A new 2025 Side Hustle Survey from reveals that nearly half of Americans, 44%, have a side hustle, with many relying on it as a financial lifeline rather than a discretionary income source. The findings show the financial strain many households face as wages stagnate and the cost of living rises.
Among those with a side hustle, 43% say they need the extra income to cover daily expenses, a sharp increase from previous years. Seventy-one percent of side hustlers report earning less than $500 monthly, with nearly a quarter making less than $100 monthly.
鈥淭he median amount our side hustlers earned monthly was $400, but the average was $1,215,鈥 Matt Schultz wrote for Lending Tree. Considering how tight many households鈥 budgets are, $1,215 is nothing short of a game-changing monthly amount. Men report earning more than double what women say they earn 鈥 an average of $1,580 versus $749.
Earlier, the publication reported that Washington, D.C., ranks among the most overworked cities in the nation, scoring 81.1 on its overwork index. The data showed that the average workweek for District residents is 39 hours, with a commute averaging 31 minutes. More than 61% of households have multiple jobs, 64% of employees work 50 or more weeks per year, and 23.4% of those 65 and older remain in the workforce. The report also found that 5.6% of employees have two jobs, and 3% have a side hustle.
By contrast, Las Vegas ranked as the least overworked city with a score of 18.7.
The LendingTree survey shows younger generations are more likely to take on additional work, with 60% of Gen Z respondents and 55% of millennials reporting that they have a side hustle. That compares to 39% of Gen X and 24% of baby boomers. While 18% of side hustlers earn at least $1,000 monthly, most remain in lower income brackets. The median income from side gigs has not increased meaningfully, and rising inflation continues to erode purchasing power, leaving many struggling to build financial security.
In October of last year, one social media took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express his frustration with side hustle culture.
鈥淚 kinda hate the side hustle / second income culture,鈥 , garnering 62,000 likes, 16,000 reposts and more than 300 comments. 鈥淪omeone shouldn’t have to work so much just to be comfortable.鈥
Freelance and gig work remain an unpredictable source of income. While platforms like Uber, DoorDash, and Etsy provide flexible opportunities, only 31% of side hustlers say they feel financially stable. Thirty-six percent worry that their side hustle income could disappear if demand drops, or economic conditions worsen. Nearly one-third, 32%, reported working at least 20 hours per week on their side hustle, effectively holding down a second job.
鈥淪ure, many people have side hustling in their blood. They鈥檙e working these side gigs because they鈥檙e passionate about them, not just because of the money,鈥 Schultz contended. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 not most people, though. Our survey revealed, not surprisingly, that many Americans take on side hustles to help them manage debt. They鈥檝e cut their spending to the bone to try to free up money to put toward the debt before realizing they need to bring in more income to make a real dent in their problem.鈥