Colorado's side hustles follow the seasons more than anywhere else: ski weekends from December to April, Red Rocks and the trails from May to October, snow whenever it falls, and an airport so far from Denver that every ride is a long one. Here are nine that pay in 2026.
1. Local Friend: show visitors Denver and the mountains, at your rate#
Visitors land, rent a car and sit in I-70 traffic. A Local Friend shows them the state the way a friend would, by the hour: RiNo's murals and breweries, the Highlands and South Broadway, Red Rocks on a day without a concert, a hike sized for out-of-town lungs at altitude, Boulder's Flatirons, a Broncos or Nuggets game, the mountain towns on a weekday. You set your rate (commonly $25 to $45), Roavi lists you free and takes no commission. Very few are listed in Colorado. No licence is needed; paid guiding on federal land needs a permit, which a Local Friend does not do. How it works in the US.
2. Rideshare to Denver's far-out airport#
DEN is about 25 miles from downtown, so every airport run is a long fare. After gas, $17 to $26 an hour, best on airport runs and ski-season weekends.
3. Delivery#
$14 to $20 an hour after costs; snow days pay best.
4. Weekend ski-season work#
The resorts hire weekend staff for rentals, lift operations, ski school and food service, $18 to $25 an hour, and the job usually comes with a season pass, worth more than many people's weekly pay. December to April.
5. Red Rocks and stadium staffing#
Red Rocks Amphitheatre's summer season, Empower Field, Ball Arena, Coors Field. $18 to $26 an hour through agencies and the venues.
6. Pet sitting#
Denver is one of the most dog-heavy cities in the country. $30 to $60 a night for boarding, $20 to $30 a walk.
7. Tutoring#
Test prep, math and science in Denver's suburbs and Boulder, $25 to $55 an hour.
8. Spanish interpreting#
Colorado's Spanish-speaking population makes medical, legal and school interpreting steady work, $22 to $45 an hour.
9. Snow removal#
Driveways and sidewalks after every storm, $25 to $60 a driveway, more for businesses. A good shovel or a snow blower and early mornings.
What makes Colorado different#
The seasons. The airport distance. Denver's minimum wage, among the highest in the country, which sets the floor for hourly gigs there. And the tax: a flat state income tax of about 4.4 percent, plus Denver's small occupational privilege tax if you work in the city; set aside about 25 percent with federal and self-employment tax.
Which fits your hours#
- Winter weekends: ski-season work.
- After a storm, early: snow removal.
- Summer evenings: Red Rocks and stadium staffing.
- Year-round: rideshare, pet sitting, tutoring.
- You know the city and the trails: Local Friend.
Live in Colorado? Show visitors Denver and the mountains at your rate.
Become a Local FriendNearby: Nevada and Arizona. En español: cómo ganar dinero extra en Colorado.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best side hustle in Colorado?
The seasonal ones are what make Colorado different: weekend ski-season work at the resorts (rentals, lift operations, ski school) with a free pass attached, Red Rocks and stadium staffing in summer, and snow removal whenever it falls. Year-round, pet sitting in one of the most dog-heavy cities in the country, rideshare to Denver's distant airport, and Local Friend for visitors who want Denver and the mountains with someone who knows them.How much can you make with a side hustle in Colorado?
After costs, typical 2026 ranges: rideshare $17 to $26 an hour after gas, airport runs best; delivery $14 to $20; weekend ski work $18 to $25 an hour plus a season pass; event staffing $18 to $26; pet sitting $30 to $60 a night; tutoring $25 to $55; Spanish interpreting $22 to $45; snow removal $25 to $60 a driveway; Local Friend at the rate you set, commonly $25 to $45.How are side hustles taxed in Colorado?
Colorado has a flat state income tax of about 4.4 percent, on top of federal income and self-employment tax. Denver adds a small occupational privilege tax for people who work in the city. Set aside about 25 percent and pay quarterly. Denver's minimum wage, among the highest in the country, sets the floor for hourly gigs there.What is a Local Friend and how does it work in Colorado?
Someone who lives there and shows visitors it by the hour: Denver's neighbourhoods (RiNo, Highlands, South Broadway), Red Rocks on a non-concert day, a hike that fits an out-of-towner's lungs at altitude, Boulder's Flatirons, the breweries, a Broncos or Nuggets game, how to get to the mountains without the I-70 weekend jam. You set your rate, Roavi lists you free and takes no commission. Very few are listed in Colorado. No licence is needed; guiding on federal land for pay needs a permit, which a Local Friend does not do.