Top 33 Best Paying Gig Jobs: Online and Offline

Did you know gig work can pay very well? I mean, way above the average wage. The average hourly wage in 2025 stands at about $36/hr in the US. Let’s use this figure as an approximate benchmark for today’s article. 

Some jobs listed today offer starting rates below the mentioned benchmarks but have a higher earning potential. Remember that how much you earn as a gig worker depends on your skills, experience, location, and how well you position yourself. 

Offline local gig jobs 

When we think about high-paying gigs, we mostly imagine those done online. However, some offline hustles pay just as well. Here are some rewarding gig options that could be done locally. 

Taxi and delivery driver gigs 

Taxi driver and delivery gig rates are hard to calculate because there are many factors involved: 1) location, 2) weather and time of the day, 3) grade (think economy vs comfort or delivery priority), and 4) tips. 

Let’s also not forget about the commission the platform takes, gas, and car maintenance. For example, Uber can take anywhere from 50% to 70% of each fare, according to this Reddit thread. Hence, it’s quite hard to find information on real rates online since the pay is so flexible. 

Such gigs can pay pretty well, though. For example, according to Indeed, an Uber driver in New York can earn from $7.25/hr to up to $66/hr, with an average rate of $26.04/hr. 

As for delivery, it also depends on many factors. For example, at DoorDash — a popular food delivery app — rates consist of three parts: base pay, tips, and promotions (extra reward for speed, number of orders, etc.). So you can make $23 per hour one day and $40 the next. 

All in all, taxi and delivery service gigs can be high-paying, but it often depends on external factors rather than your effort alone. 

Skilled trades gigs

Skilled trades gigs often require specialized education and skills. They can be very well-paid, especially if you work within a niche.

The game-changer was specializing in older home electrical upgrades. Most electricians avoid these jobs because they're complex and time-consuming, but I made them my specialty. I can charge $150-200/hour for panel replacements and rewiring work because homeowners know one mistake could burn their house down. My military background helps clients trust me with their biggest investment.

{{Josh Ertley}}

Here are the starting rates on TaskRabbit for major trades gigs:

1. Plumbing repairs — $79  

2. Electrical help — $69  

3. TV wall mount installation — $69  

4. Help moving — $67  

5. Shelf and art mounting — $65  

6. Furniture assembly — $49  

7. Cleaning — $49

If you’re a handyman and want to find gigs locally, try TaskRabbit or alternative websites: Airtasker, Handy, Thumbtack, Bark, Nextdoor, or Craigslist. 

And if you’re outside of the US, most of these gig apps operate globally — simply switch the location on the website. There are also many similar location-specific platforms. All you need is a quick Google search. 

Photography and videography

Another high-paying gig is photography and videography. According to Upwork, the average hourly rate for photography services is $25–$45, and $10–$53 for videography. 

The most effective strategies for earning a steady, higher income as a freelancer have been niching down and consistently building client relationships, rather than chasing one-off gigs. Early on, I focused on themed vacation photography in Orlando, which set me apart in a saturated market. Regular follow-ups, delivering galleries faster than expected, and surprise thank-you prints have turned first-timers into repeat clients and spontaneous brand advocates. Over time, referrals and word-of-mouth became my main channel for bookings, outpacing any gig platform.

{{Angel Sanchez}}

Most offline gigs have flexible earning potential because of so many variables involved. In today’s day and age, most would probably think of online side hustles, though, when they hear the word ‘gig.’ Let’s uncover that in the next chapter. 

Online gigs 

No matter what industry or role you’re in, these are the major factors affecting how much you can earn: 

• Project complexity. A complex project requires more time, expertise, and skills. 
• Experience. The more experienced you are, the more you can charge. 
• Specialized skills. When you’re very good in a specific niche, it’s easier to charge more. 
• Technology stack. If you have expertise in niche or high-demand technologies, you’ll get paid more. 
• Project duration. Generally, the rule is the shorter the contract, the higher the rate. Yet, it depends on other factors mentioned here. 
• Location. Rates can vary from city to city, let alone country to country. If you do remote gigs, you’ll have to compete with the entire world for the project. 

Now, what are the highest-paying gig economy jobs you can find online?

