Massage therapists earned the highest average salary rate among gig-based jobs in the United States, according to AppJobs, a site that collects and analyzes information about the gig economy. Freelance, home-cooking, and teaching all earned above $20 per hour, while jobs dealing with cleaning or pet sitting posted average hourly rates closer to $10 per hour.
These findings come on the back of a landmark bill passed in California this week, AB5. The bill could allow most of the gig workers, who are seen as independent contractors, in the state to be reclassified as regular employees, making them eligible for minimum wage pay, overtime, and healthcare benefits. To enact the law, current people participating in this type of labor would have to take companies to court to fully put the law into effect.
The passage is contested by major tech companies and service platforms that rely on these types of gig workers. Namely, Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash have all come out and openly opposed the bill, reporting that it would do damage to their bottom line.
Overall, a Federal Reserve study reports that only 3 percent of adults reported driving for a service like Uber or Lyft. An even smaller share of gig workers participated in labor that involved selling goods at markets or walking dogs.
What Is the Top Paying Gig Job?
Gig Work
