Abby B. My partner is a chemical engineer by profession but on the side, he’s learning to become a data analyst. Data roles are high in demand and there’s a ton of work you can do that involves data (from home!).
So while I’ve validated some of these ideas with him, I personally have seen him practicing them on his own (not lying).
*This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission (at no cost to you) if you sign up for a program or make a purchase using my link!
13 Best Side Hustles For Data Scientists
1. Freelancing on Upwork or Fiverr
One of the things you can do as a data scientist is to offer freelance services outside your full-time job. People have also moved towards freelancing as their full-time gig so it’s no longer a surprise for many if you introduce yourself as a full-time freelancer.
In fact, data freelancers can earn a lot juggling multiple projects at once!
You’ve probably majored in using professional data tools like Tableau or Power BI and have dealt with creating dashboards for your job.
You’ll be surprised to know that not everyone or every company have the right people to design their own dashboards – so they look to outsource (that’s where you come in).
Services you can offer as a freelance data scientist are:
- Data visualization
- Data cleaning
- Data modelling
- Research
2. Create a YouTube channel on data science
If you have a lot going on and already juggling between your full-time job and freelance work, consider building passive income by uploading long form content on YouTube. YouTube is much less demanding compared to algorithms of social media.
You can make videos sharing about your personal life as a data scientist or create educational videos on data science. I find that there should be a good balance between the two as personal vlogs help viewers trust you better in the long run and educational ones help you get better exposure.
Both are important in building your personal brand! People love seeing others go through new journeys in public – even more so if it’s useful for their own journey.
Starting a YouTube channel is free and don’t over-complicate things with fancy tools – they’re nice to have once you have the funds for it. YouTubers are paid for each view but getting your channel eligible for the Partner Program is the real hustle.
Interesting YouTube channels on data science:
| What do I need to start? | – A camera to record – Portable microphone for better sound – A video editing software |
Read: What I spent for my vlogging gear in first 6 months
3. Build a podcast for data science topics
If recording a video of yourself and editing sounds like too much work for a side hustle, a podcast may be a more doable alternative. You can record audio files of yourself talking about topics on data science or on other topics that interest you, either on your own or with a guest.
Podcasts are a little tricky compared to YouTube as you’ll need social media promotion to get exposure. People hardly land on a podcast by accident!
Podcasters are generally paid based on number of downloads they get and through sponsorship deals.
The key to winning on YouTube or even with a podcast, is to stick to a niche and just rinse & repeat over and over again. You’ll get to your ideal audience in no time.
| What do I need to start? | – Good desk microphone – Set of quality earphones – An audio editing software |
Check out: The ultimate list of 30+ data science podcasts you should listen to
If you’re someone that prefers sharing written knowledge over recording videos and audio, you can still make a good income with your own blog.
I always advise others to build an educational blog instead of a personal one as it makes it easier to be found on Google Search. You can choose to blog anonymously without showing your face or using your real name.
Just like YouTube, you’ll get paid per pageview once your blog is installed with ads. It takes consistent publishing of articles to make any income with a blog in a year’s time. Start with this beginner blogging course or check out my free step-by-step guide on how to set up a blog.
Not up for building a blog? Make money writing for other blogs instead. Freelance writers earn up to $100 per article and even more if they’re specialized in writing for a niche e.g. data.
This beginner freelance writing course is the one I took myself to start my writing career. It’s basic but has everything you need to start tomorrow and earn from clients all over the world. Includes how to pitch to clients for topics they can’t resist!
| What do I need to start? | – A WordPress Website – Platform to market your services if freelancing – Passion to write for a specific niche |
Check out: How to start freelance writing and make money (the ultimate resource)
5. Promote affiliate products or services
Love using social media like Instagram or TikTok? You can make money through sponsorships (brand deals) or by promoting affiliate products without really owning them.
Sponsorships are a more active way of making money with social media while promoting affiliate links is more passive. With affiliate products, you’ll make a commission if anyone makes a purchase via your link.
