A military side hustle can bring in extra income without interfering with your service. The right gig could even help you build transferable skills to use in your post-military career. 

But starting a side hustle as an active military member requires careful consideration. For starters, it needs to be flexible enough to fit your already demanding schedule. That means it can’t get in the way of your military commitments, training schedules, or deployments. And it can’t create any conflicts of interest. When in doubt, it’s always a good idea to run it by your chain of command or ethics office before you commit. 

Once you’ve got those guardrails in place, the right side gig can be a game-changer for your finances and your future. 

Key Points

• Plenty of side hustles work well for active military members. The right fits are flexible enough to fit around your service and valuable enough to build skills you’ll use long after. 
• Some side hustles or part-time jobs for military members may be subject to command approval or other restrictions.  
• The options on this list were chosen with military life in mind. They’re flexible enough to fit your schedule, low-barrier to start, and worth more than just the extra paycheck. 

What to Know Before Starting a Side Hustle While on Active Duty

Before you commit to a military side hustle, check 2 things first: your outside-activity rules and your schedule reality.  

Military ethics guidance allows outside work in many cases, but it also draws clear lines. Here’s what to keep in mind:  

• Conflict check: Outside work can’t conflict with your official duties. 
• Approval may apply: Some second jobs for active-duty military can require prior approval, depending on your component, job, and the type of outside work. 
• No government gear or time: Government property has to be protected and used only for authorized purposes, so treat your side gig like “off-duty, on your own equipment.” 
• Don’t leverage your rank or title: Ethics rules prohibit using public office for private gain, including endorsements in many cases. 
• When in doubt, seek guidance: Ethics officials can help you determine whether a specific side hustle creates any conflicts before you commit. 

With eligibility sorted, the next step is to pick something that fits your schedule and interests. A good place to start is with the skills you already have. Or you could pick something that builds a skill you want after service. 

Here are some quick tips to get started: 

• Take stock of your current skills and interests. That way, you explore options that genuinely make sense for you. 
• Be honest about your schedule and any commitments. The last thing you need is a side hustle that interferes with your service. 
• Set realistic financial and time-based goals so you know what success looks like. 
• Consider future career potential. Even part-time work could one day become its own career. 

With that in mind, here are 26 side hustles that work well for active-duty military members. 

Note: Salary ranges throughout this article are sourced from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and various job boards. They’re intended as general estimates rather than precise figures. 

Remote Side Hustles

Remote side hustles are often a natural fit for active-duty military. Since they typically require only a reliable internet connection, they travel with you through permanent change of station (PCS) moves and changing schedules. 

Note: Income ranges are based on information obtained from publicly available data, including job boards and BLS data. Actual income can vary based on various factors such as experience, location, and time commitment.

1. Freelance Writing

Estimated pay range: $20 to $71/hour 

Freelance writing can be a great side hustle if writing is something you genuinely enjoy. You can create all sorts of written content for online publications or businesses. That includes email sequences, white papers, evergreen blogs, and newsworthy articles. Writing is flexible work you can do from (nearly) anywhere. And your existing knowledge and interests can become your niche. 

To get started, try picking up work through an online freelance platform. Or you could build your own simple website to showcase your portfolio and connect with clients directly. 

2. Virtual Assistant

Estimated pay range: $16 to $42/hour 

As a virtual assistant, you provide administrative and operational support to small businesses and entrepreneurs. Core tasks include providing customer support, answering emails, and managing schedules. You may need some baseline technical skills to operate relevant software. 

Most pros work remotely with small businesses or entrepreneurs. If your schedule is predictable enough to commit to regular hours, it can be a reliable and steady source of outside income. Online platforms that match virtual assistants with clients are a good place to start building your roster. 

3. Social Media Manager

Estimated pay range: $14 to $62/hour 

As a social media manager, you handle the marketing communications side of a brand’s online presence. That means managing social accounts and content calendars, often for entrepreneurs or small businesses. You’ll also create relevant, brand-specific content meant to engage the right audience. 

What makes this an excellent side hustle for active military members is that it’s remote and flexible. It can also offer long-term potential if you’re thinking about a post-military career. 

4. Online Tutor

Estimated pay range: $13 to $39/hour 

Tutoring is a flexible, rewarding side hustle with a lot of room to make it your own. You can work with students of any age on core academic subjects. Or you might focus on areas like test prep. You could even offer specialized instruction in a field you’re particularly skilled in, like music or fitness. Much of the work is flexible and done through virtual platforms. 

