The highest paying gig economy jobs in 2026 are the ones that need a licence or a specialist skill: telehealth, editing, computer support and massage, with pay in the range of $28 to $47 an hour for comparable US occupations. Low-skill gigs like childcare and pet care pay closer to $17 an hour. This updated list of 15 replaces apps that have shut down and uses May 2025 US wage data as the benchmark.
| # | Gig | Pay anchor |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Telehealth provider | $46.90/hr (RN median) |
| 2 | Proofreader or editor | $37.46/hr (editor median) |
| 3 | Computer help | $30.24/hr |
| 4 | Mobile massage | $28.10/hr (median) |
| 5 | Course creator | Varies, no cap |
| 6 | Expert advice | Varies |
| 7 | CV writer | Up to about $37/hr (earlier figure) |
| 8 | Online tutor | About $10 to $25+/hr |
| 9 | Vehicle supplier | Varies, up to about $1,000/month (earlier figure) |
| 10 | Online seller | Varies by item |
| 11 | Consignor | 40% to 60% commission |
| 12 | Space host | Varies |
| 13 | Delivery and PA | Varies after expenses |
| 14 | Pet care | $17.08/hr (median) |
| 15 | Child care | $16.82/hr (median) |
Prefer video? Here is the original walkthrough:
1. Telehealth provider
Typical pay: BLS median for registered nurses, $46.90 an hour (May 2025); gig rates depend on your licence and the platform
Psychologists, nurses, doctors and dietitians now offer virtual appointments, which is more affordable and convenient for patients. Registered nurses had a median pay of $97,550 a year ($46.90 an hour) in May 2025, which is our anchor for what a licensed clinician can command. Platform and contract rates for telehealth vary a lot, so check the terms before you sign up.
2. Proofreader or editor
Typical pay: BLS median for editors, $37.46 an hour (May 2025); entry-level proofreading pays less
Spelling and grammar errors make a business look bad, so websites, journalists, publishers and creators need a second pair of eyes. If you love reading and have a feel for language, proofreading is a low-cost start. Editors had a median of $77,920 a year ($37.46 an hour) in May 2025. Be aware that AI writing tools have made basic proofreading more competitive, so editing for tone, accuracy and structure is where the money is.
3. Computer buffs for hire
Typical pay: BLS median for computer support specialists, $30.24 an hour (May 2025)
Remote work showed us who is tech-savvy and who is not, from muted microphones to full network failures. Computer support specialists had a median pay of $62,890 a year ($30.24 an hour) in May 2025. As a freelancer you can fix home offices, set up routers and teach older relatives to use video calls.
4. Mobile massage therapist
Typical pay: BLS median for massage therapists, $28.10 an hour (May 2025); mobile private clients can pay more
At-home massage is a common service for people who prefer their own space. Massage therapists had a median pay of $58,450 a year ($28.10 an hour) in May 2025, and the earlier version of this article reported $60 to $65 an hour for mobile sessions. Treat that higher figure as an estimate: it is a per-session price before travel time, supplies and insurance. Set-up costs are minimal, but you need a licence in most places.
5. Course creator
Typical pay: Varies widely; no earnings cap, and no guaranteed income (our view)
You may have been teaching for years and want to hang up your teacher’s cap for a while. You can still earn by creating your own course. You do not even need to be a teacher: if you speak German and Chinese, you can build short courses that teach German speakers Chinese. You can create a course on any topic you know well.
6. Expert advice and consulting
Typical pay: Varies by field; no reliable platform average
If you are an expert in your field, you can earn by answering questions or consulting for hours at a time. Several question-and-answer sites exist, but we have dropped the specific names from this edition because the terms and reputations of those sites change quickly. Look for platforms with clear payout terms, and be sceptical of sites that promise a fixed monthly income.
7. CV and resume writer
Typical pay: The earlier edition reported up to $37 an hour; we could not confirm a current average
Many job portals and gig platforms require a CV. Not everyone knows how to write one that shines, so writing CVs for others is a niche with steady demand. If you can offer it, you can charge per document instead of per hour.
8. Online personal tutor
Typical pay: Roughly $10 to $25 an hour and more (earlier reported figure; platform-dependent)
Tutoring is not limited to English. Some sites require qualifications and others do not. If you are a seamstress, you can run online sewing classes; if you are a chef, you can teach cooking. Rates vary a lot by subject and platform. Review the platform’s fees and payout rules, since some tutoring marketplaces have changed their markets or exited countries in recent years.