As a data scientist, you can promote products you’re using for your desk setup or even data science courses that has an affiliate program. Some affiliate marketplaces to check out are Amazon Associates, CJ affiliate, Clickbank, Share-a-sale and Rakuten Advertising.
Create a free account, get links to a suitable product/service and start promoting on any social media platforms – also works well on YouTube, Twitter or a blog.
| What do I need to start? | – Affiliate products or services you can promote – Social media account with growing followers |
6. Tutor others online for a subject you’re good at
One of the best side hustles anyone can do is to offer tutoring services online. The pay varies depending on what you decide to teach and who you’re teaching to.
Tutoring for school kids is high in demand with most common subjects to be English, Mathematics and Science – as well as languages.
Alternatively, you can stick to your expertise by offering lessons for data, either to your juniors or to school kids. Your students are not necessarily those with zero experience in data – it’s just that they need a helping hand outside their normal learning hours to grasp better.
Join online tutoring platforms for best exposure and create your profile around a single module you want to offer (it’s easier and less overwhelming!).
Some sites you can promote your online tutoring services on:
| What do I need to start? | – Patience to teach – Relevant module depending on subject you’re teaching – Platform to promote your tutoring service |
7. Offer data consulting for other businesses
Not all businesses are able to have a full-time data scientist but may require project consultations from time-to-time. Though freelance consulting should be one of the options in item #1, it’s pretty big and needs some clarification.
If you’re relatively big in your current full-time data role, there’s a chance you’re already doing consulting and less of executing. Consulting is a lot more than just achieving a single project goal, it’s to advise on every aspect of the project (if possible).
So if you’re looking to provide consultations on a freelance basis, you’ll need to prove your expertise and build audience trust. The best way to do this is to regularly share data-related info on both LinkedIn and Twitter. These two platforms are best for business deals!
| What do I need to start? | – Build an audience that trusts you – The right platform to market your services |
8. Sell Excel digital products on Etsy
As a data scientist, Excel should be one of your forte. If you didn’t know, Excel spreadsheets for purpose of budgeting is a popular digital product to sell on Etsy.
Aside from handmade crafts, vintage items and physical products, Etsy allows for sale of digital downloads on the marketplace. You just need to upload the final product (usually as PDF or ZIP file) when creating the listing and once a customer makes a purchase, they’ll instantly be able to download the file.
No packing or shipping needed!
Depending on the digital product you’re going for, you will need some time to create it and make it good for sales. Take other similar products as reference, study what’s essential and create something better for the market!
| What do I need to start? | – A digital product niche to specialize in – Tools to create digital product – Consistent uploading to Etsy |
9. Offer pet-sitting services in your area
While some of us try to build a side hustle from our best set of skills, others look for something that allows them to take a break from their main gig. It may get exhausting to do something for an extended time, so it’s best to explore other hobbies.
If you’re someone who loves pets and able to take care of them, offer pet sitting services in your free time. It’s even more practical if you have a bigger home or space, and have had experience owning pets yourself.
Pet sitters typically make $15-20 per visit and usually take more than 10 visits in one day. That’s easily $400-600 in a single weekend!
Alternatively, if you’re better with kids, babysit for friends and neighbors. Similar to pet-sitting, you can do this for a few hours on the weekends and people are more willing to pay someone they’re used to.
Services you can include with pet sitting:
- Walking
- Home boarding
- Sleepovers and night care
- Training
- Bring to vet
- Basic grooming & care
- Travel trips
| What do I need to start? | – Good skills with pets e.g. dogs, cats – Tools for the service you want to offer – Socializing to get clients |
10. Buy and sell second hand goods for cash
The easiest way to start making an extra income is to make use of what you already have – literally. Don’t look far, assess any unused items around you that may be of value. There’s a high chance someone is looking to buy it on sites like Facebook Marketplace, eBay or Poshmark.
