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25 Best Side Hustles and Side Jobs for Engineers (2024 Guide)

Don't Work Another Day is reader-supported. We may receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own.
  By Forrest McCall | Last Updated:  July 8, 2022

Everyone could use a side hustle. That's right, even engineers.

While engineering is one of the highest paying jobs out there, there's always a desire (and sometimes a need) to make more money.

In this post, I'll explore the best side hustles for engineers, how much money you can make, and much more. Let's get started!

Side Hustles for Engineers

Best Side Hustles for Engineers

Below are some of the top side hustles for engineers looking to make extra money. There are many side hustle ideas on the list so try a few and see what works for you.

Blogging

Blogging is a tremendous side hustle for many engineers because it requires very little upfront investment and can be done entirely on your own time.

There are a number of ways to make money blogging, including display ads, affiliate marketing, and selling digital products.

And with a bit of effort, it's not uncommon to make over $1,000 per month from a engineering-related blog.

Some types of blogs you could start as an engineer include:

  • Engineering school help
  • Design trends
  • Mechanical engineering ideas
  • And many others

Or, you could start a blog about anything else outside of engineering.

If you want to explore your passions and make money at the same time, blogging can be an excellent side hustle.

The cost to start a blog is around $100 per year – making it an awesome side hustle you can start with virtually no money.

You'll need to purchase a domain name and hosting to get started. I recommend using Namecheap to purchase your domain and SiteGround for your hosting. These platforms offer the best services at an affordable price.

So how much can you realistically make from a blog?

Believe it or not, the sky is the limit when it comes to owning an online business. My portfolio of websites currently makes over $10k a month.

2021 Website Income

Check out my post on how to start a blog to learn more!

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Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Doordash Tips

Food Delivery

Starting a delivery side hustle is a great option for engineers who want an easy side hustle to help them make extra money.

By using a platform like Doordash, you can earn over $20 per hour in many cities by delivering food to customers.

Some people even make a living with Doordash making it completely worth it.

The best part of this side hustle is that you can work your own schedule. If you have some free time throughout the day – why not make some extra money?

Register for Doordash below to start earning!

With Doordash you can set your own schedule and work when you want. Earn over $20 per hour today!
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Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Instacart Shoppers App

Grocery Delivery

Another driving app that pays you is the grocery deliver app Instacart.

Instacart is just like Doordash except instead of delivering food, you'll get paid to deliver groceries.

In most cities you can make over $20 per hour making it a lucrative side hustle idea for engineers and others.

There are many tips and tricks to make more money like delivering during peak times. This can help you make $500 a week or more with Instacart

Create your Instacart account below to get started!

With Instacart you can work your own hours and get paid to deliver groceries!
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Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Online Tutoring

Teaching your engineering skills to others can be a great way to make extra money on the side in addition to your day job.

Many online tutoring platforms allow you to set your own hourly rate, making it a great option for those looking to make some serious cash.

And with the increases in online learning, there's never been a better time to start tutoring others.

To get started, you can create an account on Tutor.com or other tutoring platforms that will connect you with college students who need help.

Another option to to work directly with students. You could start your own tutoring business or work for an existing one. With this option, you'll make more money, but it can be difficult to find students.

Tutoring is a great way to use your valuable engineering skills to earn an extra income. In some cases, it can even become a full time job if you get enough students.

Start Your Own Business

Starting a business is a great way to make extra cash as an engineer.

There are a number of businesses you can easily start with very little money that could eventually turn into a full-time gig.

Some businesses you could start include:

  • A home-based business fixing electronics
  • An online store selling engineering-related products
  • Solar panel installation services

There are also plenty of other profitable business ideas outside of the engineering world.

For example, starting a pressure washing business or mobile car detailing business can be a great way to make extra money.

Starting a business takes a unique skillset and not everyone is cut out for it. But if you're entrepreneurial and looking for a way to make some serious cash, starting a business could be the way to go.

Make Money with YouTube

Start a YouTube Channel

Starting a YouTube channel is another great way to make extra money as an engineer.

You can start a channel about anything you want, but engineering-related channels have the potential to be very profitable.

For example, mechanical engineers could show others how to complete engineering projects or how to use various engineering tools.

Electrical engineers could create videos on electrical projects or repairs. There are countless ways to use your engineering expertise to profit with YouTube.

There are a number of engineers who have started successful YouTube channels and are now making a full-time income from their videos.

If you're looking for a way to make some extra money and have some fun at the same time, starting a YouTube channel is a great option.

Start a Podcast

Podcasting is another form of content creation that can be very profitable side hustle for any type of engineer.

By starting a podcast, you can make passive income by selling advertising or sponsorships and promoting affiliate offers.

