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Parties, small talk, and crowds—you’re not alone if you find those things cringeworthy. In a world where the talkers have quite a few advantages, it can be discouraging—honestly, sometimes downright intimidating—for us introverts to advance our careers and maximize our earning power. Luckily extroversion isn’t a requirement to make good money and achieve financial independence.
There are plenty of well-paying jobs available for introverts. But you need to know what to look for and where to look. Fortunately, with the digital world at your fingertips, there are plenty of earning options that don’t require constant human interaction.
In this article, we’ve listed 17 side hustles for introverts, so you can make money from the comfort of your own space. Ready? Here we go…
17 side hustles for introverts
1.Writing
If you can clearly craft your ideas in writing—whether it’s blogging, creative writing, freelance journalism, or academic writing—you can make good money as a writer.
You may have expertise in a specific niche, making blogging a great option. Reading, researching, thinking—many introverts are attracted to the contemplative and quiet benefits of a writing career. Share your valuable insights and leave the comment section open for feedback. Connect with your audience and engage in the conversation without the (often more draining) face-to-face interactions.
If you’re more into creative writing, you can write ebooks and publish them on Amazon. The best part is you don’t even have to worry about the nitty-gritty stuff related to printing or shipping.
If you’re up for any type of writing, freelancing might be your best bet. You can take on a variety of assignments—from magazines, research papers, cookbooks, etc. Your topics will mostly depend on your client’s needs. Websites such as Upwork and Fiverr will be a good place to start.
2. Editing and proofreading
Do you have a knack for details? Your skills will pay off in jobs like proofreading and editing. Proofreading essentially consists of reviewing content for spelling and grammatical errors, sentence structure, and punctuation.
Note that this task typically involves pointing out the changes and not correcting them yourself. If your client wants you to do that, you can adjust your rates accordingly, upgrading your role to an editor. This service requires extreme attention to detail and is best suited for individuals who have a strong mastery of the English language.
Sometimes, you’ll be expected to follow a certain writing style, such as The Chicago Manual of Style or The AP Stylebook. Make sure you’re familiar with the client’s specific requirements.
If you’re looking for a job in this field, keep an eye out for job postings on different websites such as Cactus Global and Gramlee. The best part? You don’t have to talk to people all that much. Most editing and proofreading jobs are completely online, so can do your work from the comfort of your home.
3. Taking online surveys
Taking online surveys is arguably one of the easiest side hustles for introverts. Within a matter of minutes, you can complete a number of surveys sitting at home. And that’s pretty much it. This job will require zero human interaction.
However, your personal characteristics (such as age, gender, demographics, etc.) will determine whether or not you qualify for a survey. Make sure you check different sites to find and complete surveys you qualify for. Start with websites such as Survey Junkie and Pinecone Research. This job definitely won’t pay you big bucks, but it’s still a decent side hustle.
4. Gaming
Gaming is one of the most non-traditional side hustles for introverts who love to spend their time playing video games. You don’t need to talk to people, except potentially interacting with your teammates in specific games. So, if you love gaming, you might as well make money playing.
Check out websites such as Mistplay, where you can earn points by playing games. Later, you can redeem the points for gift cards. Lucktastic is another app that has similar offers. Do check out games that have ‘3x’ or 4x’ multipliers to earn gift cards faster.
5. Opening a POD shop
There are real advantages of starting a POD shop over a traditional ecommerce website. With POD, otherwise known as Print on Demand, you work with a supplier and sell your custom products on a per-order basis. Find your niche, decide on your product offerings, and create your design(s). That’s it—no human interaction required.
Customers pay a certain amount to receive a product—t-shirts, mugs, hats, bags, etc. Low start-up costs and the ability to scale are a few of the perks. When done right, this gig can be extremely successful. It’s also a good fit for artsy people. There are many available resources online to help you get started (like here and here).
6. Pet sitting
Okay, so moving from meeting to meeting throughout the day might be people overload. But what about animals? If you delight in four-legged friends, this is the perfect side hustle for you.
You can actually get paid to take care of someone’s pet while they’re elsewhere. And if you’re fond of dogs, you could become a dog walker and earn cash (while getting some exercise while you’re at it). It may not be a lot of money, but it’s a decent start for a side hustle—particularly if you enjoy it. Start in your neighborhood and find out if there are people interested in your services.
You can also check out websites like Petsitter and Rover. Most people looking for a pet sitter on these websites are willing to pay $11-20/hour.
7. Selling crafts on etsy
If you’re a crafty introvert, we’ve got just the job for you. By selling your crafts on Etsy, you can turn your talent or passion into a brilliant side hustle and make money. Opening a shop on Etsy is completely free.
