on their audience size, the content of their show, and other factors.
There are also several ways that podcasters can make money, such as through advertising, sponsorships, donations, and merchandise sales.
Some of the most popular and successful podcasts generate a significant amount of revenue through advertising.
In addition to advertising, as I mentioned earlier, many podcasts also rely on sponsorships to generate revenue.
Sponsorships are usually in the form of ads read by the host during the show, but can also take other forms such as product placements or branded content.
- How to get started?
There are many ways to start a podcast nowadays!
You can use a simple recorder and microphone, or you can use more sophisticated equipment.
On the other hand, you will also need to choose a topic for your podcast and decide on the format that you would like to have.
Once you have all of this figured out, you can start recording your episodes and sharing them with the world!
For that, you need a way to host your podcast, and for that we recommend Buzzsprout:
Buzzprout is a podcasting tool that lets you record, edit and publish your podcast episodes all in one place.
You can use it to easily add new episodes, show notes, and transcripts to your existing website or blog.
Plus, with its built-in player, you can listen to your episodes right from the app.
Also, if you want to publish your podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Pandora, Amazon Music, or any other podcasting platform,
Buzzprout can help you do that with just a few clicks so it’s very easy to get started.
In addition, make sure you have some artwork made for your show.
This will help people recognize your podcast and make it more likely that they will listen to it.
Finally, promote your podcast on social media and other platforms to get the word out there.
- Pros:
- Low initial investment.
- You can talk about a topic that you are passionate about.
- Unlike videos, podcasts completely grab the audience’s attention.
- Cons:
- Generating income can take time.
- It takes effort and patience to create a loyal audience.
9. Write articles for popular programming magazines or websites
- Earning Potential: $200-$300 per article
- Difficulty: 3/10
If you’re a programmer with a knack for writing, you can make some extra money on the side by writing articles for popular programming magazines or websites.
This is a great way to share your knowledge with other programmers and help them improve their skills, while also earning some extra cash.
Many different publications accept articles on programming topics, so you can choose to write about whatever interests you.
- Earning Potential:
This side hustle has the potential to earn you $200-$300 per article that you write.
Because popular programming magazines and websites are always looking for new, high-quality content to publish, and this niche is highly profitable, the pay is very high.
If you can consistently produce articles that meet their standards, you can expect to earn a good amount of money each month.
Usually, you can expect anything from $0.01 – $0.10+ per word that you write.
To earn a higher profit from this side hustle, try writing articles on popular topics or trends in the programming world.
This will make your articles more likely to be published, and you can command a higher price for them.
Additionally, you can choose longer topics to benefit from the article’s word count payment.
You can also try pitching article ideas to multiple publications at once to increase your chances of getting published.
- How to get started?
To write articles or blog posts for websites, it is not necessary to have a degree in journalism or anything like that.
The only thing you need is good grammar, and spelling and be capable of writing interesting pieces that capture the attention of the reader.
To start writing articles for popular programming magazines or websites, start by doing some research to find publications that accept submissions.
I would simply do a quick Google search for the term tech “write for us”:
Once you’ve found a few possibilities, familiarize yourself with their submission guidelines, apply if required, and start writing your article once you get accepted.
Be sure to edit and proofread your work before sending it off, as most publications will not accept articles that require significant editing.
There’s no need to quit your day job to start writing articles for magazines or websites – you can do this side hustle on your own time and at your own pace.
However, if you’re looking to make a significant income from writing, you’ll need to be prepared to dedicate a significant amount of time and effort to it.
- Pros:
- Have your own schedule.
- Writing can be done from home.
- High income potential.
- Cons:
- You may have to work odd hours.
- May not get consistent work.
- Not everyone is cut out for writing.
10. Edit code for open-source projects
- Earning Potential: $500 per month
- Difficulty: 3/10
This side hustle is perfect for programmers who want to give back to the open-source community.
By editing code for open-source projects, you can help improve existing software and make it more user-friendly.