5. Transcriptionist

Estimated pay range: $19 to $48/hour  

Are you a fast typist with a keen ear for different dialects and accents? You may be able to put those skills to use as a transcriptionist. You’ll convert audio or video recordings into written documents on your own schedule. This type of work is available across many industries, including sensitive fields such as health care and law.  

Finance and Accounting-Based Side Hustles

If numbers are your thing, these side hustles are worth a closer look. Each builds or sharpens skills in finance, tax, or accounting, making them solid options for anyone looking to earn outside income now while setting the groundwork for a post-military career in the field. 

6. Bookkeeper

Estimated pay range: $16 to $33/hour 

Bookkeepers manage financial records for small businesses or individuals. You’ll need to understand and accurately interpret financial statements to inform business decisions. This involves tracking assets, liabilities, merchandise inventory, and sales transactions. 

Many bookkeepers work part time, often on weekends or evenings. Demand is greatest during tax season, but bookkeeping work can span the whole year. 

If you want to get started, Intuit offers a free online bookkeeping certificate that covers the basics and could set you on the path to a longer-term career in finance.  

7. Tax Preparation Assistant

Estimated pay range: $14 to $48/hour (tax preparers) 

Tax preparers are often busiest during tax season, which runs from January to April. So, if you aren’t anticipating deployments during that time, this could be a worthwhile military side hustle. 

As an assistant, you’ll support licensed tax preparers with data entry and documentation. If you start preparing (or substantially assisting with) federal returns for pay, you’ll need an IRS-issued preparer tax identification number (PTIN). This lets you prepare returns for compensation. 

8. Payroll Assistant

Estimated pay range: $17 to $36/hour 

Payroll assistants help small businesses process payroll and maintain employee records. The role generally entails data entry, updating employee benefits and tax withholdings, and other clerical tasks. You’ll generally work alongside a supervisor, like a payroll specialist. 

What’s great about this side hustle is that it doesn’t typically require a college degree. Becoming a Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) could make you more competitive and boost your earnings potential, though. 

9. Budgeting or Financial Coaching (Non-Advisory)

Estimated pay range: $15 to $47/hour

If you’re knowledgeable in finance and have exceptional communication and empathy skills, a second job as a financial coach could be a fit. The role primarily involves supporting individuals with personal finance fundamentals. This includes things like budgeting, debt management, and financial goal-setting. 

It’s worth noting that financial coaching is distinct from financial advising. You won’t be offering investment advice or managing assets, which means you don’t need an advanced degree or certification to get started. That lower barrier to entry makes it a realistic part-time option even on an active-duty schedule. 

10. Accounting Clerk (Part Time or Contract)

Estimated pay range: $16 to $33/hour 

Accounting clerks assist businesses and entrepreneurs with basic accounting tasks. They process invoices, record transactions, and monitor customer accounts. The side hustle itself is often flexible and remote, so it’s less likely to interfere with your military duties. 

If you want to build the skills to get started, Intuit offers free accounting courses on its online platform. Instruction covers everything from correctly interpreting tax forms to preparing individual income tax returns, using real-world scenarios. By the end, you’ll have a handle on maximizing tax breaks for self-employed filers, retirees, and investors. And you’ll build knowledge that carries well beyond this particular side hustle. 

Tech and Digital Skill Side Hustles

Tech and digital skills tend to be among the most in-demand (and most transferable) in today’s job market. These potential second jobs for active duty military are worth a look, whether you’re building from scratch or adding to an existing skill set. Any of them could lay real groundwork for a civilian career down the road. 

11. Website Testing

Estimated pay range: $48 to $53/hour 

Did you know you can get paid to test websites or apps? As a tester, you provide feedback on usability, functionality, and user experience (UX). It’s often a fully remote side hustle that lets you earn when your schedule allows. 

Not much is required to get started, beyond some tech and communication skills. Familiarity with UX, bug tracking and reporting, and testing methodologies also helps. Platforms like Test.io and UserTesting are good places to sign up, build your tester profile, and start picking up work. 

12. Basic Web Design

Estimated pay range: $23 to $85/hour 

This is another great military side hustle if you have technical and design know-how. Web designers create or update websites for individuals or small businesses. They may also test those sites for usability and functionality, as website testers do. 