I made a good amount of money selling my clothes, bedroom furniture as well as unused gym equipment lying around the house. Though it takes time to land yourself a buyer, it’s quite passive and does not need any extra work besides initially listing the product for sale.
Once you grow to like selling second hand goods, consider making it a side hustle by buying items from others to sell again at a higher price for profit. Other offline places to find these items are your local flea market – but you’ll need time to make the visit.
Some in-demand items to resell are furniture, antiques, jackets, car accessories and tech stuffs.
| What do I need to start? | – An eye to spot underpriced valued goods – Skills and platform to sell online or offline – A small budget to purchase your first second hand item |
Check out: How to start reselling things as a side hustle
11. Create low to medium content books for Amazon KDP
Another side hustle idea that may be totally unrelated to your current data expertise is to create low to medium content books and sell them on Amazon KDP.
This is a great side hustle for those looking for a more creative hobby and loves children or organizing. Even more so if you’re an adult that loves coloring!
Some examples of low content books are blank notebooks, to-do lists and even journals. Coloring books are higher in content (needs more work) hence called medium content. These books are priced cheaply under $15 which makes it easy for customers to purchase.
You don’t need to be printing your own books or finding publishers as Amazon KDP will do it for you. You can design these products with Canva, download the file as PDF and upload it directly to Amazon for sales.
Once you make a sale, Amazon will print them out and ship out to your customers. You’ll earn a commission from anywhere you are!
| What do I need to start? | – Tools to design your book – Product idea that’s in demand |
12. Conduct workshops to teach a skill or create paid online courses
Data scientists and data analysts are well paid careers. Hence, just like my partner, others may be looking to pivot to the field. You are able to monetize your existing skills by teaching others via workshops or online courses.
Due to time constrain, physical workshops are best for a specific learning goal e.g. create a Tableu dashboard from scratch in two hours. Online courses can come in longer forms and can be made passive by pre-recording them then uploading to a learning platform (list below).
If you’re a complete beginner in teaching others, consider pricing your workshops or courses cheaper at the start against competitors. The common price points for a single payment short online course are $30, $47 and $67.
It depends entirely on the course module and the value your customers are getting from taking the course.
Some sites you can host online courses on:
| What do I need to start? | – A niched course idea – Well thought out module – Tools to record your lessons e.g. screen record, microphone |
Creating courses is too much work for you? Here’s a list of digital products you can make to sell on easy platforms like Etsy. I’ve made a quick guide on how to make these products too!
13. Start a print on demand business from home
If you’ve thought of setting up an ecommerce business before this, but never really took the leap, it’s time to build a side hustle out of one. Compared to other business models e.g. Amazon FBA and dropshipping from China, print on demand is more practical for side hustlers.
Managing a print on demand store on Etsy or Shopify is possible from home.
Start by signing up for an account with POD fulfillments like Printify or Printful, create designs on Canva or Kittl and upload them on merchandise such as t-shirts, phone cases, leggings or tote bags etc.
Integrate your seller account to Etsy or Shopify for sales, and once you get an order, your chosen fulfillment will handle the printing and shipping of orders to your customers.
A side hustle that I highly recommend if you generally have an eye for good design. Even if you don’t, you can buy ready ones on creative marketplaces like Creative Fabrica or Envato Elements.
| What do I need to start? | – Basic designing skills – A laptop to work with – An initial niche and product |
Can’t decide what product to design and sell? Check out my product guides before deciding!
