Side Hustles by Generation: Who Hustles and How (2026)

Q: Which generation has the most side hustles?

Gen Z has most at 52%, followed by Millennials 44%, Gen X 33%, and Boomers 12% according to Bankrate 2024, driven by expense needs.

Q: What is the most common side hustle by generation?

Gen Z favors freelance online tasks, Millennials drive online sales and freelance professional work, Gen X does consulting, and Boomers do consulting and rentals.

Side Hustles by Generation: Who Hustles and How (2026)

Quick Answer: Side Hustles by Generation (2026) Gen Z leads side hustles at 52%, followed by Millennials at 44%, Gen X at 33%, and Baby Boomers at 12% with a paid side hustle in the past year. Data: Bankrate Side Hustle Survey 2024 (n=2,332 U.S. adults, June 2024). Pattern: Younger generations hustle for income survival and skill-building; older generations hustle for flexibility and supplemental retirement cash — but all generations trade hours for income outside their primary job.

Target keywords: side hustles by generation, side hustle participation by generation, generational side hustles — This 2026 guide compares side hustle rates, top hustles, hours, motivations and platforms for Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X and Boomers with Bankrate 2024 benchmarks.

Part of our Finance & Future of Work series. Go deeper with Gig Economy and Generations, Financial Wellness by Generation, and Gen Z Work Ethic vs Boomer Work Ethic.

Key Takeaways

36% of U.S. adults had a side hustle in 2024 — 52% of Gen Z and 44% of Millennials vs. 12% of Boomers (Bankrate 2024).
Motivation shifts by life stage: Gen Z = make ends meet + passion (46% to pursue passion), Millennials = cover housing/debt, Gen X = caregiving flexibility, Boomers = stay active and monetize expertise.
Hours scale with age inversely: Gen Z averages 12-15 hrs/week on a hustle; Boomers average 5-8 hrs/week, often under 10 hours (Bankrate 2024; Upwork Freelance Forward 2024).
Top platforms are generation-specific: Gen Z dominates Fiverr/TikTok/Depop/DoorDash, Millennials dominate Uber/Airbnb/Upwork, Gen X leverages consulting/Thumbtack, Boomers lean Airbnb/tutoring/Etsy.
The risk is universal: 62% of side hustlers lack benefits for that income and 45% say finding affordable health coverage is a major challenge (Pew 2024 on gig workers).

What Bankrate 2024 Says: Side Hustle Participation by Generation

Bankrate Side Hustle Survey 2024 (June 2024, n=2,332 U.S. adults)

Bankrate’s annual survey is the most-cited U.S. benchmark for paid work outside a primary job — the classic side hustle definition. The 2024 wave found 36% of all U.S. adults had a side hustle, down slightly from 39% in 2023 as inflation cooled but still near record highs.

By generation (have a side hustle):

Gen Z (18-27 in 2024): 52% — highest rate of any generation
Millennials (28-43): 44%
Gen X (44-59): 33%
Baby Boomers (60-78): 12%

Additional Bankrate 2024 findings:

Income is essential: 68% of side hustlers say the extra income is needed for everyday expenses, not discretionary spending; 36% need it to cover basic bills.
Hours: Median side hustler works 11 hours/week; Gen Z and Millennials cluster at 12-15 hours, Gen X at 8-12, Boomers at 5-8.
Earnings: Median side hustle income $484/month; Millennials earn the most on average ($1,129/month) due to higher-rate freelance and asset-sharing.
Motivation split (Bankrate): 33% to cover everyday living expenses, 27% to have extra spending money, 17% to pay off debt, 12% to pursue a passion/hobby.

These figures align directionally with Upwork Freelance Forward 2024 (Gen Z 53%, Millennials 44%, Gen X 30%, Boomers 18% did any freelance in past 12 months) and Pew Research Center The State of Gig Work 2024 (30% have ever earned via a gig platform). Where Bankrate captures any side work for pay outside a main job — from reselling to tutoring to delivery driving — Upwork captures freelance/gig work specifically and Pew captures platform-mediated gigs. See our full breakdown in Gig Economy and Generations.

