Jobs in the gig economy are short-term, project-based jobs that provide a great deal of flexibility. From freelance jobs and independent contractor jobs to part-time jobsand temporary jobs, gig work is available in different forms and career areas for both entry-level and experienced job seekers, and some gig jobs feature flexible schedules as well.
If you’re looking for a side hustle that offers supplemental income or you’re simply seeking more flexible work options, gig economy jobs offer wide-ranging opportunities. No matter your unique situation, you can find a gigsuited to your interests, skills, career goals, and work-life balance needs. You can even turn a hobby into a side job or pick uptwo or three gigs that allow you to boost your income while avoiding traditional full-time employment.
To jump-start your search for gig work, consider the following lists of top gig jobs, companies that offer gig work, and where to find gig jobs.
Note:
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15 Top Gig Jobs
Have you been googling “gig jobs near me” or “gig work near me”? Or perhaps you’ve been searching for “remote gig jobs” and “gig jobs from home”? If you’re nodding your head, pause and consider this list of some of the most common gig jobsto determine if any of these roles are a strong career fit for you.
1. Bookkeeper Gig Jobs
Bookkeeping gigs offer a great deal of flexibility, as they typically only require a computer and accounting software. As a bookkeeper, you’ll help clients or companies organize and monitor their accounts, financial records, and payroll, and these positions may also involve some data entry. Bookkeeping jobs are available year-round, but when tax season rolls around, you’ll likely find an influx of gig opportunities.
2. Consultant Gig Jobs
Consulting gigs are ideal for job seekers with specialized skills in a particular area. As a consultant, you’ll provide professional advice or specialized services to clients on a temporary project basis or as a freelancer. Consulting jobs vary widely, and your options for consulting gigs may include HR consultant gigs, travel consultant gigs, or management consulting gigs, among many other areas.
3. Data Entry Gig Jobs
Data entry jobs involve recording and maintaining company records. The specifics of data entry gigs vary by role, but duties may include identifying and correcting errors in data, retrieving requested data, documenting financial transactions, and creating spreadsheets or producing reports. If you’re seeking a part-time data entry gig or a freelance data entry gig, you’ve got a lot of options.
4. Developer Gig Jobs
Developer gigs also require specialized skills to help clients write code, test and evaluate their software programs, and identify areas of improvement. If you have experience in one or more in-demand programming languages, you can put that knowledge to use in an area that interests you as a gig worker or freelance developer. For instance, you can pursue game developer gigs, mobile developer gigs, or web developer gigs, to name a few.
5. Freelance Writer Gig Jobs
Writing is well-suited to remote and flexible work because it can be done from anywhere, and many organizations seek freelance writers to assist with producing original content for their websites, blogs, social media platforms, and other channels of communication. As such, writing gigs come in many forms, such as copywriter, resume writer, and technical writer gigs. If you don’t yet have any formal writing experience, don’t fret, because you can find entry-level writing gigs and freelance writing gigs for beginners.
6. Graphic Design Gig Jobs
From digital design to print design, graphic designers use design software to create brand and communication visuals for various mediums, such as logos, presentations, business cards, and books. If you’re creative and able to produce graphics according to a client or company’s branding, you can find a gig as a graphic designer. As a bonus, graphic design is one of the highest-paying freelance jobs, so if you’re looking for a high-paying gig, this could be your ticket.
7. Online Tutoring Gig Jobs
Whether you’re a former teacher, a subject matter expert, or a student looking for a side gig, online tutoring jobs are plentiful. As an online tutor, you’ll support students in developing and improving their knowledge and skills in a particular area, from subjects like math and science to test prep for an exam. You can work with K-12 or students or adult learners, and tutoring gigs often allow you to work on your own schedule.
8. Photography Gig Jobs
Many photography jobs offer remote and freelance work options, and photographers are essentially tasked with capturing high-quality images for special events and branding or marketing functions. Photography gigs could include photographing corporate gatherings or sporting events, working as a photo editor, assisting art directors with visual storytelling, or coordinating photos for catalogs or guidebooks.
9. Project Gig Jobs
Since gig jobs involve short-term, project-based work, it probably comes as no surprise that project jobs are a solid option for gig work. As a project coordinator, you’ll assist project managers with compiling the information and resources needed to carry out projects. As aproject manager ortechnical project manager, you’ll be responsible for planning, organizing, managing, and executing projects from start to finish. And as a gig worker, you can juggle multiple projects for different clients if you want more than one source of income.
10. Proofreading Gig Jobs
Proofreading gigs involve reviewing written materials for grammar, punctuation, spelling, style, and tone ahead of publication. Like writing, proofreading is a career field that offers many flexible work options, from part-time proofreading jobs to freelance and remote proofreading jobs. Furthermore, proofreaders can work in myriad areas, choosing to proofread legal documents, blog copy, or other content.
11. Social Media Gig Jobs
Not only can you use social media to find freelance work, you can find freelance and gig work in the field of social media. Social media gigs typically involve managing social media accounts on behalf of a client or organization. As a social media manager or social media specialist, for example, you might create social media content, analyze social media posts to boost community engagement, moderate user comments and questions, or analyze traffic to enhance growth.
12. Survey Gig Jobs
Survey gigs are manifold and may involve creating, conducting, or participating in online surveys. Furthermore, you can analyze surveys to identify relevant data that informs business decision-making. These types of survey roles are closely aligned with market research jobs, which is a side hustle that pays well.
12. Testing Gig Jobs
Testing jobs are related to QA jobs in that they involve evaluating a software program’s performance, user interface, and overall efficiency to ensure that all facets of the product are functioning as intended. As a tester, you might review a company’s software specifications and conduct tests to identify and resolve bugs or glitches. Testing gigs can also include carrying out specific trials on a company’s app or platform to provide user insights, and job titles may include penetration tester, software tester, or QA tester.
