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Last Updated on 2024-04-10
We worked with these active, experienced gig-workers to write this article and bring you first-hand knowledge.
7 years of experience working across DoorDash, Lyft, Amazon Flex, and Instacart
4 years of experience working across Shipt and DoorDash
5 years of experience working across Shipt and Instacart
Experienced writer/researcher in the gig industry working alongside our gig-workers
Weekends are not just for rest and relaxation — for many ambitious nine-to-fivers, they represent untapped potential for extra income. Whether you're padding your savings, paying down debt, or funding a passion project, part-time weekend jobs offer a flexible way to boost your bank balance without sacrificing your weekday commitments.
From zipping around town with delivery gigs to ridesharing with Uber or Lyft, from sorting parcels in Amazon Fulfillment Centers to flexing your muscles with moving services, there's something for every skill set and interest. Here, we’ll cover some of the best part-time gigs you can tackle on the weekend. Some require a bit of experience or resources, while others let you jump right in with little preparation.
The rise of DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, Instacart and Shipt has created a feast of opportunities for those hungry for extra income. Such platforms offer flexibility and fast pay, making them ideal for anyone with a vehicle and a few free hours.
Whether you're navigating city streets to deliver mouth-watering food or ensuring someone's packages arrive on time, these gigs cater to a variety of schedules and preferences.
Restaurant delivery apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub connect hungry customers with a wide range of eateries, offering the convenience of home delivery. As long as you have the app, a mode of transport, and a bit of spare time, chances are you can become a delivery driver.
Working with restaurant delivery apps offers the enticing prospect of a flexible work schedule. However, earnings can fluctuate significantly based on demand, location, and tips.
Additionally, the job will put wear and tear on your vehicle, and you’ll need to pay for gas. Some delivery apps allow you to use a bike or even deliver on foot, which reduces or eliminates the issue, but not all do (we listed out all the delivery apps that allow alternate vehicles in our fully delivery driver apps post).
Instacart and Shipt are on the forefront of the grocery delivery wave, partnering with local supermarkets to deliver groceries directly to customers' homes. If you've got a car and a smartphone, you can help busy families, professionals, or those unable to shop for themselves by becoming a personal shopper.
Working for Instacart or Shipt can offer a flexible schedule and a chance to help out your community. However, like restaurant delivery, earnings can vary widely based on the number of orders, tips, and your location. Additionally, you'll be responsible for your vehicle's maintenance and fuel costs (Instacart does allow walkers in NYC and e-bikes in other cities ).
Ridesharing has revolutionized the way we think about transportation. For those with a reliable vehicle and free weekends, ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft allow you to earn income with your vehicle.
Both platforms connect drivers with passengers needing a lift, embodying the gig economy's spirit of convenience and flexibility.
Uber, the true pioneer of the ridesharing industry, offers a flexible way to make money — and a way to turn your favorite depreciating asset into a money-maker. There are plenty of great reasons to work for Uber, including a flexible schedule and solid earnings.
However, driving for Uber requires you to manage vehicle maintenance and fuel costs, which can eat into profits. Additionally, dealing with difficult passengers and navigating busy city streets can be challenging.
Lyft offers a community-oriented approach to ridesharing, connecting drivers with passengers via an easy-to-use app. When combined with Uber, Lyft allows you to double your opportunities to give rides to passengers.
Similar to Uber, Lyft drivers face vehicle wear and tear and fluctuating earnings based on location, time, and demand. Some users report that tips are not as common on Lyft as on Uber. Lyft requires navigation of the same urban challenges and customer service demands as other platforms.
Amazon warehouses have become synonymous with fast-paced, efficient order processing and delivery, making them a vital part of the e-commerce giant's operations. For those seeking weekend employment, these centers offer a unique opportunity to step into the world of Amazon, where technology and logistics meet.
If you're looking to supplement your income while gaining experience in logistics, working at an Amazon warehouse can provide a dynamic work environment with a variety of roles available. Amazon offers part-time work, including weekend shifts and flex schedules.
