Gig Economy Examples: 10 Best Gig Economy Jobs To Try In 2024

Find the best opportunities and trends to make money online

The gig economy provides a solid solution to labor market issues across various industries, allowing for short-term hiring of labor to mitigate costs. 

Food delivery and ridesharing have seen significant growth in recent years, facilitated by digital marketplaces connecting gig workers with those needing these services. 

While short-term employment is not a perfect solution, the gig economy provides millions of people worldwide with flexible work options.

Top 10 Gig Economy Examples To Try In 2024

So, what are the gig economy trends, and what are the best gig economy jobs that you can realistically find in the year ahead?

As long as you have a reliable internet connection, you can earn an average hourly rate without resorting to traditional jobs or working for a delivery service.

We researched options to earn money and found the following 10 gig economy examples to help you narrow your choices.

10. Language Translator

Fluency in two or more languages is your entry ticket into the world of language translation through a variety of gig economy websites.

Websites like Fiverr and PeoplePerHour allow you to provide translation services to a wide range of clients.

The gig economy statistics show that rates vary depending on how complex the task is as well as between which languages you are translating.

Generally, translators with more experience and higher qualifications receive higher fees for their services, but there are plenty of opportunities for newbies.

The complexity, length, and subject matter of the text can impact the charged rate, with technical or legal texts requiring a higher level of expertise.

Demand for a specific language pair also plays a role in determining the rate, with English to Spanish translations commanding higher rates.

As a general estimate, freelance translators may set rates ranging from $0.10 to $0.50 per word, with an average falling between $0.20 and $0.30 per word.

This translates to approximately $50 to $500 or more for an average text, depending on its length and subject difficulty.

Some translation agencies pay higher rates for additional services like quality assurance and project management, while more experienced translators can offer editing and proofreading.

Furthermore, businesses or individuals might be willing to pay premium rates for exceptionally accurate and high-quality translations, especially for critical projects.

Translation has become one of the best gig economy jobs as there is a massive demand for content provided in languages other than English.

9. Virtual Fitness Trainer

Recent COVID-19 lockdowns saw gig platforms offering fitness professionals an opportunity to connect with clients seeking certified personal trainers for personalized training sessions.

The market for fitness services has grown over the years, and trainers can now showcase their expertise online to help clients find suitable fitness advice.

Gig workers create profiles with certifications, experience, and specialization details, while online platforms offer an efficient way to manage schedules, client bookings, and administrative tasks.

ZipRecruiter reports that the average salary for an online personal trainer is $29.33 per hour, with the upper level reaching as much as $52.

While these figures appear quite low, there are multiple opportunities for trainers to earn additional income from supplement commissions as well as other affiliate offers.

You may also offer related services such as group exercise instruction, nutritional coaching, corrective exercises, and even strength and conditioning for athletes.

How much you make depends on your qualifications, skills, experience, and ability to market yourself effectively across multiple gig economy platforms.

The future for online trainers is positive as the fitness industry shows no signs of slowing down increased obesity and a general decline in health.

8. Podcast Editing

Podcast editing involves cutting unwanted portions of a presentation using visual representations known as waveforms to manipulate multiple audio tracks for a fully-fledged podcast episode.

Combined with this, production involves applying effects and processes to enhance audio quality, often done with pre-set effects or plugins.

Minimal effective editing time is about 15 minutes for a 30-minute episode, while thorough editing and production takes 3 to 5 hours for one-hour episodes.

Individuals with experience and knowledge of digital audio workstation (DAW) software like Audacity, a common tool for podcast editing, are in great demand.

At the pro level, Adobe Audition, Hindenburg, or Reaper are common tools used along with automated processing, editing, and publishing without a DAW.

The biggest gig economy companies, like Upwork, Music Radio Creative, and Fiverr, are great places to pick up work at all levels in the gig economy.

Expect to earn $50 to $70 per hour of raw audio; this will include compression as well as tidying up the audio file.

As audiences move away from television and become more selective in what they watch, the demand for podcast editing will increase.

7. Website Tester

The are numerous gig economy platforms on which you can apply for website tester positions, including software like games as well as apps.

Companies engage beta testers to provide feedback on their software, apps, and websites before they open them up to the general public.

Expect to receive email invitations to tests that range from 30 minutes to a few weeks once you have completed training and the onboarding process.

You can expect to earn between $15 and $30 per test, which typically lasts anything from 5 minutes to just over 60 minutes.

Generally, there are no specific skills or qualifications necessary, but all applicants need to submit applications to join a test.

There are no restrictions on types of devices or operating systems either, so you can have iOS or Windows on laptops, desktops, cellphones, or tablets.

Gaming is one of the growth sectors in which testing is constantly needed as new games come out and require beta testing to find faults and glitches.

6. Social Media Influencer

Brand interest in sponsored content is rising, with a shift from traditional social ads indicated by 92% of brands planning to increase influencer marketing investment.

While you may have heard that some brands are exploring virtual influencers as an alternative to real people, there's still room for growth.

If you are an influencer who has niched down in a specific subject, then you are perfectly positioned to take advantage of this gig economy opportunity.

Specialized influencers attract brands targeting a precise audience, so whether you're on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, or Facebook, you can earn a comfortable living.

Brands are restructuring their short-term contracts to reuse influencer content in various marketing channels, including emulating TikTok's style in traditional ads.

For businesses seeking a B2B audience, LinkedIn has seen record growth with impressive engagement across a broad range of industries and sectors.

