Side Hustle Statistics (2024 Updated)

Last Updated on March 10, 2023 by John Cirelly

The side hustle landscape is constantly evolving with new methods, techniques, and trends. To keep a pulse on how people are earning a side income, here are the most recent side hustle statistics for 2024.

Side Hustle Statistics: 2024

59.7% of side hustlers spend between 5-20 hours per week working their side hustle.

59.7% of side hustlers spend between 5-20 hours per week working their side hustle. More specifically, 46.1% of side hustlers work less than 10 hours per week, while 46.8% work more than 11 hours per week on their side hustle. [Zippa]

This indicates that side hustles are often part-time endeavors that people engage in outside of their regular jobs.

4.7% of side hustles make over $10,000 per month.

4.7% of side hustles make over $10,000 per month. 31.2% make $1,000 to $5,000 per month, but the majority at 36.7% bring in less than $500. [Luisahou]

This highlights the potential for high earnings with a successful side hustle, but also indicates that many side hustles do not generate significant income.

41% of side hustlers rely on their side income to pay bills.

41% of side hustlers rely on that income to cover monthly bills, up from 27% in 2020. The percentage of people spending over 15 hours per week on their side hustle (s) more than doubled in 2021, increasing from 12% to 27%. Over 50% of side hustlers have tried 3 or more different side hustles over the past 12 months. [Dollarsprout]

These statistics indicate that side hustles are becoming more important for covering expenses, and that people are increasingly investing more time and effort into their side hustles.

Over one-third of Americans have a side hustle.

Over one-third of Americans have a side hustle. At least 50% of millennials reportedly have a side hustle. According to Zapier, the average side hustle earns an extra $12,689 per year. [Zapier]

This suggests that side hustles are a widespread phenomenon that many people, especially younger generations, are engaging in to earn additional income.

The majority of side hustlers are aged 25-34.

According to a survey of 1,113 American adults, the majority of side hustlers are aged 25-34, and 55.4% are female. [Self.inc]

This further supports the idea that side hustles are particularly popular among younger generations and women.

40% of individuals have engaged in a side hustle.

40% of American households have someone engaged in a side hustle. The numbers can be broken down further by generation: Millennials – 48%, Generation X – 39%, and Baby Boomers – 28%. [Gighustlers]

These statistics indicate that side hustles are not just a phenomenon among younger generations, but are also common among older generations as well.

Side hustles are up since 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in people picking up side hustles to help cover expenses. [Forbes]

Unsurprisingly, the economic downturn combined with the amount of free time more people had in 2020 led to the increasing popularity of side hustles which still continues throughout 2023.