Side hustle income calculator
Most side hustles look better on the payout screen than they are, because fees, costs, unpaid time and tax only show up later. Enter what each job or sale pays, how many you do, how long each one really takes and what it costs you, and this calculator works out your monthly profit and real hourly pay. It also compares that hourly figure with your day job, so you can see whether the extra hours are worth it.
Per hour, compared
What an hour of the side hustle pays before and after costs and tax, next to an hour of your day job.
Profit at different paces
More jobs spread fixed costs further, but take more of your week. Profit is after fees, costs and tax.
| Jobs per week | Hours per week | Profit per month | Per hour |
|---|
How side hustle profit is worked out
The calculator starts from what one job pays you after the platform's cut and the job's own costs. It then scales to a month, takes off fixed costs and sets aside tax.
Profit per job
What the customer pays, less the platform fee and the costs of doing the job.
per job = pay × (1 − fee) − costs per job
Monthly profit before tax
Weeks per month is 4.33.
before tax = per job × jobs per week × 4.33 − fixed costs
Set aside tax
Only on profit; losses carry no tax here.
after tax = before tax × (1 − tax)
Real hourly pay
Profit after tax divided by every hour the hustle takes.
per hour = after tax ÷ (jobs × 4.33 × minutes ÷ 60)
Side hustle questions
How do I work out what my side hustle really pays?
Take what customers pay, subtract platform fees, the costs of each job and your fixed monthly costs, then set aside tax. Divide what is left by every hour the hustle takes, including travel, waiting, messaging and admin. That is your real hourly pay.
Do I have to pay tax on side hustle income?
In most countries, yes, once your profit passes a threshold. In the US, self-employment tax applies on top of income tax for most side income, which is why setting aside 20 to 30 percent of profit is common advice. Check the rules where you live.
Which costs do people forget?
Vehicle wear and depreciation for driving work, phone and data plans, packaging and shipping for sellers, subscriptions to tools, and the unpaid time between jobs. Rideshare and delivery drivers in particular often see real profit fall well below the payout once vehicle costs are counted.
Is a side hustle worth it if it pays less than my day job?
It can be, if it builds a skill, a customer base or something you can sell later, or if it fills hours you could not spend on paid work anyway. But if it pays less per hour than overtime or a raise would, those might be better uses of your time.
How can I raise my hourly pay?
Raise prices, cut the unpaid time per job, batch similar tasks, and drop the jobs or platforms with the highest fees. The table below the calculator shows how profit changes with the number of jobs, and the bars show how your hourly pay compares with your day job.
How many hours a week should a side hustle take?
Only as many as you can keep up without hurting your main job, health or relationships. Many people find 5 to 15 hours a week sustainable. The calculator shows the monthly profit at your chosen pace.