Not only will you be giving back to the community, but you’ll also gain valuable experience that could lead to full-time work in the future.
Also, you can earn a few bucks by doing this side hustle as many open-source projects offer bounties for code contributions.
- Earning Potential:
The earning potential for this side hustle is $500 per month if you only dedicate minimal effort to it.
As mentioned before, many open-source projects offer bounties for code contributions, which can be a great way to earn some extra income.
Once you gain more experience with editing code or get more contributions committed to the code, you may be able to find full-time work in the future.
To make more money from this side hustle, you can look for higher-paying bounties or try to find full-time work as a code editor.
- How to get started?
If you want to get started with this side hustle, you can begin by searching for open-source projects that need help on sites like GitHub or SourceForge.
Once you find a project that interests you, check out their guidelines for code contributions, see if they offer any paid opportunities, and start making edits.
Someone took their time to create this amazing list of Paid Open Source Jobs, so make sure to check it out:
Remember to be patient and helpful when working on open-source projects, as you want to make a good impression and build a positive reputation.
To be successful in this side hustle, it is important to be familiar with various programming languages and be respectful to the community around the project
- Pros:
- Can be a great way to give back to the open-source community.
- Can lead to full-time work in the future.
- Many projects offer bounties for code contributions.
- Cons:
- May be difficult to get started if you are not already familiar with open source.
- Can be time-consuming.
- May require patience and perseverance.
11. Invest in cryptocurrency or the stock market
- Earning Potential: $0-$1,000 per month
- Difficulty: 4/10
Cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography for security.
Transactions are verified by network nodes through cryptography and recorded in a publicly distributed ledger called a blockchain.
Bitcoin, the first and most well-known cryptocurrency, was created in 2009.
Since then, over 4,000 other cryptocurrencies (such as Ethereum, Litecoin, and Ripple) have been created.
Cryptocurrencies are often traded on decentralized exchanges and can also be used to purchase goods and services.
You can invest in this type of money by buying cryptocurrency or investing in the stock market.
This can be a great way to make extra money, but it is important to do your research before investing any money.
Programmers are often involved in this side hustle because they understand how the system works and can create software to help manage investments.
- Earning Potential:
The earning potential for investing in cryptocurrency or the stock market can vary depending on the market and how you invest your money.
Realistically, you can make anywhere from $0 to $1,000 per month.
You can make more money by putting in more money, but it is important to do your research because you can lose it all just as easily.
Cryptocurrency is very volatile, so the prices can go up and down a lot.
The stock market is less volatile than cryptocurrency, but it still fluctuates quite a bit.
You can make money by investing in stocks that are expected to grow and by trading stocks either short-term or long-term.
As a rule of thumb, do your research and only invest in companies and projects that you seriously believe to have any good future ahead.
- How to get started?
Before you start investing in cryptocurrency or the stock market, again, it is important to do your research.
You should understand how the system works and what the risks are.
Once you have done your research, you can start investing small amounts of money.
You can also use a software program to help you manage your investments.
To begin you can sign up in apps like Robinhood or Coinbase to start buying and selling.
You can also look online for tutorials on how to trade stocks.
These can help you learn about different strategies and how to make money in the stock market.
It is also a good idea to talk to a financial advisor before investing any large amount of money.
They can help you understand the risks and choose the best investment strategy for you.
You can start investing in the stock market by opening an account with an online broker.
There are a number of different brokers out there, so it’s important to do your research and find one that is right for you.
For example, there is WeBull, Robinhood, eToro, and TD Ameritrade.
Each broker has different fees, commissions, and features, so be sure to compare them before making a decision.
Once you have opened an account, you can start buying and selling stocks.
It’s important to remember that the stock market can be volatile, so you should only invest money that you can afford to lose.
You can also start investing in the stock market by setting up a dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP).
With a DRIP, you will automatically reinvest your dividends into more shares of the stock.
