Doctors all around the world spend countless hours to ensure that their patients receive the best care possible. However, just like any other career, the field of medicine has its own set of challenges. One of the biggest problems that medical students and physicians face is financial pressure. Doctors usually have a lot of student loans that they need to pay and that’s where the concept of physician side gigs comes in.
Physicians are always looking for the best side hustles for doctors who can pay them well. They also want to have several means of income to live a better life while paying off their loans on the side.
All of the opportunities that I will mention in this article will not only just provide financial benefits but will also allow you to explore new interests and earn something on the side.
In this article, we’ll discuss some easy and high-paying physician side gigs. There are various medical side gigs and other opportunities from which you can choose something that aligns with your interest.
Table of Contents
11 Physician Side Gigs That Work in 2025
1. Telemedicine
Telemedicine is one of the most popular physician side gigs and that too, for a good reason. This is because it allows you to work remotely during your free time by consulting patients via telehealth platforms.
In telemedicine, you do the same work as normal routine work like managing chronic conditions, providing second opinions, or offering urgent care consultations except that you are just working via telehealth platforms.
Telemedicine will let you earn money by using your medical knowledge without having to step into the clinic.
It offers flexibility as it allows you to set your work hours and work from anywhere. It is one of the best side hustles for doctors who are looking to use their time to earn money while still practicing medicine.
Here are some examples of platforms that you can use to get started with telemedicine:
These platforms connect doctors with patients. These platforms will smoothen the process for both parties.
2. Writie E-books or Books
You can write books and publish them. This is another lucrative side hustle among the physician side gigs we are talking about. It will allow you to share your knowledge and expertise with a lot of people.
You can write on healthcare topics, self-help guides for patients, or even an advice book for your fellow physicians who are trying to navigate their careers. Writing is one of the best side hustles for doctors as it allows them to make passive income while building authority in their field at the same time.
For example, you can publish something like, “A Doctor’s Guide to Better Sleep” where you share tips that can help the readers sleep better.
You can publish the books yourself on platforms like Amazon Kindle or you can also find traditional publishers in your area to increase your chances of making more money.
3. Write Medical Reviews
Writing medical reviews is another excellent physician side gig for doctors who are looking to earn some extra income and enjoy research and analysis work.
This side hustle for doctors involves reviewing medications, clinical trials, or health products for journals, websites, or research firms and then writing about what you think according to your knowledge of medicine.
It lets you combine your analytical skills with your medical knowledge and allows you to get ahead of others in healthcare. It is also flexible as you can work on projects that go well with your expertise.
For example, you can review the efficacy of new drugs or treatments or assess health-tech devices to check their usability and their clinical impact.
To find work, you can check with organizations that are conducting clinical trials, or places like Upwork and Freelancer that post medical review projects almost daily.
4. Medical Content Writing and Editing
If you have a way with words, medical content writing and editing can be the best option for you among all the physician side gigs mentioned here. You can write articles for medical blogs, and research papers, or review medical manuscripts.
Many doctors also write content for pharmaceutical companies, healthcare blogs, or patient education materials almost daily.
This work allows a doctor to use their medical knowledge with their ability to communicate effectively, making it a perfect side hustle for doctors who love writing in their free time.
You can also work with companies that are producing healthcare content daily.
Here are some popular outlets that you can consider:
- Elsevier (you can partner with this medical publisher).
5. Provide Teaching or Tutoring Services
This is another fulfilling gig amongst the physician side gigs that allows you to teach medical students or other science field-related students. You can easily create online courses or provide one-on-one tutoring to these students.
Some platforms like Udemy, Teachable, or even Zoom will make it easy to share your work globally.
It will let you make a passive income stream if you take time and create pre-recorded courses making it one of the best side hustles for doctors. You can also offer live sessions according to your free time during exam season.
You can teach about some of the following topics:
- USMLE preparation strategies.
- Advanced surgical techniques.
- Effective ways to communicate with patients and bedside manner.
Here are some of the best side hustles for 2025 that anyone can do and make good money besides their full-time job.
6. Expert Witness Consulting
Often, legal firms are looking for doctors to get their expert advice in legal cases.
You will have to work as an expert witness. You will be required to assist in medical malpractice lawsuits, personal injury claims, or insurance disputes by providing your professional opinion and testifying in court when there is a need.
Amongst all the physician side gigs, this one is great as it offers high earning potential with minimal time commitment. Your role will require you to typically review medical records, write reports, and occasionally appear in court.
You can start by joining some expert witness networks like SEAK or AMFS to connect with lawyers who are looking for medical experts.
Also, update your CV to highlight your relevant specialties and certifications.
