{"success":true,"data":{"id":"d9ff7f63-5ff4-488a-aaa1-1bacfbe477bc","title":"Five fun summer side gigs and why they’re worth doing, according to experts","summary":"Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. Not now Yes please US Edition Change Support Now × \"Clear search box\") Custom Search Sort by Relevance Date NewsNews World CupWorld Cup SportsSports CultureCulture LifestyleLifestyle MoneyMon...","content":"## Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent\n\nNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.\n\nNot now Yes please\n\nUS Edition Change\n\nSupport Now\n\n[×](javascript:void(0) \"Clear search box\")\n\nCustom Search\n\nSort by\n\nRelevance\n\nDate\n\n*   News[News](https://www.independent.co.uk/us)\n\n*   World Cup[World Cup](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup)\n\n*   Sports[Sports](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport)\n\n*   Culture[Culture](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment)\n\n*   Lifestyle[Lifestyle](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style)\n\n*   Money[Money](https://www.independent.co.uk/us/money)\n\n*   Travel[Travel](https://www.independent.co.uk/us/travel)\n\n*   Premium[Premium](https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium)\n\nMore\n\nMore\n\n### Thank you for registering\n\nPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in\n\n# Five fun summer side gigs and why they’re worth doing, according to experts\n\n## ‘Find the clients that will help you develop marketable skills, discover trustworthy clients and build bridges that can connect you with future projects,’ one expert said\n\n[J.R. Duren](https://www.independent.co.uk/author/jr-duren)in Jacksonville, Florida Friday 10 July 2026 21:20 BST\n\n*   Copy link  \n*   Bookmark  \n*   [Comments](https://www.independent.co.uk/us/money/fun-summer-side-gigs-jobs-b3012928.html#comments-area)Go to comments  \n\n## Bookmark popover\n\nRemoved from bookmarks\n\nClose popover\n\nSide gigs can be a good way to bring in extra cash, but consumers should vet short-term employers before saying ‘yes’ to a summer job\n\nAmerica has become a side-gig culture, with as many as [40 percent](https://kogod.american.edu/news/side-hustles-surge-as-americans-struggle-with-rising-costs) of people working a side job, according to American University.\n\nThe typical side hustle generates around $1,200 a month for about 10 hours of work a week, the university said.\n\nWith the summer in full swing, consumers looking to earn extra cash for [debt payments](https://www.independent.co.uk/us/money/retirement-student-loan-borrowers-baby-boomers-b3005858.html), [savings](https://www.independent.co.uk/us/money/us-economy-bank-account-salary-savings-b3006036.html) or an [upcoming vacation](https://www.independent.co.uk/us/money/airbnb-vrbo-guest-rights-travel-b2997810.html) can pick up a side hustle to help meet their [financial goals](https://www.independent.co.uk/us/money/americans-financial-fulfillment-economy-b2994904.html).\n\nFrom event staffing to pet sitting, experts say there’s a wide range of opportunities waiting for you.\n\n_The_ _Independent_ spoke with several side-hustle and employment experts to find five recommendations for summer gigs that [bring in cash](https://www.independent.co.uk/us/money/americans-planning-summer-travel-hits-sixyear-low-b2986045.html)and are fun: Event staffing, resorts and camps, concert staffing, tutoring, and dog walking and pet sitting.\n\nRECOMMENDED\n\n[](https://track.tracklead.org/cf/r/6a3b0b6ed118530012c19b01)[South Carolina Senior Drivers Surprised By This CoverageQuotes | [Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=eslmedia-theindependent&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=alternating-thumbnails-stream-1x4:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails%20II:)[Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=eslmedia-theindependent&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=alternating-thumbnails-stream-1x4:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails%20II:)](https://track.tracklead.org/cf/r/6a3b0b6ed118530012c19b01 \"South Carolina Senior Drivers Surprised By This\")\n\n[](https://www.apparctrax.com/cmp/9C9G1/LJ11HX)[Thousands of Timeshare Owners Are Finally Getting Out With Refunds Consumer Advisory Report | [Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=eslmedia-theindependent&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=alternating-thumbnails-stream-1x4:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails%20II:)[Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=eslmedia-theindependent&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=alternating-thumbnails-stream-1x4:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails%20II:)](https://www.apparctrax.com/cmp/9C9G1/LJ11HX \"Thousands of Timeshare Owners Are Finally Getting Out With Refunds\")\n\nopen image in gallery\n\nSummer is booming with seasonal work that can help full-time workers supplement their income with a little extra cash each month(Getty)\n\n## Event staffing\n\nThe event industry hits its peak during the summer, opening up plenty of part-time opportunities for those who need a summer side gig, said Alexis Gomez, owner of Los Angeles-based Parlani Party Rentals.