34 Best Side Hustles for Programmers (Get Extra Money Now!)

You want to know the best side hustles for Programmers, huh? We got you back!

Today, we will show you 34 cool side hustles if you are into programming, some key factors when choosing a side hustle, and much more.

Let’s dive right in!

Best Side Hustles for Programmers Quick Picks

Embarking on a side hustle can boost your income and enhance your skills.

• Most Cool: Dive into the exciting realm of VR/AR Development.
• Most Profitable: Secure the digital world with Cybersecurity Consulting.
• Most Cutting-Edge: Drive innovation with Machine Learning Projects.

34 Profitable Side Hustles for Programmers ($5k+ Monthly!)

The best side hustles for programmers are those that take advantage of your technical skills and provide a steady income stream.

Check out the awesome options below!

Freelance Coding

Estimated Monthly Income: $4000+

Dive into the world of freelance coding and turn your programming skills into a profitable side hustle. As a freelancer, you’ll have the flexibility to choose projects that interest you, set your rates, and work on your schedule. There are numerous platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Toptal where you can find freelance coding gigs. 

According to a report by Payoneer, freelancers specializing in programming and tech earn an average of $28 per hour, significantly higher than many other freelancing fields.

Open-Source Project

Estimated Monthly Income: $2500+

Contributing to open-source projects can be a rewarding way to put your coding skills to use. While it may not provide immediate financial gain, it’s a great way to build your portfolio, gain experience, and network with other programmers. 

If you create your open-source project, you could generate income through sponsorships or donations. GitHub, for example, offers a Sponsorship Program where users can financially support the developers they appreciate.

Remote Consulting

Estimated Monthly Income: $3500+

If you have significant experience and expertise in a particular area of programming, consider offering remote consulting services. This could involve advising on software development practices, troubleshooting code, or helping businesses optimize their tech stack. 

Websites like Clarity.fm allow experts to set their rates and offer advice per minute.

Online Tutoring

Estimated Monthly Income: $3000+

Share your knowledge and passion for programming by becoming an online tutor. Platforms like Codementor and Chegg Tutors make connecting with students looking for help learning to code easy. 

Plus, with the increasing demand for coding skills, there’s never been a better time to get into programming education.

Web Development

Estimated Monthly Income: $4500+

Web development is one of the most in-demand skills in today’s digital world. Many businesses are willing to pay top dollar for developers who can create, maintain, and optimize their websites. Freelance platforms and specialized web dev job boards like Smashing Jobs can be excellent sources of part-time gigs.

Coding Instructor

Estimated Monthly Income: $2800+

Teaching coding classes is another great way to monetize your programming skills. You could offer classes locally or teach online through platforms like Udemy or Coursera. 

Plus, creating a course allows you to earn passive income—once the course is set up, you can continue to earn money as students enroll.

Software Engineering

Estimated Monthly Income: $5000+

While software engineering might be your day job, it can also make for a lucrative side hustle. 

Whether freelance work, creating your software, or contributing to open-source projects, there are plenty of ways to earn extra money as a software engineer outside your 9-5 job.

Replit Bounties

Estimated Monthly Income: $2000+

Replit, an online coding platform, offers bounties for users who can solve specific coding challenges. 

It’s a fun and competitive way to put your programming skills to the test and make some extra money on the side.

Custom Themes

Estimated Monthly Income: $2300+

If you have a knack for design and code, consider creating and selling custom themes. Whether for websites, apps, or CMS platforms like WordPress, there’s a market for unique and professional-looking themes. 

Themeforest allows you to sell your designs to a large audience.

Sell Code

Estimated Monthly Income: $2600+

Selling code snippets or plugins can be a profitable way to earn passive income. 

Websites like CodeCanyon and Binpress allow you to sell your code to other developers, providing a platform for passive income that rewards quality and efficiency.

Notion Templates

Estimated Monthly Income: $2000+

As a programmer, you can leverage your skills to create and sell Notion templates. Notion is a popular productivity tool individuals and teams use for project management, note-taking, and more. With your coding skills, you can design customizable templates that cater to different use cases, from content calendars to personal finance trackers. 

This can be a lucrative side hustle, especially with the growing demand for productivity tools. You can market and sell your templates on platforms like Etsy or your website. 

Selling APIs

Estimated Monthly Income: $3000+

Selling APIs is a relatively new but rapidly growing side hustle for programmers. APIs allow different software applications to communicate and share data. 

If you’re good at web development, you can build and sell your APIs to businesses and developers. This can bring in a substantial income, depending on the complexity and demand for your API. 

Online Creator

Estimated Monthly Income: $2500+

The online creator economy is booming, and programmers are well-positioned to exploit this trend. You can create digital products such as e-books, courses, or even software tools and sell them online. 

Platforms like Gumroad and Teachable make distributing your products and collecting payments easy. 

