A new 2025 Side Hustle Survey from LendingTree (lendingtree.com) shows that nearly half of Americans, 44 percent, have a side hustle, with many depending on the extra income to cover basic expenses. The findings reflect the financial strain millions face as wages remain stagnant and the cost of living rises. Among those with a side hustle, 43 percent say they need the additional income to stay afloat. Seventy-one percent report earning less than $500 monthly, and nearly a quarter make less than $100 monthly. The survey also found that younger generations are the most likely to take on extra work, with 60 percent of Gen Z respondents and 55 percent of millennials reporting that they have a side hustle. That compares to 39 percent of Gen X and 24 percent of baby boomers. While 18 percent of side hustlers bring in at least $1,000 monthly, most earn far less. The unpredictable nature of gig work and rising inflation continue to impact financial stability, leaving many struggling to keep up. “The median amount our side hustlers earned monthly was $400, but the average was $1,215,” Matt Schultz wrote for Lending Tree.

Considering how tight many households’ budgets are, $1,215 is nothing short of a game-changing monthly amount. Men report earning more than double what women say they earn — an average of $1,580 versus $749.

A separate study from FinanceBuzz (financebuzz.com) analyzed more than 75 of the largest cities in the United States to determine where Americans are at the highest risk of burnout. The report ranked Denver, Dallas, and Washington, D.C., as the most overworked cities.

Denver ranks above average in every metric, but the factor contributing the most to the city’s first-place finish is the percentage of households where two or more people work full-time jobs. Almost 62% of households in Denver fit that bill, the seventh-highest rate of any city.

Colorado Springs ranks 10 on the list of the most overworked cities. While the number of people looking for side jobs is higher in Colorado Springs than in Denver, things like combined average work and commute time and the percentage of elderly workers in the city are lower.

Dallas workers spend almost 45 hours per week at work or commuting, tied with New York City for the second-highest total in the country behind Miami. The percentage of Dallas’ 65-and-older population still active in the workforce is also among the highest in the nation, with 25.4 percent still working. The report ranked Detroit as the least overworked city, followed by Tallahassee and Buffalo. Detroit has the lowest percentage of senior citizens in the workforce, at just 13.5 percent, and the lowest rate of employees working at least 50 weeks per year, with only 77.1 percent meeting that threshold.

While platforms like Uber, DoorDash, and Etsy provide flexible opportunities, only 31 percent of side hustlers say they feel financially stable. Thirty-six percent worry that their side hustle income could disappear if demand drops or economic conditions worsen. Approximately 32 percent report working at least 20 hours weekly on their side hustle, effectively holding down a second job. “Sure, many people have side hustling in their blood. They’re working these side gigs because they’re passionate about them, not just because of the money,” Schultz contended. “That’s not most people, though. Many Americans take on side hustles to help them manage debt. They’ve cut their spending to the bone to try to free up money to put toward the debt before realizing they need to bring in more income to make a real dent in their problem.”