Arizona's side-hustle year runs backwards. The busy months are January to April, when spring training, the golf tournaments and every snowbird in the Midwest arrive. The slow ones are June to September, when Phoenix passes 110. Here are nine side hustles that pay in 2026.
1. Local Friend: show visitors the desert, at your rate#
Visitors see the resorts, the golf course and a Sedona jeep tour. A Local Friend shows them the state the way a friend would, by the hour: Phoenix's Mexican food and Roosevelt Row, Old Town Scottsdale beyond the bars, a Sedona trail at sunrise before the crowds, Tucson's Sonoran hot dogs and San Xavier mission, a spring-training game, how to hike the desert safely. You set your rate (commonly $20 to $40 an hour), Roavi lists you free and takes no commission, and the money is paid to you directly.
Arizona has barely anyone listed yet, so the first profiles get every request. No licence is needed; you are not a tour guide and do not take people onto the land where guiding needs a permit. How it works in the US.
2. Rideshare, and the robotaxis#
Driverless cars run across much of metro Phoenix and take a share of the short city trips. Human drivers still own Sky Harbor, the longer trips, the suburbs and event nights. After gas, $15 to $22 an hour, best in season.
3. Delivery#
DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart. $13 to $19 an hour after costs; summer demand rises because nobody walks anywhere.
4. Spring training and golf event staffing#
Fifteen Major League teams train in the Phoenix area every February and March, and the Phoenix Open is the best-attended golf tournament in the world. Concessions, ushers, parking and hospitality, $16 to $24 an hour through the stadiums and agencies, January to April.
5. Pool and yard work#
Almost every house in the Phoenix suburbs has a pool and a yard the sun is trying to kill. Weekly pool cleaning routes and yard work pay $25 to $45 an hour, year-round, and summer is the busiest season, not the slowest.
6. Tutoring#
Test prep, math, science and English in the suburbs of Phoenix and Tucson, $25 to $50 an hour in person, less online.
7. Spanish interpreting#
Arizona's Spanish-speaking population makes medical, legal and school interpreting steady work, $22 to $45 an hour, more with certification; phone interpreting works from home.
8. Airbnb co-hosting#
Scottsdale in spring training and golf season, Sedona all year, Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon gateways in summer. 10 to 20 percent of bookings. Scottsdale and Sedona require short-term rental registration; check before you start.
9. Pet sitting#
Rover and word of mouth. $25 to $50 a night; the snowbirds bring their dogs and need sitters when they travel.
What makes Arizona different#
The calendar: January to April is high season for visitors and events, June to September is the heat, when outdoor and visitor work slows and pool work peaks. The robotaxis, which change the rideshare math in Phoenix more than anywhere else. And the tax: a flat 2.5 percent state income tax, one of the lowest in the country, so set aside about 20 to 25 percent with federal and self-employment tax.
Which fits your hours#
- Winter weekends: event staffing, Local Friend, co-hosting.
- Evenings and weekends with a car: rideshare, delivery.
- Year-round, early mornings: pool and yard routes.
- A skill or a language: tutoring, interpreting.
- You know the desert and like people: Local Friend.
Starting as a Local Friend#
Free, ten minutes from your phone, three real photos, a review before you go live. Say which city you live in and what you are good for; hikes, food and spring training are what visitors ask about.
Live in Arizona? Show visitors the desert at your rate.
Become a Local FriendNext door: California and Las Vegas. Texas. En español: cómo ganar dinero extra en Arizona.
Next door: Nevada and Colorado.
East: New Mexico.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best side hustle in Arizona?
The ones tied to the winter season, because that is when the state fills: event staffing at spring training and the golf tournaments, Airbnb co-hosting in Scottsdale and Sedona, and Local Friend, showing visitors Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sedona or Tucson at a rate you set. Year-round, pool and yard work in the Phoenix suburbs is steady, and Spanish interpreting pays $22 to $45 an hour.How much can you make with a side hustle in Arizona?
After costs, typical 2026 ranges: rideshare $15 to $22 an hour after gas; delivery $13 to $19; event staffing $16 to $24; pool cleaning and yard work $25 to $45 an hour; tutoring $25 to $50; Spanish interpreting $22 to $45; Airbnb co-hosting 10 to 20 percent; pet sitting $25 to $50 a night; Local Friend at the rate you set, commonly $20 to $40.How are side hustles taxed in Arizona?
Arizona has one of the lowest flat state income taxes in the country, 2.5 percent, on top of federal income and self-employment tax. Anything over $600 a year from one platform is reported on a 1099. Set aside about 20 to 25 percent and pay quarterly.Do robotaxis affect rideshare in Phoenix?
Yes. Driverless cars operate across much of metro Phoenix and take a share of short city trips, especially in Tempe, Scottsdale and downtown. Human drivers still dominate the airport, longer trips, the suburbs and event nights. Expect rideshare to pay best at Sky Harbor and on spring-training and concert nights.What is a Local Friend and how does it work in Arizona?
Someone who lives there and shows visitors it by the hour: Phoenix's Mexican food and Roosevelt Row, Old Town Scottsdale beyond the bars, the Sedona trails before the crowds, Tucson's Sonoran hot dogs and the missions, how to do the desert safely in summer. You set your rate, Roavi lists you free and takes no commission, and profiles are reviewed before going live. Arizona has barely anyone listed yet, so the first profiles get every request. No licence is needed.