A degree isn’t typically required, though it can help with earning potential. You might start with smaller, simpler projects to build up a portfolio and expand from there. 

13. Data Entry

Estimated pay range: $13 to $30/hour 

Data entry is one of the more accessible side hustles on this list. It has a low barrier to entry, and it’s often fully remote and flexible enough to fit around complicated schedules. The work involves inputting, verifying, and managing data for businesses or solo entrepreneurs. And if you’re already doing something similar in your day-to-day military role, the transition can be even more straightforward. 

14. IT Support (Remote Or On-Call)

Estimated pay range: $18 to $47/hour 

IT support is a natural side hustle if you already have a technical background. It’s also a solid way to build one if you don’t. In this role, you’ll work with small teams or businesses to troubleshoot technical issues, whether that’s individual devices or broader network problems. 

The work scales with your experience. You can start with basic, routine support tasks and take on more complex, higher-paying work as your skills grow. 

On-Base or Local Side Hustles

On-base or local part-time jobs are another option for military members looking to pick up side work. Just keep in mind that your request to take on off-duty employment might be denied if you haven’t been in active service for very long. This is most common with junior personnel still undergoing on-the-job training. It’s worth checking before you make any commitments. And if you’re stationed stateside, the pool of local opportunities extends well beyond the base itself. 

15. Fitness Trainer or Group Instructor

Estimated pay range: $13 to $39/hour

Being an active-duty military member means keeping up with fitness requirements. If you love physical fitness and teaching, fitness training is a natural extension of what you’re already doing. Note that you may need formal certification depending on the training you take on.  

16. Childcare or Babysitting

Estimated pay range: $11 to $21/hour 

Babysitting can be a flexible side hustle for active-duty service members, since many families need help on nights, weekends, and short notice.  

Word of mouth can be a great way to get started. Check with friends, neighbors, or parent group chats and then expand into local parenting communities (like Facebook groups or Nextdoor) or childcare platforms such as Care.com, Sittercity, or UrbanSitter.  

17. Event Setup or Support Staff

Estimated pay range: $17 to $48/hour 

If you’re good with people and thrive in fast-moving environments, event support work is worth considering. Events— such as ceremonies, community gatherings, and holiday functions—happen year-round and regularly need extra hands to help things run smoothly. 

The ability to stay calm and organized under pressure is a big plus here, which is something most service members have already developed without even thinking about it. Evenings and weekends are often some of the busiest times, making it a natural fit for an off-duty schedule. 

18. Base Retail or Commissary Associate

Estimated pay range: $18 to $26/hour (varies)  

On-base retail is one of the more convenient military side hustle options. Roles range from management and administrative support to receiving, processing, and customer-facing positions, so there’s usually something that fits your background and interests. 

Customer-facing roles, in particular, are worth considering if you’re thinking about a civilian career down the road. Retail experience translates well and is easy to point to on a resume. 

Creative and Entrepreneurial Side Hustles

Roughly 80% of small businesses are considered solo ventures. That means they don’t have employees aside from the owner. That’s good news if you’re interested in entrepreneurship but can’t commit to running a full operation while on active duty. 

The military side hustles in this section leave room for creativity and small-scale business ownership. And if things go well, you might find yourself sitting on something worth building out further when the time comes. 

19. Photography

Estimated pay range: $14 to $47/hour 

Freelance photography is a side hustle with a lot of creative and financial upside if you have the equipment and the eye for it. You set your own schedule and rates, and you can specialize in whatever suits your interests and location best. 

There’s also plenty of room for specialization. For example, you could become the go-to photographer on base for military events. Or you could venture out into the community and provide your services for weddings or other big moments. 

Strong photo editing skills and a solid portfolio will go a long way toward building a client base. Good communication skills help, too. 

20. Graphic Design

Estimated pay range: $17 to $49/hour 

Graphic designers can work part time as freelancers or independent contractors for small businesses. The bulk of the job involves creating logos, marketing materials, or digital assets that fit the brand’s image and appeal to the customers. 

You’ll typically need proficiency in graphic design fundamentals, like Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. While not required, a bachelor’s degree or hands-on training with a solid portfolio can help you get hired. 

21. Print-On-Demand Seller

Estimated pay range: Varies; many sellers aim for a 20–40% profit margin per product sold 

If you make things (or want to), an online shop is a low-overhead way to turn that into income. This could be anything from custom designs on apparel or merchandise to printed photographs or coasters. The range of what sells on platforms like Etsy or Shopify is broader than what you might expect. 