AI-related gigs

Whether it’s machine learning or prompt engineering, this area remains one of the best-paying at the moment. Rates in this domain start at $30 for entry-level professionals and can reach way above $100 per hour for seniors. 

I have just brought in three freelance prompt engineers who cost between 85 and 120 dollars an hour, since our in-house team was not able to keep up. 
You must not only have the knowledge of how language models operate in processing information, but you must also have a translation of the business scenario. The majority of the developers are able to write code, but they find it difficult to communicate with AI.

{{Mircea Dima}}

The opportunities in this area are only predicted to grow. 

When you have the technical knowledge and can navigate business needs, you can start commanding premium rates and stay in the game for a long time. 

Data jobs 

Data occupations are among the best-paying, and the demand for them will only keep rising. In 2023, the global data science platform market alone was valued at $96.25 billion. And it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 26.0% from 2024 to 2031. 

Let’s compare how much data professionals make: 

Some of these rates are as little as $20 per hour on the lower end. But all in all, these data occupations pay well. Data scientists stand out the most, though. Not only will the demand for data scientists grow the fastest, but they’re already making the most money. 

Software development 

While there are many types of software development categories, they all more or less fall into the same pay range. On average, software developers’ rates can vary from $10 to $150 and above.

Your grade matters a lot. When you’re a beginner, you can expect to make $10-$40/hr. Intermediate levels can earn up to $70, while seniors get the highest pay. 

The market supply and demand also play a huge role in how much you can charge. 

While these rates sound nice, you need to make sure you’re constantly learning and updating your stack to stay relevant. 

Media buying 

Ads are everywhere, and there are people who get paid a lot of money for making sure they reach you. Those people are called media buyers. They make anywhere from $10 to $100+. 

AI is making changes in the media buying industry as well. There’s an even more dystopian marketing practice rising — programmatic advertisement. That is essentially media buying but driven by AI and highly targeted in real time. So if you’re a media buyer, checking it out can be a good call. 

Marketing and PR 

Since there are many gigs you can do in these domains, let’s have a short hourly rates overview: 

I myself work in marketing full-time and can see firsthand how AI is changing the industry. And no, it’s not replacing us yet. But the sooner we marketers learn AI skills, the higher the chances of staying up-to-date with market demands (and getting paid more).

Consulting

Let’s cover both business and financial consulting here. The former is an umbrella term for all sorts of business-related consulting services from marketing and HR to IT security. 

On average, business consultants make $28–$98/hr, according to Upwork.  When you’re experienced, you can go higher — some consultants charge $350 per session and more. 

As for financial consulting, it also consists of different categories. These can be on tax, investment, risk management, personal finance, the list goes on. On average, financial consultants make $30-$100/hr. 

So, if you already have good skills and deep expertise, starting consultations can be a very profitable gig. And this one is quite realistic even if you have a full-time job. 

Web development and design 

Once again, it’s about your grade. 

If you’re an entry-level web developer, expect to receive $15 - $25 per hour. Intermediate? Then it’s anywhere from $30 per hour to $50 per hour. Expert web developers can make as much as $200/hr and more. 

Web designers earn $15–$30/hr. How much you make depends on the service you provide. While a simple one-pager can be $15–$40+, a more sophisticated custom design can cost $45–$75+. 

Coaching 

According to the International Coaching Federation 2025 report, coaching generated around $5.34 billion over the last year. It’s nearly double the amount the profession totalled in 2023. 

Career, wellness, executive, relationship, and personal development coaches make from $50 to $250+/hr. 

How to become a well-paid freelancer 

Even if your specialty is not on the list, it doesn’t mean you can’t become a high-earning freelancer. The truth is, if you treat your freelance career as a business, have patience, and develop a strategy, you’ll get there. Here’s an example: 

This is one of many videos I’d recommend from this creator. Check it out — Deya’s content is very practical and centers around freelancing and productivity. And her advice is actually actionable. 

This has been an inclusive but not exhaustive list of the highest-paying gigs. While you can earn a lot doing them, your potential for high pay depends on many factors — from demand and location to specific skills and sometimes, how well you’ve networked or upskilled. Be prepared to not reach top rates from the get-go. Earning potential grows as you gain specialized experience and build a reputation in your area of expertise.