The 17 Best Sites to Find Lucrative Gig Jobs

Here's a fun fact. Did you know that jazz musicians coined the term “gig” in the 1920s?

Yes, you heard that right! The gig economy did not start with Craigslist, but among jazz musicians who ran in the same circles, playing at bars and clubs. 

In a nutshell, “gig,” short for “engagement,” meant playing music for money. (Don’t forget to give us a shout-out when you win your next trivia night.)

While having musical talent is not a prerequisite to get a gig job (although that’s still a thing, too!), the concept of capitalizing on a skill to make money still remains the same.

In fact, many Americans turned to gig work when they were out of options during the pandemic, so it’s no surprise that the gig economy continues to grow and provide viable options for workers across all industries.

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So, now that you learned the origin of the word “gig,” let’s explore what a gig job entails in the current market. 

What is a Gig Job?

A gig job is a temporary, income-earning job based on one-time projects, and frequently serves as a side hustle for extra income. Gig jobs are perfect for folks who need flexibility in their schedules and who cannot commit to a full-time job.

Different types of gig workers can include independent contractors, online platform workers, and temporary workers.

A few well-known gig jobs include rideshare driving, food delivery, and pet sitting. 

Top In-Demand Freelance Skills

To be completely honest, we have technology to thank for the ability to offer up our top skills and find gigs that make us extra money! And speaking of tech—it’s not surprising that the top in-demand freelance skills fall in that category. Here are just a few according to WizCase: 

Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Programming
Average Hourly Wage: $150

Amazon Web Service (AWS) Development 
Average Hourly Wage: $74

Mobile App Development
Average Hourly Wage: $61-$80

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Development 
Average Hourly Wage: $45

Website Design 
Average Hourly Wage: $75

As you can see, people who have these skills have high-income potential. Interested in learning more about the technology space? Check out this list of e-learning platforms to learn new skills and start earning more money.

Types of Popular Gig Economy Jobs

While technology skills might be in high demand, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other types of gig jobs available. 

Here’s a sampling of some side gig jobs that are typically available through websites, apps, or companies*: 

Writing/Editing
Average Hourly Wage: $20

Translating
Average Hourly Wage: $20

Dog Walking 
Average Hourly Wage: $15

Pet Sitting
Average Hourly Wage: $14

Photographer
Average Hourly Wage: $16

Fitness Training
Average Hourly Wage: $20

Tutoring
Average Hourly Wage: $18

Delivery or Ride-Sharing
Average Hourly Wage: $14

Housecleaning 
Average Hourly Wage: $15

*Salary information found on payscale.com.

The Benefits of a Gig Job

There are three top benefits of choosing to be a part of the gig economy, including: 

17 Sites to Help You Find a Gig Job

One question you may ask yourself is, “How do I find a gig job?” It can be complicated to weed out the sketchy websites from the legitimate ones, but we’re here to help you find solid gig work that boosts your income.

If you’re ready to dive in and find a gig that works for you, there are plenty of websites where you can get started.

1. Upwork

Upwork is a popular website that helps connect talent with businesses. This website is perfect for graphic designers, writers, web developers, and more, if you’re looking to make some extra income. 

To get started, you’ll need to create a profile and then search their platform for opportunities that interest you. All you have to do is submit a proposal and set your rate. 

It’s free to join Upwork, but you also have the option to upgrade to “Freelance Plus” to more effectively market your services. Keep in mind that the platform takes a percentage of your earnings, including: 

2. Freelancer.com

According to Freelancer.com, their platform is the world’s largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace, connecting more than 53 million employers and freelancers globally.

Whether you’re an expert in software development, writing, data entry, design, (and more!), you'll find a plethora of opportunities available through Freelancer.com.

Like Upwork, you need to create a profile and get verified, and then you’re ready to start browsing jobs.

Creating a profile doesn't cost anything, but Freelancer takes a percentage of your earnings, which includes: 

3. Fiverr

Fiverr provides a worldwide platform for freelancers and provides an opportunity for professionals to expand their current portfolio and skillset. If you’re interested in voiceover work, proofreading, or writing, then this is the platform for you. On Fiverr, you create a free profile or “gig” and start offering your services. 

While there is no subscription or fee required to list your services, Fiverr takes 20 percent of each transaction. You can set your prices anywhere from $5-$995, and up to three different prices for your services. 

4. Toptal

Toptal is considered an “exclusive” network of the world’s top freelancers, including software developers, designers, finance experts, project managers, and more.

Typically, companies turn to Toptal for their most important projects. This website would be a good fit for someone with many years of experience in their industry. 

The Toptal vetting process is very rigorous and typically takes between two and five weeks to complete. There’s a five-step interview process that every Toptal applicant has to go through, including: 

According to Toptal, only three percent of applicants actually get to the final step, which is what sets them apart from other platforms. Additionally, Toptal doesn’t charge its freelancers any fees but rather marks up a freelancer’s rate for its clients. 

5. PeoplePerHour

PeoplePerHour is a platform that connects clients to expert freelancers who are available for hourly or project-based work. Prospective freelancers must complete an online application, which is then reviewed and approved by PeoplePerHour’s moderation team.

Following the online application, you create a profile and start browsing jobs that interest you. Jobs are available across a variety of industries, including technology and programming, digital marketing, and more. 

There is no registration or sign-up fee; however, you only get 15 free proposals per month, and then you have to purchase more proposal “credits.”

