Pennsylvania has one of the lowest flat state income taxes in the country and some of the highest city taxes on top of it, which changes what a side hustle really nets. Here are nine that pay in 2026.
1. Local Friend: show visitors Philadelphia, at your rate#
Visitors queue for the Liberty Bell, eat one cheesesteak and leave. A Local Friend shows them the city the way a friend would, by the hour: Independence Hall without the tour-group pace, Reading Terminal Market and the Italian Market, South Philly and the cheesesteak argument, the Mural Arts walls, Fishtown and Passyunk, an Eagles or Phillies game. In Pittsburgh: the inclines, the Strip District, the neighbourhoods across the bridges. You set your rate (commonly $20 to $40), Roavi lists you free and takes no commission, and the money is paid to you directly. Very few are listed in Pennsylvania yet. No licence is needed. How it works in the US.
2. Rideshare at PHL and PIT#
The airports, the stadium complex in South Philly, Pittsburgh's game nights. After gas, $16 to $24 an hour, best at the airports and on event nights.
3. Delivery#
DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart. $13 to $19 an hour after costs; bike delivery works in Center City.
4. Tutoring#
The Main Line and the Philadelphia suburbs are a high-paying tutoring market: SAT and ACT prep, math and science, $30 to $70 an hour. Pittsburgh and the rest of the state, $25 to $45.
5. Pet sitting and dog walking#
$30 to $60 a night for boarding, $18 to $28 a walk in Center City, Fishtown, Lawrenceville and the suburbs.
6. Notary loan signings#
Pennsylvania notaries need a short approved course and an exam, then a commission and bond. Loan signings pay $75 to $125 each, evenings and weekends.
7. Stadium and convention staffing#
Lincoln Financial Field, Citizens Bank Park and the arena in South Philly; Acrisure Stadium and PNC Park in Pittsburgh; the convention centres in both cities. $16 to $25 an hour through agencies and the venues.
8. Spanish interpreting#
Philadelphia, Allentown, Reading and Lancaster have large Puerto Rican and Dominican communities. Medical, legal and school interpreting pays $22 to $45 an hour, more with certification.
9. Task work#
Rowhouse repairs, furniture assembly, moving help. $30 to $55 an hour on TaskRabbit and Thumbtack, mostly in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
What makes Pennsylvania different#
The taxes. The state income tax is a flat 3.07 percent, one of the lowest in the country. On top, most municipalities levy a local earned income tax, and Philadelphia residents pay the city wage tax and net profits tax, close to 4 percent. Set aside about 25 to 30 percent with federal and self-employment tax, and file the local return. The state minimum wage is still the federal $7.25, which is why the skilled hustles on this list pay so much better than the hourly ones.
Which fits your hours#
- Evenings and weekends with a car: rideshare, notary signings.
- After school: tutoring.
- Game nights: stadium staffing.
- You know your city and like people: Local Friend.
Live in Pennsylvania? Show visitors your city at your rate.
Become a Local FriendNext door: New Jersey and New York. En español: cómo ganar dinero extra en Pensilvania.
South and west: Maryland and Ohio.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best side hustle in Pennsylvania?
In Philadelphia: Local Friend, showing the city's visitors the history, the food and the neighbourhoods at a rate you set; tutoring on the Main Line and in the suburbs; and stadium and convention staffing. In Pittsburgh: rideshare, event work at the stadiums, and tutoring. Statewide: Spanish interpreting, notary signings and task work.How much can you make with a side hustle in Pennsylvania?
After costs, typical 2026 ranges: rideshare $16 to $24 an hour after gas; delivery $13 to $19; tutoring $30 to $70 on the Main Line, $25 to $45 elsewhere; pet sitting $30 to $60 a night; notary loan signings $75 to $125; stadium and convention staffing $16 to $25; Spanish interpreting $22 to $45; task work $30 to $55; Local Friend at the rate you set, commonly $20 to $40.How are side hustles taxed in Pennsylvania?
The state income tax is a flat 3.07 percent, one of the lowest in the country. On top, most municipalities levy a local earned income tax, and Philadelphia residents pay the city wage tax and net profits tax, close to 4 percent on side-hustle profit. Set aside about 25 to 30 percent with federal and self-employment tax, and file the local return too.What is a Local Friend and how does it work in Philadelphia?
Someone who lives in Philadelphia and shows visitors it by the hour: the history beyond the Liberty Bell queue, Reading Terminal and the Italian Market, South Philly cheesesteaks with an opinion attached, the Mural Arts walls, an Eagles or Phillies game. You set your rate, Roavi lists you free and takes no commission, and profiles are reviewed before going live. Very few are listed in Pennsylvania yet. No licence is needed.