Canva Earnings

Estimated Monthly Income: $2200+

If you have a knack for design and your programming skills, consider creating and selling designs on Canva. 

You can create social media posts, presentations, resumes, and templates. Canvas marketplace allows you to earn a commission each time someone purchases your design. 

Crypto Trading

Estimated Monthly Income: $4000+

Crypto trading is another potential side hustle for programmers. With your analytical skills, you can develop trading algorithms or bots to automate your trades. 

This can be a high-risk, high-reward venture, so it’s important to research and understand the market. 

Freelance Web Development

Estimated Monthly Income: $3500+

Freelance web development is a classic side hustle for programmers. Many businesses need web development services but don’t have the budget for a full-time developer. You can fill this gap by offering your services on a project basis. 

Upwork and Fiverr make it easy to find freelance gigs. 

Technical Writing

Estimated Monthly Income: $2800+

If you enjoy writing, consider technical writing as a side hustle. You can write about programming topics and trends, create tutorials, or even write documentation for software products. 

Websites like Medium allow you to earn money through their Partner Program, and many companies pay for guest posts. 

App Development

Estimated Monthly Income: $5000+

Mobile app development is a lucrative side hustle for programmers. Whether it’s a game, productivity tool, or a niche app, if you can identify a need in the market and build a solution for it, there’s potential for significant earnings. 

You can monetize your app through ads, in-app purchases, or a premium version. 

Game Designing

Estimated Monthly Income: $4500+

Game designing can be a profitable side hustle with the gaming industry booming. You can create and sell games on platforms like Steam or the App Store. 

Additionally, many indie game developers earn money through Patreon or Kickstarter to fund their projects. References: Steam, Patreon

Bug Bounty Hunting

Estimated Monthly Income: $6000+

Bug bounty hunting involves finding security vulnerabilities in software and reporting them to the company for a reward. 

Many tech companies, including Google and Facebook, have bug bounty programs that pay thousands of dollars for critical vulnerabilities. This side hustle not only pays well but also helps improve software security. 

Data Analysis

Estimated Monthly Income: $3500+

As a programmer, one of your most valuable skills is the ability to analyze and interpret complex data sets. Companies in virtually every industry need data analysts to help them make sense of the vast amounts of information they collect. This could involve anything from identifying trends and patterns to predicting future behavior. 

You can use tools like Python, R, SQL, and Tableau to carry out this work. A few places to find freelance data analysis gigs include Upwork, Freelancer, and Toptal.

SEO Specialist

Estimated Monthly Income: $4000+

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a critical aspect of online marketing. As an SEO specialist, you can help businesses optimize their websites to rank higher on search engine results pages, drive more traffic, and ultimately increase sales. 

You might be tasked with researching keywords, optimizing website content, or analyzing web traffic. Familiarity with SEO tools like SEMRush, Moz, and Google Analytics is essential.

WordPress Consulting

Estimated Monthly Income: $3000+

As a WordPress consultant, you can guide businesses on leveraging the popular CMS for their specific needs. 

This could involve customizing themes, optimizing site speed, implementing plugins, or improving security. With over 40% of all websites powered by WordPress, the demand for experts in this field is high.

Plugin Development

Estimated Monthly Income: $4500+

If you’re skilled in PHP, you could consider developing WordPress plugins as a side hustle. With over 58,000 plugins in the WordPress repository, there’s a constant demand for new, innovative solutions to help website owners enhance their sites. 

You can sell your plugins on marketplaces like CodeCanyon or even directly from your website.

Automation Services

Estimated Monthly Income: $5000+

Automation is a major trend in today’s digital world. Businesses are constantly looking for ways to streamline their operations and increase efficiency. As a programmer, you can offer automation services to help companies automate repetitive tasks. 

This could involve writing scripts, creating bots, or using tools like Zapier or Microsoft Power Automate.

UI/UX Designing

Estimated Monthly Income: $5500+

User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) design are crucial elements of any digital product. As a UI/UX designer, you can help businesses create user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing designs for their websites, apps, and other digital products. 

Proficiency in design tools like Adobe XD, Sketch, or Figma is essential.

Cybersecurity Consulting

Estimated Monthly Income: $6000+

With cyber threats on the rise, businesses are more concerned than ever about protecting their digital assets. 

As a cybersecurity consultant, you can help companies assess their security posture, identify vulnerabilities, and implement effective security measures. Knowledge of network security, encryption, and ethical hacking is crucial.

E-commerce Solutions

Estimated Monthly Income: $5000+

E-commerce is booming, and businesses need technical expertise to set up and optimize their online stores. 

As an e-commerce solutions provider, you can offer services like setting up online stores on platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce, integrating payment gateways, or optimizing site performance.