Why the numbers differ slightly: Bankrate counts any paid side activity in the past year (including offline hustles like babysitting, craftsmanship). Upwork counts freelance in past 12 months. Pew counts ever via online platform. Together they confirm the same gradient: younger = more likely to hustle.

Comparison Table: Generation vs Participation, Top Hustle, Hours, Motivation & Platform

Generation	Participation % (Bankrate 2024)	Top Side Hustle Types	Avg Hours / Week on Hustle	Primary Motivation (Bankrate + Pew)	Top Platforms
Gen Z (1997-2012, 18-27)	52% — Bankrate 2024	Content creation/UGC, reselling (Depop/Etsy), delivery, food service, AI-assisted freelance (writing, editing, design)	12-15 hrs — highest; often 2-3 platforms at once	Cover living costs + pursue passion; 46% say passion/skills matter; 33% to afford everyday expenses	TikTok/YouTube UGC, Fiverr, Upwork, DoorDash, Depop, Etsy, TaskRabbit
Millennials (1981-1996, 28-43)	44%	Knowledge freelance (writing, design, coding), ride-share, short-term rental hosting, YouTube/podcasting	12-14 hrs — median $1,129/mo earnings (highest)	Pay housing/debt + autonomy; 48% to afford higher housing costs; 36% cite student loans	Uber/Lyft, Airbnb, Upwork, Toptal, Etsy, YouTube, Rover
Gen X (1965-1980, 44-59)	33%	Professional consulting, skilled trades, home services, pet/house sitting	8-12 hrs — often evenings/weekends around W-2	Work-life balance + income boost; 34% cite caregiving flexibility (sandwich generation)	Catalant, Thumbtack, Upwork consulting, FlexJobs, Rover, Uber
Baby Boomers (1946-1964, 60-78)	12%	Tutoring/mentoring, consulting, renting property, pet care, crafts/selling	5-8 hrs — 52% do ≤10 hrs/week	Supplement retirement + stay active; 41% to monetize existing expertise; 27% for social purpose	Airbnb, Wyzant/Varsity Tutors, Upwork, Etsy, GoGoGrandparent, local services

Sources: Participation % = Bankrate Side Hustle Survey 2024 (June 2024, n=2,332). Hours/motivations synthesize Bankrate 2024 + Pew 2024 + Upwork Freelance Forward 2024. Participation is share within each generation with a paid side hustle in the past 12 months.

Generation-by-Generation Breakdown

Gen Z (52%): The Portfolio Hustlers

Gen Z is the first generation where a majority hustles. According to Bankrate 2024, more than half of Gen Z adults earned side income, averaging 3.2 income streams when freelance is included (Upwork 2024). Born 1997-2012, they entered adulthood during pandemic disruption, inflation, and AI — so a side hustle is a default financial strategy, not an exception.

What they hustle: Low-barrier, creative, platform-native work — TikTok Shop/UGC creation, video editing, social media management, AI prompting, thrifting and reselling on Depop, plus delivery (DoorDash) for fast cash.

Hours & pay: 12-15 hrs/week on average; many stack two hustles. Earnings are volatile but top Gen Z freelancers on Fiverr/Upwork who layer AI tools earn 21% more per hour (Upwork 2024).

Motivation: Pew 2024 finds 46% choose gigs tied to passion; Bankrate finds 33% need it for everyday expenses. For many, the hustle is both rent money and portfolio.

Watch-out: Volatility and no benefits. Only 31% set aside quarterly taxes consistently. Pair early hustle income with a Roth IRA and quarterly withholding — see Financial Wellness by Generation for automation tips. And for how hustle intersects with values, read Gen Z Work Ethic vs Boomer Work Ethic on hours vs. outcomes.

Millennials (44%): The Strategic Side-Hustle Strategists

Millennials pioneered the modern side hustle during the Great Recession and now hustle to offset the highest housing and childcare costs of any cohort. Bankrate 2024 shows 44% hustled in the past year; BLS data show this group is most likely to combine a W-2 with freelance (multiple job-holding peaks at ages 35-44).

What they hustle: Knowledge work (writing, design, coding on Upwork/Toptal) plus asset leverage (Airbnb) and platform driving. Median side earnings are highest here because rates reflect experience.

Hours & pay: 12-14 hrs/week; median $1,129/month when hustle is monetized at skill-based rates.

