13 Great Paying Side Jobs That Could Keep You Afloat During Layoffs

The current economic uncertainty in the U.S. has many people fearing job loss, especially with news of spikes in layoffs in major industries like tech, journalism, and government. 

If you're worried about your job security and financial future, picking up a lucrative side hustle is a great way to move beyond living paycheck to paycheck and maintain income in the event of job loss.

Thinking about starting a side gig? Consider these 13 jobs that tend to pay well. Additionally, they don't require a whole lot of start-up money, which is a smart move in the event of a layoff.

If you work from home and/or happen to be available midday, picking up some dog walking clients is a great way to earn steady side income, particularly if you live in a larger city.

Nationally, dog walkers earn about $20 an hour, but you can earn much more if you build a loyal customer base and can do several walks per day. It's simple to get started with a service like Rover, but some dog walkers advertise their services themselves to avoid overhead costs.

Virtual assistants help companies with an array of administrative tasks, like bookkeeping, scheduling, and managing busy inboxes.

The average hourly pay is approximately $28, and if you have specialized skills, like experience with Excel, you can earn more, even when just starting out. Indeed reports that top earners make as much as $45 an hour.

For animal lovers, caring for a cute dog or cat while their owners are away and getting paid for it probably sounds like a dream. The average hourly pay for a pet sitter is just under $20, but again, pay can be much more for those with loyal customers. And sitting for more than one pet or opting for overnight stays will increase your pay

According to Scout, a dog-walking and pet care software service, pet sitters typically charge around $25 for a 30-minute visit, with an additional $10 for each additional pet. Overnight care can often range from $40 to $75 per night, and rates can vary greatly depending on whether you pet sit on a holiday, for example.

With services like Rover, you can offer boarding (watching a pet in your own home), drop-in visits, or pet sitting at a client's house.

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To start a photography side hustle, you will need to invest in equipment and put together a portfolio, but photogs that specialize in certain areas — like weddings or family photos — can do quite well.

Indeed puts the average hourly pay at $21 an hour, but that varies depending on where you are. In New York City, for example, the average hourly pay is more than $32.

No matter where you live, it's likely that parents in your area occasionally need to hire sitters, and getting a few regular clients can set you up with a solid stream of cash on the side.

According to Indeed, babysitters make over $22 an hour on average, although the average pay for childcare workers in the U.S. varies greatly depending on where you are. The average hourly pay in Florida is about $12.50, while it's over $20 in Washington State.

The length of your stay and how many children you're watching can also lead to much higher pay.

Many people offer social media services on a freelance basis. These workers take over the social media channels for companies or brands and post and interact on their behalf to help grow the business.

Indeed puts the average hourly pay at $23.36, and you may be able to make more if you have skills like video or photo editing.

Graphic designers can often pick up contract or freelance gigs, so it's a great job to do on the side for extra cash if you have the visual skills, expertise, and a portfolio to attract clients. Designers are needed in a range of industries, from advertising to media to public relations, and it's a gig you can do from the comfort of your home to save even more money.

According to Indeed, the average pay is $22.84 an hour.

Skilled tutors offer online sessions in an array of fields and subjects, and many people make decent money simply teaching English classes.

There are programs like VIPKid, where anyone fluent in English can get tutoring jobs helping students overseas learn the language. Indeed reports that the average pay for tutors with the company is more than $20 an hour.

Pay can also be influenced by subject specialization and expertise. According to online language learning marketplace Preply, the average hourly rate can reach close to $50 for teaching advanced topics such as business English, calculus, or test preparation. So, picking up a more specialized topic could mean more money in your pocket.

Experienced planners are needed to help coordinate all sorts of events, and picking up something like wedding planning could easily turn from a side hustle into a full-time gig.

Indeed puts the average pay for event planners at just over $23 an hour, but the pay also depends on the industry. Those involved in marketing big events, for example, tend to make even more.

Delivering packages for a service like Amazon Flex can be a solid side hustle and a great way to get some exercise during the workday as well.

Flex lets drivers decide how much or little they want to work, and most drivers earn between $18 and $25 an hour. This doesn't include tips, and in larger cities, this wage would likely be much higher. With Amazon's popularity, this is looking like a recession-proof gig, too.

If you're quick with a keyboard, a side hustle as a transcriber could be quite lucrative, especially as you improve your skills and can take on more jobs.

Transcribers often work for clients in the medical and legal industries, but there are also services like Rev, where you can sign up for free, pass a test, and start transcribing right away. Indeed puts the average hourly pay at around $23.

Many people take on editorial work on a freelance basis, and if you have writing or editing skills and experience to back it up, freelance gigs could provide a steady stream of cash on the side.

Indeed puts the average hourly pay for a content writer at just under $22, and for an editor at just over $31, but pay really depends on your portfolio, experience, and often, connections.

Fitness instructors may be needed at your local gym or recreation center; some instructors even offer their classes online. Often, though, leading workout classes such as yoga or spin requires some sort of training or certification program.

However, once you meet the necessary qualifications, it can be a well-paying and fulfilling gig. Indeed puts the average pay at $29.84 an hour.

Recent data shows that nearly 40% of Americans have side hustles these days — and even though extra cash is often the main goal, your side hustle can be a passion project, too. If you really love animals, for example, dog walking or pet sitting can be fulfilling and help pay for your bills.