You can craft things of your choice—be it pottery, jewelry, home decor, etc.—and post them on Etsy. Voila! Your product is now in front of 81.9 million buyers. Plus, of course, you don’t need to communicate with anyone throughout the entire process unless customers reach out to you directly about specific product details.
8. Watching TV
Yes, as unbelievable as it sounds, you can actually make money by watching TV. All you need to do is watch certain shows and movies and answer a couple of questions afterward. Websites like InboxDollars feature these offers. In the case of some websites, you can even get paid a little for signing up for an account.
9. Website development
In today’s time and age, coding is a pretty coveted skill that can earn a substantial income. If you have a knack for design, you can also work as a UX designer.
Depending on your job or side gig, coding often requires little human interaction. Whether you’re a natural techie or you’re new to the world of coding, you can access several different, free online courses via YouTube and Coursera to build the required skills. For a more in-depth program, consider a coding bootcamp.
If you’re looking for job opportunities, check out websites such as Working Nomads and We Work Remotely.
10. Food delivery
If you like to drive, enjoy quiet time on the road, or love to listen to music and podcasts while in the car, this is the ideal side hustle for introverts.
With the launch of several food delivery apps, the need for delivery drivers has increased as well. You don’t have to make small talk with customers. You don’t even need a car! Deliver food with your motorbike, scooter, bicycle, or even on foot.
Keep an eye on apps like Lyft, Postmates, and Uber Eats to check if they have vacancies for delivery drivers. Not convinced? You can read some pros and cons here.
11. Selling stock photos
If you love photography or have an eye for taking great shots, consider selling stock photos online as your side hustle. This job is perfectly suited for introverts—it’s just you and your camera against the world!
If you’re up for this task, start by creating an account on websites that offer stock photos in exchange for a fee. Next, upload your photos. Check out websites like iStockPhoto, Shutterstock, and Bigstock.
12. Reading books
Snuggled up in your blanket, a cup of cappuccino in one hand, a good book in the other… and making money?! If you’re an introvert this scenario probably sounds too good to be true, but hear me out.
There are several ways you could make money from reading. Get paid for writing book reviews, narrating audiobooks, translating a book into different languages, and more.
You can start with certain websites that pay for book reviews on select books. Some of them may even offer free books in exchange: a win-win! Check out Booklist Online and BookBrowse to get started.
13. Grocery delivery
Next up on our list of side hustles for introverts is grocery delivery. You have to do your own grocery shopping anyway, right? Why not shop for other people and earn a little in the process? Check out businesses like Instacart that offer these delivery services and see if they have openings.
14. Reading emails
With tons of emails flooding our inbox every day, sorting them out can be a nightmare for some people, especially busy professionals. That’s exactly where you come in. You can read, organize, and declutter others’ inboxes and earn money doing it.
Check out websites such as Swagbucks and Vindale Research that will pay you to read emails. If you don’t want to sign up with a website, you can also start offering your own decluttering services and work as a virtual assistant, specializing in reading emails and inbox management.
15. Transcription
Do you have insanely accurate typing skills? Then online transcription could be the right job for you. A transcriptionist converts audio files into written documents. These audio files may include YouTube videos, podcasts, interviews, etc. This task will demand zero human interaction.
Besides, the demand for transcription is growing quickly in certain fields, including medical and legal areas. There’s even training available from accredited vocational schools if you’re interested in pursuing this full-time. You’ll need high-quality headphones and word processing software on your computer.
Start with looking for job openings for a transcriber on Glassdoor and CareerBuilder.
16. Graphic design
Graphic design can be the perfect side hustle for all the visually talented introverts out there. If you have an eye for aesthetics, the ability to listen to your client’s needs, and at least some skills in a design program or two, this could be a great option for a side gig. What you design will depend on the niche you want to target. There are many options if you want to specialize—from infographics, hand-lettered fonts, website logos, Pinterest templates, and so much more.
Unless your goal is to work in a digital marketing agency, you don’t need a graphic design degree. As a freelance designer, all you’ll need is a solid portfolio. Start by doing small freelance design projects and expand your offerings as your skills grow. You can also showcase your work on websites like Behance and Dribble.
17. Virtual bookkeeping
Our final suggestion on this list of side hustles for introverts is virtual bookkeeping.
That’s right—bookkeeping has now gone virtual. And if you’re an introvert who’s good with numbers, this is your niche. As a virtual bookkeeper, you’ll be responsible for recording, tracking, and managing the expenses of small to medium businesses.
You’ll also organize payment receipts, vouchers, and other transactional documents. If you’re up for the task, start by checking out websites like BookMinders and see if they have job vacancies.
Your ideal side gig awaits
With 17 possible side hustles for you introverts to try out, I sure hope you’ve met your match. Start exploring what you like best, make some money in the process—while simultaneously avoiding people overload and small talk, of course. 😉