5 High-Paying Side Hustles for Boomers in 2025

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Did you know that according to a survey by Self, 45% of Americans earn money through side hustles? Many people, especially boomers, are turning to side hustles to follow their passions, stay active during retirement or earn additional income. But what exactly pays well and is worth it for boomers?

Here are five high-paying side hustles for boomers in 2025.

Freelance Consulting

• Potential Earnings: $50 to over $200 per hour

If you have years of experience in a certain field or industry, freelance consulting may be the right option for you. This allows you to help either individuals or businesses needing help with your specific skill set but don’t want to hire a full-time staff member to cover the role. The best part of freelance consulting is that you choose your hours and primarily work remotely, making it easy to fit in with your lifestyle.

Real Estate Investing

• Potential Earnings: Monthly income between $500 to over $2,500

If you have extra money from your retirement accounts that you’re not sure how to spend, consider real estate investing. Purchasing rental properties or even owning commercial real estate space is a great way to make money. Simply purchase the property, make sure it meets standards and rent it out to businesses or individuals.

Online Course Creation

• Potential Earnings: Monthly income between $1,000 to over $5,000

If you want to leverage your skills but not have to work constantly, creating and selling an online course may be your best route. Using a website like Teachable or Udemy, you can share your knowledge on your own time. Once you’ve created the course, it makes a passive income stream that can bring in anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 or even more.

Selling Homemade Items

• Potential Earnings: Monthly income between $500 to over $2,000

If you’ve been looking for a way to show off your crafty side, consider selling homemade crafts at local craft markets, farmers markets or online platforms like Etsy or eBay. This is a great option for those who enjoy creating or collecting vintage items. The amount of money can really vary when it comes to selling homemade items. Depending on the demand for your craft and how much inventory you can produce, you could easily make anywhere between $500 to $2,000 or more a month.

Pet Sitting

• Potential Earnings: Daily incomes of $25 to $150 per day

If you love animals and have free time, offering pet care services is a great option. This could include anything from having animals stay in your home, feeding them, taking them on walks and providing love while their owners are away. Plus, with the rise in pet ownership and people’s busy schedules, there is a high demand for pet sitters. You could easily make $25 to $150 per day, depending on the services you provide.

Choose a Side Hustle That Works for You

Choosing a side hustle is one of the easiest ways to bring in extra income while still enjoying your retirement. Many of these side hustles are flexible, allowing you to work when and where you want, making them a great option for boomers. Consider trying one of these high-paying side hustles in 2025 and see the difference it can make for your lifestyle and income.

Editor’s note: The pay range information for each side hustle was sourced from Indeed, ZipRecruiter and Glassdoor.

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