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The search for extra income has become a familiar ritual: scouring job boards and gig apps for anything that might keep monthly expenses from outpacing monthly earnings. Even a second or third job may have done little to move the needle in recent years, as inflation and the rising cost of living have quietly absorbed whatever extra cash came in.
That reality has pushed today's side hustlers toward a more strategic question: which gigs can actually hold their value if prices climb again (and realistically, they probably will)? No industry is fully insulated from inflation, but some side hustles are built to weather it better than others.
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Here are the ones most likely to hold up, and offer a bit of financial breathing room in the process.
Pet Services
It doesn’t matter that prices are rising faster than they have in four decades, as people’s beloved tabbies, labs, rotties and mutts still have to be walked, fed and snuggled when they work or go on vacation. Wendy Molyneux, Founder of Whole Person Finance, thinks you can capitalize on that even during volatile economic conditions.
“One inflation-resistant side gig is pet-sitting and dog-walking. Even in times of high inflation, a lot of people are willing to pay for these services. Many people have a strong emotional bond with their pets and will prioritize their pets' well-being over most other items in their budget, even sacrificing their own desires and convenience,” said Molyneux.
Certain caregiving side hustles will always be in demand and probably won’t be replaced with AI. Molyneux said, “Inflation often causes people to work more hours, not less, and many have also been forced back to the office, making pet-sitting and -walking more relevant than ever. The average dog walker gets between $15 and $25 for a 20-minute walk.”
Handyperson Services
Peeling paint, leaky roofs, broken windows and dying appliances are inevitable in nearly every residential, commercial or government property ever built. People can put off renovations when prices rise, but they can't do the same for immediate repairs.
“With the rising prices of everything, including major appliances, it's better to spend a few hundred dollars to replace a worn door seal than $1,500 to $3,000 or more for a new refrigerator. Part-time independent appliance repair technicians in the gig economy charge either an hourly rate ranging from $50 to $150 per hour or a flat job rate averaging $150 to $350 per project,” said Molyneux.
Bookkeeping
Bookkeepers enjoy a relatively inflation-proof career because businesses of all sizes rely on their services no matter what they're paying for raw materials, labor or what they charge their customers for the products and services they provide. A bonus is that you don't have to do it full time to profit.
Eric Pemper, managing member at CuraDebt, said, “Among all those side jobs that do well during inflation times, those which solve real-world problems, not fads, will remain the most resilient. Accounting for small companies [and] tax filing, which is based on one's own professional experience, are among those that are always in high demand…Such services may be paid between $75 and $300 an hour, depending on experience and skills.”
Medical Billing and Coding
According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the sprawling U.S. healthcare sector is a $5.3 trillion behemoth that accounts for nearly 18% of America's GDP. Much of it is vulnerable to inflationary pressures. However, the keepers of the language that service providers use to communicate with insurers are generally exempt from those pressures.
That's because government agencies like CMS regulate standardized coding systems and procedures, and those rules don't change with fluctuations in the cost of service, treatment and diagnosis.
The side hustle requires an upfront investment in time and money. Required or preferred certifications can cost a few hundred dollars, complete certificate programs can cost a few thousand. However, many can get started with a three- to low-four-figure investment and a few months of training. ZipRecruiter cites the average pay for freelance medical billing and coding as $30 an hour.
Andrew Lisa contributed to the reporting for this article.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
