20 Good Second Jobs To Earn Extra Income (With Benefits)

Getting a second job can help you gain useful experience, build valuable skills and make additional money. You can find a good second job based on your hobbies and interests, and then determine if your side hustle might also be a good full-time career.

In this article, we explore 20 good second jobs including their national average salary and primary responsibilities, discuss the benefits of a second job and share some tips for finding the right second job for you.

20 good second jobs

Here are 20 jobs in various industries that work well as second jobs because of their flexibility. For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, visit indeed.com/salaries:

1. Pet sitter

National average salary: $14.41 per hour

Primary duties: A pet sitter tends to people's pets, like dogs and cats, including feeding, general maintenance and safekeeping while the owner is away. Pet sitting involves traveling to clients' homes, perhaps even for overnight stays, while pet boarding means the animal comes to stay in the sitter's home. Other duties can include updating the owner on their pet's condition, administering any medications and walking the pet if they require exercise.

2. Food server

National average salary: $15.60 per hour

Primary duties: Food servers take orders and attend to patrons in restaurants, bars and dining establishments. They greet guests, inform them of the meal and drink specials, answer questions and take meal and drink orders. They give orders to the kitchen, monitor their tables and refill drinks as needed. They also deliver bills and take payments.

Read more: Learn About Being a Server: Responsibilities and Requirements

3. Bartender

National average salary: $15.70 per hour

Primary duties: Bartenders make drinks for patrons at bars, restaurants and events. They greet customers, make beverage suggestions and mix and pour drinks. They monitor customers at the bar and make drinks for other guests in restaurants. Additional duties include starting and running tabs. Bartenders can work special events, like weddings and parties, or for fixed establishments, some of which also serve food.

Read more: Learn About Being a Bartender

4. Customer service representative

National average salary: $16.56 per hour

Primary duties: A customer service representative assists clients with questions and requests. They field phone calls, emails and online messages regarding product or service questions to assist customers in resolving their issues. They may also handle product returns and refunds. Customer service representatives can work in an office or remotely, performing their duties from a computer.

Read more: What Does a Customer Service Representative Do? With Skills

5. Delivery driver

National average salary: $17.44 per hour

Primary duties: A delivery driver takes ordered items to a customer's address. Delivery drivers may transport items like food, furniture, flowers and e-commerce merchandise. They gather orders, ensure they match the ticket, follow a route and deliver the orders to customers. They may also take payment upon delivery and answer any customer's questions.

Read more: Learn About Being a Delivery Driver

6. House cleaner

National average salary: $17.88 per hour

Primary duties: House cleaners help individuals and families wash, organize and sanitize their homes and personal belongings. Their responsibilities can include scrubbing and vacuuming floors, disinfecting surfaces and taking out the trash. Some may also wash dishes and launder linens.

7. Transcriptionist

National average salary: $19.27 per hour

Primary duties: Transcriptionists translate audio recordings or live audio into text. They listen to spoken dialogue and transcribe it into text via computer or shorthand. They may perform their duties in a courtroom or doctor's office so other professionals can read and recall the conversation later, or they could listen to recordings and transcribe them for other purposes.

8. Blogger

National average salary: $19.55 per hour

Primary duties: Bloggers write content for online platforms in various industries. They create articles or posts about different topics and post them on a website for internet users to read. Bloggers could have their own website and receive money from advertisements, or they could work for companies, creating content for their web pages.

9. Freelance writer

National average salary: $19.70 per hour

Primary duties: Freelance writers create a variety of content for different clients. They work with clients to develop articles, blog posts and fiction for print and online platforms. Duties may include reading instructions, performing research, writing and proofreading their work. They also make edits to their content based on client feedback.

10. Graphic designer

National average salary: $20.39 per hour

Primary duties: Graphic designers create logos, pamphlets and other content for different clients. They work with customers to understand their vision and needs, then use computer software and other tools to generate images. Graphic designers can work on a freelance basis for multiple clients at once or they could work for one company developing all of their images and visual content. They may share these images in print, on company websites, in marketing emails or on company social media pages.

Read more: Learn About Being a Graphic Designer

11. Handyperson

National average salary: $20.98 per hour

Primary duties: A handyperson performs maintenance tasks for individuals or businesses. Their responsibilities can vary depending on their client's needs, but common duties include repairing appliances, installing equipment like refrigeration or air conditioning devices, hanging shelves and building furniture. They may use hand tools and electric tools to complete their duties.

12. Sports coach

National average salary: $21.29 per hour

Primary duties: Sports coaches help athletes on school, recreational, semi-professional or professional teams build their skills and prepare for competitions. They might make practice schedules, tape games and practices, give players targeted feedback and coordinate plays for games. They typically also supervise training sessions to help players build endurance and strength.