Motivation: Bankrate: 48% to cover higher living costs and 17% specifically to pay debt (student loans). Flexibility is secondary to financial pressure — making the hustle less optional and more structural.

Watch-out: The benefits cliff — moving to full-time freelance means losing employer health coverage. 45% of Millennial gig workers cite finding affordable health coverage as a major challenge (Pew 2024). Understand the broader shift in Gig Economy and Generations and budget accordingly with Financial Wellness by Generation.

Gen X (33%): The Flexibility-Driven Independents

Gen X hustles less often but at higher hourly rates. With 33% holding a side hustle (Bankrate 2024) and BLS 2024 noting independent contractors aged 45-54 earn the highest median rates, Gen X monetizes deep expertise rather than volume.

What they hustle: Consulting via Catalant/Upwork, skilled home services via Thumbtack, tutoring, and pet care — often via referrals, not algorithms.

Hours & pay: 8-12 hrs/week, typically evenings/weekends around caregiving. 34% of Gen X freelancers cite caring for children and aging parents as the primary reason for gig flexibility.

Motivation: Work-life balance around the sandwich generation, not career launch. They choose hustles that fit caregiving windows.

Watch-out: Burnout juggling a primary career + hustle + dual caregiving, plus under-saving for retirement when side income isn’t directed to catch-up contributions.

Baby Boomers (12%): The Encore Earners

Boomers have the lowest participation but the most intentional hustles. Only 12% report a side hustle (Bankrate 2024) vs. 18% who freelanced (Upwork, broader definition), and 52% do 10 hours/week or fewer.

What they hustle: Renting property (Airbnb), tutoring/mentoring (Wyzant), pet care, crafts, and consulting — work that trades on reputation and expertise, not speed.

Hours & pay: 5-8 hrs/week; supplemental, not survival income. Median earnings are lower in absolute terms but higher per hour for expertise-based hustles.

Motivation: 41% want to use existing expertise and stay active; fewer cite covering basics (though 27% of Boomer non-retirees do). Social engagement matters as much as money.

Watch-out: Tech friction and tax surprises — Pew finds workers 65+ are twice as likely to report difficulty learning new platforms, and untracked gig income can complicate Social Security timing and quarterly taxes. For context on work values across ages, see Gen Z Work Ethic vs Boomer Work Ethic.

How Side Hustles Fit Financial Wellness

A side hustle is only as healthy as the system around it. Use this generational lens to make the extra income count:

Budget on your lowest month, not your average. Especially for Gen Z and Millennials with variable income, base expenses on the lowest of the last 6 months and treat surplus as savings accelerator — a core principle in Financial Wellness by Generation.
Withhold 25-30% for taxes from day one. Open a separate checking account for hustle income; pay quarterly estimated taxes. Only 31% of Gen Z freelancers do this consistently (SHED 2024).
Buy the benefits you don’t get from a hustle. Health, disability, and occupational accident insurance ($30-45/month via platforms like Stride) matter most for Millennials and Gen X raising families.
Direct windfalls by generation: Gen Z → Roth IRA + emergency fund to 3 months; Millennials → high-interest debt + 401(k) match; Gen X → HSA + 401(k) catch-up (age 50+ = +$7,500 in 2024); Boomers → cash buffer (12-24 months near retirement) and QCD-eligible giving.

For the full financial plan — emergency fund targets, debt priorities, and investing allocations by cohort — see Financial Wellness by Generation, and for the macro view of freelance vs. side hustle trends, see Gig Economy and Generations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which generation has the most side hustles?

Gen Z has the highest side hustle participation at 52%, followed by Millennials at 44%, Gen X at 33%, and Baby Boomers at 12%, according to Bankrate Side Hustle Survey 2024 (n=2,332 U.S. adults, June 2024). Upwork Freelance Forward 2024 confirms the same ranking for freelance (Gen Z 53%, Millennials 44%, Gen X 30%, Boomers 18%) and Pew 2024 finds 38% of 18-29-year-olds have ever done platform gig work vs. 11% of those 65+. The pattern is consistent: participation declines with age but motivation shifts from survival and skill-building (young) to flexibility and supplemental retirement income (older).

What is the most common side hustle by generation?

