34 Most Profitable Hobbies That Make Money in 2024
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From traveling to scrolling through social media, there are plenty of hobbies that make money.
Making money doing what you love is the dream most people have. What better way to achieve that than monetizing something you love?
Venturing into your interests and passions helps you keep focused and motivated even when things get hard.
Whether you want to secure your financial future or save for your dream vacation, this article shares practical ideas for making money from your passions.
Profitable Hobbies That Make Money
Making money doesn’t have to be frustrating. How about adding some fun to it by delving into your hobby?
There are hands-on hobbies like landscaping, baking, and caring for pets. You can venture into these options after 9-5 or on weekends.
On the other hand, consider options like reading, blogging, and social media if you want to make money online.
Let’s dive into the most profitable hobbies that make money:
1. Reading
Reading is one of the most fulfilling hobbies out there. I’ve always enjoyed reading timeless classics like the Harry Potter series.
If you enjoy reading, you can work with authors, bloggers, and students to proofread books, blog posts, magazine articles, and academic papers.
Becoming a proofreader is the perfect side hustle idea for bookworms. Plus, you can turn it into a full-time job with dedication and consistency.
Many people have done it, so there’s no reason you shouldn’t, too. Take, for instance, Caitlin Pyle, the founder of Proofread Anywhere. She made about $43,000 within her first year as a proofreader.
She offers affordable proofreading courses to help other people succeed in the industry. Check out their free workshop to determine if proofreading is right for you.
You can also read my guide on online proofreading jobs.
2. Crafting
If you enjoy making DIY crafts in your spare time, how about selling them for cash? You can never go wrong with this side hustle because there are many things you can make.
Some craft hobbies that make money include:
- Soap making
- Candles
- Handmade Jewelry
- Artwork
- Wood products
You can start by selling your handmade items to family and friends. From there, scale your business by selling your items on Etsy, Shopify, or Facebook Marketplace.
With a solid strategy, crafting can be lucrative. Research similar sellers to avoid underpricing or overpricing your items.
3. Writing
Have you ever read a story and wished you could rewrite it to give a better ending? Whichever genre you like, becoming an author is an excellent way to make money.
You can also monetize your writing skills by ghostwriting for novels and blogs. Freelance writing allows you to choose your working hours and set your rates.
Sign up on freelance platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and PeoplePerHour to find writing gigs that pay well.
4. Photography
Another hobby worth venturing into is photography. You can work on events like weddings, baby showers, themed photo shoots, and birthday parties or as a family photographer.
Making thousands of dollars per gig as a professional photographer is possible if you establish yourself well and land repeat clients.
Another way to monetize your love for photography is by selling stock photos on third-party sites like:
- Adobe Stock
- Getty Images
- Shutterstock
You can also leverage your photography skills to grow and monetize your Instagram accounts. Brands and companies are willing to pay top dollar for featured posts.
5. Landscaping
You can work as a landscaper if you enjoy caring for plants and maintaining lawns. Your primary roles as a landscaper would be:
- Maintaining hedges
- Mowing lawns
- Gardening
- Raking leaves
You might need a high school diploma to work on large-scale landscaping projects. However, if you’re well-versed in your local nature conditions, you can provide your services within your neighborhood.
According to Indeed, landscapers in the US make an average of $67,421 annually.
6. Social Media Influencer
Social media is among the highest-paying side hustle ideas due to the immense potential for monetization of content.
You can become a successful social media influencer if you choose a profitable niche and produce high-quality content that resonates with your target audience.
Start by signing up on YouTube, Instagram, X, or Snapchat to get started. From there, upload your content and start engaging with your audience.
Find ways to increase your fanbase. Brands will come streaming in for partnerships. You can also use social media to sell your products.
7. Baking
Like other hobbies, there are many ways to monetize your baking skills. Firstly, you can bake cakes and treats like cookies for birthday parties, weddings, and community events.