13. Babysitter

National average salary: $21.67 per hour

Primary duties: Babysitters watch children while their parents are away. They may prepare meals, monitor playtime, prepare children for bed and complete minor cleaning duties. They could also pick children up from school and take them to various extracurricular activities. Babysitters could work occasionally for families or they could work regularly scheduled hours.

Read more: Learn About Being a Babysitter

14. Rideshare driver

National average salary: $23.15 per hour

Primary duties: Rideshare drivers transport passengers to and from their chosen locations. These individuals use their own personal vehicles for rides. Their responsibilities can include keeping them clean and comfortable, using a global positioning system (GPS) to navigate between locations, responding to traffic conditions and helping passengers with their luggage.

25. Virtual assistant

National average salary: $23.71 per hour

Primary duties: A virtual assistant handles administrative tasks on behalf of their employer remotely. They may manage their employer's calendar, make travel reservations, correspond with vendors via email and create social media posts. Some virtual assistants have additional duties depending on their skills and their employer's needs, so some might design graphics, write digital content and help with light bookkeeping.

16. Fitness instructor

National average salary: $23.96 per hour

Primary duties: Fitness instructors lead exercise classes. They create exercise routines of various levels of difficulty, help patrons learn different techniques and offer encouragement throughout classes. Fitness instructors can teach a variety of classes, such as yoga, cycling and aquatic exercise.

17. English as a second language (ESL) teacher

National average salary: $24.44 per hour

Primary duties: ESL teachers help students learn English as an alternative language to their native one. They may teach students of any age how to speak and write English, grade student assignments and lead class activities. ESL teachers could perform their duties in one-on-one sessions, in a classroom setting or online.

18. Tutor

National average salary: $24.82 per hour

Primary duties: A tutor helps students learn more about a particular subject, especially if the student is facing challenges. They assess the student's needs, form a lesson plan and assist them with assignments. Tutors typically maintain an advanced understanding of their area of expertise. They can also guide students of any age, from elementary to college students.

Read more: Learn About Being a Tutor

19. Disc jockey

National average salary: $30.97 per hour

Primary duties: Disc jockeys (DJs) play music for events or at radio stations. They create playlists based on customer requests, set up their music station with laptop, microphone and speakers, and occasionally make announcements to guests. Some DJs also mix tracks to generate music that appeals to guests. They may work at weddings, corporate parties, bars, clubs and lounges.

20. Web developer

National average salary: $33.26 per hour

Primary duties: A web developer builds websites for different clients. They use programming languages to create pages that users interact with, making them intuitive and easy to navigate. Web developers often also use graphic design knowledge to create visually appealing pages that attract and maintain users.

Benefits of second jobs

Here are some of the benefits of getting a second job:

• Extra money: Many people pick up a second job for supplemental income, which can help them reach financial goals, fund emergencies or combine with another part-time job to meet everyday needs.

• Additional experience: A second job offers you an opportunity to gain experience in a new field or work environment.

• New skills: Many people gain new capabilities, practice soft skills and learn new software programs or devices at their second jobs, which can be beneficial to their careers.

• Expand your options: Some people appreciate having multiple income streams and career opportunities so they have more than one path they can follow.

Related: 20 Ways To Make Money From Home (Plus 45 More WFH Ideas)

Tips for picking up a second job

Below are some tips to help you make wise choices when seeking a second job in addition to your first:

Prioritize your primary job

If you have a stable career and are seeking a side job to make extra money during your free time, it's important to make sure you uphold your commitment to your primary job. This helps you ensure you balance both responsibilities effectively. During this time, you can review your performance and slowly determine if your side hustle could be a long-term full-time job instead.

Read more: How To Balance Working Two Jobs at Once

Leverage your second job during interviews

You can even talk about your second job during interviews for a new primary position. Speaking thoughtfully about your side job can highlight your ambition and show employers that you're capable of balancing multiple priorities at once. It's important to clarify that you manage your second job outside of work hours to ensure potential employers can trust you to devote your company time to them.

Related: 70 Lucrative Side Hustle Ideas To Earn Extra Money

Consider pursuing a side job that aligns with your current job

A second job can be in the same industry as your current job. There are many websites and professional organizations that allow people to advertise their professional skills and offer their services to clients at a fee. Freelancing or working as a contractor outside your current position may give you the opportunity to expand your skills, work with new clients and grow your portfolio.

For example, if you work as a graphic designer for a food and beverage company full-time, you might offer to design websites for small businesses in your free time. It's important to review your employment contract first to ensure your employer allows you to accept outside work. If you're unsure, it's best to speak with a human resources representative at your company to ensure your freelance work is acceptable.

Related: How To Find Online Freelance Jobs (Plus 15 Websites To Use)

Use your second job to switch careers

if you're considering a career change, taking on a second job in your target industry can be a way to gain experience in that field without sacrificing your current position. A side job in a new industry can expose you to the field so you can decide if you want to make a full-time switch. It can also qualify you for entry-level jobs in the industry and connect you with experienced people in the field who may be willing to mentor you.