There are many types of podcasts you could start ranging from engineering news to interviews with other engineers.

You could also start a podcast about a hobby you have that's related to engineering such as woodworking or 3D printing.

Podcasting is a great way to make money on the side and it's something you can do in your spare time.

It can take some time to grow a podcast to a point where it's making money, but it can be a great way to make extra cash in the long run if you give it enough time. Check out the video below to learn more about starting a podcast!

Work as a Freelancer

If you're looking for a side hustle in addition to your day job, freelancing is a great option for engineers.

There are plenty of freelance opportunities available for engineers of all skillsets.

Some freelance gigs you could consider include:

  • Programming
  • Data entry
  • Writing
  • Transcription
  • And more

There are plenty of side jobs and freelance opportunities for those with technical skills. You just need to know where to look.

You can browse freelance sites such as Upwork or Fiverr to find gigs you might be interested in.

Resume Writer

If you've worked in the corporate world as an engineer, there's tremendous opportunity helping others land engineering jobs by helping them craft their resume.

With this side hustle, you can use your knowledge of what recruiters and hiring managers are looking for to help people land their dream job.

To find work with this side hustle, you can promote your services on LinkedIn and other professional networks.

The amount of money you can make will vary but it's possible to make over $200 per resume you help create.

Sell Online Courses

If you want to start making money online, selling online courses can be a lucrative side hustle idea for many engineers.

You can use your engineering skills to teach others a variety of topics, including:

  • How to get a job in the engineering field
  • How to improve your engineering skills
  • How to start your own engineering-related business

Or, you can teach something completely outside of engineering.

The amount of money you can make selling online courses is tremendous. Some course creators have made millions from their efforts.

Becoming a profitable course creator won't happen overnight, however.

You'll need to create a plan to sell your courses and market them to your audience. If you don't have an existing audience, you can partner with others through affiliate marketing or use digital advertising campaigns to gain exposure.

Check out the video below to learn more about selling an online course!

Work as an Engineering Consultant

Engineering consultants provide their services to businesses in a variety of industries.

As an engineering consultant, you could:

  • Provide advice and feedback on product development and design
  • Optimize manufacturing operations
  • Develop and implement quality control procedures

There are plenty of engineering companies that offer consulting services you can work for, but you can also work as a consultant on your own.

To get started, you'll need to identify businesses in your area that could benefit from your engineering skills.

Then, reach out and see if they're interested in your consulting services.

The amount of money you can make as a consultant will vary depending on the services you provide and the clients you work with.

In general, engineering consultants charge between $100 and $300 per hour.

Sell 3D Printed Items

Sell 3D Printed Items

If you love to create things, you can use your engineering skills to start a business selling 3D printed items.

There are many online marketplaces you can sell your products like Etsy and Shapeways.

You can also create your own website to sell your 3D printed products. This can help you make even more money because you won't lose some of your profits to fees charged by these websites.

The amount of money you can make with this side hustle will depend on the products you sell and how well you market your business and this is just one of the ways you can make money with a 3D printer

It's possible to make a full-time income with this side hustle if you have a great business plan and put in the effort required to succeed.

Work as a Handyman

Work as a Handyman

Becoming a handyman is a simple side hustle if you have some basic engineering skills.

There are plenty of people who need help with repairs around their home but don't have the time or skills to do it themselves.

As a handyman, you can offer your services to help these people out.

Some of the tasks might include:

  • Assembling furniture
  • Installing appliances
  • Fixing plumbing and electrical problems
  • And more

The amount of money you can make will depend on the tasks you complete and the city you live in but it's possible to make over $40 per hour for your services.

Build Websites

Building websites can be a great way to make money doing something you like.

This side hustle is perfect for a software engineer who already has the skills to build websites.

Many small businesses need websites built but don't have the budget to hire someone full-time to do it.

Instead, they'll outsource the work to others providing you a great opportunity to make money.

As a website builder, you can offer your services to help these businesses get found online.

The amount of money you can make will depend on the complexity and size of the websites you build but it's possible to make over $100 per hour with this side hustle.

Develop Apps

Develop Apps

Just like building websites, developing apps is another great way to make money on the side as a software engineer.

If you have the skills to develop mobile apps, there's a good chance you can find work building apps for others.

Businesses of all sizes are looking to develop apps to help them reach their customers in a new way.

Work as an Adjunct Professor

If you love to teach others, you can make money on the side by becoming an adjunct professor.

Adjunct professors typically teach one or two classes at a local college or university on a part-time basis.

This side hustle is perfect for engineers who want to share their knowledge with students but don't want the commitment of a full-time teaching position.

The pay for adjunct professors can vary depending on the institution but it's typically around $3,000 per class.