Mobile App Testing

Estimated Monthly Income: $3500+

Before a mobile app is released to the public, it must be thoroughly tested to ensure it works as intended. As a mobile app tester, you can work with developers to identify and rectify any bugs or issues within the app. 

Platforms like UTest or Testbirds connect testers with companies needing their services.

Python Scripting

Estimated Monthly Income: $4000+

Python is one of the most popular programming languages today, prized for its simplicity and versatility. Offering Python scripting services can involve:

• Creating scripts to automate tasks.
• Building web scrapers.
• Analyzing data.
• Even developing web applications. 

Python-related projects are commonly posted on freelance platforms like Upwork or Freelancer.

Machine Learning Projects

Estimated Monthly Income: $5000+

Machine learning is a rapidly evolving field with immense potential for side hustles. Many companies are eager to leverage the power of machine learning but lack the in-house expertise, opening up opportunities for skilled programmers1. You could work on projects such as creating predictive models, improving recommendation systems, or developing AI-powered solutions. 

As a Machine Learning freelancer, you could earn an estimated monthly income of over $5000, depending on the scope and complexity of the projects. Key platforms like Upwork and Fiverr are great starting points for finding freelance Machine Learning projects.

Cloud Consulting

Estimated Monthly Income: $4500+

With the shift towards digital transformation, businesses are migrating their operations to the cloud. This transition requires expert guidance, making cloud consulting a lucrative side hustle for programmers. As a cloud consultant, you could help businesses choose the right platform, strategize their migration process, and optimize their cloud infrastructure. 

Industry reports suggest that experienced cloud consultants can earn an estimated monthly income of over $4500. Websites like Toptal and Guru can be useful platforms to find cloud consulting gigs.

VR/AR Development

Estimated Monthly Income: $4000+

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are revolutionizing various industries, from gaming to real estate. If you have VR/AR development skills, there’s a growing market for your expertise. You could create immersive experiences for businesses, develop educational content, or even build interactive games. 

According to recent statistics, VR/AR developers can make an estimated monthly income of around $4000. Platforms like Unity Connect and Indeed often list VR/AR development projects.

IoT Solutions

Estimated Monthly Income: $3500+

The Internet of Things (IoT) creates a connected world, and businesses are keen to leverage this technology. If you have skills in IoT, you could develop smart solutions for businesses, ranging from home automation systems to industrial IoT applications. 

A recent report suggests IoT developers can earn an estimated monthly income of over $3500. Websites like Simply Hired and Dice are excellent platforms for finding IoT projects.

Understanding the Concept of Side Hustles for Programmers

The best side hustle for programmers leverages their skills and interests while providing a lucrative income. With the rise of remote work and freelance opportunities, side hustles are essential to many people’s lives. Below, you’ll find some info that may help you get started with your side hustle journey as a programmer.

Definition and Importance

A side hustle is any type of employment undertaken in addition to one’s full-time job. A side hustle is generally freelance or piecework, providing a supplemental income. Side hustles are often things a person is passionate about, rather than a typical day job, to make ends meet.

For programmers, side hustles offer an opportunity to supplement income, diversify their skills, and stay updated with the latest trends in the tech world. In fact, according to a study by Bankrate, 45% of U.S. workers report having a side gig, which is even higher among millennials.

The Role of a Programmer in Side Hustles

Programmers have a unique advantage when it comes to side hustles. Their skill set – coding, debugging, software development – is highly sought after in the digital age. They can take on projects like building websites, creating mobile applications, or teaching coding lessons. Websites like Upwork and Freelancer provide platforms for such freelance opportunities.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Side Hustle

Aligning with Your Skillset

The first thing to consider is how well the side hustle aligns with your skills. For instance, data analysis might be a great fit if you’re a whizz at Python. If you’re into gaming, try your hand at developing one. Here are some platforms where you can find side hustles that match your skills:

• Fiverr: Offers gigs in various categories like programming, design, and more.
• Toptal: Connects the top 3% of freelance talent all over the world.

Time Commitment

Next, consider how much time you can devote to your side hustle. Remember, it should not interfere with your full-time job or personal life. Some side hustles, like teaching coding, can require a significant time commitment. In contrast, others, such as bug bounty hunting, can be done as time allows.

Potential Earnings

Finally, consider the earnings potential. Some side hustles might offer immediate returns, while others may require a long-term investment before yielding profits. Sites like Glassdoor can provide insights into the earning potential of various side hustles.

Challenges and Solutions in Side Hustles for Programmers

The best side hustles for programmers require a certain level of technical expertise and dedication. However, there are some common challenges that programmers may face while pursuing a side hustle:

Common Challenges

Starting a side hustle as a programmer can be both exciting and challenging. Here are some of the most common hurdles you might encounter:

1. Time Management: Balancing a full-time job with a side hustle often means juggling multiple tasks and responsibilities. This can lead to burnout if not managed well.
2. Finding Clients: As a new freelancer, finding your first clients can be tough. You need to market yourself effectively to stand out from the competition.
3. Setting Rates: Determining how much to charge for your services can be tricky, especially when starting.
4. Managing Finances: Keeping track of income, expenses, and taxes is another challenge many newbie freelancers face.

