7 Side Hustles Gen Z Is Using To Build Wealth in 2025

Over half (57%) of Gen Zers say they have a side hustle, more than double the rate of older generations. For many young people, the traditional 9-to-5 isn’t the endgame. Instead, they’re embracing what some are calling “career minimalism,” where a day job pays the bills while a side project fuels their passion, creativity, or entrepreneurial dreams.

Making money on the side is no longer limited to knocking on doors, delivering catalogs, driving people around, mowing lawns, or cleaning somebody’s house. The internet has opened up a world of possibilities, and Generation Z is taking advantage, including these seven side gig opportunities.

Content Creation

Do you have a strong passion or useful skills you want to share with the world? Whether through videos, podcasts, or written content, there are various ways to monetize online content. All you need is a smartphone or computer, a desire to build an audience, and an interesting subject matter that’s engaging.

Money can come from ad revenue, brand sponsorship, affiliate marketing, and even from paid membership. Just don’t expect to rake in the dollars straight away. It often takes time and patience to build a big enough following.

Freelancing

It’s also possible to sell your services online for a fee. There are various websites, including Upwork, Fiverr, Toptal, Contra, and Behance, where people and businesses post ads for jobs, including social media management, graphic design, video editing, writing, photo retouching, and web development.

The great thing about freelancing is that you aren’t just limited to local job markets and can work from home. On the negative side, rates can be low, especially when you lack experience and haven’t made a name for yourself yet.

Reselling and Thrift-Flipping

If you love thrift stores and bargain hunting, a potential way to make money is buying second hand or discounted items and selling them for a profit. That could be vintage stuff, clothes, collectibles, or sneakers.

There is a big market for this. Gen Z is known for its nostalgia, fashion consciousness, and its interest in sustainability.

Investing

One of the best ways to build wealth is by investing. You don’t need much to start out. With fractional investing, it’s possible to buy ownership stakes in big companies for less than the price of a cup of coffee.

The great thing about investing is that after doing your initial research, it largely runs on autopilot—as long as you’re not day trading. And while there are always risks involved, historically the stock market has grown over time—especially if you diversify your investments across different companies and sectors rather than putting all your eggs in one basket.

Baby or Pet Sitting

Some of the old classic side hustles shouldn’t be dismissed, either, including looking after kids or pets. These kinds of gigs generally work around regular working hours, can sometimes pay relatively well, and may even be fun—if you enjoy spending your time with little ones or animals.

Jobs can be found by posting ads in local stores and via platforms like Care.com, Sittercity, or, for pets, Rover.

Sell Handmade Arts and Crafts

If you enjoy making things and are decent at it, why not give selling your creations a go?

You don’t necessarily need a website to do this. An easier option to get started is using a third-party platform like Etsy or Amazon Handmade. These marketplaces give people without marketing skills and a customer base huge visibility, enabling them to just concentrate on what they love.

Tutoring

Another classic side hustle is tutoring. If you were an A student at school or rocked at a specific subject, such as math, science, or languages, you could get paid by passing on your knowledge to others.

Tutoring is in high demand, offers lots of flexibility, and pays fairly well—the average hourly rate is $25.31 per hour, according to Indeed. To find work, you can spread the word locally or use platforms like Wyzant, TutorMe, and Preply.