Every year “saving money” ranks as a top resolution. This year is no exception. In fact, 37 percent of responders in a recent survey say this is a priority – up six percent from last year. Whether you’re trying to get out of debt, boost your monthly income, or save for an adventure (another top 10 resolution), there has never been a better time to make more money on the side. Tech skills can be extremely lucrative. With the growing popularity of the gig economy and the availability of technology, your hunt for a high-paying side gig may be easier than you think. Certain positions are more profitable than others… online surveys will never make you rich. But there are plenty of other jobs that will compensate you well for your time and (little) knowledge in the tech sector. QA tester Ever gotten annoyed by an app’s bug or a website’s usability? Then you could become a tester. Quality Assurance (QA) testers are responsible for identifying coding flaws and bugs on websites, applications, and software programs yet they don’t have to write a single line of code. Sure there are testing jobs that may need particular IT expertise, but there are also testing projects that only require a person to own a smart device and follow a set of instructions. For example, here at Testlio there are also testing projects that don’t require an expert level tester… in fact, some require only basic knowledge of how a device should work. For instance, ensuring that live streaming works on your mobile or tablet only requires a single skill: capturing logs. And those are easily learned through the company’s tutorial. These tests cover products and functionalities that we use frequently. Having an everyday user dig into the quality and performance is invaluable. After all, if something is so easy “your grandmother could use it”, wouldn’t it be nice if grandma was actually testing the product? Programmer Many companies need extra hands for a special project or are unable to find a suitable full-time employee. In fact, the demand for programmers currently outweighs the number of people who can fill those positions. But while programming is a full-time job for many, it doesn’t have to be. There are a plethora of side-gigs to make some extra cash. From teaching online programming courses to building and selling your own software, if you have the skills – and the time – programming can be a very lucrative side-gig. Web developer If you have a knack for websites, web development could be your jam. Websites are the most public facing portion of any company. When companies want to share their offerings or if a customer is curious about what a company does, often the first step is a trip to the company website. The best part about this – the companies know this and are willing to pay for good web design. SEO Along with a good website, is SEO (Search Engine Optimization). It’s the craft and wizardry of getting a website to rank highly for industry-specific keywords on search engines like Google or Bing. Most companies know that a top ranking website will get them a lot more customers, but many don’t have an underlying understanding of how it all works. If you know how to get Google to take notice, SEO work can really enhance your bank account. While most SEO work can be technical, there are pieces that – similar to QA testing – can be very simple and easy to build upon. You just have to get started. Social Media Specialist If you know the difference between a hashtag and a meme, or you have your finger on the goings on of a particular industry, you could be a social media specialist. This one can be a challenge since social media is relatively new for brands and most top executives have yet to decide if there is real value in it. Of course, we know that it takes much more than a summer intern to do it right, so if you can find those companies that truly value the work, you’re probably on to something. Copywriter Have you ever spotted a misspelling in a news article? Or are you able to articulate a brand mission into a single sentence? Then copywriting might be for you. Along with website copy, blog posts and yes, even social media. Copywriters are quickly becoming valuable members of any modern business. If you have the eye for it, there’s a lot of demand for it. STEM Tutor / Mentor If you have skills in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), you could build a significant side-gig. STEM skills are highly sought after by companies, and in turn, many college students are looking into those fields. Those students need tutors. So why not pass it on to the next generation and make a little coin for yourself at the same time? There are far more side-gigs out there than we could possibly list here, but if you have the talent and the time for a tech-centric side gig, why not get started today?