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From content creation to app-based gigs, side hustles are booming across the U.S. According to recent data, nearly one in four Americans has a side hustle, with 35% of them launching theirs in the past six months alone.
A new study from online marketplace CGTrader analyzed search volume for 70 keywords tied to 23 common side hustles. The research reveals clear regional preferences, highlighting both opportunity and competition depending on where you live.
Top Side Hustles by State
**Podcasting** leads the pack, ranking as the most searched side hustle in **12 states**: Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
**YouTube Content Creator** comes in a close second, dominating in **10 states**: Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Two side hustles tied for third place with **eight states each**:
- **Affiliate Marketing**: Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, Maine, Delaware, and Alaska.
- **Rideshare Driver** (e.g., Uber/Lyft): Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, and Florida.
National Rankings
While state-level trends vary, national search volume tells a broader story:
1. **YouTube Content Creator** — 30,740 monthly searches
2. **Rideshare Driver** — 29,560 monthly searches
3. **Podcasting** — 29,310 monthly searches
On the other end of the spectrum, less-searched (and potentially less saturated) options include **Blogger** (just 2,010 monthly searches), followed by handyman services, freelance writing, and makeup artist gigs.
The Reality of Content Creation
Popular doesn’t always mean easy. Breaking through in podcasting, YouTube, or similar creator fields takes serious consistency and effort. Platforms have specific thresholds for monetization:
- **YouTube**: 1,000 subscribers + 4,000 watch hours in the last 12 months for the AdSense program.
- **TikTok Creator Fund**: At least 100,000 authentic video views in the last 30 days.
- **Instagram**: Features like Badges and Subscriptions typically unlock around 10,000 followers.
As entrepreneur and angel investor Andrew Wilkinson puts it: “If you don’t show up, and you don’t bring the fire on the camera every single day and you stop posting, your business goes to zero.”
Content creation rewards persistence and niche focus, but it’s a long game. For those seeking faster traction, exploring growing or less crowded fields might offer a clearer path to success.
Whether you’re drawn to the spotlight of podcasting and YouTube or prefer the flexibility of rideshare driving and affiliate marketing, the data shows plenty of demand — just be ready for the competition that comes with popularity.