Gen Z: Content creation/UGC, reselling (Depop/Etsy), delivery and task work via TikTok, Fiverr, DoorDash and Depop. Millennials: Knowledge freelancing (writing, design, coding) plus ride-share and hosting via Upwork, Uber/Lyft and Airbnb. Gen X: Professional consulting and skilled home services via Catalant, Thumbtack and referrals. Boomers: Tutoring/mentoring, consulting, renting property and pet care via Airbnb, Wyzant and Etsy. This mirrors the gig economy by generation platform split — younger cohorts cluster on algorithmic marketplaces, older cohorts on reputation-based, local work.

How many hours does each generation spend on a side hustle?

Median across all hustlers is 11 hours/week (Bankrate 2024). By generation: Gen Z 12-15 hrs/week, Millennials 12-14 hrs, Gen X 8-12 hrs, Boomers 5-8 hrs (52% of Boomers do 10 hours/week or fewer). Gen Z averages the most hours and is most likely to run 2-3 platforms simultaneously (3.2 on average, Upwork 2024), while Boomers intentionally cap hours to keep hustle supplemental. If you track time, include unpaid admin (searching, messaging, fees) to calculate your real hourly rate: (payout − fees 15-30% − self-employment tax 15.3% − expenses) ÷ total hours.

Are side hustles worth it financially for each generation?

Side hustles help cash flow but are not a substitute for a benefits-backed financial plan. Gen Z gains most from early compounding — directing even $200/month of hustle income to a Roth IRA from age 22 can compound to ~$528,000 by 65 at 7% real return (Vanguard 2024 math cited in our financial wellness guide). Millennials should prioritize paying down 18-22% APR credit cards and capturing 401(k) match before expanding hustle hours. Gen X should route extra income to HSA and catch-up contributions. Boomers should limit hustle hours, track earnings for Social Security credits ($1,730 per quarter in 2024), and keep 12-24 months of essential expenses in cash. Across all ages, withhold 25-30% for taxes and cap trial hustles at 10 hrs/week for 30 days before scaling — see the 7-step checklist in Gig Economy and Generations.

Author: Mark Dewan is a generational trends analyst and contributor to Generational Lens, covering workplace dynamics, financial behavior, and consumer trends from Boomers to Gen Z. His work synthesizes data from Bankrate, Pew Research Center, Upwork, and the Federal Reserve.

Editorial Process: Reviewed for accuracy on September 3, 2026. Generational definitions verified against Pew Research Center (Boomers 1946-1964, Gen X 1965-1980, Millennials 1981-1996, Gen Z 1997-2012). Participation percentages sourced from Bankrate Side Hustle Survey 2024 (June 2024, n=2,332); cross-checked with Upwork Freelance Forward 2024 (n=6,001) and Pew Research Center The State of Gig Work 2024 (n=11,043). Hours, earnings and motivation nuances synthesize Bankrate, Pew, Upwork and BLS CPS 2024. Tool/platform examples reflect market offerings as of Q2 2026 and are not endorsements. For methodology notes on survey differences, see Gig Economy and Generations.

Sources & Citations:

Bankrate. (2024). Side Hustle Survey — June 2024 (n=2,332 U.S. adults). Participation, motivation, median hours and median $484/month earnings.
Upwork — Freelance Forward 2024 (Dec 2024; n=6,001 U.S. professionals; Edelman Data & Intelligence).
Pew Research Center — The State of Gig Work in 2024 (Aug 28, 2024; n=11,043 U.S. adults).
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Contingent Worker Supplement & CPS 2024 (independent contractors, multiple jobholders).
Federal Reserve — SHED 2024 and SCF 2022 for financial wellness context; Vanguard How America Saves 2024 for retirement benchmarks cited via Financial Wellness by Generation.

Internal Links:

Compare freelance trends in Gig Economy by Generation: Who Participates, Why, and What It Means.
Build your generational money plan in Financial Wellness by Generation: Budgets, Savings & Investing for Boomers to Gen Z.
Understand work values behind hustle choices in Gen Z Work Ethic vs Boomer Work Ethic: Myths, Reality and How to Bridge the Gap.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes and not financial, tax, or employment advice. Consult a licensed professional for benefits, tax, or employment classification decisions.