If you’re a creative professional interested in earning a supplemental income, consider pursuing a side hustle. In addition to money, these secondary roles can provide an outlet for inventive people with dynamic ideas. Learning about common side hustles in media and the arts can help you determine if you want to invest your time and effort in your own project.
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In this article, we define creative side hustles, explore whether they’re right for you, and provide a detailed list of nine jobs with salary information.
What are creative side hustles?
Creative side hustles are jobs that professionals might do in addition to their full-time careers to supplement their incomes and engage in creative work. This work might include making and selling a product, doing graphic design, taking photos, or completing other creative tasks. While many side hustles can become a full-time career, they can also help you generate a supplemental income, expand your resume, and develop your portfolio.
Are creative side hustles right for you?
Starting a side hustle takes time and effort and often requires a personal investment. To determine if starting a creative side hustle is right for you, consider the amount you might earn by pursuing the work and compare it to the cost of starting the side hustle.
For example, if you want to become a photographer, you could think about the rate you plan to charge clients for your service, then consider the cost of camera equipment and a subscription to photo editing software. Depending on the industry you choose, you may have a high earning potential with your creative side hustle.
9 creative side hustles
Here’s a list of nine creative side hustles to help you increase your income and enhance your resume:
1. Freelance journalist
National average salary: $35,387 per year
Primary duties: Freelance journalists are professionals who write articles for magazines, news outlets or blogs. They conduct research and schedule interviews to help them compose articles and news stories that are accurate. Depending on the needs of the clients, journalists may write about sports, politics, the environment or other relevant topics. They may complete a majority of their writing at home or in an office setting. Journalists may also attend events to gain more information about some article topics.
2. Blogger
National average salary:$33,957 per year
Primary duties: A blogger is a creative professional who creates written and visual content for a blog or website. Bloggers typically create content that’s based on their knowledge or interests. They often choose to create content for a specific group of people or niche. Bloggers may earn an income by selling ad space on their websites, blogs or video blogs. They may also use affiliate links, which allows them to receive a small profit each time a reader uses their link to purchase a product.
3. Photographer
National average salary: $40,434 per year
Primary duties: Photographers are responsible for taking, editing, and distributing photos for clients. Some photographers specialize in taking wedding photos or family portraits. Photographers might also sell their work to newspapers or magazines. Some professionals set up a studio in their homes, photograph clients at events, or work for photography businesses.
4. Social media manager
National average salary: $46,182 per year
Primary duties: Social media managers are responsible for planning, creating, and posting social content for a particular brand or company. They schedule posts, develop content ideas, and design and implement an effective social media plan. As part of a creative side hustle, a social media manager might work for a few different clients and have a range of responsibilities. They may work with a company’s marketing team to create content that aligns with the organization’s marketing plan.
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5. Graphic designer
National average salary: $49,883 per year
Job duties: Graphic designers are creative professionals who use their creative and technical skills to create product designs, branding, and other digital content. Some graphic design professionals utilize digital tools and software, while others create their designs by hand. Graphic designers create images to help companies communicate a message or market products to customers and clients. Many businesses seek graphic design professionals who have creative design skills to enhance their branding strategies.
6. Freelance writer
National average salary: $52,024 per year
Primary duties: Freelance writers produce written content for clients, including website copy, articles, and entire books. They also often perform technical writing, sports writing, and editorial writing. Generally, freelance writers conduct research and gather credible sources before composing a piece. Before submitting their work, they typically fact-check the content they’ve created and proofread it for grammatical errors.
7. Proofreader
National average salary: $52,762 per year
Primary duties: Proofreaders are professionals who edit and revise written work for a wide range of clients. They proofread articles, books, and other content by making editorial suggestions and correcting any mistakes. Proofreaders may work for a variety of clients, such as a publisher or news outlet. They may also collaborate with writers and editors in order to prepare content for publication.
8. Online professor
National average salary: $55,287 per year
Primary duties: Online professors are education professionals who are responsible for creating lesson plans and teaching students via an online platform. They may give virtual lectures or record lectures for students to watch later. Online professors administer tests, assign work, and interact with students virtually. These educators may teach in-person classes as well, or choose to work completely online. Depending on the professor, they might choose to teach one class or multiple classes over the course of the school year.
9. Entrepreneur
National average salary: $61,848 per year
Primary duties: Entrepreneurs are creative professionals who start businesses in niche markets. They may sell homemade goods or provide a service to clients. To support their sales, entrepreneurs plan and direct the operations of their businesses by managing finances, making purchases, and networking. Depending on the industry in which they work, entrepreneurs may have the opportunity to work from home. Some entrepreneurs also expand their businesses by hiring employees or renting office space.
I hope you find this article helpful.