Additionally, PeoplePerHour charges a service fee of 20% for the first $350 earned. This drops to 7.5% percent for additional earnings up to approximately $7,000 and then to 3.5% for any earnings beyond that. 

6. FlexJobs

This service is low cost and includes jobs with flexible schedules or part-time hours, freelance projects, and remote positions. 

FlexJobs works with thousands of companies to source flexible gigs, in addition to providing helpful resources to support your job search—such as free skills testing, expert job search tips, and more. 

Here’s the cost breakdown for different FlexJobs descriptions: 

According to the FlexJobs site, each subscription gets you unlimited access to jobs, free skills testing, an easy, quick profile process, email alerts when jobs are posted, expert job search tips, and a personalized portfolio. 

7. Moonlighting by CareerGig

Similar to FlexJobs, Moonlighting is a platform that provides tools to make it easy for you to find gigs, ranging from cleaning jobs to web and tech gigs. 

According to the website, users do not have to bid for jobs or pay a commission to Moonlighting, which sets it apart from other platforms. You also get a personal business page, unlimited proposals, invoices, and mobile and on-demand tools—all for free. 

8. SimplyHired

SimplyHired hosts more than 100 job boards and is a search engine for any kind of gig you might be looking for, whether it’s remote or in-person.

The website lists jobs from a variety of industries from nursing to marketing and includes opportunities in 12 different countries. 

SimplyHired is completely free to use. 

9. Working Nomads

Working Nomads curates lists of the most interesting remote job offers in many different professional career areas. According to the site, they connect professionals who want to work remotely with innovative companies offering independent positions. 

Receiving job alerts from Working Nomads is completely free; you only have to subscribe to a daily or weekly email. 

10. Guru

According to their website, Guru’s mission is to bring employers and freelancers together from around the globe to get work done.

This service is free to sign up for, and they claim to have the lowest transaction fees in the industry. The vast majority of jobs available on Guru include software programming and web development. 

To get started, all you have to do is sign up and create your profile. When you sign up, you automatically get a free Basic Membership which allows you to send quotes to 10 jobs per month, with a service fee of nine percent that goes to Guru. Other plans include: 

11. TaskRabbit

According to their website, TaskRabbit is a great way to find local jobs that fit your specific skill set, with the added bonus of being your own boss and setting your own schedule.

As a “Tasker,” you can choose from 50 different categories, ranging from car washing to IKEA assembly, waiting in line, pet sitting, and other odd errands. 

If you want to become a Tasker, all you have to do is follow these steps and pay a $25 registration fee. According to Entrepreneur 360, TaskRabbit also takes 15% commission from the total cost of the job. 

12. Instacart

Instacart is a grocery delivery service that allows people to order from their favorite local stores.

If you’re interested in working for Instacart, you have the option to become a full-service shopper which requires you to shop for and deliver groceries, or an in-store shopper, which is where you shop for the groceries and set them aside for customers to pick them up. 

According to their website, basic requirements to work for Instacart include: 

According to Nerdwallet, in-store shoppers get paid a fixed hourly wage that varies by location, and full-service shoppers’ pay depends on the order. For example, you can earn at least $7 for each full-service delivery. 

13. Amazon Flex

This one is easy! All you have to do is use your own vehicle to deliver Amazon packages. Available in more than 50 U.S. cities, drivers can earn $18-$25 per hour plus tips. If you’re 21 or older, have a valid U.S. driver’s license and at least a four-door midsize sedan, you are eligible. To apply, download the app here. 

14. DoorDash

Serving more than 300 cities, DoorDash is a great way to earn extra money for your goals while choosing your own hours. If you haven’t used this service before, Doordash is a tech company that facilitates door-to-door delivery. 

According to the website, here are the requirements to become a Dasher: 

Dashers receive a base pay for any delivery and keep 100% of their tips. Interested? Submit your application here! 

15. Airbnb

Becoming a host for Airbnb takes some time, effort and coordination but can be very lucrative! It’s completely free to list your place, and what you charge is up to you.

There are a few different ways to pay the Airbnb service fee, but the split-fee structure is most popular, which is where the host pays a 3% service fee and guests pay a fee under 14.2%. 

And if you’re not into giving up your home for nights at a time, you can always choose to host an Online Experience instead. According to their website, Airbnb Experiences are engaging activities that go beyond the typical tour or class that can be done from the comfort of your own home.

Read more here to learn how to submit your idea. For this option, experience hosts pay a 20% service fee to Airbnb. 

16. Rover

Calling all pet lovers! If you've always admired that dog walker wrangling several cute doggos, this is your moment. 

Through Rover, you can offer a variety of services for dogs and cats, including: 

Through Rover, you can earn up to $1,000 per month, and the highest earners typically offer boarding. 

So basically, you get paid to play with pets—and The Rover Guarantee includes up to $25,000 in vet care reimbursement and 24/7 support, including vet assistance, in case something happens under your care. 

17. Lyft

Most of us have probably taken a Lyft before, but have you ever considered driving to make a little extra money? You just need to meet the age requirements for your region, have a smartphone, and pass an online DMV and background check. 

And here’s an interesting fact: you don’t actually need to own a car to be a Lyft driver! Lyft’s Express Drive program allows drivers to rent a car and drive with Lyft. 

Through Lyft, drivers are paid based on how long you drive during a ride, how far you drive during a ride, plus 100% of what passengers tip you and bonuses. 

And of course, before signing up, be sure to check out Lyft’s safety guide.