Australia’s top-earning side hustles revealed, from removalists to cleaners

Savvy side hustlers are earning up to $30,000 a month. Find out which second jobs are the most lucrative, and how to get your start in the side-hustle game.

Australia’s top side hustlers are raking in more than $20,000 a month performing unskilled work.

With the approaching Christmas season prompting many Aussies to consider taking on extra jobs, research from Airtasker has revealed which side hustlers earn the most money.

Removalists make up four out of five of the online marketplace’s top earners, with average monthly earnings ranging from $20,000 to $30,000. A cleaner also made the top-five list, earning an average $27,400 a month.

But for best immediate bang for buck, a trade ticket is still needed, with fencing contractors, landscape gardeners and flooring specialists paid the most on a per-job basis.

Experts say selling second-hand goods is also an increasingly lucrative option, as consumers seek out more affordable products and preference the circular economy.

Show me the money

As the cost-of-living crunch continues and Australians brace themselves for Christmas gift buying, the trend to take on extra jobs shows no sign of abating.

The most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows nearly one million workers have multiple jobs, while Airtasker says the number of Aussies signing up to their platform has jumped 80 per cent in the past two years.

When it comes to earning potential, those who can pick up the tools are able to demand the highest pay, with fencing erectors earning an average $1101 for each job, Airtasker’s October figures reveal.

Landscape gardeners earn an average $943 per job, followed by carpet and tile flooring installers ($831), painters ($743) and airconditioner installers and repairers ($560).

In comparison, removalists are paid $181 per task. But plenty of work allows them to take on several jobs each month for higher cumulative earnings, says Airtasker chief executive Tim Fung.

Airtasker chief executive Tim Fung.

Fiverr chief marketing officer Matti Yahav.

“So many people are happy to just move themselves with boxes in the back of the car. But they still need help moving a mattress or a couch, so these moving jobs can earn you around $180 for what might only be a half-hour of work,” Fung says.

“We’ve also got lots of people looking for cleaners and that’s a job a lot of different people can try their hand at.

“It could be helping people clean out a fridge or a fish pond – something that usually takes a little bit of elbow grease – but (by taking on several of these jobs) you can earn great money.”

Fiverr chief marketing officer Matti Yahav says side hustlers with business and marketing skills also enjoy high incomes, with advertising freelancers able to earn as much as $13,995 a month, depending on the client base.

Freelancers with strong organisational skills can make up to $2040 per job offering virtual assistant services, while those with even the most basic social media skills can earn up to $1883 per job managing posts and responding to comments, he says.

“Some side hustles, like SEO services, are real money makers,” Yahav says.

“Top freelancers in this area can rake in more than $5493 per project, especially if they offer ongoing monthly management.”

Climbing the side hustle ladder

Fung and Yahav agree a good reputation is key to high side hustle earnings, and say those starting out should not be too picky about the jobs they accept.

“Basic tasks like proofreading or light customer service tend to bring in lower returns – around $15 to $25 per project – but they’re great for getting started and building a portfolio,” Yahav says.

“Entry-level side hustles might not match the income of specialised services but they still offer flexibility and scalability and the opportunity to build a client base.

“With dedication, any side hustle can generate a steady income stream.”

Fung says establishing a successful side hustle takes effort and warns workers “can’t sit back and wait for the cheque to come to you”.

“I wouldn’t be super selective about picking (the highest-paid) jobs to start with,” he says.

“Just get out there and get started building up your reputation because that’s what’s really valuable.”

Lillian Scott sells second hand clothing through resale platform Depop for extra cash.

The circular economy

Selling second-hand goods is the latest side hustle trend, PayPal consumer shopping expert Bonnie Brady says. More than a third of Australians have sold their unused or unwanted items in the past year, earning on average $1300.

Brady says fashion and clothing are the easiest goods to sell second hand, driven by high demand from customers wanting to save money and make more sustainable choices.

“Some Australians have made more than $100,000 just from selling (second-hand clothing),” she says.

Lillian Scott started selling second-hand clothing through resale platform Depop eight years ago “just (for) extra cash for things like lunch”.

Within two years, she was earning more than she made in her full-time job and quit her role with a creative agency earlier this year to focus entirely on her clothing business.

“It’s powerful being able to make your own money,” Scott says.

“I can distinctly remember the point at which the money I was making on Depop overtook the amount I was making in my weekly salary – that was a pretty special moment.”

The side hustles that pay:

Fence construction – average earnings $1101 per job

Landscape gardeners – average $943 per job

Carpet and tile flooring – average $831 per job

Painting – average $743 per job

Airconditioning (installation, repairs etc) – average $560 per job

The side hustles in most demand:

Removalist – average earnings $181 per job

Gardening – average earnings $224 per job

Cleaning – average earnings $156 per job

Handyperson – average earnings $357 per job

Waste disposal collection – average earnings $140 per job

Source: Airtasker