For more than a decade, many industries have gradually shifted from hiring full-time employees in favor of contract workers. 

Whether by choice or necessity, many individuals work full-time in the “gig economy” — a labor market facilitated by online job boards advertising project-based or contract work — by stringing together multiple gigs to support themselves and their families.

If you’re considering gig work, start by understanding which areas pay the most, require minimal startup costs, have relatively few expenses, and can be performed from anywhere. Consider these fields:

Freelance Writing

While it can take some time to make a consistent income, established writers can make as much as $30 an hour. You can work for an agency that specializes in producing content for other companies or individuals. 

Opt for quality over quantity at first until you can confidently produce high-quality content as per the company’s standards more quickly to find success on these platforms.

You can also search for freelance, contract, or project-based work that individual companies advertise. To successfully produce consistent income, consider developing proficiency in producing content that requires specialized knowledge.

Software Development

Our reliance on technology continues to fuel the demand for software developers who can command as much as $50 an hour or more. Software developers with practical experience and relevant certifications can find and land gigs on developer-specific and general job boards.

If you’re looking to break into this field, a variety of companies offer online instruction and boot camps that can help you learn the basics. However, technology is constantly evolving, so no matter how much instruction or experience you have, understanding how to quickly find the information you need for a client’s request is vital to earning a consistent income.

Delivery

Though the coronavirus pandemic has made these jobs considerably more challenging, you still can make a living making deliveries. Major companies like Amazon and Wal-Mart continue to expand their delivery operations to meet rising demand. 

And while you can earn as much as $25 an hour working with certain companies, if you plan to do delivery work full-time, don’t forget to budget for the extra tolls, gas, and wear and tear on your car.

Arguably, the best gig is starting your own business. Whether you establish a freelance writing, software development, delivery, or other types of companies doing so can provide you with means to support yourself without any cap on your earnings potential. 

However, if you’re looking for open gig work positions, companies needing writers, developers, and deliveries are good places to start.