This is a great way to compound your earnings and grow your portfolio over time without having to do much work and putting in more mon
- Pros:
- Can make a lot of money.
- Can be done passively.
- Cons:
- Risk of losing money.
- Can be volatile.
12. Build and monetize SaaS applications
- Earning Potential: $1,000 – $100,000 per month
- Difficulty: 7/10
This side hustle is for programmers who want to build and monetize a SaaS application.
“SaaS” means “Software as a Service”, which is software offered by the provider on the web or mobile and is usually subscription-based.
Most of these applications are also sometimes called “on-demand software” or “web-based software”.
Some examples of SaaS applications are:
- CRM software
- Accounting software
- HR software
- Project management software
- Marketing automation software
The goal is to create an application that provides value to users and generates revenue through monthly subscriptions or other means.
To be successful, it is important to focus on creating an application that solves a problem for users and is easy to use.
It is also important to have a solid marketing and sales strategy to ensure that people are aware of the application and are willing to pay for it.
This can be a great way to generate additional income, but it requires dedication and hard work to be successful.
- Earning Potential:
The earning potential for this side hustle depends on how successful the programmer is in building and monetizing the application.
If they can create an application that is valuable to users and generates revenue through monthly subscriptions or other means, they could earn anything from $1,000-$100,000+ per month.
Programmers can make more money from this side hustle by continuing to grow and market the application to generate more users and revenue.
The principal focus should be on delivering value to the users, if they are able to do that, the money will follow.
- How to get started?
Making a SaaS app requires some programming skills.
If you don’t have those skills, you’ll need to learn how to code or hire someone who can do it for you.
You’ll also need to come up with a great idea for an app that people will want to use and be willing to pay for.
Once you have an idea, you can start building the app and marketing it to potential users.
If you’re not sure where to start, there are plenty of resources online that can help you get started with coding and marketing your app.
There are also communities on Twitter that revolve around building a Saas product.
For example, Jon Yonfook is currently making close to $50,000 per month and is sharing his number publicly:
Now, there is no guarantee that your app it’s gonna be successful, so you need to be patient and keep working hard.
You also need to be prepared for the possibility that you may not make any money from your side hustle at all.
- Pros:
- Can make a lot of money.
- Passive income once you’ve reached some success.
- Cons:
- Requires dedication and hard work.
- No guarantee of success.
- Can be time consuming.
13. Drive for ridesharing apps
- Earning Potential: $37,402 per year.
- Difficulty: 3/10
There are numerous ways to generate income from your car, whether it’s making deliveries or providing transportation and taxi services.
Ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft are a great way to make some extra money.
You can set your own schedule and choose when and where you want to drive.
Plus, you get to meet new people, see new places, and can make money by referring new drivers to the ridesharing service.
- Earning Potential:
As a driver for ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft, your potential income is largely dependent on how many hours you are willing to work.
In general, the more hours you work, the more money you will make.
However, other factors can affect your earnings as well, such as the time of day or night that you work, the areas you work in, and whether or not you have a surge in fares.
Overall, drivers for ridesharing apps make around $15-$25 per hour.
However, some drivers make significantly more than this!
For example, drivers who are willing to work during peak hours (such as Friday and Saturday nights) or in high-demand areas (such as downtown and airports) can make much more than the average driver.
In addition, drivers who can capitalize on surge pricing (when fares are increased due to high demand) can also make a lot more money.
- How to get started?
If you want to start using a ridesharing app like Uber or Lyft to make money, you’ll need to sign up as a driver.
Then they’ll ask you to provide some basic information, such as your name, email address, and phone number.
Once you’ve signed up, applied, and got approved, you’ll be able to start using it to find passengers.
A usual way to find passengers is to wait in high-traffic areas, such as near a busy train station or airport.
How it works is that you’ll open up the app and wait for it to match you with a nearby passenger.
Once it does that, you’ll pick them up and drop them off at their destination.
Then, you’ll get paid through the app according to the fare and how much they tip you afterwards.