If you have a substantial following, you can expect to make anything from $195 to $1,900 per post on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok.

However, most famous personalities, like sportsmen and women, actors, or authors, can make substantially more due to their existing following.

5. Event Planner

Virtual event planners are adaptable individuals proficient in using virtual meeting platforms, streaming services, and other online collaboration tools.

To be a success, you must be able to adjust to changes in technology, attendee preferences, and the many unforeseen gig economy challenges.

If you are an effective troubleshooter with creative problem-solving skills, then there are plenty of clients who can use your skills.

Gig platforms like Upwork and FLexJobs are two popular websites that regularly advertise open positions and tasks required by companies planning events.

You can also offer your services on an online platform like Fiverr or Upwork, building a client list that can book your gig economy jobs multiple times each year.

Expect to earn anything between $50,000 and $100,000 per year, depending on your industry, years of experience, and supplier contacts.

Some event planners charge a flat rate for their services, while others charge a percentage of the cost of the event.

Factors like event location, guest count, and food choices greatly influence the cost, so building solid relationships with vendors and expertise in negotiation is crucial.

4. Virtual Interior Designer

Virtual interior design jobs involve creating aesthetically pleasing and functional spaces through gig economy platforms, and demand for the service is growing.

There are various virtual interior designer jobs that you can secure based on your training, experience, and abilities, including design directors, commercial, and residential designers.

Earnings may range from as much as $133,500 per year to $21,000 per year, depending on your skills and experience.

There are also opportunities for you to work on small jobs or projects on an hourly basis for large companies requiring additional capacity.

Gig platforms like Havenly and Decorist can help you find clients, while there are regular ads for positions on Indeed and Upwork.

If you have a flair for design, offer virtual interior design services, as there are plenty of clients on the best freelance websites who require online consultants.

3. Stock Photographer

Even though AI platforms like Midjourney and DALL-E 2 have put pressure on traditional stock photographers, there are areas in which AI cannot compete.

These include editorial content from events and real-world news that's constantly changing and not possible for AI to recreate or manufacture.

You can expect to earn between $0.10 and $5.80 per photo from an agency like Shutterstock, with extended licenses bringing in around $39.80 each.

Here's a list of some of the stock photography websites to which you can upload your photos:

• Alamy
• YayImages
• Dreamstime
• BigStock
• Adobe Stock & Fotolia
• Stocksy
• Depositphotos
• Photocase
• iStock & GettyImages
• 123RF

More recently, websites like Picfair have emerged that provide amateur photographers and those new to the gig economy with an outlet for their images.

The best approach is to load a large quantity of images with plenty of relevant tags that help clients find them more easily.

This is gig work that just about anyone can do; even if you don't have a camera, you can use your cell phone to create the images.

You can even get gig worker tax deductions on the personal equipment that you use to create an income in your photography business.

2. Task Automation

Numerous gig economy jobs can be automated, including writing and sending emails, E-commerce, updating CRMs, and running a company's calendar.

The most popular gig economy tasks though, are ones that don't require any specific skills, including small jobs like data capture and virtual assistant, that can be outsourced.

Managing email marketing campaigns, including segmentation and scheduling, can be time-consuming, and automation ensures consistency and provides insights for campaign optimization.

If gig workers have experience with tools like MailChimp or Constant Contact, then there are plenty of clients looking for assistance with email marketing processes.

A consistent social media presence is crucial, but managing multiple platforms can be overwhelming, as scheduling posts and analyzing audience engagement is time-consuming.

Many online entrepreneurs and companies can use experienced independent contractors to help automate their social media posting and provide analytics.

Expected earnings vary from a few hundred dollars per month to many thousand dollars, depending on the size and scope of the gig work.

Websites like Upwork, Indeed, Freelancer, and Fiverr are channels an independent contractor can use to find gig economy jobs, but don't overlook LinkedIn.

1. E-Commerce Reselling

With so many people losing their jobs, there has been an increasing interest in digital marketing, with e-commerce providing the best gig economy jobs.

Gig economy platforms like Etsy and Shopify make setting up an online presence easy, with all the freelance tools a gig worker needs to show products to their users.

Platforms like Amazon may be crowded, but the size of their audience and the trust that the brand has engendered in visitors make it viable gig work.

Before getting started, you'll need to apply for a business license from the state you're operating in, as well as register for sales tax.

Then, you'll need to source your products from online supplier directories or partner with dropshipping websites that can fulfill your orders.

Buy and sell products online through platforms like eBay, Etsy, or Poshmark, find unique items at thrift stores, or create and sell handmade goods.

You'll need a budget for marketing as well as some initial start-up capital to acquire stock, but it is much less than setting up a brick-and-mortar store.

A gig worker can expect to make 20 to 50% profit on the items sold, with some gig economy stores making as much as 100 or 200% profit on collectibles and rare items.

Just remember that gig economy workers still have to pay tax on their earnings as well as cover other costs such as health insurance and retirement savings.

Summary

The gig economy isn't just about food delivery; it's a dynamic self-employment solution to labor market challenges, offering flexible and short-term employment opportunities.

This growth is facilitated by an ever-increasing number of new digital platforms connecting gig workers with those seeking their services.

With opportunities ranging from language translation and virtual fitness training to podcast editing and e-commerce reselling, you have direct access to a worldwide client base.

Opportunities abound for both entrepreneurs and those who are looking to increase their income through part-time or flexible online jobs.