I Asked ChatGPT To Suggest Unpopular Side Gigs That Pay Well — Here’s What It Said

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People thinking about starting a side gig probably hear the same advice on repeat: Be a delivery driver. Sell items online. Pick up freelance work. While those ideas can be good, they can also come with a lot of competition and not great pay. 

To help people get ahead, GOBankingRates asked ChatGPT to suggest some unpopular side gigs that pay well. 

Also see seven ways to turn your side gig into a full-time job in 2026.

Medical Courier (Independent Contractor)

Medical couriers transport lab samples, medical equipment or records, ChatGPT said. Routes are predictable and often in the daytime. Contracts can come from labs, hospitals or specialty clinics. 

ChatGPT said that pay often runs $25 to $45 per hour. According to ZipRecruiter, the average pay is $27.23 hourly, with reported hourly wages ranging from $9.86 to $52.16. 

Insurance Field Inspector

A field inspector takes photos, measures roofs and documents property conditions, according to ChatGPT. It said that most inspectors work independently and choose assignments. 

The artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot claimed that pay averages $20 to $50 per inspection, while ZipRecruiter reported that average pay is around $25 per hour.

Mobile Notary for Specialty Documents

Mobile notaries for specialty documents often focus on loan signings, estate documents or structured settlements, per ChatGPT. It noted that demand for this service stays steady year-round, and certification costs are relatively low. 

Pay ranges from $75 to $200 per appointment, according to the AI. The Loan Signing System and similar industry sources support that range.

Death Cleanup or Biohazard Cleanup

Companies need on-call contractors for this type of work, according to ChatGPT. And while the gigs are episodic, the pay may be worth it. However, training and certification are required.

The average pay is $30 to $80 per hour, per the AI. However, ZipRecruiter’s average pay figures are much lower: Biohazard cleaning averages $16.31 per hour, and crime scene cleanup averages $23.63 hourly.

Fire Watch Services

Fire watch services involve monitoring buildings when alarm systems are down and often include overnight and weekend shifts. The AI estimated pay between $25 and $40 per hour.

According to ZipRecruiter, the average hourly pay is $36.56 per hour.

Commercial Kitchen Hood Cleaner

Cleaning commercial kitchen hoods takes place after commercial kitchens are closed, and getting certification can allow you to charge more, ChatGPT said. It also noted that repeat clients are common.

Pay per job can exceed $300, it added. According to ZipRecruiter, hood cleaning technicians make an average of $16.40 per hour.

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