9. Vehicle supplier
Typical pay: Earnings depend on city, car and insurance; the earlier edition said up to $1,000 a month
If you work from home, you may have a car sitting in the garage. Turo lets owners rent cars to travellers, and its filings showed 360,000 active vehicle listings in March 2024. Two names from our earlier list are gone: Getaround ceased its US operations on February 12, 2025, which also ended the HyreCar business in the US, and in June 2026 its board announced plans to dissolve and liquidate. Check insurance carefully, since your personal policy may not cover rentals.
10. Online seller
Typical pay: Anywhere from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars per item; depends on what you sell
Online sellers sell anything: make-up, old phones, upcycled furniture and handmade items. Flipping can also work: you can bid at an online auction, buy a storage unit cheaply and sell the contents item by item. If something is broken, fix it and sell it for a profit.
If you want bigger money, set up your own store. We recommend Shopify. Go to alux.com/sell to see Shopify’s current starter offer.
11. Consignor
Typical pay: 40% to 60% commission per item sold (earlier edition figure)
You do not need your own stock. Ask friends and family who has items they would like to sell and sell on their behalf. Working as a middleman is not bad when you earn a commission. If you are home all day and buyers can easily view and collect, your monthly earnings can go up noticeably.
We have tips for working from home in our video:
12. Storage and space host
Typical pay: Varies by space and city
Every gig list suggests Airbnb, but many people hate strangers in their home. If you have extra space, you can still earn. Rent a spare garage to store a boat or camper van, or a spare room as office space during working hours. Peerspace, a marketplace for renting spaces, reported about $100 million in revenue on $500 million in turnover in 2024. Storage marketplaces also exist. Rates depend on your location.
Aluxers, remember to subscribe to our channel for more ideas. And if you like staying in luxury Airbnbs, check out 15 Most Breath-Taking Airbnb’s.
13. Delivery driver and personal assistant
Typical pay: Varies by platform, tips and costs; check pay after fuel and vehicle expenses
One of our earlier picks, Postmates, no longer exists as its own app: Uber acquired it for $2.65 billion in December 2020. Today, drivers who deliver anything from office supplies to takeaway meals work through Uber, DoorDash or Instacart. DoorDash operated in the US, Canada, Mexico and Australia as of April 2026, and through its Deliveroo and Wolt subsidiaries across Europe and parts of the Middle East and Central Asia. You become a PA to anyone who hires your service. Your biggest cost is the vehicle.
14. Pet care
Typical pay: BLS median for animal care and service workers, $17.08 an hour (May 2025)
People will always have pets. Pet services include dog walking, pet sitting, grooming and boarding. Rover, a marketplace for pet sitting, boarding and dog walking, was acquired by Blackstone for $2.3 billion in a deal completed in February 2024. Animal care and service workers had a median pay of $35,530 a year ($17.08 an hour) in May 2025, and specialist groomers or sitters on a marketplace can charge more.
15. Child care
Typical pay: BLS median for childcare workers, $16.82 an hour (May 2025)
Exhausted parents need a night out, and childcare is steady work. Childcare workers had a median pay of $34,980 a year ($16.82 an hour) in May 2025. Babysitters and nannies who offer reliable, flexible hours can charge more than the average, especially in big cities.
Question: Aluxers, what gig economy job do you do? We’d love to hear from you.
Keep reading
- 15 ways to increase your income this year: more routes beyond gig work
- 15 most valuable money-making skills in 2026: the skills that decide your hourly rate
- 10 business skills that print money forever: how to turn a side gig into a business
FAQ
What are the highest paying gig economy jobs?
Jobs that need a licence or specialist skills pay the most, such as telehealth (RN median $46.90 an hour), editing ($37.46) and computer support ($30.24), according to May 2025 BLS data for comparable occupations.
How many people do gig work in the US?
Estimates vary with definitions. A Federal Reserve household survey found about 20% of adults did some gig activity in the prior month, while the BLS counted 11.9 million independent contractors (7.4% of employment) in July 2023.
Which gig apps shut down?
Getaround ceased US operations in February 2025, which ended HyreCar in the US, and Postmates was absorbed into Uber after a $2.65 billion acquisition in December 2020.
Can I do gig work without special skills?
Yes. Childcare, pet care, delivery and consigning have low entry barriers, but they also pay less. BLS medians were $16.82 for childcare workers and $17.08 for animal care workers.
Is AI a threat to gig jobs?
It is changing some. Marketplaces such as Fiverr launched AI features in 2025, and Upwork partnered with OpenAI the same year. Tasks like basic proofreading are more exposed than in-person services.
How do I get started?
Pick one skill you already have, join one platform, and compare your net pay after fees, travel and insurance before you add a second gig.
How we put this list together
We kept the original 15 gig types and benchmarked each against the latest US occupational wage data (May 2025) where a close match exists. Figures from the earlier edition are labelled as such, and platforms that have closed or changed hands were replaced or noted.
Last updated: October 2026.
