10 Best Tech Side Hustles to Earn More Income in 2023

If you’re a technology worker looking to level up your current income, consider taking on a side hustle in IT.

There are lots of opportunities in the tech world to work in different specialties with high-paying jobs. Many technology jobs require the same skills, so you may already have some of the skills you need.

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Besides being a great way to earn additional income, a side hustle can give you an opportunity to learn new skills. So, if you’re looking to eventually move to a better-paying job or specialty, you can use your side hustle to develop the skills you’ll need.

Freelancing also gives you the flexibility to set your own schedule, so it doesn’t have to dominate your life.

You can even find ways to create passive income in tech so you can make money even when you aren’t working.

When to Know You Should Start a Side Hustle in IT

So let’s look at five of the best side hustles for tech people.

Tech Side Hustles You Need to Start

1. Web Development and Design

Website development and design is one of the most lucrative fields in tech because it requires both programming and graphic design skills. But you don’t necessarily need both to be successful. Typically, a development team will have several people with different skills. But if you have skills in both programming and design, you’re ahead of the game.

The easiest way to get started in web development is to learn some of the popular and easy-to-use builders like Wix and Squarespace. These tools allow you to quickly and easily build an entire website with little or no programming. As a freelancer, tools like these are all you need to make some good money. Then, if you want to up your game, you can take some online programming classes in languages like HTML, CSS, and Javascript. At the top end, there are many other languages and tools you can use, so you can scale up the fees you charge as you learn.  

2. Software QA

In software QA (Quality Assurance), your job is to ensure that a software product functions properly and produces correct results. For example, you might be testing websites, apps, or other software to find bugs and ensure that the product adheres to the specifications.

If you already have programming experience, QA is an ideal fit for you. But even if you don’t program, you can run and evaluate automated and manual tests.

If you’re interested in programming, QA can give you a perfect opportunity to learn. You’ll work closely with programmers and have access to many code examples and programming tools. You might even move into programming in your QA job.  

3. Tech Support

Tech support is one of the fastest-growing specialties in technology today. If you’re already working in technology, you can leverage your knowledge and skills with a tech support side hustle.  

You don’t necessarily need to be an expert in some field to offer tech support. A good general understanding of tech is enough to get you started with many jobs. Employers often train you on the job for their particular product or specialty. There are also many certification programs online that will prepare you for the job you want.

As long as you can be available for the times that your employer requires, you can run your tech support side hustle alongside your current job.  

4. SEO Consulting

As an SEO consultant, your job is to improve search engine rankings for a website.

Despite the mystery surrounding SEO, it doesn’t take long to learn. You need to have a good understanding of how websites work, so if you already have some experience in web development, then SEO consulting is ideal.  

There are plenty of online training programs for SEO, and Google provides lots of free documentation to help you learn more.

Once you have the basics and you know how to use the various analytics programs, you need to stay up to date on search engine algorithms and guidelines.

SEO consulting pays well because search engine rankings are critical for making a website profitable. Consider freelancing in SEO as a side hustle in tech.  

5. Passive Income with Affiliate and Referral Programs

This is where it gets sweet. Once you have a steady income that meets your needs, you can start looking into ways to get paid to do nothing.

Actually, it does take some work to set up a passive income in tech. But once you have your business set up and running, it can be almost hands-off.

One way to generate passive income is affiliate marketing. With affiliate marketing, advertising networks pay you to place links on your website. Your site can be anything you want, but you need to design it to attract viewers. Try blogging about something you know or creating a “review” site where you write reviews on popular products that you use and like.

Once you have a site, sign up with one of the many affiliate networks like Amazon Associates, Digistore24, or Clickbank. They’re free, and there are many of them out there to choose from.

But if you really want to leverage what you already have, it’s hard to beat referral programs. This is where companies pay you a commission on each person that you send to them.  

For example, Advantis Global will pay you $500 or more for each job seeker you send them that finds a job through Advantis Global. This is a great way to use your existing network of professional relationships, and it costs you nothing. Just tell your colleagues about Advantis Global, and you could collect $500 or more for each person that signs up and gets hired.

What could be better than that?  

6. Mobile App Development

Starting a side hustle in mobile app development technology could be an excellent way to earn additional cash while doing what you want. You'll need to be familiar with the fundamentals of coding and app development to get started. Additionally, you must decide on the platform and language you'll employ to develop your apps. After deciding on a platform and a language, you should start honing your abilities and learning the foundations. You also can consider developing simpler apps without coding using a framework like Appy Pie. Then start marketing your applications and looking for clients once you've developed your abilities and produced a few apps. By also marketing your app, you're adding an additional skill to your career repertoire. 

7. Tech Content Writing

Writing tech content is an excellent side hustle in the tech industry since it enables you to leverage your technical ability to produce material that educates readers about technology. From the convenience of your home, you can work freelance, giving you the freedom to choose your own hours and be your own boss. Additionally, you could start generating money with your abilities as a content writer right away and don't need to spend a lot of money up front on supplies or equipment. Writing tech content is a fantastic opportunity to earn extra money, develop your set of skills, and educate a large audience.

8. Coding and Programming

To get started, you'll need to have a basic understanding of coding and programming. You can learn coding and programming basics through online courses, tutorials, or bootcamps. Once you have a basic understanding, you'll need to decide what type of niche you want to pursue. Do you want to freelance, edit code, or create a coding and programming app? Once you have an idea, you'll have to decide on a development platform and language to focus on, as well as decide on the features of your project. You'll also need to set up a system for taking payments and managing customer accounts. It's recommended that you start an LLC to protect yourself and your business. After that, you'll need to market your tech side hustle and find clients. With dedication and hard work, you can make a successful coding and programming side hustle.

9. Create Online Courses

Creating courses allows you to monetize your knowledge and skills, and build a passive income stream from evergreen content. You can also target a specific niche of people who are interested in learning a particular technology, and create courses tailored to their needs. Additionally, creating courses is a great way to establish yourself as an authority in the tech space, and build a strong reputation for yourself. It is great way to stay up to date on the latest technologies and trends in the field. Not only will it allow you to generate more income, but it will also help add skills to your career.

10. Write a Book

Did you know you can earn passive income indefinitely just for witting one technical book? Sounds like a worthy tech side hustle to us!

You can start by researching the publishing market and figuring out what topics have potential. Then, start writing! Once you have completed your book, you can look into different publishing options, such as self-publishing or traditional publishing. You can also look into options for marketing your book, like using social media and other online platforms to promote it. Additionally, you can look into ways to monetize your book, such as offering an ebook version, setting up a subscription service, or creating a membership program. With the right strategy, you can make this a lucrative tech side hustle.

Conclusion

Technology is the best field there is for limitless side hustle in IT. There are lots of online job search platforms, a ton of different specialties, and convenient, inexpensive online training. Start with the skills you have and add more by learning on the job or taking additional training. You can freelance until you achieve a career advancement or keep freelancing for the flexible lifestyle.

And no matter how many gigs you currently have, you can create a passive stream of income in tech with affiliate marketing and referral programs. It’s easy to start small and build up your business empire.

So start hustling!