Best Side Hustles for Developers In 2024 ($100+/hr)

Last Updated on February 19, 2024 by John Cirelly

If you’re a developers looking to earn more, you’re in the right place. Below I found nine of the highest paying side hustles for developers, based on common skills and intrests many developers already have.

Freelance Develop on Toptal

For developers looking to leverage their skills in a more lucrative freelance market, Toptal stands out as a premier platform. Toptal prides itself on connecting the top 3% of freelance talent with companies, ensuring that developers are paid what they truly deserve.

On average, developers on Toptal can expect to earn significantly more than through other freelance platforms, with rates often exceeding $100 per hour, depending on the complexity of the project and the developer’s expertise.

To get started, developers must go through a rigorous screening process, including language and personality tests, in-depth skill reviews, and live screening tasks. Once accepted, they gain access to a plethora of high-paying projects from startups to Fortune 500 companies.

Think you got what it takes?

Sell Your Own Widget or Plugin

Marketplaces like CodeCanyon have revolutionized the way developers can earn passive income from their coding projects. By selling your own widget or plugin, you tap into a vast potential for generating earnings while contributing valuable tools to the developer community. This side hustle for developers offers a scalable opportunity to monetize your coding skills.

Initially, the income might start small, but as your product gains traction and receives positive reviews, you could see earnings ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per month. The key to success lies in identifying a niche or a specific need within the developer or webmaster community that your product can address.

Getting started involves setting up a seller account on platforms like CodeCanyon, uploading your product, and then marketing it to potential buyers. This route not only provides a source of income but also enhances your portfolio and reputation as a developer.

Sell a Course For Aspiring Developers

Creating and selling a course is a fantastic side hustle for developers looking to share their knowledge and expertise with aspiring coders. This venture not only allows you to earn income but also to impact the learning journey of others positively. Depending on the platform used and the course’s popularity, developers can expect to earn anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per course. Platforms like Udemy, Coursera, and Teachable offer the tools you need to create, publish, and market your courses to a global audience.

The key to success in this side hustle is to identify a topic or skill in which you excel and for which there is significant demand. This could range from foundational programming languages to advanced development frameworks. Once your course is created, you can incorporate high-quality content, engaging assignments, and comprehensive quizzes. Marketing your course effectively, including leveraging social media and your professional network, can significantly impact its success.

Selling a course not only provides a source of passive income but also establishes you as an authority in your field, opening doors to additional opportunities such as speaking engagements or consulting offers.

Start a Newsletter for Developers

In the realm of side hustles for developers, starting a newsletter offers a unique blend of community building, knowledge sharing, and income generation. With the right approach, developers can turn a newsletter into a profitable venture, potentially earning hundreds to thousands of dollars a month through sponsorships, paid subscriptions, or affiliate marketing. The key to a successful developer newsletter is to deliver high-quality, relevant content that resonates with your target audience. This could range from coding tutorials and industry news to reviews of new tools and technologies.

Starting a newsletter side hustle is relatively straightforward. Platforms like ConvertKit or Mailchimp provide the necessary tools to design, send, and manage your newsletters. To grow your subscriber base, consider leveraging your existing network, social media channels, and content marketing strategies. As your newsletter gains popularity, you can explore monetization options like including sponsored content or offering exclusive content to paid subscribers. This not only helps in generating income but also in establishing you as a thought leader within the developer community.

Start a Web Dev YouTube Channel

Launching a Web Development YouTube channel stands as a compelling side hustle for developers eager to share their expertise while earning additional income. This venture allows for the fusion of creativity, teaching, and technical skill demonstration, appealing to a broad audience ranging from beginners to experienced developers. You can monetize your channel through various avenues such as ad revenue, sponsored content, affiliate marketing, and promoting your own courses or services.

To start a YouTube channel focused on web development, begin by identifying your unique selling proposition—what makes your content stand out. Invest in good-quality recording and editing equipment to ensure your videos are visually appealing and clear. Initially, earnings might start modestly; however, as your channel grows in popularity and subscriber count, potential earnings can scale significantly, with some successful channels earning thousands of dollars per month.

