15 Legit Online Jobs that Pay Hourly In 2024

Have you ever found yourself in a fix and needed extra cash urgently? You may want to consider online jobs that pay hourly. 

Most people choose to give up their 9-5 jobs and work remotely full-time or part-time to make extra cash on the side. Remote working doesn’t mean a pay cut. It’s just about awareness of the opportunities to make extra cash. 

Most people doing online jobs are attracted to the flexibility of the work and the fact that you can work on your schedule. 

Whether you have a day job and looking for a side hustle to boost your income or need a full-time gig, you can easily make a decent amount of money with online jobs.

What Is an Online Job? 

An online job is an opportunity to earn full-time or part-time income online. You can work as a freelancer or for a company. Making your first dollar online is a significant milestone. 

Even if you’re a student, a stay-at-home mom, or a  small business owner looking to make a few extra bucks, there is always something for you.

15 Legit Online Jobs That Pay Hourly 

Are you looking to escape the cubicle or want an extra income stream? Here are 15 legit online jobs available worth considering.

1. Copywriting

Copywriting is one of the most lucrative work-from-home jobs that still has a huge opportunity. As a copywriter, you’ll write sales copy for brands and companies looking to sell products. 

If you can write clear, compelling copy that drives action, you can earn a decent amount of money as a copywriter. 

Websites such as Upwork, Freelancer.com, and Guru.com have several copywriting jobs.

How to Get Started

Becoming a copywriter is one of the best work-at-home jobs. You don’t necessarily need a bachelor’s degree in English or journalism to land a copywriting gig. 

With good writing skills, effective research, and creativity, you can make a living copywriting.

How Much Do Copywriters Make?

The amount you can earn as a copywriter depends on your level of experience. Beginner copywriters typically make around $23 per hour, while experienced ones earn up to $100 or more an hour.

2. Digital Marketing

As you know, businesses need to bring traffic to their websites to boost their revenue, and most of them don’t have the time or know-how to do this. That’s where the power of digital marketers comes in.

One of the most lucrative modes of digital marketing is paid advertising. Paid ad experts drive traffic to clients’ websites by running ads on Facebook, Google, or Instagram. 

Once you gain experience, digital marketing is highly scalable. You can automate more tasks and raise your rates to earn more even with less work. For this reason, replacing your day job with digital marketing is possible.

You must understand your client’s target audience to tailor your ads and drive sales effectively. Finding local businesses generating considerable revenue is the best way to manage ads. It’s possible to pay your ads with just one referral every month.

How to Get Started

The best way to get started as a digital marketer is to take a free course or simply familiarize yourself with paid ads.

How Much Do Digital Marketers Make?

You can expect to make around $20 an hour as a digital marketer. And if you can increase your clients’ profits, you’ll soon find yourself in a position to charge up to $100 per hour. 

3. Dropshipping

Do you want to start an online product business without having to create a product? You can start a profitable dropshipping store. 

You only need to set up an online store and list all the available products from your suppliers. The good thing with dropshipping is that you only order the products once your customer makes a purchase. The suppliers always handle the shipping.

Depending on the product niche you are in, dropshipping can be a surefire way to make money online. 

You can sell almost everything, from handmade crafts to digital products such as consultation packages. 

How to Get Started

Use an ecommerce platform like Shopify to create and launch your online store. Once you have your dropshipping store, list the products you’d like to drop ship with their prices.

How Much Can You Make Dropshipping?

As a beginner, your earnings will vary dramatically. However, you can scale your online store by hiring virtual assistants and copywriters who can assist in writing compelling product descriptions. 

Experienced drop shippers make more than $100/hour.  

4. Bookkeeping

Small businesses often outsource functions to save money and time. Keeping the books is increasingly one of the first outsourced tasks. 

Bookkeepers handle all financial record keeping and reporting for businesses. With an online bookkeeping job, you will be tasked with recording payables and receivables, creating reports, running payrolls, and preparing taxes.

