Finding easy jobs that pay well sounds like a pipe dream when there are so many people looking to escape the rat race, low wages, and unappreciative supervisors. If you’re willing to put in some effort to look, there are actually easy jobs that pay well to give your income a boost without the intense stress. From side hustles to full-time careers, here are 10 easy jobs that pay well to transform your lifestyle.
1. Dental Hygienist
Sometimes easy jobs that pay well are hiding in plain sight. When I was in college, I was at a soccer game and met a girl attending a nearby trade school to learn to become a dental hygienist. I was intrigued, because everyone I knew was on the college track with cloudy job prospects and years of schooling ahead of them. She said they had a 100% job placement rate and that “literally everyone leaves with a job.” The going rate? Today it’s $60,000 to $90,000 for a dental hygienist with roughly 2-years of schooling.
2. Copywriter
If you’re already a solid writer, you can teach yourself copywriting techniques and earn $100 to $200 an hour. I regularly work as a copywriter through private clients and platforms like Upwork. My rates vary, but I work around 25 hours a week and earn somewhere around $65,000 a year part-time. Copywriters and freelance writers get hired to create:
- Emails
- Sales copy
- Website copy
- Blog posts
- Brochures
- Social media posts
- YouTube scripts
The writing itself isn’t difficult, but figuring out how to break in can take some time. Start with topics you already know, like real estate or nursing. There are publications, blogs, and businesses that cater to practically every demographic on the market and need expert insights and perspective.
If you’re interested in copywriting or a freelance writing side hustle, you can get up and running with no experience. The Writer’s Den helps you get your first client, even if you’re coming into the field with no writing experience. You can also learn to grow and scale your career, whether you want to write for blogs, magazines, newspapers, corporations, and more.
Learn more about freelance writing and The Writer’s Den here.
3. Video Editor
When I worked as a video editor in advertising over a decade ago, I earned roughly $500 a day, plus overtime. However, it was far from being an easy job. These days I focus on my writing business and the occasional video editing gig. Instead of slaving away for corporate clients (although they pay great!) you can create videos for YouTube influencers, small businesses, and business coaches. Charging by the project is usually more lucrative, with monthly retainer packages for weekly videos running $400 a month to start. Video editing is fun, is easy to learn and scale your knowledge, and requires some client nurturing to keep them happy.
4. High-End Tutor
Tutors are always in demand, especially for homeschoolers and working families looking for after school help. However, a high-end tutor specializing in SAT or ACT prep can command $100 or more an hour. Some families are also willing to team up with a few other students, skyrocketing your hourly rate for group tutoring or weekend workshops. Learn more Best Side Jobs from Home that Are Easy to Start.
5. Specialty Librarian
Librarians need degrees to get started, but can command $40,000 to $85,000 a year for mostly autonomous work. Depending on who you ask, some librarians will say their job is difficult, especially if you work in the school system. However, if you don’t want to be beholden to school rules and meetings, skip the education career trajectory. Instead, look for archival and librarian positions at museums and corporations that will pay the most. Identify what type of income you want to make and then focus your librarian career path around your goals.
6. High-End Dog Walker
Anyone sick of high-stress jobs probably look longingly at dog walkers and wish you too could spend the day outdoors. Dog walkers typically make $15 to $25 an hour, which is decent, but doesn’t exactly make the list of easy jobs that pay well. The idea is to focus on a high-end niche that people are eager to pay for. Some people take dogs on half-day long hikes, group pack walks, or jog with them and command impressive rates. You can even grow your own dog walking business, work a few days a week, and earn big money supervising your staff. If you’re not sure where to start, partner with a vet or dog training service in your neighborhood to drum up referrals.
7. Social Media Assistant
Social media marketing is something all small businesses seem to want but no one has time to execute. Even a small business usually has room for $250 to $500 a month in their budget for a social media assistant to write posts, add photos, interact with their online communities, and schedule it all with tools like Hootsuite. You can command higher rates with some basic Canva graphic design skills that even an amateur can pick up.
8. Virtual Assistant
A virtual assistant helps a business owner run their business whether checking email, creating Pinterest pins, writing blog posts, or doing light bookkeeping. Starting rates for basic, easy virtual assistance work is around $20 an hour. More advanced skills can command $50 an hour on up. The idea is to focus on skills you already have from your current or previous day job. For example, virtual assistants who help set up email funnels and write blog posts can make $40 an hour. At just 25 hours a week, you could earn $4,000 a month.
9. Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
If you love the idea of working with medical equipment and working with people, a career as a medical sonographer can command $45,000 to $75,000 a year with 2 to 4 years of education. Forbes even rated diagnostic medical sonographer as one of the least stressful jobs around. There could be opportunity to travel as a sonographer. Many medical positions, including nurses, can work with agencies that send them around the country on a contract basis. If you love to travel and move around while someone else deals with the logistics, you can work as a traveling sonographer and work at various hospitals and clinics.
10. Caricature Artist
Drawing is more than an outlet to doodle and can command lucrative paydays, but you need to move past the low-paying gigs in the park or working for someone else. Instead, selling yourself for weddings, corporate events, fairs, and festivals can rake in better rates with a higher volume of customers. Check out Julia Kelly, Â who mastered live digital caricatures to earn a six-figure salary!
Hard work should be about building up your skills and business, not languishing long hours for little pay. Focus on jobs and gigs that you enjoy and that take a reasonable amount of time. The mix of enjoyment and freedom to have more work-life balance is ultimately what makes a job easy. What will you pick?