Nowadays, almost everyone knows someone who is or has been part of the gig economy. And for good reason! Gig economy jobs are a great way to make money quickly, whether it’s alongside a regular full-time job or if freelancing is your full-time job.
In fact, according to McKinsey & Company, 36% of the American workforce identifies as independent workers, up from 27% in 2016. And that number is only expected to grow.
But what exactly is the gig economy, and what are the best gig economy jobs?
The term “gig economy” describes the changing face of the labor market and encompasses a broad range of jobs and work arrangements, including freelance work, independent contractors, on-demand app services, side hustles, short-term placements, and more.
There are a million and one reasons why someone might participate in the gig economy, including flexibility, extra money, or a career change.
Whatever your reasons for wanting to join, there are tons of opportunities to grab a slice of the gig economy pie. But not all opportunities are like the others.
But if you need to make money fast, you’ll want to hone in on the best options. These are the best gig economy jobs to make money quickly.
Best Gig Economy Jobs to Make Money Fast
Rideshare Apps
1. Uber
By far the most well-known rideshare app, Uber allows its drivers to make money by transporting passengers in their local area. The app is available in both large and small cities. Drivers can set their own schedule and get paid out quickly for jobs with Instant Pay.
To work as a driver for Uber, you’ll need to be at least 21 years old, have a safe and reliable 4-door vehicle, a valid driver’s license, and a clean driving record. It can take up to a week for your driver application to be approved, but most receive approval within a few days. After that, you’re ready to start driving! You can begin taking riders and choose to get paid weekly or up to six times a day for an $0.85 fee with Instant Pay.
2. Lyft
Like Uber drivers, Lyft drivers make money by carrying passengers to their destinations requested via the app. Lyft drivers must be 25 or older and have a 4-door vehicle, a valid license, and insurance.
Lyft generally approves driver applications within a few days. Once your application and vehicle are approved, you can begin driving and get paid weekly or daily for an $0.85 fee with Express Pay.
3. HopSkipDrive
HopSkipDrive is a rideshare app similar to Uber and Lyft but for transporting children. As such, the driving requirements are a little more strict. To work as a HopSkipDrive “CareDriver,” you’ll need to be at least 23 years old, have at least five years of caregiving experience, and have a vehicle that is less than 10 years old. You’ll also need to pass an extensive background check and vehicle inspection.
But all that extra work pays! CareDrivers earn up to $50 per hour and have the ability to set their own schedules. HopSkipDrive is currently available in Arizona, California, Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Washington D.C.
Food Delivery Apps
4. Uber Eats
The food delivery counterpart to Uber, Uber Eats pays drivers to deliver food from just about any restaurant to any location. Delivering food for Uber Eats has slightly less stringent requirements than driving for Uber. Uber Eats drivers must be 19 years old and can deliver via car or scooter. 18-year-olds can also deliver for the app via bicycle or foot.
Like Uber, Uber Eats delivery drivers are paid automatically on a weekly basis, or they can choose to be paid early for an additional fee up to five times per day.
5. DoorDash
DoorDash is another on-demand app that provides food delivery services. DoorDash drivers, or “Dashers,” can deliver food from restaurants or items they shop for themselves at grocery, convenience, or retail stores.
To work as a Dasher, you’ll need to be at least 18 years old and have a driver’s license and insurance. You can make your deliveries with any car, motorcycle, scooter, or bike. How long it takes to have your application approved varies—anywhere from a few days to two weeks.
6. Instacart
Instacart is an on-demand grocery app. You can choose to work in-store as a shopper or as a “full-service shopper” who provides both shopping and delivery services. If you decide to work taking grocery deliveries, you need to be at least 18, have access to a vehicle, and have a smartphone.
Instacart approves most shopper applications within a few days. Once you start working, you can get paid weekly or cash out your earnings on the same day for a $0.50 fee with Instant Cashout.
7. Favor
Favor is a delivery app for anything and everything. As a delivery driver with Favor, you could deliver anything from restaurant meals to dry cleaning. To work as a Favor “Runner,” you need to be at least 18 and have access to a vehicle, a clean driving record, and a smartphone.
Runner applications are typically approved within a couple of days. After successfully completing your first delivery, you can get paid weekly via direct deposit or cash out immediately for a $0.99 fee.
8. GrubHub
GrubHub is a popular app that offers food delivery from restaurants. To work as a driver for GrubHub, you need to be at least 18 and have a valid ID and a smartphone. You can take deliveries with a car, scooter, or bicycle. Car drivers need to have a driver’s license and insurance.
GrubHub approves most driver applications in less than a day. You can get paid for your deliveries within 15 minutes for a $0.50 fee with Instant Cashout.
