How to Make Extra Money With a Full Time Job (5, 10, or 20 Hours a Week)

If you want to know how to make extra money with a full time job, start with your hours, not the idea. Work out how many hours you can give it each week without wrecking your sleep or your day job, then pick something that fits that number. Five hours a week suits selling things and small freelance tasks. Ten hours opens up steady freelance clients or tutoring. Twenty hours is close to a second part-time job, and that's where a weekend shift or a growing business fits.

You'd be far from alone. In September 2026, 9.0 million Americans held more than one job, 5.5% of everyone employed, and about 5.2 million of them combined a full-time main job with a part-time second one, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That count only covers second jobs, not freelance or selling income, so the real number of people earning on the side is higher.

Set expectations first

The typical side income is smaller than the internet suggests. A Bankrate survey of 2,616 U.S. adults in June 2025 found that people with a side hustle earned an average of $885 a month, but the median was $200. A few big earners pull the average up. Most people make a couple of hundred dollars a month, and that's a fine goal for a first side gig.

How to make extra money while working full time: the 5-hour week

Five hours is an hour on most weeknights or one long Sunday afternoon. At this level, pick work with no fixed schedule and no client waiting on a reply during your workday.

• Sell what you already own. Clothes, electronics, furniture, and kids' gear sell on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and Poshmark. Listing takes minutes, and there's no startup cost.
• Small freelance tasks. Proofreading, resume editing, spreadsheet cleanup, or simple design work on Fiverr or Upwork. Take only jobs with deadlines measured in days, not hours.
• Skills from your day job, sold one task at a time. If you write reports, build spreadsheets, or manage projects at work, someone outside your industry may pay for that same skill.

What not to start at five hours: anything that needs fast replies, like customer support gigs or managing a client's social media. You'll be answering messages from the bathroom at work, and that gets old quickly.

The 10-hour week: steady side income

Ten hours is two weeknight sessions plus part of a weekend day. This is enough to build something that pays every month.

• Online tutoring. Tutors earned a median of $20.84 an hour in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, which also notes that most tutors work part time. Evening sessions line up with when students are free, which suits a 9 to 5.
• One or two freelance clients. A regular client who sends work every week beats chasing new gigs. Writing, bookkeeping, and admin support all work here. Our freelance writing side hustle guide covers how to land the first one.
• A faceless YouTube channel. It's slow (months before any payout) but it fits around a job well, because nothing is live and you can publish on your own schedule. To earn ad revenue you need 1,000 subscribers plus 4,000 public watch hours in the last 12 months, or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days, per YouTube Help. Tools like VidPuff can cut the editing time: you type a title, it writes the script, adds narration, visuals, music, and captions, and you review and change each stage before it renders a long-form video. Plans start at $25 a month, so treat it as a business cost you need to earn back.

The 20-hour week: a second part-time job

Twenty hours is a real load on top of 40. It usually means most of a weekend plus a couple of evenings. Do this for a set goal, like paying off a card, and plan when you'll scale back.

If you'd rather make videos than read about it, VidPuff turns a title into a faceless video. No waitlist, cancel anytime.

• A weekend part-time job. Retail, restaurants, warehouses, and event staffing all hire for weekend shifts. The pay is predictable, taxes are withheld, and you're done when the shift ends. See our list of weekend side hustles for options you run yourself.
• Gig apps. Delivery and rideshare let you pick your own hours, and some pay out the same day. Our post on side hustles that pay daily lists the payout options and fees.
• Growing a freelance business. If your 10-hour client work is going well, 20 hours lets you take on more clients and raise rates. This is the path where side income can eventually replace part of a salary.

Check these before you start

Your employment agreement. Read your offer letter and employee handbook for anything on outside work, conflicts of interest, or who owns what you create. Some employers ask you to disclose side work, and some claim rights to things you build using company time or equipment. Never use your work laptop, work hours, or client list for a side gig.

Taxes. Side income is taxable. If you're self-employed and your net earnings reach $400 in a year, the IRS says you owe self-employment tax, currently 15.3%, on top of income tax. Set some money aside from every payment, and talk to a tax professional about your situation.

Your energy. Burnout is the main reason side gigs fail for people with full-time jobs. Pick one thing, keep at least one full day a week free, and drop the side work for a week when your day job gets busy.

How to spot side hustle scams

People with full-time jobs are a big target for "earn from your phone in your spare time" pitches. The FTC's guide to job scams lists the main warning signs:

• You're asked to pay for training, a starter kit, or a certification before you can work.
• A new "employer" sends you a check, asks you to deposit it, and wants part of it sent back or spent on gift cards.
• The job is receiving packages at home and reshipping them.
• The pay promised is high for very little effort.

A real side gig pays you. If money has to flow from you to them first, walk away.

A simple plan for your first month

1. Count your real free hours for one normal week.
2. Pick one option from the matching section above.
3. Set a small first goal, like your first $100.
4. Review after four weeks. Keep it, change it, or drop it.

If you aren't sure where to start, our ranking of side hustles by the experience they need shows which ones fit a beginner.

FAQ

How can I make extra money with a full time job without burning out?

Pick one side gig, cap it at a fixed number of hours (five is a good start), and choose work with no fixed schedule. Keep one day a week fully off.

What is the best side hustle for someone working 9 to 5?

Something you can do in the evening or on weekends with no live calls during work hours. Selling items you own, freelance tasks with multi-day deadlines, and evening tutoring all fit.

Do I have to tell my employer about my side hustle?

It depends on your employment agreement and company policy. Read your contract and handbook for rules on outside work and conflicts of interest, and ask HR if it's unclear.

How much can I make from a side hustle with a full time job?

It varies a lot. In Bankrate's June 2025 survey, side hustlers averaged $885 a month, but the median was $200, so most people earn closer to the lower figure.