- Pros:
- Work as little or as much as you want.
- Meet new and interesting people from all over.
- Cons:
- Dealing with unruly or drunk passengers.
- Fewer fares during certain times or days.
14. Partner with a local business to provide IT support
- Earning Potential: $1000 – $2000 per month
- Difficulty: 3/10
If you see yourself as tech support, then you can make some extra cash by taking on a job in this field.
Many businesses and individuals need tech support but don’t have the time or resources to handle it themselves.
IT support can include anything from helping to set up computers and networks, to providing ongoing support and maintenance.
You can either work with one specific business or partner with multiple businesses to offer your services.
This is a great way to use your skills as a programmer to help out businesses in your community and can be a very rewarding experience.
Plus, it can be an excellent idea to earn some extra income on the side!
- Earning Potential:
The earning potential for tech support side hustles is quite good I would say.
You can make anywhere from $1000 to $2000 per month, depending on your skills and the demand for your services.
The downside is that it’s very hard to scale up your earnings from tech support side hustles.
There are only so many hours in the day, and you can only help so many people with their technical problems.
To make more money from tech support side hustles, you’ll need to either find more clients or charge more per hour.
You can find more clients by advertising your services online or offline, or by word of mouth.
To charge more per hour, you’ll need to build up a good reputation so that clients are willing to pay premium rates for your services.
- How to get started?
Programmers can start by approaching local businesses and offering their IT support services.
It is important to have a robust understanding of the needs of businesses to provide them with the best possible service.
Once you have established yourself with one or more businesses, you can begin to build up a clientele and earn a steady income from your side hustle.
Additionally, searching for online opportunities is a great way to supplement your work:
When you get a new client, be sure to deliver excellent service so that they will use your services again in the future and recommend you to others.
Be professional, and efficient, and always keep the customer’s best interests in mind, and you will be successful.
- Pros:
- You’re helping other people.
- Can earn a steady income.
- Cons:
- May require some investment of time and effort to get started.
- Requires excellent customer service skills.
15. Enter competitive programming contests or win prizes in hackathons
- Earning Potential: $500-$2000 per month
- Difficulty: 6/10
In competitive programming contests, contestants are given problems to solve that range in difficulty, and they must complete them using the programming language of their choice.
The goal is to finish as many problems as possible within the time limit and the contestant with the most completed problems wins the contest.
That’s an overall concept of what a competitive programming contest is.
As a programmer, you can take part in and earn some money from these competitions.
On the other hand, participating in hackathons is the complete opposite.
You’ll usually be given the freedom to work on whatever you want, and the goal is to create something that is innovative and useful.
There are often prizes for the best projects, so if you can come up with a great idea and execute it well, you could win some money from a hackathon.
Hackathons have a more social atmosphere than competitive programming contests, so they may be a better fit for you if you’re looking for networking and collaboration.
- Earning Potential:
The prize money of this type of competition can be high, so it is worth it for programmers who are good at competitive programming.
The pool prize depends on the size of the contest, but if you compete and do well in large contests, you can make up to $2000 per month.
You can make more money by winning multiple contests or by placing high on the leaderboard of a single contest.
Hackathons on the other hand also have good awards, but the prize money is not as high and most of the time you have to share it with your team.
If you’re looking to make more money from your side hustle, then participating in multiple hackathons or winning larger contests would be the way to go.
- How to get started?
There are different types of programming contests, but the most common one is probably the ICPC (International Collegiate Programming Contest).
In this type of contest, teams of 3 students from universities all over the world compete against each other.
The problems in these contests are usually very difficult, and it often takes months or even years of practice to be able to solve them.
However, the prize money for these contests can be very high, so it is worth it for programmers who are good at competitive programming.
If you want to compete in programming contests, there are many online resources that you can use to prepare.
Codeforces, for instance, is a website that offers programming challenges, and you can use it to practice for contests.