Other Delivery Apps
9. Amazon Flex
With Amazon Flex, you can get paid to deliver Amazon packages to customers using your own vehicle. To work as an Amazon Flex driver, you must be at least 21 years old and have a 4-door vehicle, a valid driver’s license, and insurance.
It can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to have your Amazon Flex driver application approved. After that, though, Amazon offers $18-$25 per hour, which is some of the higher pay for gig economy jobs. You can get paid as quickly as daily on weekdays or once per week.
10. Shipt
Shipt is another on-demand app that provides grocery and package delivery services. Grocery deliveries with Shipt work similarly to other apps; drivers shop for and then deliver groceries and other items. Package deliveries, however, all come from the same place—Target! Shipt package delivery drivers pick up Target orders from a central hub in their city and deliver them to customers’ homes.
The requirements for both positions are the same: drivers must be 18, have a 4-door vehicle, a valid driver’s license and auto insurance, and a smartphone. Driver applications take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to be approved, depending on your location. You can cash out payments once per day or get paid automatically weekly.
Dog Walking & Pet Sitting Apps
11. Wag!
If you love dogs, walking them via an app like Wag! is an excellent way to make money in the gig economy. Wag! connects pet parents in need of dog walkers and pet sitters across the country.
To work as a dog walker with Wag!, you must be at least 18 years old and be able to pass a background check. Wag! approves most dog walker applications within two weeks. Payments are processed weekly, but you can opt to cash out instantly for a 3% fee.
12. Rover
Rover is another on-demand app for dog walking and pet caregiving services. You can offer a range of pet services with the app: dog walking, dog boarding, house sitting, drop-in visits, and more.
The requirements to work with Rover are similar; you’ll need to be at least 18 and be able to pass a background check. Rover approves most applications in 5 to 10 days. Payouts from Rover are automatically transferred to your bank account via direct deposit, usually within five days of completing a service.
Task-Based Apps
13. Taskrabbit
Taskrabbit is an on-demand app that offers a variety of task-based side gigs. With Taskrabbit, you can do anything from assembling Ikea furniture to completing handyman work to running errands.
Taskrabbit Taskers need to be at least 18 years old, have a U.S. Social Security Number, and be able to pass a background check. It usually takes a few days to a week to be approved to work with Taskrabbit. Once you complete your first task, payment will automatically transfer via Stripe within a few days.
14. Dolly
If you have a truck, cargo van, or other large vehicle, you can make money helping people move with Dolly. If you don’t have a vehicle, you can still make money simply as a helper. Drivers make an average of $50 per hour, while helpers make around $35.
If you want to drive with Dolly, you’ll need to be at least 18, have a valid driver’s license and insurance, and be able to pass a background check. Applications are usually approved within 7-10 days. After that, you can start picking up gigs! Earnings are paid out twice a week via PayPal.
15. Gigwalk
Gigwalk is a task-based app that lets you make money by completing small “gigs” for companies – usually retail stores looking for feedback on products and displays in their store. After you complete a gig, you may be asked to answer a few questions or submit a report.
Once your answers are accepted, payment is made by PayPal, usually within a few days. You’ll need a PayPal account and to be at least 18 years old to use Gigwalk.
Other Places to Find Gig Economy Jobs
While many of today’s gig economy jobs revolve around apps, you don’t have to go that route! Plenty of gig workers find their own freelance clients, work with an agency, or take on a different type of work. Here are a few other places where you can find gig economy jobs.
Freelance Marketplaces
Freelance marketplaces like Fiverr or Upwork are great places to find gig work and short-term contracts. Fiverr is a marketplace where freelancers can list their services, usually for a small fee, with the option to add additional services. While Fiverr started out as a place to offer short tasks for $5, the platform has grown since then, and freelancers can now make much more than $5, providing a variety of services, such as graphic design, social media management, or copywriting.
Upwork is an online platform where large and small businesses alike can list their freelance gigs. Freelancers can submit their portfolios and bid on the gig jobs they like, and then the employer will choose a freelancer to work with.
Staffing Agencies
You don’t have to go it alone just because you freelance. Plenty of remote staffing agencies place professionals in short-term placements and freelance roles. This can be an excellent option for those looking for temporary work or quick, supplemental income. Staffing agencies also represent a broad range of industries found in more traditional jobs – from IT and Engineering to Human Resources, Accounting, and much more.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Gig Economy Jobs
The primary benefit of the gig economy is flexibility. Gig workers tend to enjoy setting their own schedules and having the flexibility to work when, where, and with whom they want to. Because of this, gig workers can also have greater control over their earning potential since they can work more or less when needed.
At the same time, though, gig workers are usually independent contractors, which means they are responsible for paying their own taxes, covering their own expenses, and providing their own health insurance.
For that reason, it’s essential to do some research before jumping head-first into the gig economy. But with a little bit of planning and preparation, you, too, can make money with gig economy jobs.
