3 High-Paying Side Hustles For Upwork In 2024

Are traditional 9 to 5 jobs a relic of the past?

Platforms such as Fiverr, Upwork, People Per Hour, and others have revolutionized what it means to “go to work.” A single workplace is no longer the norm. Professionals around the world are joining these freelance websites and experiencing the freedom and fulfilment of accepting projects as and when they please, leveraging their skills while making money online.

Full-time freelancers and those working side gigs are able to juggle multiple “employers” (clients), working from any venue they prefer, or from the comfort of their home.

If you’re looking for a way to make money online with your side hustle, one of the most popular platforms you would have run into is Upwork, which is a global freelance marketplace.

Recently, Upwork identified 19 of the highest paying side hustles on its platform. Three of these lucrative freelancing opportunities are listed below for you to consider (and how to land them:

1. Public Relations Manager

As a freelance PR manager, you would be responsible for managing the representation and public perception of an organization to the press and various stakeholders. You might be called in for very specific projects, such as drafting a press release, consulting and organizing a PR campaign, and even creating a Wikipedia page for a client or managing events.

As of the time of writing, there are currently over 440 freelance PR projects posted to Upwork. Some are willing to pay as much as $500 for a fixed price project, while others require freelancers who can commit to 30 hours or more a week, for a set period of time. This, of course, commands more money than hourly projects, as you will likely be working closely with a project team for weeks or months at a time.

What You Need

A background and education within marketing, social media, media relations and comms is usually preferred. It also helps to upload and share a portfolio of successful previous PR campaigns to your Upwork profile.

Average pay (hourly rate)

Between $50 to $100

2. Management/Business Consultant

Business and management consultants are hired on Upwork for projects such as exciting as consulting VC-backed start-ups, to drafting pitch decks and advising on strategy and business planning and expansion. You can also choose to specialize in a specific business area, for example human resources. For example, one pitch deck project for a strategy presentation was advertized to pay $1,200 for the right freelancer.

What You Need

As a freelance consultant, you would work with multiple clients at any given time (as many as agree to work with you). On Upwork, the client reviews pitches and decides who they would like to go with for the project. Therefore, it helps and makes sense that the more experience you have within their specific industry, and the more in-depth knowledge you have related to their business operational problem, the better the chances that you will be accepted to deliver the project.

Average pay (hourly rate)

Between $28 to $98

3. Media Buyer

As a freelance media buyer, you would be concerned with determining the best places for ad placements, and negotiating these spaces for purchase on behalf of your client. You would be playing a significant role in ensuring your client obtains value for money and are able to reduce their marketing and advertizing spend.

What You Need

You need to be media savvy, have excellent negotiation and communication skills, understand trends, and ideally have experience advertizing and managing successful marketing campaigns across various outlets. If you only have experience with one outlet, for example, TV advertizing, you can stick to your niche, but of course, the Upwork projects you are accepted for may be limited.

Average pay (hourly rate)

Between $50 to $200

How To Get A Gig On Upwork

To successfully land your first Upwork freelance gig, here are a few pointers:

1. Create a compelling profile and ensure all relevant sections are complete.
2. Search for jobs using a combination of narrow and broader search terms, baring in mind that not all clients would search using the same title or keywords in their description.
3. Ensure that you do not apply for every project listed. Only submit proposals for those that are relevant to your expertise, which you can perform confidently. Otherwise, you risk not being hired, wasting your time, or worse, receiving bad reviews on Upwork which can inhibit your chances in the future.
4. Look carefully at the description of the project so you understand what is being asked of you. If it is ambiguous, do not apply. Do not rush this step.
5. Check how many proposals have been submitted already. As a rule of thumb, if there are 10 or close to 10 proposals already sent, don’t send one. The client is likely already considering them and will hire one.
6. Start with smaller projects to build your reputation and gain client testimonials over time.
7. Last but not least, remember to be professional, prompt, and responsive in your communication with clients on the platform.

By following these steps, tapping into your skills and expertise, and developing high-income skills while consistently showcasing your commitment to professionalism, you will increase your chances of securing freelance projects on Upwork.