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Table of contents
Table of contents
Recent research from QuickBooks shows the pivotal role of side hustles in Americans' plans for their financial well-being and personal growth. According to our 2026 Entrepreneurship Study, a nationwide survey commissioned by Intuit QuickBooks of 3,000 US adults, conducted in December 2025, nearly one in two Americans (47%) reported earning income from a side hustle this year—and many of them generated a lot more than pocket money.
As work dynamics evolve, side hustles have turned into a key path to career satisfaction and security. Many Americans are turning their skills and passions into ventures that help them manage rising living costs, improve work-life balance, and unlock new paths to satisfaction. Let’s see what the numbers have to say.
Key findings: Side hustles deliver more than extra income
Americans are increasingly turning to side hustles not just as a financial safety net, but as a launchpad for bigger dreams. According to the survey results:
- On average, side hustlers bring in $104 per hour—an impressive 181% more than the national average wage of $37.02, as recorded by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- While Millennials reported the highest monthly earnings from their side hustle ($2,260), they also reported the most hours put in monthly (20 hours), earning them an average $113 per hour. Gen Z put in an average of 17 hours while earning $1,813 monthly, giving them an hourly income of $107.
- 46% of Millennial side hustlers hope to turn their side hustle into a full-time business, and more than one in five (23%) have already registered their side hustle as a business.
- Side hustlers said they would need to make an average $94,000 a year in order to feel comfortable quitting their full-time job—but less than 11% of side hustlers reported making at least that much last year.
- 40% of Americans plan to start a new business or side hustle to build wealth in 2026, and 20% plan to continue growing a business they already own. One in four (25%) say a small business or side hustle has the highest potential for return this year.
Nearly half of Americans earned side hustle income in 2025
The data reveals just how widespread side hustling has become: nearly half of all Americans (47%) reported earning extra income from a side hustle in 2025. The trend is particularly strong among younger generations, with over half of Gen Z (56%) and Millennial respondents (54%) saying they earned money from a side hustle in the past 12 months.
When it comes to the types of side hustles Americans are pursuing, digital opportunities shine. Online selling leads the way, with 30% of side hustlers selling goods on platforms such as marketplaces, auction sites, or social networks. 22% are offering freelancing services, leveraging their skills in writing, design, consulting, and more to serve clients nationwide and even globally.
These ventures give workers more flexibility and the ability to tap into a passionate customer base, making side hustling more accessible and rewarding than ever before. This surge of energy and entrepreneurship is opening new doors, giving millions of people a clearer path to achieving their goals on their terms.
The ROI of side hustles: Time, effort, and extraordinary earnings
When it comes to return on investment, side hustling stands out as a powerful way for Americans to boost their income—sometimes dramatically.
On average in 2025, side hustlers earned $2,038 per month from their extra work, dedicating an average of just 19 hours and 32 minutes each month. That’s over $104 earned for every hour invested, nearly triple the national average hourly wage of $37.02, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Millennials, in particular, leaned into the hustle: they worked an average of 20 hours per month on side gigs and reported the highest monthly earnings among all generations at $2,260. Millennials also took top honors for hourly income, earning $113 per hour. This may reflect millennials’ tendency to specialize in freelance and contract-based side hustles (27%), significantly outpacing Gen Z (17%) and Gen X (20%)—suggesting a more service-oriented approach to earning extra income.
These numbers highlight the remarkable financial potential that side hustles present, regardless of age or background. With a focused investment of time on the right projects, Americans are seeing their labors rewarded.
Taking the leap: From side hustle to full-time business
While most side hustlers are content to keep their ventures as supplemental income (54% said their goal is to keep their side hustle on the side), two in five (40%) set their sights on turning their passion projects into full-fledged businesses.
These emerging entrepreneurs are hungry for opportunity, particularly among Millennials. In the survey, 46% of Millennial side-hustlers said they’re hoping to make their side gig a full-time pursuit.
One in five side hustlers (20%) has already officially registered their business. However, the biggest hurdle for those considering the leap to full-time is building a dependable customer base. A steady stream of clients was the most common factor survey respondents said they would need to commit fully to life as a business owner.
Financial security also plays a central role. Side hustlers said they’d need to earn $94,000 a year, on average, to feel comfortable leaving their main job behind. Yet less than one in 10 side hustlers reached that income in the past year, highlighting the challenge of converting a side gig into a primary livelihood. Notably, Millennials would require the highest annual income to make the jump, at just over $100,000.
American entrepreneurs will hustle harder in 2026
The entrepreneurial spirit is strong as Americans look ahead to the new year.
According to the survey, two in five Americans (40%) plan to start a new business or side hustle in 2026 to build wealth. Another 20% say they’ll focus on expanding and strengthening the side hustle or business they already have. The surge of interest is especially pronounced among Gen Z, with half of respondents in this age group (50%) turning to business ownership to build wealth this year.
Behind these numbers is a growing desire for financial independence and creativity, fueled by changing work environments and access to AI-based digital tools that make entrepreneurship more accessible. Whether someone is seeking to earn extra income, explore a passion project, or aim for a transformative career change, the coming year is set to bring a fresh wave of innovation. For entrepreneurs thinking about taking the next step, opportunity could be knocking right now.
New challenges, new tools
As the side hustle economy grows, so does the need for dependable financial management. Juggling multiple streams of income, tracking expenses, and preparing for taxes can quickly get overwhelming for side hustlers who are already stretched thin.
With the right accounting support, side hustles can be a more sustainable part of workers' lives, whether they're in the launch stages or preparing for their next big step. QuickBooks continues to expand its tools for entrepreneurs, including live bookkeeping support and AI-driven insights, so every side hustler can choose the best path for chasing their dreams and strengthening their finances.
Methodology
Entrepreneurship in 2026: In December 2025, Intuit QuickBooks commissioned an online survey of 3,000 US adults. The survey asked respondents if they had made any income from a side hustle in the past 12 months, as well as if they planned to start a new business or side hustle in 2026. Among these respondents, 1,403 were identified as “side hustlers” or people who had earned income from a side hustle in the past 12 months.
Among these side hustlers, 27% were Gen X, 47% were Millennials, and 23% were Gen Z. An additional 3% were Baby Boomers but were not included in the generational analyses due to their small sample size. Difference of means was used to determine each generation’s most common side hustle. Additionally, average monthly hours spent on side hustles, average monthly income from side hustles, and annual side hustle income needed to quit a full-time job were calculated by weighting the average of each range.
Percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole number, so values shown in charts and graphics may not add up to 100%. Responses to multiple-choice survey questions are shown as a percentage of the number of respondents, not the total number of responses, so will always sum to more than 100%. Responses were collected using Pollfish audience pools and partner networks with double opt-ins and random device engagement sampling to ensure accurate targeting and high-quality results. Respondents received remuneration.
Supplementary data for the average hourly earnings in the United States was pulled from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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