You can also offer baking classes within your neighborhood to make extra cash. The best part about this side hustle is you can price your baked goods as you wish.
Consider the cost of materials and the time it takes to bake the goods when setting prices.
8. Graphic Design
With the rise of technology, individuals and companies are hiring graphic designers to make posters, banners, and commercials that appeal to their target audiences and stand out from the competition.
If you know your way around design tools like Canva and Adobe Photoshop, this is your chance to make money from your passion.
Sign up for Upwork, Guru, or job boards like Indeed and ZipRecruiter to find graphic design gigs. ZipRecruiter says graphic designers in the US earn $27 an hour on average.
9. Playing Video Games
Are you an avid gamer wondering how to make money from playing games all day? If so, then we’re alike. I often find myself carried away when playing Call of Duty.
So, how can you show off your skills and earn money simultaneously? Livestreaming your games on Twitch or YouTube is an excellent starting point.
You can engage with other gamers through the platforms and share strategies and techniques for beating the levels.
Growing an audience is the challenging part. But once you do that, you can generate income through brand partnerships, affiliate marketing, and selling gaming merchandise.
If you already have a 9-5 and want to fill in the time, I recommend gaming apps that reward you for playing mobile or PC games.
Examples include:
10. Drawing
You can make money drawing anything from cartoons to family photos. One way is to make drawings of random things like plants, animals, and sceneries and sell them online.
People always look for unique hand-drawn pieces to decorate their homes and offices. Therefore, this venture is worth it if you’re skilled.
You can also offer drawing classes, online courses, or sell your skills on Fiverr to make extra cash from your hobby.
11. Caring for Pets
If you like spending time with furry friends, pet sitting is a lucrative venture. Rover is a great place to scout for pet-sitting gigs. You can earn an average of $34,000 annually as a petsitter on this site.
Another way to monetize your love for pets is starting a pet accessories shop. You can sell anything from leashes to pet beds and toys.
If you’re conversant with social media, creating content revolving around your pet and your life as a pet parent is a fantastic idea that’s likely to pay off.
And if you’re thinking of a business idea aligned with pets, a dog treat business might be a good option.
12. Music
If you know how to play a musical instrument like a guitar, violin, or piano, you can earn money from busking. Simply find a good spot on the street and start playing.
You can also get paid to convert songs into musical notes and vice versa on freelance sites like Fiverr.
Another way to make money through music is by reviewing songs on platforms like Music Gateway or curating playlists on Playlist Push.
Alternatively, you can compose and sell your songs on your website or host them on SoundCloud.
You can also get paid to listen to music.
13. Comedy
People make millions of dollars by creating funny videos and memes on social media. This is a fantastic side hustle idea if you have a good sense of humor.
Once you grow your fanbase, you can create sponsored content or print jokes on t-shirts and hoodies for sale.
Another way to make money is through stand-up comedy. Who knows, with talent and dedication, you might reach the heights of renowned legend Dave Chappelle!
14. Shopping
For me, shopping is as therapeutic as going for a spa day. There’s just something about it that makes all sad feelings go away.
If you enjoy shopping, you can work as a personal shopper or run errands for other people for money.
Your primary role as a personal shopper would be to choose the best items for your clients that align with their tastes and preferences.
Here are the best places to get paid to shop.
15. Calligraphy
You can use your calligraphy skills to start a printables business.
Think about creating designs for wedding invitations, birthday party banners, and quotes that people can purchase worldwide.
You can also design logos and calligraph flyers for businesses within your area. The pay here depends on your skills and dedication.
16. Traveling
Have you ever visited a breathtaking site like a mountain peak and wished everyone else saw and appreciated the beauty?
Creating travel vlogs or blogs is an excellent way to monetize your traveling hobby. Travel to places and discover hidden gems like restaurants and tourist sites people don’t know.
With the right strategies, you can work with brands and travel agencies to promote their products and services.