Be aware that this job can be physically demanding, and employees are often held to high standards in terms of efficiency and productivity. If you thrive in such environments and are goal-oriented (and perhaps even motivated by the idea of staying constantly on the move), this could be a good job to check out.
Apps like Dolly and Lugg have revolutionized how we think about moving. Nowadays, you don’t need to be part of a traditional moving company to earn money helping people relocate.
These platforms offer a way for individuals with a strong back and a bit of free time to make extra cash, especially on weekends. Whether it's helping someone move to a new home or delivering a large item from a store, Dolly and Lugg connect you directly with those in need of moving services.
Moving jobs are a great opportunity to practice good lifting technique — no slouched backs! — and are immensely gratifying for people who enjoy making a mess disappear. Note that different people have different ideas of cleanliness, so you’ll sometimes find yourself in a home with clutter, allergens like cat hair, and tricky entry/exit points.
Dolly connects individuals who need moving and delivery help with locals who can do the heavy lifting. It's a flexible way to earn by assisting with moves or large deliveries. You can work either as a Helper (with a truck or SUV) or a Hand (just you).
Lugg offers a similar service to Dolly, but with a focus on smaller, more immediate moving and delivery needs. Things like store deliveries, small moves, donations, junk, and Craigslist purchases are common gigs for the app.
This makes it ideal for those looking to fill their weekends with quick tasks that won’t eat up large chunks of time on their own. Like Dolly, Lugg also offers greater pay for those who own a truck. However, you can still find gigs without one.
The ability to teach/tutor English online has become a popular part-time weekend gig, especially for those with full-time commitments during the week.
Platforms like VIPKID, Skooli, and Preply have revolutionized the way English is taught and learned across the globe. Each provides flexible, rewarding opportunities for teachers. Whether you're a seasoned educator or someone with a passion for the English language and teaching, these platforms offer the chance to earn extra income while impacting the lives of students from various cultural backgrounds.
VIPKID bridges the gap between English speakers and young learners, offering a platform for one-on-one English tutoring sessions that can easily be scheduled around your weekend plans. The app used to focus on the Chinese market, but now there’s more of a focus on South East Asia.
Be aware that many learners will be 12-15 hours ahead of mainland US time zones, so you may need to work unusual hours.
Skooli caters to a wide audience, providing tutors for students of various ages and levels in English. Its flexible scheduling and diverse student base make it a great choice for educators looking for weekend tutoring gigs. Skooli also allows you to teach other subjects beyond English.
Note that Skooli only accepts those who are certified teachers in North America. You must have a valid teaching license or ESL/TOEFL certification.
Preply connects tutors with language learners globally for personalized one-on-one lessons, offering a flexible and personal approach to teaching English online during weekends.
Housesitting and pet sitting are ideal weekend gigs for those who enjoy a change of scenery and/or have a love for animals. These jobs offer an opportunity to earn extra income and perhaps even get some therapeutic bonding time with furry friends.
Your main job will be ensuring a home and/or its pets remain safe and secure while the owners are away. Platforms like Care.com and Rover make it easy to connect with pet owners in need of your services, streamlining the process of finding gigs that match your schedule and preferences.
Care.com is a comprehensive platform that connects caregivers with families seeking a variety of services, including babysitting, senior care, pet sitting, housekeeping, and tutoring, making it a one-stop shop for weekend gigs.
Rover specializes in pet care services, offering a dedicated platform for finding pet sitting and dog walking gigs, ideal for animal lovers looking for weekend work.
Catering gigs are a perfect match for those seeking part-time weekend work, particularly for those who thrive in dynamic social settings.
These jobs can range from serving at events to managing concessions at local sports games or aiding in the tear-down process after a big night. Catering companies and platforms like Gigsmart constantly seek weekend warriors ready to jump into the bustling world of event catering.
