If you want to earn some extra serious cabbage and don’t have a lot of time to do it, I have three weekend jobs you’ll be interested in learning more about. (For more information about other opportunities, read “How to Find Jobs with No College Degree.”)
1. Phlebotomist
Before you get too impressed with my vocabulary, I have to admit that I didn’t know what a phlebotomist was until last week.
I had blood drawn because I needed more term life insurance. The woman who came out and did the exam told me that anyone can do what she does. It doesn’t take that much training; the hours are very flexible; and the pay is wonderful. She told me she gets makes about $50 an hour for sticking needles in people’s arms. She simply does the medical exams for people who want to buy life insurance. The hours are kind of crazy…early mornings…early evenings sometimes…and weekends. The perfect gig for someone who needs to find a second job.
Each state has its own licensing board and you have to pass an exam. I did some snooping around and found schools to provide the training you need to pass the exam and enter the profession. The courses cost about $500 and it will take you about 60 to 80 hours to get it done. Many of the schools offer weekend and evening classes, so it should be really easy to get into this profession. If you can dig down and devote 15 hours a week, you’ll have a new second profession within a month.
And if you have a little medical training, this is a natural for you. If not, and you don’t faint at the sight of blood, this could still work like a charm.
2. Notary Public
Want to get paid for making other people’s hands dirty? I thought so.
You can become a notary public in a short period of time and for less than $250. It’s simple to become a notary. The trick here is to build your business without having to quit your day job. The notary gig is perfect because banks (especially) need traveling notaries who are available in off-hours. That’s perfect because the more the hours are “off,” the more you get paid and the less it will interfere with your day gig.
A traveling notary can easily command more than $50/hour. My suggestion – hit up the banks. Let them know you are available and impress upon them how reliable you are. Remember, you’re going to have to build relationships, so visit your banks and talk to the managers every few weeks. Don’t be pushy. Just let them know you are in business and that you mean business. You’ll soon have a thriving business. And don’t forget about all the fun you’ll have making a mess out of other people’s fingers.
3. Gutter Cleaner
All you need to get into this business is a ladder, some business cards, flyers, the right business insurance and maybe some gloves if you’re a debutante. You can do a little research on how to clean gutters and you’ll have more training than most of the people who are engaged in this practice.
The way to build this weekend job is to pass out flyers in your neighborhood and let people know that you’re available to do the dirty deed. Within a short time, you’ll be able to gauge how long it will take you to do the job and you can quote the gig accordingly. Your clients, left to their own devices, would take much longer because they won’t have your experience, so they’ll be only too glad to pay you to get this done.
What other weekend jobs do you know of that can earn $50 or more an hour?
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{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
Nice variety of gigs, but all easily attainable. I like it.
Two of these were actually within my article, “101 Ways to Make More Money”, but the Phlebotomist is a new one. Nice find!
i imagine there are quite a few computer side jobs that would make at least 50.00 an hour. These are some good ideas – phlebotomist is out for me because I would probably keep fainting but the notary idea is one to consider.
LOL, I could never be a Phlebotomist either! Web design is a great field to get into, though does take some learning and practice at first!
My uncle is a phlebotomist. Only a high school education and makes more than I do with 2 degrees. He works the overnight shift in hospitals and then does a few hours in clinics sometimes. Makes serious money with the night differential.
funny i’ve always thought about becoming a notary public.
The notary public idea is great advice! Just think about how many contracts get signed everyday that need to be witnessed by a notary public. Why NOT get in on some of that action?
I had no idea notaries made so much money! This sounds like a great 2nd job, especially if you don’t mind working evenings.
Becoming a notary public is very easy I’ve heard! In fact, my sister is getting qualified through her job right now! I didn’t know it was in enough demand to be able to command $50 dollar per hour. I will definitely have to let her know about this.
I’m a Notary in NY State.
The test is easy and study material is free.
And we are allowed by law to charge the princely sum of $2.00 dollars for a signature.
Very interesting! Do you know if the $2 level is the cap for all states and in all instances? I wonder if there is a way to structure the gig in order to make more…
I think it must be different per state. I am a Notary in Utah, and I can charge up to $5 per signature. And when it comes to traveling, I can’t remember exactly how you’re supposed to go about it, but you can be paid for travel time/mileage ect.
That’s great to know! Thanks for sharing Stephanie!
I’m also a Notary in MA, we can charge $5 for signing and can charge pretty much whatever we want for our travel time and Doc preparation. There is extra $ to be made but it’s not as steady as you might want and most times it’s very last minute on the part of the bank or attorney so you need to be prepared to rearrange your schedule a bit!
$5 is pretty low. California is much higher than that. They charge per visit PLUS per signature.
