The Best Side Hustles In The UK Ranked By Hourly Pay
The best-paid side hustles in the UK by hourly rate are Uber driving, yoga teaching tutoring, and online side hustles.
If you’re going to spend your evenings and weekends hustling, you might as well pick something that actually feels worth your time. The problem is that most “best side hustles” lists are all vibes and no numbers.
To help you out, we've compiled some of the highest-earning UK side hustles ranked by estimated hourly pay. To do this, we've used CV-Library’s 2026 full-time equivalent salary figures and converted them into an hourly rate (based on a typical 37.5-hour week).
Quick heads up before we start: your real hourly rate will fluctuate depending on demand, location, experience, and expenses (especially for driving and in-person work). Consider these “strong benchmarks” rather than guarantees.
If you are looking for high-paying online side hustles, Prograd has hundreds of online jobs that you can do anytime anywhere. To date, Prograd has helped over 1 million people earn a collective £5 million side-hustling.
The highest-paying side hustles in the UK, ranked by hourly pay
1) Uber driver: ~£20.51 per hour (gross)
Uber driving is one of the most lucrative side-hustles in 2026.
Why it can pay well: peak time demand, flexible hours, and you can start fairly quickly if you meet the company's requirements.
Reality check: driving comes with costs. Some estimates put gross at £15 to £22 per hour and net after expenses at roughly £11 to £17 per hour, depending on hours, location, and costs like fuel and insurance.
Best for: people who can work evenings, weekends, and peak periods.
2) Yoga instructor: ~£19.11 per hour
Yoga is one of those “turn your hobby into money” hustles that can genuinely pay, especially if you teach small groups, run corporate sessions, or mix in online classes.
Best for: confident communicators who like people and can build repeat clients.
3) Virtual assistant: ~£18.80 per hour
VAs support businesses with admin, inbox management, bookings, social media scheduling, and general organisation.
CV-Library mentions this as one of the fastest-growing work-from-home side hustles.
Best for: organised people who want remote work and predictable tasks.
Prograd tip: if you want something that feels “legit” and structured, VA-style work pairs really well with building a profile, then stacking other online earners on top, like paid online tasks and quick reward offers.
4) Online tutor: ~£18.73 per hour
Tutoring is still one of the most reliable high-hourly side hustles because you’re paid for a skilled hour, not random effort.
Best for: subject specialists, graduates, people who can explain things clearly, and anyone who prefers a clean hourly rate.
5) Copywriter: ~£17.60 per hour
If you can write clearly and you understand marketing, copywriting is still one of the best “work from anywhere” earners.
Best for: people who like writing and want remote, scalable work.
Prograd tip: if you want to move from “random gigs” to “proper money”, copywriting is one of the easiest skills to level up quickly. Think about which courses you might be able to do so you can expand your copy writing repertoire.
6) Personal trainer: ~£17.24 per hour
Personal training can pay well fast, especially if you get repeat clients, do small groups, or create add-ons like workout plans.
Best for: fitness-focused people who are happy selling themselves and building relationships.
7) Dog walker: ~£15.72 per hour
Dog walking sounds simple, and it is, but in busy areas it can be surprisingly profitable, especially if you build a routine and stack multiple walks.
Best for: people who want active work and can keep a consistent schedule.
8) YouTuber: ~£15.51 per hour (but wildly variable)
YouTube is scalable, but it’s not always fast. Earnings can come from ads, sponsorships, and affiliate links, but most people need consistency before it turns into real money.
Best for: patient creators who are happy building something over time.
9) Proofreader: ~£14.04 per hour
Proofreading is underrated. It’s flexible, detail-led, and can fit around a full-time job. CV-Library includes it in the top 10 for 2026.
Best for: detail-obsessed people who can focus and meet deadlines.
10) Translator: ~£13.94 per hour
Translation can pay very well if you specialise (technical, legal, business), but even general translation is a strong side hustle option.
Best for: bilingual people who want remote, skill-based work.
Prograd fits as a high-paying side hustle option
Not every side hustle has to turn into a second job.
That’s where Prograd can be a useful option, especially if you want something flexible that actually fits into real life. Instead of locking yourself into one role or learning a whole new skill, Prograd lets you earn from a mix of quick, high-paying tasks, such as paid online offers and get-paid-to-play games.
Some tasks pay £5 to £25 for a short amount of time, which can work out surprisingly well on an hourly basis if you focus on the higher-value offers.
It’s a good choice if you want to top up your income around a full-time job or studies, or fill those awkward gaps when you’ve got time but don’t want to commit to a full shift.
For many people, it works best alongside a more traditional side hustle, helping boost monthly earnings without adding extra pressure.
A quick reality check: compare side hustle pay to minimum wage
From April 2026, the UK National Living Wage (21 and over) is £12.71 per hour.
So even the lower end of the list above is still competitive compared to many entry-level jobs. That’s the whole point of choosing a hustle based on hourly pay.
What about tax?
A big one people miss: in the UK you may be able to earn up to £1,000 from trading income before you necessarily need to declare it, thanks to the trading allowance (rules and exceptions apply).
Also, always check your employment contract for exclusivity clauses or conflicts, especially if your side hustle overlaps with your day job.
How to pick the right hustle for you (so you actually stick with it)
If you want the honest “works in real life” method, use this:
If you want fastest cash: Uber driving or local services can be quickest, but factor in expenses.
If you want clean hourly pay: tutoring, VA work, copywriting and online side-hustles.
If you want flexibility and low stress: proofreading, translation, remote admin tasks.
If you want scalable upside: YouTube, copywriting, specialised freelancing.
Where prograd fits (and why it’s useful)
Here’s the difference between “I tried side hustles” and “I actually earn extra money every month”:
You need a system.
Prograd is built for exactly that. Instead of relying on one income stream, you can stack options based on your time and energy, like:
Online tasks when you’ve got 10 minutes.
Paid offers like get-paid-to-play games when you want something fun.
Side hustle ideas and guides when you’re ready to earn more per hour.
Upskilling so you can move into higher-paid work over time.
That mix matters, because most people do not fail at side hustles or lack of ideas.
They fail because they pick something that does not fit their schedule and they burn out.
Looking for ways to earn money online? Sign up to Prograd today