- Tote bags for print on demand
- Tumblers for print on demand
- Phone cases for print on demand
- Posters for print on demand
- Leggings for print on demand
- Jewelry for print on demand
- Candles for print on demand
- Doormats for print on demand
- Hoodies for print on demand
- Pet products for print on demand
- Socks for print on demand
- Pajamas for print on demand
- Blankets for print on demand
- Baby clothes for print on demand
- Wrapping paper for print on demand
- Puzzles for print on demand
- Stickers for print on demand
- Athletic wear for print on demand
- Hats for print on demand
- Journals for print on demand
- Greeting cards for print on demand
- Mugs for print on demand
9 Ways To Make Passive Income As A Data Analyst
Based on the current trends, here are 9 ways to build passive income as a data analyst:
- Promote affiliates products or services
- Start a YouTube channel on data-related topics
- Build a podcast for the data niche
- Write educational content for your own data blog
- Self publish low to medium content books on Amazon KDP
- Sell pre-recorded online courses for data modules
- Create digital products to sell on Etsy
- Sell original photos on stock websites
- Sell art and designs with a print on demand business
9 Data Science Beginner Jobs
- Data analyst
- Marketing analyst
- Data architect
- Business analyst
- Pricing analyst
- Database administrator
- Data engineer
- Technical analyst
- Business Intelligence Developer
How To Make Money With Data Science
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make money with data science:
- Decide what type of product or service you want to sell
- Search for similar products or services in the market to analyze demand
- Choose a single project to start with
- Allocate time to create the product or upgrade your skills (if needed)
- Choose a platform to market your finished product or your freelance service
- Start with a low selling price to collect reviews and/or build a portfolio
- Increase your price or hourly rate as you progress
- Set up social media e.g. LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook to promote yourself
- Include a link on how to contact in bio of social account
- Post daily on your social media to look active and up-to-date
- Mix professional and personal experiences to build trust online
- Allow engagement and ask customers to direct message if they need data-related help
- Repeat!
Which Side Hustle Should I Choose?
Unsure which side hustle for data scientists you should go for? Here are the top 6 things to consider when deciding which side hustle is best for you.
- How much time can you commit to it?
- Consider how much time you can set aside for your side hustle for weekdays and weekends
- What type of income are you looking for?
- Do you want to make income actively or passively while you sleep?
- What sparks interest & passion in you?
- Choose a side hustle that aligns to your personal goals and interests as it keeps you motivated
- Are you an extrovert or an introvert?
- Different side hustles requires different level of communication with the outside world, are you comfortable meeting new people every day?
- What is your current partner or friend up to that you can leverage on?
- Doing something with a friend or partner makes things easier and more manageable
- How soon do you need to make extra money?
- Not all side hustles make the same amount of money in the same pace, do you need money today or in a year’s time?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Data science can be a side hustle if you have a lot of extra time. Unless you’re a data scientist in your full-time role, there’s a steep learning curve to go through. Many have resorted to learn to become a freelance data analyst instead, as it’s more achievable with a full-time job.
To start a data science side hustle, you’ll have to first identify your best set of skills. Depending on your schedule, choose between starting an active or a passive side hustle. Active ones include offering freelance services while passive ones involve sales of online courses.
Bottom Line
There are so many side hustles a data scientist can explore that’s well within their field. Start by writing down all the skills you have PLUS your interests, then expand further by specifying how they can be monetized.
The best way to get started with side hustles is to TRY. Pick at least one or two things I’ve shared above, give time and you’ll eventually find something that works for you!
I will always recommend building passive income streams to no longer trade time for money.
Here are 13 best side hustles for data scientists:
- Freelancing on Upwork or Fiverr
- Create a YouTube channel on data science
- Build a podcast for data science topics
- Share educational content with your own blog or write for others
- Promote affiliate products or services
- Tutor others online for a subject you’re good at
- Offer data consulting for other businesses
- Sell Excel digital products on Etsy
- Offer pet-sitting services in your area
- Buy and sell second hand goods for cash
- Create low to medium content books for Amazon KDP
- Conduct workshops to teach a skill or create paid online courses
- Start a print on demand business from home
If you’re into sharing educational content, start a blog. It has changed my life – I’ve been able to earn an income passively while travelling in Europe for a month! Just like everything, it’s not an overnight success and needs pure hard work – but to speed things up, get yourself a blogging coach before starting.
These are my blogging resources to help you out:
- Step-by-step guide how to start blogging in your free time
- Why you need a blogging coach right from the start
- Worried of exposing yourself? You can blog anonymously
Photo by Federico Orlandi
