A New Canva Study Has Revealed the 10 Best-Paying Side Hustles

Make that money.

Whether you work part-time or you're a full-time student, coming by a little extra coin isn’t always easy, which is why so many people start up their own hustle on the side.

The thing is, it seems like everyone you follow on Instagram or TikTok is trying to sling candles, jewellery or cute key rings and it’s starting to feel like the market is too oversaturated for you to jump in and start your own gig.

Well, depending on your skills and specialty, you might just be able to make some money by selling the right kind of product or service.

Thankfully, to help you out, graphic design platform Canva recently released some data revealing which side hustles are worth the investment.

surviving is my side hustle

— I am (@madeofpoems) May 13, 2021

1. Illustration.

Starting up at the top of the list, illustration takes the cake with $406,660 earnings worldwide.

This kind of makes sense as illustration and artistry services can serve so many purposes.

So, if you’ve got some decent drawing or graphic design skills up your sleeve, why not see what your services are worth?

2. Proofreading and editing.

Next up is proofreading and editing with $341,945 worldwide earnings. We’re looking at the students for this one.

Let’s be honest: there are always going to be high school and uni students needing someone to check their work—especially if their parents or mates just don’t have the time to check—which is probably why this one is so high up on the list.

Whether you’re a professional writer, editor or just a whiz at spelling and grammar, maybe check out what your proofreading services could go for.

3. Animation.

Animation is third on the list with $309,290 earnings worldwide.

This could be because animation skills and proficiency are hard to come by, so someone who knows their stuff in this field could probably charge a decent buck for their services.

If you’re skilled up in this area and haven’t already given it a go, a side hustle could be worth it.

4. Video editing.

Taking out fourth place is video editing with $282,530 of worldwide earnings. This is probably due to the fact that everyone and their dog has a YouTube account nowadays.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking the YouTube vlogger, but if we’re being real, not everyone online is a whiz at video editing and production.

This is also a great option if you want to start working with brands, shoot and edit events or get involved in advertising.

5. Social media advertising.

Social media is the place to be if you want to get yourself or your brand out there on the market. So, there’s always going to be someone looking for some advice, tips or management in the realm of social media.

Taking out the fifth spot, social media marketing earns around $276,655 globally.

If you’ve studied a bit of digital marketing, social media marketing or worked professionally with Insta and TikTok before, it could be a great way to take advantage of those skills.

6. Blog post services.

Next up is blog post services with $222,220 of worldwide earnings. Blog post services is kinda vague but it probably encompasses freelance writing, journalism or copywriting services both for business or social media work.

Basically, if writing is your thing, this is another potential gig.

7. Website design.

In a digital world, having an excellent website for your product, service or blog is essential.

While most of us have access to helpful website builders like Squarespace and Wordpress, sometimes brands or influencers are looking for something a little bit more unique. This is where website designers come in handy, currently taking up $215,235 worldwide earnings.

If this is an area of expertise for you, don’t just utilise your skills at work, see if you can snag some extra coin by helping out some friends or brands in need of a website.

8. CV, cover letter, and resume writing.

Next up is another service that's in high demand 'cos there are always gonna be people looking for work. CV, cover letter and resume writing takes up $177,545 of earnings worldwide.

Whether you’ve applied for that many jobs, been to so many interviews or are just talented in graphic design, CV, cover letter, and resume writing is a great way to build up your design skills and sell a service in your spare time.

While resume writing can be a bit time consuming, once you’ve developed your own templates and have a steady workflow/schedule for clients, a side hustle like this can make you a tonne of moolah on very little time.

9. Translation services.

With Australia being a super multicultural place, translation services are a must for so many people. In fact, this one earns up to $177,535 globally.

Whether English is your second language, you studied a language at school or you are skilled in Auslan, having the ability to translate is a really sought-after talent.

Not only could you wind up working at events, but your language assistance could even help you end up online or on TV.

10. Book cover artistry.

Last but not least is book cover artistry with $139,870 of worldwide earnings.

Just because we’re in a digital world doesn’t mean that books have gone out of fashion just yet. Authors, scholars and teachers are always going to need cover art for their novels or textbooks, so having the skills to build engaging artwork could help you earn big time.

This also goes hand in hand with illustration and graphic design, so if that’s something you can do, why not jump on it?

While these numbers refer to worldwide earnings, the specific earnings for side hustles in Australia vary slightly. To find out more about which side hustles Canva reckon are worth it, check out the study by Canva here.

Keep hustlin’.

Header Image: twinsterphoto via Getty Images