17. Blogging
Blogging is my personal favorite side hustle idea. There’s immense potential in this industry if you’re good at it.
The first step to starting a blog is choosing a profitable niche. Some common niches are:
- Food and nutrition
- Lifestyle
- Finance
- Health and fitness
Once you build your audience, you can make money through affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and merchandise sales.
You can host your WordPress blog on Hostinger, one of the best hosting services in the market, especially if you want your website to load faster.
18. Driving
Do you like being behind the wheel? If so, delivery apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats are an excellent way to make extra cash.
The income range is between $15 and $30 per trip, but with top-notch customer service, you can make more in tips.
After signing up and getting approved, park at the hotspots in your areas and wait for people to place orders.
19. Tutoring
If you’re proficient in a language or particular subject, you can offer online or in-person classes to make extra cash.
You could start teaching Math, English, or French to kids in your area in the evenings or weekends. You don’t need a degree for this, but having one is an advantage.
You can also find tutoring gigs on platforms like Chegg, TutorMe, and Udemy.
Tutoring is one of the best late-evening jobs.
20. Fashion
You can work as a fashion stylist full-time or part-time. Your duties as a fashion stylist would be:
- Picking outfits for clients
- Styling clients for events
- Coordinating photoshoots
- Organizing closets
You can also work remotely as a consultant in the fashion industry. Keeping up with trends is crucial in this venture.
According to Indeed, fashion stylists earn an average salary of 18.26 hourly. You can scout for gigs on Upwork, LinkedIn, or Indeed.
21. Car Detailing
Starting a car detailing business is excellent if you like working with cars. Your role would be deep-cleaning cars and restoring their appearance.
You can set up a physical location to cater to car owners within your neighborhood or provide mobile car detailing services.
This venture requires significant capital, but it’s worth trying if you have a large target audience.
22. Podcasting
Starting a podcast is fantastic if you like sharing your ideas with others. You can venture into niches like:
- Entrepreneurship
- True crime
- Technology
- Current affairs
- Personal development
You must invest in good-quality microphones and sound editing software to create high-quality content.
Take time to market your podcast and collaborate with well-established podcasters to grow your audience. After that, you can monetize your podcast through affiliate marketing and ads.
23. Interior Design
Not everyone is good at choosing the right color combinations or coordinating the curtains with the couch. This is why there’s a massive demand for interior designers.
If you have experience designing rooms and picking out decor, you can work as an interior designer to make extra cash.
An educational background is an added advantage, but it isn’t necessary. You may have a good taste without having studied the course.
If that’s the case, you still stand a chance in interior design. Simply create flyers and a portfolio to advertise your work within your neighborhood and online.
You can also find jobs on Indeed, LinkedIn, and ZipRecruiter. Expect between $12 and $31 per hour.
24. Party Planning
Do you have a knack for coordinating and planning events? If so, making money as a party planner is the perfect job for you.
First, choose a niche and create your portfolio. There are many niches to choose from, including:
- Weddings
- Social gatherings
- Corporate events
From there, use your portfolio to market your services. Start in your neighborhood, attend networking events, and find gigs on platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn.
According to Indeed, you’ll earn $14 to $38 an hour based on your experience and expertise. You can make more by providing excellent customer service.
25. DJing
If you spend most of your time listening to music or curating mixes and playlists, you might like working as a DJ in your spare time.
You can work at parties, concerts, social events, and radio stations. The best part is that working as a DJ requires no educational background. Having a good taste in music will suffice.
The average pay for DJs in the US is $41 hourly. However, you can make well over $200 per hour at corporate events if you’re outstanding.
26. Makeup Artist
You need a cosmetology license to work as a makeup artist in a salon. However, if you don’t have one, there are many ways to monetize your skills.
Freelancing is one way. Offer your skills at events within your neighborhood, like weddings, photoshoots, and birthday parties.
You can also create social media content showing people how to apply makeup and the best color combinations for different skin types and event themes.