The key to a successful YouTube channel lies in consistently producing high-quality, engaging content that provides value to your viewers. This could include tutorials, project walkthroughs, coding challenges, or reviews of development tools and technologies. Building a strong community around your channel through regular interaction with your viewers and by responding to comments can also enhance your channel’s growth and engagement.

Offer Dev Services on Upwork

Upwork presents a fertile ground for developers to cultivate lucrative side hustles by offering specialized services. In particular, customizing eCommerce stores and WordPress jobs stand out as some of the most sought-after gigs on the platform. Developers skilled in these areas can expect to command hourly rates ranging from $50 to over $100, depending on the complexity of the project and their level of expertise.

Specializing in specific services such as eCommerce customization or WordPress development allows you to target a niche market, making it easier to stand out and attract clients. Furthermore, consistently delivering high-quality work on time can help you build a strong reputation on the platform, leading to more job offers and the ability to charge higher rates.

To get started, identify the services you want to offer based on your skills and market demand. Then, set up your Upwork profile, emphasizing your expertise in these areas. It’s also beneficial to keep up with the latest trends and tools in your field to offer cutting-edge solutions to your clients.

Participate in Bug Bounty Programs

Bug bounty programs offer an enticing side hustle for developers with a knack for security and problem-solving. Many tech companies, from startups to tech giants, run these programs to encourage ethical hackers and developers to identify and report vulnerabilities in their software. Participation in these programs can be highly rewarding, with payouts for discovered bugs ranging from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the severity and impact of the vulnerability.

The process typically involves registering for a bug bounty platform like HackerOne or Bugcrowd, where you can find a list of companies and their bounty offerings. Success in this side hustle requires a deep understanding of security protocols, coding flaws, and how attackers might exploit these vulnerabilities. Once you find a bug, you’ll need to document it thoroughly and report it through the proper channels provided by the program.

This side hustle not only offers financial rewards but also helps in honing your skills in cybersecurity, making you a more versatile developer. It’s a win-win: you get paid for your efforts, and companies benefit from more secure products.

Offer Development Consulting

For seasoned developers looking to expand their side hustles, offering development consulting services presents a lucrative opportunity. As a consultant, you can leverage your expertise to advise companies on best practices, technology solutions, project management, and strategy development. Consultants in the development field can command high hourly rates or project fees, often ranging from $100 to $200 per hour or more, depending on the complexity of the consulting services and the developer’s experience.

The key to successful consulting lies in building a strong personal brand and network. This can be achieved through various channels such as LinkedIn, industry conferences, and tech meetups. Showcasing your past projects, testimonials, and expertise on your website or professional profile can also attract potential clients. Additionally, specializing in a particular niche or technology can set you apart and make you the go-to expert in that area.

To get started, identify the areas where you can offer the most value based on your skills and experience. Then, reach out to your professional network to offer your consulting services. You might also consider partnering with other freelancers or agencies to expand your reach. Development consulting not only allows for significant financial gain but also offers the flexibility to work on a variety of interesting projects across different industries.

Offer Technical Writing and Code Review

Developers with a penchant for communication and a keen eye for detail can find rewarding side hustles in technical writing and code review. These roles cater to a growing demand for clear, concise, and accurate technical documentation and high-quality, efficient code. Technical writers in the tech industry can earn anywhere from $50 to $100 per hour, depending on their expertise and the complexity of the documentation required. Similarly, code reviewers, especially those with specialized knowledge in certain programming languages or frameworks, can command similar rates.

Getting started in technical writing involves creating a portfolio that showcases your ability to explain complex technical concepts in an accessible way. This could include sample documentation, blog posts, or tutorials. For code review, having a track record of contributions to open-source projects or a robust GitHub profile can demonstrate your coding standards and attention to detail.

Both of these roles require not just technical skills but also the ability to communicate effectively. As a technical writer, your goal is to create documentation that helps users understand and use a product or service. As a code reviewer, your role is to ensure that code is clean, efficient, and adheres to best practices.

Wrapping Up

In short, there are a ton of side hustles for developers. From top tier freelancing on Toptal, to selling plugins, there are a ton of way you can stand out and leverage your developement skill to earn extra on the side.