4 Side Gigs for Gen Z or Millennials That Won't Lead to Burnout
Gen Z and millennials face a relatable problem: financial goals keep getting further out of reach. A side gig that doesn't feel so much like a second job might be the answer. In other words, one that works around your existing schedule, not against it.
"Millennials don't need side gigs that feel like second jobs," described Patrice Williams-Lindo, the CEO of Career Nomad. "They need revenue streams that monetize what they already do for free—whether it's translating office jargon, ghostwriting their boss's brilliance, or curating screenshot receipts that tell stories online."
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Here are four low-stress side gigs worth exploring.
Newsletter Publisher on Substack
Earning Potential: Creators with 1,000 to 5,000 paid subscribers typically make $60,000 to $300,000 annually
Millennials, who used to post on Blogspot or Myspace, are now joining Gen Z on Substack to share thoughts with the world and earn some money at the same time. Substack is free to use, but takes 10% of your paid revenue, plus payment processing. According to Carrie Loranger, creator of The 9-To-Thrive Newsletter, it is flexible, requires no meetings, and the returns are compounded.
"You don't need a big audience or fancy setup," said Loranger, adding that this is best for anyone with useful insight to share, whether it's gardening, crypto or niche news roundups. "Write about something you know. You can start with just one post a week and build from there."
The pay varies widely, with newer creators bringing in a few hundred dollars a month to the top 1% of earners bringing in over $1 million per year.
Workplace Translator
Earning Potential: $27.50 per hour
Anyone worried about artificial intelligence doing a perfect full-time job communicating in a workspace should rest easy knowing that humans will still be needed to sift through the complex and nuanced language of business and corporations. That role is a workplace translator, and it comes with a pretty decent monthly income.
In Williams-Lindo's professional opinion, this side gig is ideal for a millennial who is a former editor, note taker or Slack interpreter because you can "turn corporate jargon into human language for internal comms and HR teams."
Mini-Masterclass Teacher
Earning Potential: $200 to $10,000 or more per month
Also known as a micro-course, Loranger explained that all you need to do is teach a subject that you are an expert on in about 30 to 60 minutes, record it, and sell it multiple times on platforms such as Coursera or Gumroad.
"I created a video and guide on how to create a logo in 20 minutes using two free tools. People starting out on Substack love it because this is one thing they really struggle with," shared Loranger, who noted this works great for busy professionals who want to share expertise but don't have time to build a full course.
Again, pay for this gig varies widely, but creators charge between $47 and $200 per masterclass on average. If you have an engaged audience or run targeted ads, a single launch can generate more than $10,000 per month.
AI Prompt Stylist
Earning Potential: $20 to $100 per hour
According to the popular YouTube channel AI Samson, an AI Prompt Stylist or Prompt Designer generally earns between $50,000 and $ 130,000 or more annually for full-time corporate roles. However, as a side gig, freelancers typically charge $20 to $100 and more per hour or $10 to $50 per project, while top creators monetizing digital products or AI artwork can make thousands a month.
"These are not just side gigs," Williams-Lindo concluded. "They're mini-enterprises of genius born from years of managing up, curating culture, and translating chaos into clarity. The key is not finding more time-it's repackaging your natural skill set into paid proof of brilliance."
J. Arky contributed to the reporting for this article.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.