Bookkeeping is always in demand, thus making it one of the top online jobs that pay hourly. Clients will keep you around for the long term to maintain their books. 

How to Get Started

Provided you’re decent with numbers and know your way around your computer, you don’t need a CPA or any accounting experience to pursue your online bookkeeping career. 

How Much Do Bookkeepers Make? 

According to Payscale, bookkeepers can expect to earn around $18.33 per hour. However, you can raise your rates once you gain experience and get client testimonials. 

Besides this, niching down into particular software programs and gaining yourself certifications can increase your earning potential. 

5. Transcriptionist

Several industries need written records rather than audio files for preservation. For that reason, the transcription industry is booming all over the world. 

It’s one of the top online jobs that pay hourly without considering any strict requirements to become a pro.

How to Get Started

To get started as a transcriptionist, you need to have:

• Strong listening and accurate typing abilities
• Manage at least 60 words typing speed per minute
• Able to maintain good hearing and hand coordination 
• Have technical gadgets like a computer, foot pedals, and noise-canceling headphones.

Ho Much Do Transcriptionists Make?

According to ZipRecruiter, an entry-level transcriptionist can earn roughly $15 an hour, while advanced transcriptionists make around $28 per hour.

6. Editing

Most people confuse editing with proofreading. Editors usually help improve the quality of writing by cutting off unnecessary words, ensuring a consistent tone of voice, and altering sentence structure, among other tasks.

As an editor, you can express your creativity without creating another original piece of writing. Helping writers improve their writing can be satisfying as well. You must always be willing to give constructive criticism. 

It’s important to note that some writers do not take criticism from a positive point of view. So, be ready to deal with angry clients from time to time.

How to Get Started

Job boards are the best place to find editing gigs. If a client hires you, you negotiate the terms of the editing job. 

How Much Do Editors Make?

The average hourly rate for editors in the U.S. ranges between $30 and $40 per hour. Editors with years of experience can earn up to $100/hour.

7. Graphic Design

Graphic designers create visuals using a computer or hand to communicate their ideas to consumers. They usually work on a wide range of projects, including.

• Logos
• Mobile apps
• Websites
• Product packaging for various companies
• Album art for artists

Graphic design is one of the rewarding online jobs that pay hourly for creative people. You can take free online courses to learn the basics before applying for graphic design jobs. 

You can work with publishers, marketing/design agencies, businesses, and more. 

How to Get Started

You need a few portfolio pieces to showcase your skills. The samples don’t necessarily have to be from your previous clients. 

How Much Do Graphic Designers Make?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, graphic designers make about $24 per hour. As a beginner, you can start at $20 per hour.

8. Online Tutoring

In the past few years, online tutoring has grown rapidly in response to the novel coronavirus. As things continue to stabilize, there’s still a high demand for online tutors.

You can tutor in any given subject. One of the popular online tutorings is teaching English as a second language (ESL). China is the largest market for ESL tutors. 

Many companies are eager to hire talented instructors. Its demand has made it one of the best high-paying online jobs. It’s worth considering if you want to make extra income or need a full-time job.

How to Get Started

You do not need a teaching degree or certificate to become an online tutor. You only need to be good at what you do and be patient with your students, especially when teaching ESL. 

As you know, English is not always the most accessible language to master.

How Much Do Online Tutors Make?

Online tutoring pays decently, around $25 per hour. With this rate, you can earn $51,345 per year working full-time.

9. Customer Service Representative

Many large companies outsource their customer service tasks to individuals working from home. That said, you can make money as a customer service representative.

As a customer service rep, you may be responsible for several responsibilities, such as:

• Working as a travel agent
• Offering technical support
• Performing virtual assistant tasks
• Providing customer support
• Working as a company’s chat agent

It is one of the best legit online jobs that pay hourly. Learn the tricks and tips to earn a decent salary as a customer service rep. Top customer service skills include:

• Persuasive speaking skills
• Adaptability
• Empathy
• Self-control
• Take responsibility
• Able to use positive language
• Patience

How to Get Started

Customer service rep jobs are abundant. Create a professional resume, research your potential employer, and send in your application.