14. Transcription Gig Jobs
Transcription jobs entail converting video or audio recordings into text, often using a word processor or stenotype machine. Transcriber roles require strong typing skills, and opportunities can be found in different industries, such as legal transcription or medical transcription. In addition to freelance transcription jobs and remote transcription jobs, many transcription gigs also feature flexible schedules.
15. Virtual Assistant Gig Jobs
Administrative jobs are one of the top entry-level jobs and industries for flexible work, and virtual assistant gigs fall into the administrative category.There are many paths to becoming a virtual assistant, and these roles involve an assortment of admin functions, such as providing customer service, organizing calendars, scheduling appointments, planning meetings, and arranging travel.
15 Companies Hiring for Gig Work
Now that you’ve got a better idea of some of the gig job opportunities available to you, explore some companies that hire gig workers and consider if any of these organizations offer the right culture fit for you.
1. B12
B12 creates responsive, optimized websites faster and more cost-efficiently. Using B12’s core platform, Orchestra, companies can create a website draft in minutes before the B12 design team steps in to personalize the site.
2. CG Spectrum
CG Spectrum, an online school and a top-ranked educator in the gaming, creative, and film industries, offers personalized mentorship and specialized programs and supports major studios with upskilling their teams.
3. Charlie Health
Charlie Health is a mental healthcare company specializing in virtual intensive outpatient (IOP) treatment programs and offers personalized treatment options for those in crisis.
4. Correlation One
Correlation One is a technology company on a mission “to create equal access to data-driven jobs of tomorrow” through data science education, data skills assessments, and data science competitions.
5. Duolingo
Duolingo has developed the largest online language learning platform in the world, used by more than 100 million people, and provides free language education software for English speakers in dozens of languages.
6. GAMURS Group
GAMURS Group is a leading eSports media network that strives to engage and inform global entertainment and gaming communities with the best content.
7. Mango Languages
Mango Languages provides individuals, government agencies, public libraries, and schools all over the world with a wide variety of language-learning capabilities.
8. ModSquad
Working to reinvent the customer experience services industry since 2007, ModSquad modernizes outsourcing services that “lighten the load of digital engagement” for some of the world’s most prestigious global brands.
9. Motion Recruitment
Motion Recruitment is a staffing and recruiting company that provides contract, contract-to-hire, and direct-hire IT staffing for mission-critical positions across North America.
10. Pole To Win
Pole To Win is a privately-held global services provider delivering a variety of integrated solutions to help businesses navigate rapidly changing international markets.
11. Randstad
A global staffing company and HR services provider, Randstad offers temporary, permanent, and outsourced staffing services, along with various HR solutions.
12. Robert Half International
Robert Half International is a global professional staffing and consulting firm comprised of several divisions and distinguished as the “world’s first and largest specialized financial recruitment service.”
13. Stage 4 Solutions
A marketing consulting and interim staffing firm, Stage 4 Solutions provides Fortune 500 companies and emerging technology leaders with seasoned marketing professionals to fulfill their short-term and long-term marketing needs.
14. WebFX
WebFX is an internet marketing agency specializing in custom digital marketing strategies in categories like SEO, lead generation, reputation and brand management, content and analytics, social media, and web design.
15. Wikimedia Foundation
The Wikimedia Foundation is a nonprofit organization with a team of over 500 contractors and staff dedicated to fostering the “growth, development, and distribution of free, multilingual content.”
How to Find Gig Jobs: Sites, Apps, and More
Whether you’re looking for local gig jobs or online gig jobs, we’ve highlighted a few sources for finding gig work to help you pursue a successful job search.
1. Gig Marketplaces and Apps
Gig work apps and marketplaces can be excellent sources of gig jobs, and you can explore a variety of apps and marketplaces according to the type of role you’re interested in pursuing.
For instance, if you’re looking for a freelance job, you might try Upwork, a platform used by freelancers to find work and by businesses to source professionals to complete projects remotely. Another option for freelance gig work is Toptal, a network of freelance designers, finance experts, project managers, and software developers, among other professionals, that businesses use to source talent for important projects.
Additional options include Behance for creative professionals, Fiverr for a variety of freelance digital services, and GigSmart for hourly shift gigs, to name a few.
2. Job Boards
In addition to gig job apps and marketplaces, you can utilize job boards to find gig work. While you can explore common, wide-reaching job boards, you’ll likely have more luck if you take advantage of niche job boards, such as FlexJobs.
With a focus on flexible, professional work opportunities, including freelance, temporary, and part-time work, you can more easily find a flexible work arrangement suited to your needs with FlexJobs. Plus, you can use our advanced search options to further narrow down your search results with targeted keyword searches, including searching by location.
3. Professional Networks
Professional networking is another great resource for finding gig jobs. Networking is essential to any job search, but it can be especially useful for gig workers and freelancers who want to ensure a steady income.
On platforms like LinkedIn, you can join industry groups to increase your exposure, share work samples or your personal website to market your skills, and make new connectionsor check in with existing connections that may know of opportunities suited to your strengths and interests.
You can also use social media to network and research employers of interest, attend in-person or virtual job fairs to make new contacts, send networking emails to activate and engage your connections, and touch base with your alumni network for advice or opportunities.
Not only can networking help you find freelance clients, but every connection you make can potentially lead to gig opportunities, and your networking efforts may also help you tap into the hidden job market to find unlisted gig jobs.
Find a Gig Job Today
There are many benefits to side gigs and gig work in general, such as the flexibility to make your own schedule, the freedom to pursue gigs that interest you, and the ability to save money for a rainy day.
