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February 25, 2026

These Are the 7 Highest-Paying Side Hustles for 2026, According to a New Report

More and more Americans are turning to side hustles for additional income. A survey by MyPerfectResume in January found that 72 percent of workers in the U.S. currently rely on secondary income—and about as many expect side hustles to become even more common) in the year ahead.

Whether you are looking to earn extra income or to start a side hustle that could become a full-time business, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, the right side hustle idea for you depends largely on your skills. For instance, if you’re an expert in business finance or experienced with AI, you’ll have options available to you than someone without those skills. And if you’re an introvert, you might want to choose a side hustle that doesn’t involve other people. You may also want to consider earning potential.

Journeybee, a partner relationship management and marketing platform, studied which side hustles had the highest earning potential. And the list isn’t the usual one you might find when looking for secondary income. Some of the picks have a high bar of entry, requiring specialized knowledge or skills, but they can also bring in as much as $7,000 per month.

Here are seven of the most lucrative side hustles the company identified.

Virtual Bookkeeper

Small businesses typically don’t have a CFO, but as they grow, they often need help managing their finances. People with a background in that field and a good knowledge of accounting software can earn $75 per hour and up. Upwork and LinkedIn are good places to look for clients.

UGC Creator

Forget trying to be the next MrBeast. This creator role doesn’t require you to amass followers or make daily videos. Instead, you’ll film videos for brands to use on their social media accounts. You’ll need to be a creative soul – and to have the patience to hunt for clients on sites like Billo and X (search for #ugccreators) or pitch companies directly. More frequently, advertising budgets are being shifted to social media, so this is a growing field. Pay ranges from $150 to $600 per video.

AI Prompt Consultant

If you’ve got a deep understanding of artificial intelligence, that’s a skill you can make for a very successful (and lucrative) side hustle. Businesses are looking for help in crafting the best prompts for their AI tools and the field is growing rapidly. Head to places like Upwork and tech forums to find clients. (Networking is a great way to land them as well.) Earnings potential is anywhere from $80 to $175 per hour.

No-Code Developer

There’s a learning curve for this rapidly growing field. But if you’ve got the patience and some technical abilities, several small and medium-sized businesses are looking for customized software solutions that don’t cost $10,000 or more. Using platforms like Bubble or Glide, you can make anywhere from $1,500 to $7,000 per project. Check Upwork for leads.

Fractional Partner Manager

Fractional executives have become increasingly popular with startup in the past year or two, with highly qualified execs holding part-time roles at multiple companies. This isn’t a side hustle for everyone. You’ll need copious experience in business development or channel sales (and you’ll want to make sure you’re not doing anything that’s a conflict with your 9-5 job). But if you qualify, you can help start-ups build their partner ecosystem. And you can earn anywhere from $2,500 to $6,000 per month. Look for clients in venture capital networks and via LinkedIn.

Mobile Car Detailing

The entry requirements for this side hustle are lower than many others on this list. All you need are some supplies and a compulsion for cleanliness. The work is stable and there’s an ongoing demand. And you can command anywhere from $125 to $350 per job.

Furniture Flipping

This is the perfect side hustle for DIY enthusiasts and scavengers. Keep an eye on garage sales and Facebook for furniture that needs a little TLC. Clean it, make some small repairs and then resell it to collectors or homeowners looking to shake up the living room. There’s an ongoing market for people who want something unique or antique in their home. Average profit on these items ranges from $100 to $400 per piece.

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