4 Side Jobs That Are Growing Because of Inflation
Written by
Nicholas Morine
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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With inflationary pressure continuing unabated — at an unadjusted rate of 2.8% year-over-year as of February 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ consumer price index — many Americans are turning to side jobs to make ends meet or to pad their savings or investments.
Which jobs are flourishing during this period of prolonged U.S. inflation? The following side gigs appear to be, at least somewhat, inflation-proof.
Freelance Writer
According to Kiplinger, it pays well to be a freelance writer in today’s economy — particularly if you’re a subject matter expert or a specialist in a lucrative field.
The outlet cited recent listings in the tech sector, with applicants expected to start off at $55 to $65 per hour if hired. While generalists may be able to land work writing content, there’s apparently a significant pay jump for those who are credentialed in a relevant field.
AI Editor or Data Rater
While Kiplinger suggested that rates for an entry level data rater — one tasked with engaging with AI generated text or other material and rating the results — start at between $12 and $15 hourly, those with advanced degrees or technical certifications can take advantage of a higher tier of pay.
For example, AI company Outlier recently listed a job opportunity for an AI writing evaluator, beginning at $35 hourly. If you’re an experienced writer or editor with a good resume, this could be a great way to earn a few extra bucks while beating back inflation.
Virtual Assistant
The ability to set your own price for piecework or hourly work is certainly enticing and if you are a multitasker with significant administrative and organizational skills, acting as a for-hire virtual assistant could certainly pad your pocketbook.
While both Fiverr and Upwork are competitive marketplaces and may require a bit of a grind before making it to the front page, the possibility of being paid substantially more than the entry-level tier is certainly on the table.
A Fiverr “vetted pro” named Laura Olmos charges around $60 hourly for her services, for example and has racked up a significant portfolio of work (and repeat clients) in a relatively short period of time.
Reseller, Picker or Flipper
While shows such as American Pickers and Netflix’s recent “King of Collectibles” having glamorized the practice of resale or product flipping, the reality is that there’s a significant secondary market for items ranging from vintage antiques to designer sneakers, from sports cards to ancient coins and beyond.
Consider building an Etsy, eBay, Facebook Marketplace and WhatNot presence and immediately stocking it with enticingly-priced goods you may be able to spare from your apartment, home or storage unit. Ask friends or family members if they have any unwanted or desirable goods to place for sale and scour local thrift stores, discount stores and clearance racks for retail arbitrage opportunities.
Having a charismatic personality can certainly help you launch live sales on Facebook or on specific live-selling platforms such as WhatNot which are gaining popularity by the day.
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