How Much Do Customer Service Representatives Make?

The average hourly rate for customer service representatives is $17.20 per hour. Based on the type of services you offer, you can earn more than $30 an hour. 

10. Virtual Assistant

Interestingly, almost anyone can do virtual assistant responsibilities. Organizations are looking for supportive aids to work on more important tasks. They can only achieve it with the help of virtual assistants.

As a virtual assistant, you will perform basic tasks such as scheduling administration and customer support. The best candidates are always reliable, have organization skills, and excellent time management.

How to Get Started

A virtual assistant doesn’t require any particular skill or academic qualifications. However, you must have excellent communication skills. Besides this, you need to be hardworking and able to multi-task. 

How Much Do Virtual Assistants Make?

Virtual assistants with no experience can earn anywhere from $7 to $10 per hour. As an experienced VA, you can earn $20+ an hour.

11. Proofreading 

Proofreading is a freelance online job with steady demand due to the growth of online content. Your work as a proofreader is to check writers’ work for grammar and punctuation errors. There is a potential to grow from a proofreader to an editor of blogs and books.

How Much Do Proofreaders Make?

Proofreading can pay up to $20 per hour. There are also high-paying jobs within this field. However, proofreading the work requires attention to detail. 

12. Become a Facebook Ad Manager

Do you know you can make a living from your Facebook app? With Facebook advertising, you can help businesses increase their revenue and expand their reach. 

Facebook is one of the largest advertising social media platforms. For this reason, Business owners spend millions on Facebook ads. 

How to Get Started 

Build your Facebook ad skills and get a certification. It’s also essential to know how to use Facebook business manager and how FB sales funnel works. With these basics, you can earn money online as an FB ad manager.

How Much Do Facebook Ad Managers Make? 

The average hourly wage for Facebook ad managers in the United States is $28, but it typically ranges anywhere from $25 to $40.

13. Freelance Writing

Do you have a knack for writing? You can earn to write articles online. Many companies are looking for freelance writers to help with their website content and blog posts. 

How Much Do Freelance Writers Make?

Payment varies depending on the article length and the company you work with. A Freelance writer can expect to make up to $20 plus per hour. Most freelance writers build up enough experience to turn it into their full-time job.

14. Video Editing

If you have the required skills and software, video editing is one of the most accessible legit online jobs that pay hourly. 

As a video editor, your work is to take clips from your clients or brands with YouTube channels and create likable and viewer-friendly videos. You may also write scripts. 

How Much Can You Earn as a Video Editor

Video editors usually charge per job or hour, depending on the work done. According to Indeed, the average hourly pay for a video editor is $22.18.

15. Work as a Researcher 

Have you ever been told to “Google it?” Online researchers make it possible. 

If you have the qualifications in a given subject, several websites will pay you to research and respond to their user’s questions. For instance, someone may inquire about historical facts. You would then explore for the answers and respond to the user.

Online research is an exciting online job if you’re passionate about learning new things. You get to research and write about subjects you enjoy the most, as you help others you earn. 

However, most of these sites will require you to have credentials in the field you want to provide the answers. 

How Much Do Researchers Make?

The salaries are highly competitive and rewarding in their regard. However, payment varies by subject, platform, and question complexity. You can expect to earn roughly $16.19 per hour as a beginner.

Final Thoughts

Online jobs that pay hourly are more accessible than ever before. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, many professionals quit their 9 to 5 jobs and sought online job opportunities. 

However, most well-paying online jobs require time and effort. It’s essential to find a job that you love and stick to it. The more experience you gain, the higher your earning potential. 

With the ideal online job, you’ll have a lot of spare time to bond with your loved ones, travel, or do whatever you may want to do. 

And if you don’t have the right tools to help you work online. You may want to consider work from home jobs that provide equipment. 

Find your dream online job and start making money anywhere around the world!