Content creation is the most lucrative way to make money as a makeup artist if you have a loyal following.
Other ways to monetize your makeup skills are working as a consultant, selling beauty products, and working with brands to review beauty products.
27. Sewing
Hand-sewn clothes for people, dolls, and pets are usually in high demand. Such garments are tailor-made and specifically sewn to fit the client.
You can make money sewing products to sell on Etsy. You can also make printables for sowing patterns for different garments.
Another way to make money if you love sewing is by creating an ebook, online course, or a YouTube channel to guide beginners into the craft.
Selling sewn products locally is a great starting point. You can set up a tailoring store where people can bring their clothes for alterations. You can also work from home if setting up shop is too expensive.
28. Mystery Shopping
Mystery shopping is your gig if you like sharing opinions, testing new products, and traveling.
Companies and brands hire mystery shoppers to evaluate customer service and give product feedback.
Some companies may require you to report an issue and evaluate how their employees solve it.
You can find mystery shopping jobs on Indeed and LinkedIn. Expect between $7 and $55 hourly, depending on your expertise and experience.
29. Beekeeping
Honey has a variety of uses, both domestically and commercially, which is why beekeeping is a great side hustle idea.
Besides honey, you can generate income by selling bee products like pollen, propolis, royal jelly, and beeswax.
You can also make money from beekeeping by selling beekeeping equipment, offering pollination services, maintaining apiaries, and selling bees.
Your earnings depend on the number of hives and how much honey you harvest.
30. Painting Houses
Like interior design, painting is a nice way to make extra cash if you know how to blend different colors to give a home the desired look.
You can work during the evenings or the weekends, making this a perfect idea to stack with your regular job.
You can specialize in painting interiors, exteriors, or both and charge your fees based on your expertise, experience, and the project.
31. Tour Guiding
Do you enjoy interacting with new people and driving them from place to place? Do you live in a town with ancient scenery? If so, working as a tour guide offers an opportunity to make cash.
Be sure to learn your town’s history and the story behind the tourist attraction sites so you can tell them to your clients.
You can also show them hidden gems like the best relaxing places or restaurants. Tour guides make about $21 hourly, but you can make more with good customer service.
32. Knitting
Many will pay top dollar for hand-knotted items like scarves, beanies, and hats. Knitting can be very therapeutic; the pay is the icing on the cake.
Take advantage of seasonal changes to make money knitting all year round. For instance, you can knit beach coverups in the summer and heave sweaters or beanies in winter.
Keeping up with trends is also crucial in this business. This way, you can customize your products depending on a client’s taste and preference.
You can start a social media account focusing on knitting. You can also make money by selling your crafts on Etsy and selling printables with knitting patterns.
33. Cooking
Cooking is another great hobby that can make you millions of dollars if you approach it strategically.
The traditional way is opening a diner or restaurant where people can pay to enjoy your food. Another way to monetize your culinary skills is by starting a YouTube channel, blog, or Instagram account.
You can also start a food truck business or work as a personal chef.
Do you have some secret family recipes up your sleeves? If so, consider writing a cookbook for people who want to make hearty meals for their families.
34. House Sitting
Do you like visiting new places without worrying about accommodation? You can do that as a housesitter.
You can start by housesitting for your neighbors, friends, and family. From there, sign up on platforms like Trusted House Sitters and House Sitters America to widen your reach.
Expect about $11 to $22 hourly, which is great, considering you’ll be doing basic chores like watering plants, cleaning the house, caring for pets, and answering the telephone.
Final Thoughts
Venturing into hobbies that make money is a fun way to make ends meet. As you can see above, most hobbies have multiple ways to monetize your skills.
Teaching is a money-making venture that cuts across all hobbies. For instance, if you love photography, you can teach others how to excel.
Now that you’re armed with ideas to make extra cash from something you enjoy, it’s time to delve into the world of side hustles.
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