15 Side Hustles for Nurses Looking to Earn Extra Money

The rise of the gig economy and remote work has opened new doors for healthcare professionals with highly transferable and in-demand skills. Nurses can stray from the traditional pathway with side hustles, while also supplementing their income and gaining more control over their time and duties.

Learn about the best side hustles for nurses so you can explore your other interests and boost your income.

For nurses with a graduate degree, teaching in a college or university offers a unique way to earn extra income and create potential career opportunities. Adjunct nursing instructors run nursing classes, supervise nursing students during clinicals, and evaluate learners’ nursing knowledge.

By gaining experience and building a relationship with a school, adjunct nursing instructors may qualify for full-time nurse educator careers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), nursing instructors earn an average annual salary of $87,090, as of May 2024.

Camp nurses work at nature camps, retreats, and other outdoor settings where they provide medical care for people attending the camp. These nurses administer medications, provide basic medical care, and advise people on when to seek additional medical treatments.

Camp nurses often work independently in natural locations far from the stress of a clinical environment. According to the BLS, nurses in the arts, entertainment, and recreation industry earn about $34/hour, as of May 2024.

A background in nursing can qualify you to take on a unique role in a childcare center, especially if you have pediatric nursing experience. Many childcare facilities and parents look for nurses who can provide health and safety support to children, while also caring for their other needs.

Depending on the center, you may provide nursing care to the children or just provide general child care. That means your duties could include assessing and treating illnesses and injuries or helping infants with fine and gross motor skills and school-aged children with homework.

According to the BLS, registered nurses (RN) in childcare services earn an average wage of $41/hour, as of May 2024.

Clinical research nurses conduct studies on nursing practice, patient care, and other topics. They also work directly with patients participating in research studies. You can break into the field of research nursing by contributing to biomedical and healthcare studies in hospitals or academic settings.

Research nurses should hold a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) at minimum, while clinical research nurse jobs often require at least a master’s degree. Research roles call for strong analytical and communication skills, and some positions require certification, such as that from the Association of Clinical Research Professionals.

According to the BLS, RNs in the scientific research and development services industry make an average wage of $50/hour, as of May 2024.

Nurses with strong writing and communication skills can find work as freelance nurse writers. These writers create specialized nursing content for websites, news outlets, and magazines. Writers who have clinical knowledge and expertise can stand out in the industry.

Depending on the job, you might work with an editor to hone a pitch, conduct interviews, and revise your work based on editorial feedback. With experience, you can pursue a full-time nurse writer position, making an average $42/hour, according to Payscale data from July 2024.

Health tutors and instructors help students get through the challenges of nursing school, prepare for the NCLEX-RN, or learn the principles of Basic Life Support and CPR. You can run public classes, offer group sessions, or provide private one-on-one lessons.

Health tutors generally need a strong GPA and teaching skills. Instructor positions may require certification from a basic life support provider. According to the BLS, health practitioner offices and outpatient care centers pay some of the highest average wages to tutors at $29/hour and $30/hour in May 2023, respectively.

Your knowledge of medical terminology and your experience working with electronic health records makes a medical biller or coder side hustle a realistic option. These healthcare professionals enter medical information into patient files, manage health insurance records, and flag file inaccuracies.

While the medical billing and coding salary potential is lower, the occupation has strong projected job growth in the coming years. The BLS reports an average wage of $27/hour in May 2024 for medical record specialists but a 9% projected job growth rate from 2023-2033.

Medical transcriptionists translate voice recordings from healthcare professionals into electronic records. This may include patient information, physical exam results, and discharge instructions. They also use speech recognition software, prepare medical reports, and review medical records for accuracy and compliance.

As a medical transcriber, you’ll leverage your knowledge of medical record systems, terminology, and patient confidentiality laws. Though the BLS reports a lower average wage of $19/hour, as of May 2024, the convenience and relevance of the role can lead to a seamless transition for nurses.

The best nurse influencers combine their nursing experience with an engaging personality. These entertainers share their medical knowledge and experience on social media platforms to improve public health and wellness and attract advertisers.

Whether sharing nursing school tips on TikTok or filming “day in the life” videos for Instagram, nurse influencers can earn extra money without completely altering their work schedule. However, you’ll need to watch out for HIPAA violations, such as sharing sensitive images or information without authorization.

An MBO Partners report on the creator economy found that more than 29% of creators and influencers made more than $30,000 in 2023. So while it is unquestionably a gamble from a monetary standpoint, it can still work. And you can have a lot of fun in the process.

Many organizations turn to healthcare professionals for their insights when conducting research. They may run surveys that poll nurses on various healthcare issues — hoping to learn from their nursing experiences and medical expertise.

As a nurse, you may find opportunities to join medical survey panels, getting paid to take healthcare-related surveys that may take a few minutes up to a few hours. While this can be an easy side hustle for busy nurses, the wages vary considerably.

Home health nurses care for patients in their homes, particularly those with chronic conditions and disabilities. Their duties include monitoring vital signs, administering medication, and operating medical equipment. Some clients might even hire a private nurse to provide overnight monitoring, such as for newborns or ailing patients.

Depending on your state, this role may require a license or certification to practice, and you may require supervision. Despite a low average wage of $18/hour, as of May 2024, home health nurses are in high demand. The BLS projects 21% growth in the field between 2023 and 2033.

Per diem nurses work on a temporary basis for hospitals and medical centers, filling in for regular staff members. These nurses work on an as-needed basis, so appointments can last one day or a few weeks. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities may have a call sheet of PRNs and per diem nurses that they use regularly.

Taking a per diem RN side job gives you great flexibility and control over your schedule. You can filter jobs by location or hours and only take on what you can handle. According to Payscale, travel nurses, a closely related position, earned an average wage of $40/hour in January 2025.

The rise of telemedicine means new and flexible job opportunities for nurses. Telehealth nurses provide care remotely using videoconferencing, phone, or chat technologies. They may conduct virtual health assessments, communicate with patients about medical conditions, and offer recommendations to seek in-person care.

You need a nursing license to work as a telehealth nurse, along with strong communication skills and the ability to use technology. You may find opportunities through your current place of employment, which could improve your chances of landing this side gig. According to Payscale, the average wage was $37/hour in January 2025.

Traveling phlebotomists, or mobile phlebotomists, take blood samples from patients in non-clinical locations. They may work at mobile blood drives, nursing homes, or patient homes, drawing blood for testing.

As a nurse, you likely already have the clinical skills to work in phlebotomy and might be able to pick up a side gig through your current employer. However, this role might require additional training programs or a license or certification, depending on your state and employer. According to the BLS, phlebotomists make an average wage of $21/hour, as of May 2024.

Nurses are critical for administering vaccines and protecting people from infectious diseases. Vaccination clinics, community health organizations, and local health centers hire nurses to give immunizations. Vaccination and immunization nurses also educate the public about the importance of immunization.

Vaccine and immunization nurses keep children updated on vaccines while administering flu and COVID-19 shots to adults. The demand for these healthcare professionals increases during infectious seasons and outbreaks. These professionals can expect to earn around $39/hour, according to ZipRecruiter data from April 2025.