The Side Hustle You Haven’t Tried Might Be… a W-2 Job

Not every side hustle needs to go viral or scale to six figures. Sometimes, the smartest extra income is the most overlooked — like working a few shifts a week at a bookstore, office front desk, or museum gift shop.

In 2025, with freelance fatigue rising and gig app pay stagnating, more workers are quietly turning to traditional W-2 jobs to supplement their income. These aren’t fallback roles. They’re strategic choices for people who want reliable pay, clear boundaries, and a break from all the gig economy chaos.

Matt Taschner is one of them. When he wanted to diversify his income, he didn’t turn to freelance projects or gig jobs. He wanted a change from his remote digital marketing job — something steadier and less unpredictable. He became a part-time bookstore clerk.

“It paid $16 per hour, and the work schedule was flexible enough that I could work weekends or evenings and not mess up my primary job,” he explained. He also got a discount on books, which he said has saved him a ton on gift purchases. Over time, he’s developed a bond with the store’s regulars, who now know him by name.

“It wasn’t just about the extra money,” Taschner said. “It was about having a change of pace, connecting with people, and adding a little balance to my work life.”

The Case for W-2 Side Hustles in 2026

Side hustles have become a near-universal part of American life. According to the 2024 DollarSprout Side Hustle Report, nearly 70% of U.S. adults now have one. But they’re not all driving Ubers or flipping sneakers on eBay.

Increasingly, workers are choosing a different kind of gig: one with a time clock and a W-2.

The shift isn’t just about preference — it’s about pressure. It’s gotten harder to make consistent money with gig apps. Drivers for Instacart and DoorDash say they’re seeing lower base pay and fewer promotions, while the cost of gas, car maintenance, and even parking continues to rise. Ultimately, all that extra hustle isn’t always leading to a bigger paycheck.

Freelancing gives you freedom, but it asks a lot in return. You need real skills, a portfolio, and enough clients to keep the work coming. And even if all that clicks, there’s still the unpredictability: late payments, unpaid admin work, and the mental load of doing everything yourself.

Traditional hourly jobs — the ones most people overlook — solve a lot of these problems. You show up, do the work, and get paid. Taxes are withheld. Shifts are set. And when you leave, the job stays there.

That simplicity is exactly what appeals to side hustlers who are burned out from juggling apps, clients, and always-on schedules.

And according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, it’s a growing one: As of 2024, over 4.8 million Americans were holding both full-time and part-time jobs — the highest number in two decades._[1]

Related: 6 Tips to Avoid an Unexpected Tax Bill from Your Side Hustle

What W-2 Jobs Quietly Offer (That Freelancers Often Forget)

Most people chasing extra income know what W-2 jobs offer on paper: an hourly wage, a schedule, maybe a few perks. But when you stack those things against the chaos of gig or freelance work, they start to look a lot more appealing.

For starters, there’s no self-employment tax. You don’t have to budget for quarterly estimates or worry about a surprise IRS bill. Your employer handles tax withholding, Social Security, and Medicare contributions automatically.

Plus, some hourly jobs come with real perks — things like health insurance, 401(k) matches, employee discounts, or even paid time off. It’s not guaranteed, but if you’re working for a big-box store, a nonprofit, or a school system, you might be surprised by what’s offered.

Then there’s the simplicity: no algorithms, no ratings, no client hand-holding. You’re not chasing invoices or marketing yourself between jobs. You work your shift, get paid, and go home.

Taschner said that contrast is what sold him on the part-time bookstore gig. 

“This side hustle is more predictable than freelancing, and it didn’t require any unpaid preparation time,” said Taschner, whose primary job is head of marketing at Sota Home Buyers. “I punch in, work, and punch out — no invoicing, marketing, or client hunting.”

That kind of boundary is rare in today’s hustle culture. With so many side gigs bleeding into late nights and weekends, W-2 jobs offer something surprisingly valuable: a hard stop. Your time is yours again as soon as you clock out.

And for people trying to protect their energy — or reclaim a bit of their sanity — that might be the biggest perk of all.

Real People, Real Jobs — and Why They Work

Some people step back from self-employment not because they’re giving up, but because they want something steadier. That was the case for Heather Turner, a hospitality consultant who spent decades running her own firm, Forfeng Designs. As she eased into retirement, the ups and downs of client work no longer made sense. “Some months are gangbusters, some are the Sahara,” she said. A part-time social media role for a mental health center started as a freelance contract. It turned into a permanent W-2 job — $45/hour, with a 401(k), PTO, and a flexible schedule that gives her time to volunteer.

The decision was different for Dana English. She runs a PR consulting business but found herself feeling isolated after moving from Los Angeles to a quieter part of California wine country. Most of her days were spent behind a screen. To break up the routine, she started picking up a few shifts at a local wine tasting room. The job pays hourly plus tips, but the real value is in the balance. “I get to flex my social muscles, meet new people, and even network with potential clients in a relaxed setting,” she said. “And I love wine. I get to taste a lot of it, which keeps my palate sharp.”

Ben Kuhl didn’t find his W-2 side hustle until after burning out on gig apps. A woodworker in North Carolina, he runs Shelf Expression — a custom shelf and home décor business. When orders slowed in the spring and summer, he tried filling the gap with delivery apps, but the wear and tear on his car made it unsustainable. A part-time job at a big-box hardware store turned out to be a better fit. The pay is steady, the employee discount stretches his margins, and chatting with customers has even helped him find subcontractors for his own projects.

Related: How Emily Odio-Sutton Built a $560,000/Year POD Business

How to Find W-2 Jobs That Fit Your Life

Finding a good part-time job starts with knowing what you actually want out of it. Some people crave social interaction. Others prefer quiet, no-pressure work. And some just don’t want to be on their feet all day. Not everyone’s built for a restaurant shift or a daycare classroom — and that’s okay.

The trick is to find something simple, flexible, and useful beyond just a paycheck. Take Kuhl, for example, who chose a job at a hardware store not just for the paycheck, but because the employee discount helped his woodworking business. That kind of alignment can turn a side job into a smart, multipurpose move.

So where should you look?

Try sites like CoolWorks, Snagajob, or your local college’s job board. You can also stop by nearby businesses, especially smaller retailers, museums, or cafes, and ask if they need part-time help.

If a role catches your eye, ask some practical questions before signing on. How long do people tend to stay? What happens when someone calls out? Are there fixed hours or on-call shifts? And how far is the commute? A job that looks great on paper might not be worth it if it drains your time or energy.

Some roles to consider:

• Library aide
• College event staff
• Holiday retail backup
• Front desk at a gym, museum, or salon
• School cafeteria or substitute aide

The right job won’t feel like a second burden. If anything, it should give you a break from your main hustle, not burn you out further.

The Bottom Line: Maybe “Boring” Is the Point

W-2 side hustles aren’t flashy. They don’t scale, go viral, or land you clients in your sleep. But for a growing number of workers, that’s exactly the appeal.

They pay reliably. They end when the shift ends. They don’t demand a personal brand or inbox monitoring after hours. And in a hustle culture obsessed with building something bigger, there’s value in a job that simply does its job.

Of course, not every role will be the right fit. Long commutes, rigid schedules, or low pay can turn a decent gig into a drain. But when you find something nearby, low-lift, and steady, it can feel like a break instead of a burden.

You don’t need a niche or a funnel. You just need a shift that starts at 6 and ends at 10, and sends you home with cash.

Related: 

• The 10 Important Do’s and Don’ts of Choosing a Side Hustle
• 40 Legit Online Jobs That Are Easy, Flexible, and Profitable
• Why Weird Side Hustles Often Make Great Money