7. Medical Device Consulting or Development
If you love doing something innovative then you can provide consulting related to a new medical device or become part of its development. This is an exciting side hustle for doctors as it will let you get creative.
You can work with companies to test, improve, or even invent new medical devices. These companies will benefit from your clinical experience as you can guide them to create tools that can address patient and practitioner’s needs.
There are several physician side gigs that you can choose from but if you plan to earn more in your free time then I would recommend this gig.
Consulting gigs often pay well and can also lead to long-term partnerships depending upon the outcome of your first collaboration.
Following are some examples of some companies that you can consider working with:
- Medtronic is a company that is well-known for developing advanced medical technologies.
- Johnson & Johnson also focuses on innovative solutions across healthcare.
8. Health Coaching or Wellness Consulting
You can provide health coaching or wellness consulting. As a doctor, you will be required to talk to your clients about achieving better health through lifestyle advice, nutrition planning, and fitness strategies that will be customized to your patient’s unique needs.
It is also one of the best physician side gigs for doctors who are passionate about preventive care and holistic well-being.
We have talked about a lot of physician side gigs but out of all of those side hustles for doctors, this one provides an opportunity to build a personal brand while promoting healthier lifestyles. It’s great for doctors who are interested in the field of wellness and education.
Having a certificate is not necessary but you can still do certifications like CHC (Certified Health Coach). This will help to add credibility to your portfolio making it easier for you to get clients.
9. Start a Blog or Podcast
Although we have talked about a lot of physician side gigs that are lucrative, this one is easy to start and make a passive income. You can start a blog or a podcast where you write or talk about topics focused on healthcare.
You can share information on current medical trends and discuss your experiences, or you can also provide advice to patients and peers. This makes it a great and flexible opportunity among the physician side gigs shared here.
Starting a blog or podcast is one of the best side hustles for doctors as it allows you to earn passively through ads, sponsorships, or affiliate marketing. It also helps to establish you as a thought leader in the medical field and you can attract some other opportunities like being invited to medical universities as a motivational speaker.
For example, you can write articles on topics like “How Physicians Manage Stress” or record a podcast on“Future of Telemedicine.”
You can record podcast episodes where you discuss medical breakthroughs, patient stories, or healthcare challenges. To make your work easy, platforms like WordPress or Spotify for Podcasts are great to start.
10. Real Estate Investing
Real estate investing is one of the smart physician side gigs for those who are looking to increase their income with a good margin. Doctors can save some part of their salary and eventually invest their earnings in rental properties or REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts). This can generate consistent returns over some time.
Real estate is considered one of the most lucrative side hustles for doctors or anyone who wants to focus on building generational wealth. It will require minimal day-to-day involvement and this makes it an ideal option for busy professionals.
You can study the market yourself or use resources like BiggerPockets which offers tools, podcasts, and forums for people who are just looking to start investing.
11. Locum Tenens Work
Locum tenens is where a physician takes a temporary medical assignment in a different location or specialty. This lets them do something out of their normal routine. This practice is usually done to fill in vacant positions.
It is one of the most flexible physician side gigs because it often pays more than permanent positions as you are either relocating or working on something that is outside of your specialty. This makes it a lucrative option for those doctors who are looking for some additional income.
You can easily sign up with staffing agencies like Weatherby Healthcare or Locum Leaders to find assignments that fit your schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the highest-paid doctor profession?
The highest-paid doctor professions usually consist of surgeons, anesthesiologists, and cardiologists. Becker’s Health Review report says that the salaries can exceed $400,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and specialty demand.
What are some high-paying physician side gigs?
Some high-paying physician side gigs include telemedicine, expert witness consulting, locum tenens work, and medical device consulting. These allow doctors to use their experience and expertise to make additional income without leaving the medical field.
Can physicians pursue non-medical side gigs?
Yes, physicians can pursue non-medical gigs such as real estate investing, blogging, or writing e-books. These options provide creative ways that can help diversify income streams.
How can physicians manage their time effectively for side hustles?
Doctors can easily manage their work by choosing something from the mentioned physician side gigs in this article that aligns with their interests and schedule, and they can then set clear goals. They can take small baby steps in the start to get accustomed to having to do more work over time.
Conclusion
The best ways to make extra money as a doctor simply depend on you, your skill level, your schedule, what you want to do, and more.
You may decide to become a blogger, write for medical journals, provide medical consulting, or earn passively by investing. There are endless ways for doctors to make extra money. With the list of some side hustles for doctors as mentioned above, you will be able to find ideas to make money according to what aligns with your goals and interests.
There are many more physician side gigs that we can talk about. If you are interested in knowing more about them, just leave a comment below and I’ll guide you through more ways to make passive or active income as a doctor. Besides physician side gigs, here are some side gigs for medical students.