Engineering is one of the most in-demand degrees across the world as it pays a handsome amount of salary. The average salary of an engineer is $105,418 in the United States.
Regardless of this, there are alot of people that are looking to supplement their income with some high-paying side gigs, then there are tons of opportunities that you can choose from.
In this article, we’ll talk about some of the best side gigs for engineers that can maximize your chances of earning extra money.
It does not matter if you are looking for some remote jobs or side hustles for mechanical, civil, software, or electrical engineers. There is something for everyone in this article.
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12 Best Side Hustles for Engineers
Here are 12 side hustles for engineers but some of them may require you to have some technical expertise. Besides that, there are some general side hustles that can help you make up to $1,000 a month or more.
1. Work as a Freelance Designer
There are many homeowners, small businesses, and contractors who need professional help with structural designs, home plans, and CAD modeling.
You can work as a freelance civil engineer and take on small projects like designing beams, slabs, and residential layouts for such people.
Engineers who have developed skills in AutoCAD, STAAD Pro, or SAP2000 can create structural blueprints for their clients.
You can start by offering affordable services on freelance platforms such as Fiverr, Upwork, and People Per Hour, and then gradually raise your rates as you gain more experience. This is a great part-time job for engineers as it keeps you connected to your field and
In the start, you can easily charge $5–$150 per project. This will mostly vary according yo your experience.
Here are some 16 evergreen side hustles that have a lot of potential for making money in 2025.
2. Sell Ebooks
As an engineer, you possess more knowledge about the problems and their solutions faced by others in your industry of in general life.
You can write a book by identifying a problem that most of the engineers, students, and even DIY enthusiasts struggle with and then you can write a book that explains the process with images, etc.
Use platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Gumroad, and Payhip to sell your book.
To market your book, you can use social media to spread the word.
3. Offer Inspection Services
As a civil engineer, if you have experience in building codes, construction materials, or structural safety, then you can offer property inspection and consulting services to people who are looking to buy homes, real estate investors, and commercial property owners.
There may be some states or countries that require certification to become a licensed home inspector, but engineering expertise is already a huge advantage for you.
You can work independently or partner with real estate agents who need an expert’s opinion on the structural integrity of a property.
Engineers specializing in foundation assessments, load calculations, and material quality checks can even charge higher rates for these services. You can expect to earn anywhere between $750-$250 per inspection.
According to Zip Recruiter, the average salary of a civil engineer consultant salary in the United States is $82,674. This number suggests that if you start working as a consultant in your free time, you can make a decent amount of money.
4. Freelance Writing
There are several businesses, tech companies, and educational platforms that want writers who can explain complex concepts in a way that’s clear and valuable to their audience.
You can write technical blogs, white papers, user manuals, or social media content for engineering firms, startups, or SaaS companies and earn anywhere between $15-$50 an hour or more.
You can easily find work on freelance platforms like Upwork and Fiverr.
5. Create 3D Model & Drafts
Architects and interior designers need detailed 3D models and technical drawings for their projects.
This is one of the best options for civil engineers who have some experience in computer-aided design (CAD).
Engineers with BIM (Building Information Modeling) skills are in high demand for real estate projects and infrastructure planning.
You can create 3D models of buildings, landscapes, and urban planning projects for firms that don’t have any in-house engineers working for them.
Some freelance engineers can even sell customized CAD templates or 3D assets on Turbosquid and CGTrader to make passive income.
You can easily earn anywhere between $30–$100 per hour.
6. Create Online Courses
This can be a source of passive income for engineers. Several engineers want to learn SolidWorks, MATLAB, mechanical designs, and CNC programming to keep up with industry standards.
You can record video tutorials and sell them online on platforms like Udemy, Teachable, Skillshare, or your website.
7. Sell Custom Tools, Parts and Prototypes
To do this hustle, you will need a CNC machine, laser cutter, or 3D printer. Using this, you can create and sell custom mechanical parts, tools, or prototypes.
This is easily one of the best business ideas for engineers who want to start something related to their field.
You can create custom metal or plastic parts for car enthusiasts, or industrial clients. There is an opportunity to sell engraved tools, nameplates, or custom-built mechanical gadgets on platforms like Etsy or eBay.
The beauty of this side hustle is that it can be started from your garage or home workshop and with time scaled into a full-time business.
8. Create & Sell Apps
There are tons of businesses that are willing to pay for simple, functional apps that can solve their specific problems. These companies and businesses don’t want anything complex and custom-coded for them.
You can use no-code tools like Bubble, Glide, or Adalo to build web apps, internal tools, or mobile apps. These apps can then be easily sold as one-time purchases or subscription-based SaaS products.
The income will depend on the scale of the project but you can expect to earn anywhere between $100 – $5,000 per month.
9. Create Chatbots for Businesses
AI automation is in high demand because businesses want to automate repetitive tasks. is you are a software engineer, you can create AI chatbots using ChatGPT, Dialogflow, or Botpress.
10. Resell Items for Profit
If you are interested in starting something that can be scaled into a full-time business then consider reselling items for profit.
There are several different types of things such as furniture, clothes, luxury bags, electronics, watches, etc., that you can buy and resell for profit.
You can create a website or sell them through Instagram and TikTok. Here are some of the best items to resell for profit.
11. Start a Blog / YouTube Channel
This side hustle can be a game changer in the long run as there is unlimited earning potential. You can share tech tutorials, hacks, coding concepts, etc., and quickly earn anywhere between $100-$10,000+ per month.
You can display ads on your blog or channel through different advertisement programs and earn via affiliate marketing and brand sponsorships. This is one of the best ways online ways to make passive income as an engineer.
12. Become a Tutor
Engineering is all about complex topics such as thermodynamics, physics, calculus, statistics, etc., and if you are someone who has a deep knowledge about these subjects, then you can start teaching them to make some extra money.
To earn passive income, make videos on different topics and upload them on YouTube. On the other hand, you can also use platforms like Wyzant, Chegg, and Preply to find students and teach them online.
To find students, you can join different forums and groups to connect with students.
Best Side Hustles for Engineers – The Bottom Line
As an engineer, many side hustles will fit with your skill set. You just have to choose something that aligns with your interest and also has the potential of making some extra money on the side.
Engineers have a unique advantage when it comes to side hustles which is their technical expertise. Whether you’re a civil engineer offering structural consulting, a mechanical engineer designing CAD models, or a software engineer building AI automation tools, there’s a high-income opportunity that is waiting for you.