Overcoming Challenges

Despite these challenges, there are several strategies to overcome them and succeed in your programming side hustle:

• Prioritize and Delegate Tasks: Use tools like Trello or Asana to organize your tasks and manage your time more effectively.
• Networking and Marketing: Leverage professional networking sites like LinkedIn and platforms like Upwork or Freelancer to find clients.
• Set Competitive Rates: Research what other programmers charge for similar services to help set your rates. Websites like Glassdoor can provide insight into industry standards.
• Use Financial Tools: Use accounting software like QuickBooks or FreshBooks to manage your finances and make tax season less stressful.

Future Trends in Side Hustles for Programmers

The best side hustles for programmers are continually evolving as technology advances. Here are some info that may shape the future of side hustles for programmers:

Emerging Opportunities

The world of programming is vast, as are the opportunities for side hustles. Here are a few areas that are currently trending:

1. Blockchain Development: Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum have created a booming market for blockchain developers. According to Upwork, blockchain-related jobs are among the fastest-growing categories on their platform.
2. AI and Machine Learning: These technologies drive innovation across industries, from healthcare to finance, creating numerous opportunities for programmers with the right skills.
3. Cybersecurity Consulting: With cyber threats increasing, businesses are willing to pay top dollar for experts who can help protect their digital assets.

The Impact of Technological Advancements

Technology doesn’t just create new opportunities; it also shapes how we work. Here are a few trends worth noting:

• Remote Work: The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift towards remote work, making it easier for programmers to juggle a job and a side hustle. You can find remote gigs on platforms like FlexJobs or Toptal.
• Automation: Tools like GitHub Actions and Jenkins can automate repetitive tasks, freeing up more time for your side hustle.
• Online Learning: Websites like Coursera and Udemy offer courses on everything from blockchain development to cybersecurity, making it easier than ever to acquire new skills.

The future looks bright for programmers interested in side hustles. As technology continues to evolve, so will the opportunities. So keep learning, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to try something new. Who knows? Your next side hustle might just be the next big thing.

Best Side Hustles for Programmers FAQ

What side hustles can I do with coding?

There are numerous side hustles for software engineers that you can start to earn extra money. You could consider freelancing, creating applications, or even starting a content blog. One of the more popular side hustles is becoming a web3 developer, which can be a great way for software engineers to make a lot of money in building software. Alternatively, if you’re interested in teaching, you could use your coding skills to mentor others or develop educational resources.

How do you earn side money as a software developer?

As a software developer, earning extra cash can be done in several ways. Consider selling digital products like eBooks or courses to make extra cash. Freelancing is another great side hustle, allowing software developers to work with clients on projects and earn additional income. You can also earn through affiliate links by recommending relevant products and services to your audience.

What is passive income for programmers?

Passive income for programmers often involves creating something once and then continually making money. This could include writing an eBook, developing a course, or creating an app. Affiliate marketing can also be a source of passive income, where you earn money by promoting other people’s products or services. Another type of side hustle that provides passive income is selling APIs.

What side hustle can I do with Python?

Python is a versatile programming language, making it perfect for various side hustles. You can use your programming skills in Python to start freelancing, build applications, or even create a course to teach Python to students of all ages. Other side hustles to earn extra money include automating your hobby or starting a blog where you share best practices and the latest web development trends.

Can a coder be a millionaire?

Yes, a coder can become a millionaire through the right side hustles. Software engineers have the potential to earn significant income by creating popular software or applications, selling digital products, or becoming affiliates for high-paying products. If you’re a web developer with skills in web application programming and want to make extra money, starting a side hustle could be the perfect way to start making money.

Best Side Hustles for Programmers Conclusion

The best side hustles for programmers are not just a way to earn extra income; they’re an opportunity to expand your skills, explore new technologies, and make a real impact. The options are expansive, whether you’re looking for stupidly simple side hustles or seeking more challenges. From blockchain development to cybersecurity consulting, these side jobs can allow programmers to leverage their programming and coding skills in myriad ways. Starting a side hustle is easy as a programmer, with many resources to guide you.

The 34 stupidly simple side hustle ideas we’ve outlined and the more complex options present opportunities for everyone, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced programmer. These simple side hustles to earn extra money as a programmer can fit into your schedule and align with your professional goals. The best side hustles for software engineers, such as teaching, freelancing, or creating digital products, provide avenues to utilize your programming experience to earn more money. As a bonus, these side hustles provide a perfect side hustle for those looking to make a little cash while continuing to learn and grow in their field. Start your side hustle today and embrace the opportunities that lie ahead.