5 Best Side Gigs for Gen Z in 2025
Written by
Martin Dasko
Edited by
Zuri Anderson
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According to a recent survey from Intuit, nearly two-thirds of American adults between 18 and 35 have either started or plan on starting a side hustle.
For almost half of the respondents (49%), the primary motivation for pursuing a side venture was to be their own boss.
The good news is that it doesn’t matter if you’re looking to be in charge or just want to make some extra cash, because there’s a side hustle for everyone out there.
These are the five best side gigs that will be a good fit for Gen Z in 2025.
1. Social Media Management
“Gen Z grew up with social media, and they’re good at identifying what’s good and what’s going to sell, which makes them especially adept at managing social media pages,” said Melanie Musson, a finance expert with Clearsurance.com. “Many businesses have expert employees who run and serve the business but lack someone to manage their social media pages effectively.”
Social media management can be an excellent side gig for someone who enjoys creating content or spending time on various platforms. While building your own following can be time-consuming and exhausting, you could benefit from managing pages for a local business.
If you grew up on social media and work remotely, you may have some spare time to complete tasks that feel simple to you. For example, if you have a keen eye for spotting trends or enjoy storytelling, you could land a job as a social media manager. If you know how to build a following or have acquired graphic design skills, you could also offer this as a service in the social media management field.
According to ZipRecruiter, you can earn $31 per hour for this role in your spare time. The work involved can vary from managing an Instagram presence for a local business to helping create content for a major account.
2. Pet Sitting and Dog Walking
“Many members of Gen Z are in the position to be flexible with where they stay, so they can be open to staying in or checking in on people’s homes and/or pets while they’re on vacation,” noted Musson.
Gen Z should consider a house and pet-sitting side gig if they’re looking for an easy side hustle to fit into a regular schedule. If you work remotely and have a flexible schedule, dog or house sitting is a relatively easy way to make extra money without a significant commitment.
While the average hourly salary for house sitting is $17 per hour, the money can add up if you spend a few days or a weekend staying with someone. If you work remotely, you can use house sitting as a way to change up your scenery, as well, so that you’re not always in the same environment.
3. Property Management
Renting out property can be a lucrative side gig for Gen Z in 2025, leaving plenty of time for full-time work and other pursuits.
“Gen Z was raised on technology, and they’re used to the instant gratification that automation tools provide,” said Ryan Barone, co-founder and CEO of RentRedi. “Renting out property is a side gig that can be done with as little time and effort as possible with the help of automation technologies, which is very appealing to younger generations.”
While it may be more challenging for Gen Z to afford to invest in rental properties, you can get creative with house-hacking options. You can rent a part of your home or even an extra space like the garage or basement.
For example, based on data from Azibo, you can earn around $14,000 annually by renting out space in your home on Airbnb. This means that you can turn your spare bedroom or basement into an income property without much additional effort.
If you’re looking to purchase your first home, you can factor your income property in the basement into your monthly payments to make home ownership more affordable.
4. Resume Writing and Career Counseling
“Skilled freelancers in this field help individuals stand out and navigate complex career paths, providing a human touch AI tools can’t fully replicate,” noted Yoav Hornung, executive director and head of verticals and innovation at Fiverr.
Personalized career support can be the ideal side hustle for members of Gen Z who are established in their careers. Given the frequent changes in the job market and economy, services like resume writing and career counseling remain vital.
If you’ve switched jobs a few times or have the skills to land a pay raise, you could offer your services here for extra cash. According to Salary.com, you could earn around $32 per hour for resume writing services, so you could bring in a decent amount of money to help others find work.
5. Social Media Commerce Expertise
“As e-commerce merges with social media, understanding social commerce has become essential for brands looking to succeed online,” remarked Hornung. “This skill covers everything from crafting shoppable content to leveraging features like TikTok Shop and Instagram Checkout.”
As more companies transition towards digital sales, there’s a demand for freelancers who can help out with this process, from copywriting to customer service.
As a freelancer, you can earn around $25 per hour with this role as companies seek help with all aspects of e-commerce and social media. Similar to the first side hustle on this list, you may already have the necessary skills to make some extra money by combining your passion for shopping and social media.
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