\n\n“Summer is arguably the busiest season of the year when it comes to weddings, festivals and corporate events, all leading to a high demand for reliable workers,” he said.\n\nOne of the perks of event planning is that schedules are flexible, he said. Workers learn valuable skills, too, including customer service, logistics, teamwork and problem solving, Gomez told _The Independent_ by email.\n\n“Find the clients that will help you develop marketable skills, discover trustworthy clients and build bridges that can connect you with future projects,” he said.\n\nSome event companies provide staff for concerts, which is one of the things that makes the job a fun one, said Kathy Kristof, CEO of side-gig resource platform SideHusl.com.\n\n“One of my favorites is working concerts and events, since you are often able to get paid to see events that you'd otherwise pay a fortune to attend,” Kristof said in an email to _The Independent_.\n\nThe average pay for event staff is [$18.04](http://redirect.viglink.com/?&key=5b1a6400a3c0d931ed2037885e1a27a3&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indeed.com%2Fcareer%2Fevent-staff%2Fsalaries&cuid=b3012928) an hour, according to career site Indeed.com.\n\nJoining an event company for a summer could produce gigs at concerts that employees would normally pay hundreds of dollars to attend(AP)\n\n## Resorts and camps\n\nKristof suggests looking for work at summer camps and resorts, noting that the jobs available can be varied and interesting.\n\n“Seasonal jobs in resorts and camps also might be a great fit,” she said. “The actual jobs vary from working in reception and food service to being a camp counselor or horse wrangler.”\n\nThe American Camp Association estimates there are more than 20,000 summer camps in the United States, with many offering camp counselor and support staff positions during the summer.\n\nBig hotel chains like Marriott and Hilton go on huge hiring sprees for summer workers. The two chains alone were predicted to [hire nearly 100,000 seasonal employees](https://indeedflex.com/career-hub/guides/summer-hospitality-guide) with pay ranging from $14 to $22 an hour, according to temporary staffing platform Indeed Flex.\n\n## Dog walking and pet sitting\n\nTaking care of someone else’s pets during the summer is a fun way to get outside (pet walking) or stay at home (pet sitting) and make cash while doing so, Kristoff said.\n\n“Dog walking and pet sitting gigs pay you to get outside – and/or cuddle up on a couch with somebody's fur baby while you watch Netflix,” she said. “Pretty nice working conditions, if you ask me.”\n\nPet sitting can also be a way for animal lovers to get their furry fix – and get paid for it.\n\nKristof suggests looking for dog walking and pet sitting gigs through Rover, an online pet care platform that connects pet sitters with pet owners.\n\nPet sitting pays an average of $21.12 an hour, according to career site Indeed(Getty)\n\nThe job types on the site range from boarding pets and house sitting to doggy day care, dog walking and popping in to check on a client's pets while they’re away.\n\nPet sitters make an average of [$21.12 per hour](http://redirect.viglink.com/?&key=5b1a6400a3c0d931ed2037885e1a27a3&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indeed.com%2Fcmp%2FPetsitter%2Fsalaries%2FPet-Sitter&cuid=b3012928), according to Indeed.com.\n\n## Tutoring\n\nTutoring is a good way to earn money on the side, helping students learn about things you love.\n\n“If you have expertise in anything from AI to math to music to language, you can become a tutor,” said Patrick McAndrew, a certified financial planner at California-based American Wealth Planning.\n\nOn some sites, such as Preply, tutors can make as much as $5,000 a month, he told _The Independent_ in an email.\n\n“I often point clients to this gig as a great option to work from home and make a meaningful income,” he said.\n\nFlexibility is a big benefit of the gig – tutors can work exclusively online and schedule sessions around their availability.","source_name":"The Independent","source_url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/us/money/fun-summer-side-gigs-jobs-b3012928.html","url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/us/money/fun-summer-side-gigs-jobs-b3012928.html","author":"J.R. Duren","author_name":"J.R. Duren","published_at":"2026-07-10T20:20:37.000Z","publication_date":"2026-07-10T20:20:37.000Z","image_url":"https://static.independent.co.uk/2026/07/10/20/543244652..","category":"world","topic":"world","tags":[],"political_bias":null,"bias_score":null,"confidence_score":null,"credibility_score":null,"factual_quality":null,"reading_time":6,"word_count":1018,"view_count":0,"breaking":false,"breaking_news":false,"ai_analysis":null,"fact_check_status":"unverified","archive_status":"hot"}}