This work is ideal for individuals who enjoy the excitement of different venues and the opportunity to contribute to the success of various gatherings.
Catering is just one of the gigs that Gigsmart offers. Overall, Gigsmart is a platform that connects workers with on-demand gigs of many types. It offers a straightforward way to find work that suits your weekend availability.
However, the work can be physically demanding, requiring long hours on your feet and sometimes heavy lifting. Job availability may fluctuate seasonally, with more opportunities in warmer months.
Key takeaways:
Working directly with local catering companies offers a more personal and potentially steady stream of weekend catering gigs. Although securing consistent work may require more effort initially, establishing trust and a good working relationship with the company will help.
Note that local companies may have fewer resources than larger platforms, affecting the variety and frequency of available jobs.
We asked three of our Gig Pros what advice they’d give to those looking to find weekend part-time jobs. Here’s what they said.
Scott Jones has been doing DoorDash, Lyft, Amazon Flex, and Instacart since 2018. Here’s the advice he gave:
You're going to need to balance those with your work and rest. Well, I know it can seem like a great idea to burn the candle at both ends, but all the studies that I have seen have shown productivity to be higher on work weeks that are four days rather than 5. From there productivity goes even lower and lower, and over the long term, it becomes difficult to think of this as a feasible option. Life can't just be work. I know that there are those times when to get ahead we're willing to make whatever sacrifices necessary to get there.
I think the easiest one to jump in and out of with is Instacart. The reason I say that is because Instacart doesn't require you to schedule. Whereas these other apps require you to schedule with them before working. Instacart's platform is actually the opposite, it makes it truly a real gig experience. You sign on give your location and then quite literally take bids to do grocery shopping and delivery. It's something you could do if you had one extra spare hour and make 25 to 50 bucks, or you could do it for 8 hours a day and make a full-time living off of it. But the flexibility of it allows you after any single delivery to sign off and just get paid for what you did. No harm comes to your record, and you're in good standing the next time that you want to use this platform. Equally, if you had a few hours and you were even going to be in another location, like imagine you were visiting in-laws, or vacationing. You could use the Instacart platform to help you make some real money in a short amount of time.
James Tuliano has been doing Shipt and DoorDash since 2020, averaging about 20 hours per week across both platforms. Here are his tips:
If you're looking for a weekend part-time job, I don't think anything beats the DoorDash/Uber Eats combo. If you have a clean driving record, you can get started immediately, the job itself is very simple, and you can make a decent amount on Friday nights - Sunday. I started doing food delivery to supplement my income in 2020, and I've been doing it off and on ever since. It doesn't feel like a "job" if you only do it for a couple hours at a time, and it is a really great way to explore your community and check out areas you've never been to before.
I have personally found some of my favorite establishments while working for Doordash/UberEats. It's obviously nice to have that extra money, but getting paid to explore your area is also a pretty nice perk. I would recommend that you start with food delivery, do only one order at a time (to start), only take orders that are paying you $1 a mile, and to go home the minute you're feeling tired of it so you don't get burned out.
Catherine Meyers has 5 years of experience doing Instacart and 2 years of experience with Shipt. Here’s her advice:
Having a consistent income from part-time weekend work requires motivation and flexibility! There are tons of options that are easy to pick up and try — my personal recommendations are Instacart, Shipt, and Uber Eats. However, it’s important to factor in your own preferences and needs.
If you’re an introvert and prefer less contact with your customers, UberEats and DoorDash are very hands off and task-oriented. You just pick up orders, send a few messages if needed, and drop off. Instacart and Shipt require more involved customer service, with Shipt centering their shopper training around excellent service. I’m an introvert, so this can get a little exhausting, but it’s important to remember that better customer service typically equals more earnings through tips.
Another important consideration is feeling out what service is busiest in your area, which is why I recommend signing up for at least 2-4 at once and giving them all a week or two of trial. From there, choosing 2 or 3 to multi-app over the weekends is what will give you your best earnings.