If you want to get started with hackathons, however, the most simple and easy way is to check for new and upcoming hackathons on Devpost.com:
There are also many books that you can read on both of these events, but once you feel like you are ready, you can start competing in small contests or hackathons to see how you do.
- Pros:
- Can improve your programming skills.
- Can make decent money on the side.
- Cons:
- Takes a lot of practice to be good enough to win.
- Not everyone is cut out for competitive programming.
16. Participate in bug bounty programs
- Earning Potential: $500 – $5,000 per month
- Difficulty: 3/10
A bug bounty program is a deal offered by many websites and software developers by which individuals can receive recognition and compensation for reporting bugs.
Especially those pertaining to exploits and vulnerabilities that could lead to serious damage to the company.
These programs allow the developers to discover and resolve bugs before they become a problem for users.
Bug bounty programs are offered by many companies to encourage programmers to find and report security vulnerabilities in their products.
These programs typically offer a good monetary reward for each successful submission, making it a great way to earn some extra cash while honing your skills.
- Earning Potential:
The earning potential for bug bounty programs varies widely, depending on the company and the severity of the security flaw found.
Rewards can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars per submission.
To maximize your earnings, it is important to research each program thoroughly and submit high-quality reports.
Additionally, many companies offer bonuses for reports that lead to successful patches or fixes.
- How to get started?
There are a few different ways to get started with bug bounty programs.
Many companies have programs that you can apply to, or you can sign up for an independent platform like Bugcrowd.
Once you have signed up for a program, the next step is to start researching potential security vulnerabilities.
A good place to start is by looking at the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) database.
When you have found a potential security flaw, the next step is to submit a report to the company or platform detailing the issue.
If your submission is accepted, you will typically be rewarded with a monetary prize.
Remember that you will need to have strong programming skills and a good understanding of security vulnerabilities.
It is also helpful to be familiar with the products or services offered by the company running the program.
- Pros:
- Can be done entirely online.
- Can make a decent amount of money.
- Cons:
- Requires strong programming skills.
- Need to be familiar with security vulnerabilities.
- Reports can sometimes be rejected.
17. Start a business buying and selling domain names
- Earning Potential: $1,000 per month
- Difficulty: 7/10
This side hustle is perfect for programmers who want to make some extra money on the side.
In short, you will be buying and selling domain names – which can be a very lucrative business if done correctly!
You will need to do your research to find popular domain names that are in demand, and then sell them for a profit.
This can be a great way to make some extra money, and it can even become a full-time business if you are successful.
- Earning Potential:
If you’re good at finding popular, but unused domain names, you can make a lot of money from buying and selling them.
You can easily earn $1,000 per month by flipping domain names.
To make more money, you’ll need to invest in advertising to get potential buyers to reach out to you.
You could even try to purchase a domain name that is about to expire and then offer it back to the original owner for more than what you paid for it.
It’s not too difficult to find good domain names, but it does take some time and effort.
Nowadays, though, with so many top-level and country-code top-level domains available, it’s become harder to make any money.
This is because if somebody wants “website.com” and that domain is taken, they could just go for “website.io”, “website.net”, “website.org”, and so on.
Still, if you do it correctly, could be a great side hustle, but just know that it won’t be as lucrative as it once was.
- How to get started?
To get started, you’ll need to set up a website where you can list your domain names for sale, or just buy the domains and redirect them to a sales landing page.
Then, start promoting your domain online through social media and other channels.
For example, Flippa.com gets millions of page views a month, so you can utilize that traffic to market your domains:
Remember to price your domain names competitively to attract buyers.
To find the best domain names to sell, you can use a tool like Google Keyword Planner to find popular keywords that people are searching for.
You can then use these keywords to find unused domain names that you can buy and sell.
As with any business, it takes time and effort to be successful, but if you’re patient and persistent, you can definitely make it work!
- Pros:
- Can make a lot of money if you find the right domain names.
- Not too difficult to get started.
- Cons:
- Takes time and effort to be successful.
- Need some money to invest in the domain.