CAD Specialist

Work as a CAD Specialist

CAD, or computer aided design, is a software used by engineers to create 2D and 3D models. It's often used by mechanical engineers to design parts and assemblies.

If you're skilled in CAD, you can offer your services as a CAD specialist to help others with their projects.

This is a great side hustle for mechanical engineers or architects who want to use their CAD skills to make some side money.

Rent Things

While this isn't a traditional side hustle, renting things you own is a great way to make extra money for anyone, including engineers.

There are many different things you can rent like:

  • Garage space
  • Tools
  • Appliances
  • Lawn equipment
  • And more

Renting things you own is a great way to make money doing nothing if you have items that you don't use often but are still in good condition.

Drive for Uber or Lyft

Driving for Uber or Lyft is another great way to earn money on the side.

This is a great side hustle because you can pick your hours and it's always in high demand.

The amount of money you can make will depend on your city but it's possible to make over $25 per hour.

Because some of your income will rely on tips, it's important to provide great customer service to your riders. This could include things like offering free water to riders, having phone chargers, or allowing riders to control the music and volume.

Do Odd Jobs for Neighbors

Doing odd jobs for your neighbors is a great way to make some extra money.

There are always people in your neighborhood who need help with odd jobs, so why not make some money outside of work hours?

You can sign up with a site like TaskRabbit to starting earning money in your free time.

Publish a Book

If you want to make passive income as an engineer, publishing a book is a great option.

This side hustle is perfect for engineers who are experts in their field and want to share their knowledge with others.

The process of publishing a book can be long but once it's published, you can continue to make money from it for years to come.

Thanks to self publishing platforms like Amazon Kindle, it's easier than ever to publish a book.

SEO Consultant

Work as an SEO Consultant

Many parts of SEO are technical, making it a great side hustle for engineers.

As an SEO consultant, you can offer your services to help businesses improve their ranking in search engines.

One of the best parts about this side job is that it is a remote side hustle meaning you can do it from anywhere in the world.

This is also one of the more lucrative side hustles for engineers, with some consultants charging over $200 per hour.

Start a Flipping Side Hustle

Flipping is a great side hustle for engineers and anyone else because it's all about effort.

To be successful at flipping, you need to be able to find good deals on items that you can sell for a profit.

This could include things like:

The amount of money you can make from flipping will depend on the item you're selling and how much of a profit you're able to make but some flippers make over 6-figures from their efforts.

Rover

Pet Sitting

Looking for an easy side hustle? Pet sitting is a great option to make extra income on the side.

With pet sitting, you can make $50 a day or more just by looking over pets while their owners are away.

My favorite platform is Rover. It's free to get started so sign up below!

Start Pet Sitting!

What's a Good Side Job for an Engineer?

The best side jobs for engineers are ones that make use of their engineering skills.

This could include things like:

  • CAD Specialist
  • SEO Consultant
  • Engineer Consulting
  • Tutoring

Make Passive Income as an Engineer

If you want to make passive income as an engineer, there are a few ways you can do it. Some of the best include:

  • Investing in the stock market with Acorns
  • Invest in real estate with Fundrise
  • Invest in small businesses with Mainvest
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Can I Start a Side Hustle if I have a Full-Time Engineering Job?

Sure thing!

Unless otherwise stated in your terms of employment, starting a side hustle with a full time engineering job can be an excellent way to make more money. Between weekends and week nights, there is plenty of time to work on your side hustle outside of your job. 

Side Hustles for Electrical Engineers

If you're an electrical engineer looking to grow your income, you can consider some of these side hustles:

  • Quality Control
  • Tutoring
  • Teaching

Side Hustles for Software Engineers

Side Hustles for Software Engineers

If you specialize in software engineering, some of the best side hustles for software engineers include:

  • App development
  • Website development
  • QA testing
  • Math teacher

Data Engineer Side Hustles

Data engineers can make money on the side by working some of these side hustles for data engineers:

  • Technical writing
  • Database consulting
  • Career counsleing

Final Thoughts on Side Hustles for Engineers

Whether you're a mechanical engineer, electrical engineer, or a software engineer – there are plenty of side hustle ideas to accompany your full time job.

From starting a blog or YouTube channel to working as a part time CAD specialist, there are many side hustles well suited for engineers.

By using your engineering skills and knowledge, you can easily start making money on the side doing something you love.

Forrest is a personal finance, entrepreneurship, and investing expert dedicated to helping others obtain life long wealth. He has a Bachelor's degree in business and has been featured in many popular publications including Forbes, Business Insider, Bankrate, CNET Money, and many others. To learn more about Forrest, visit the About Us Page for more info.
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