The demand-driven nature of most online shops means you don’t need to stockpile inventory or rent storage space, which keeps upfront costs manageable. 

22. Handmade Goods Seller

Estimated pay range: $10 to $33/hour (craft artists) 

This is another side hustle for active duty military members who might not have a ton of time but still want to do something creative.  

If you enjoy working with your hands, selling physical products like candles, notebooks, magnets, or apparel can be a creative and flexible source of outside income. And platforms like Etsy make it easier than ever to reach customers. Plus, if a deployment or demanding stretch comes up, you can simply hit pause on the side gig until you’re ready to resume. 

Service-Based and Flexible Gigs

Active duty military members spend much of their time on base, so a second job that gets you out in the world can be a nice change of pace. Some gigs are low-barrier and flexible, meaning you don’t need to commit more time than you’re willing. And you may already have the necessary skills. 

23. Rideshare or Delivery Driver

Estimated pay range: $10 to $25/hour 

Rideshare and delivery driving is about as flexible as side hustles get. You work when you want, take breaks when you need to, and pick up where you left off when your schedule opens up again. All it generally takes is a reliable vehicle and a clean driving record. 

Peak times like evenings and weekends tend to be busier, so if you can be strategic about when you’re on the road, the earnings add up faster than you might expect. 

24. Pet Sitting or Dog Walking

Estimated pay range: $11 to $22/hour 

The life of an active military member isn’t always suited to having your own pets, especially if you move around a lot. If you love animals, you could turn taking care of other people’s cats or dogs into a side hustle. 

Beyond the basics of feeding, walking, and playtime, offering add-on services like grooming or medication administration can help you stand out and charge a bit more. Apps like Rover make it easy to build a local client base and manage bookings without much overhead. 

25. House Cleaning

Estimated pay: $14 to 31/hour 

House cleaning is straightforward to get into and often easy to fit around a demanding schedule. You choose your clients, set your hours, and decide how much work you want to take on. You can sign up with a cleaning agency for a steadier stream of clients, or go the independent route for more control over your rates and schedule. 

26. Moving or Labor Assistance

Estimated pay: $14 to $32/hour (transportation and movers) 

If you don’t mind physical work, a military side hustle as a mover may be a fit. Helping with local moves, landscaping, and house painting are all flexible gigs you can pick up as your schedule allows. It’s not glamorous, but it pays reliably and can often fit around a busy schedule. 

Side Hustles That Can Lead to Long-Term Careers

Not everyone stays in the military for the long haul. In fact, roughly 200,000 military service members transition into civilian life each year. Most making the switch are in their 20s or 30s. That leaves plenty of time to start a second career upon returning to civilian life. 

Taking on a side hustle while still serving as an active duty military member can help ease you into life beyond the uniform. Choosing one with long-term career potential, such as accounting or finance-related roles, can set you up for future success.  

If you’re thinking about what comes next, exploring accounting and finance careers through Intuit’s online platform is a good place to start. 

Building Skills and Income While Serving

Military side hustles do more than pad your paycheck. They build valuable skills and experience that can make the eventual transition to civilian life less daunting. 

If you’re thinking about what comes after active service, taking a few online courses now can help. Intuit Academy is a free, self-paced learning platform designed to help people just like you learn valuable, transferable skills like tax preparation and bookkeeping. These can open doors to flexible side hustles and potential career opportunities with Intuit (and possibly beyond). 

FAQs

Are there restrictions on side hustles for active duty military?

The Department of Defense does put certain restrictions on those serving on active duty. Specifically, federal employees cannot take on “positions when doing so would create an improper appearance of a conflict of interest with his or her federal employment.” There are other limitations, too, so it’s a good idea to speak with your commanding officer before engaging in any side hustles or part-time jobs. 

Do you need to report side gig money to the military?

According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), side gig earnings are taxable. This means you must report them on your federal tax return if you earn at least $400 in a given tax year. You may also need to get written permission from your commander to take on part-time work. Be open and upfront about the type of work you want to do, and be prepared to answer any related questions. 

Can having a side job impact your security clearance?

Yes, it can. A side job may raise clearance questions if it involves foreign contacts, foreign clients or companies, or ongoing relationships that could create pressure or divided obligations. It can also be an issue if the work creates a conflict with your security responsibilities or increases the risk of improper disclosure of sensitive information.