Wisconsin allows you to charge a max of 50 cents.
Don’t get so excited folks. Most banks have their own notary (just like companies who frequently require the service) and provide the service free for their customers. Here in FL you can charge up to $10, but in these economic times, who would do that? I’ve offered my service for free to people. It just seems like the right thing to do.
Becoming a notary can be a great side gig! A couple of things to be aware of though. First, make sure you are bonded and insured. It adds some to your overhead but most states have at least a minimum requirement and my company had something like $1 mil in coverage for each of us when I was a notary (it was part of my job for as an escrow officer). You are taking someone’s signature on a legal binding document and you would not believe what kind of liability that can open you up to if you don’t take what you do seriously and abide by the regulations and record keeping procedures.
Also, most states do have a very nominal rate that you are actually allowed to charge for placing your notary seal on a document. However, most mobile notary’s base their rates on not the notary part but the ‘taking the signatures’ part. Therefore, they can charge anywhere from $50 to $300 in some cases depending on how far they have to travel, how complex the documents to be reviewed and signed, their level of knowledge and expertise (for instance, knowing how to properly explain all the documents included in a home loan package), what time of day they have to do the signing and how much notice they get. The mobile notary fee covers all of these items so they can work around the minimum fee.
Thanks for the information. I will definitely look in to it before I sign up for anything.
Interesting … my friend’s a phlebotomist. I had no idea she made so much money. It’s considered a “menial” job, according to a doctor I spoke to, but heck, for that pay. I wonder why nurses bother going through school and doing even more work than a phlebotomist to get paid less (at least if you’re a staff RN)?
I am a traveling notary. I am glad I thought about doing this.
Hey, a nod to gutter cleaners – I love it. I’ve cleaned many a gutters in my day. They make all sorts of great tools for the job…the only problem I have is $50/hour is way to cheap. Gutter cleaning rates are around $100 – $150/hour. 2800ft2 house, two story, will usually only take you about 3 hours MAX! – charge em 10 cents per square foot ($280) and your coming out just under $100 per hour.
Great Ideas
Matt, where are you located and will you share any more tips with someone that has no experience?
Hey Matt…nice input. Thanks…looks like you’re “cleaning up”…get it?
Neal, are you sure phlebotomist make $50 an hour? I was a phlebotomist in the late 80′s when I was in college and only made about $7 an hour at that time (in NC). I think it may be time to reconsider my college degree profession and go back to my “pre-Professional” days.
Kimberly, I don’t think that’s what they make all day long. But based on what the phlebotomist told me, she made that kind of money if she arranged her days well. I don’t know about you, but I spent very little time in the profession in which I got my degree. I think many people do something other than what they got their degree in.
phlebotomists don’t make anywhere near $50 an hour. They average between 10 to 15 bucks an hour.
phlebotomists do not make that much!! or atleast in NJ they don’t.
also another one is EMT. I am an EMT in NJ as well and its great extra cash picking up shifts when you need them, weekends or nights if you have a day job. usually pay is around 13 to 15 if you’re starting out
I like the notary idea. Also, a friend of mine wanted to do a side business in renting out moon bounces. But it turns out you need to be insured and he could not find adequate insurance.
Phlebotomists make NO WHERE in the realm of $50/hour! Its more like $10-14.
Regy, the person I interviewed was making that amount. She was paid per visit and she was very efficient with her time. Are you a phlebotomist? Do you work for an insurance company traveling to clients or in an office? How are you compensated?
I am a phlebotomist and I make $17.02 an hour after 5 years with the company and 5 years experience. I do know that some insurance companys pay more also if you do more then just draw blood as I do you make more an hour. I am from WA state
Regarding notaries, from 1977 to 1991 I worked in the banking industry. Made a lot of consumer loans and closed a lot of 2nd mortgage loans. All employees that worked in my department, including myself, were notaries. We notarized automobile titles, security deeds, etc., for no charge. Of course our bank was earning money from the interest earnings and fees from closing the loans so we offered the notary service free of charge, but it seems to me that any office or place of business that needs notaries would already have them in-house.
Many do….a few don’t. I suppose this will take work but once you have an established network it could be a great business. A friend of mine started this way and then ended up being offered a very good job working for a bank. He isn’t making $50/hour now but he does have more income because it’s full time and he has benefits.
Bill, where are you located and will you share more info with someone with no experience starting out?
Notarys and Phlebotomist are great 2nd jobs but they pay no where near 50.00 an hour either one. Per year you can make $24,000.00 for either occupation.
As I’ve said, it’s a question of where you live and how you work it. Working p/t for an insurance company (phlebotomist) and on your own as a notary, you can make substantially more.