As a project manager, you’re likely already juggling multiple tasks, managing teams, and driving projects to completion. But what if you could also use your existing skills to boost your income on the side? The rise of the gig economy has opened up flexible opportunities for project managers to explore side hustles that not only fit around their primary roles but also align with their skills and interests.
In 2025, many side hustle ideas like freelance project management, business coaching, event planning, or even selling digital tools are becoming increasingly popular among professionals. These opportunities offer a way to earn extra cash, showcase your expertise, and take advantage of the growing demand for tech services, online course creation, and social media management.
With the right organization and ability to multitask, you can break down these tasks into manageable steps and start leveraging your talents for additional income. After all, with an average salary of $144,058 per year, project managers have the perfect foundation to explore and grow side projects!
As project managers, you’re no stranger to wearing many hats whether it’s to plan, procure, organize, or manage a project. But what if you could take these same skills and start making money through a side hustle?
The ability to translate your experience in development and execution into a small business could lead to some substantial extra cash. With high-income skills like these, it’s easier than ever to step into side projects that not only increase your earnings but also allow you to showcase your talents and take on more side hustle opportunities. For example, offering project management services to startups or helping others organize their business strategies could be a lucrative way to grow your income.
Key Takeaways
When exploring side hustles, project managers have a wealth of opportunities to generate extra cash. Freelance project management can pay anywhere from $30-$90 per hour, making it a suitable option for those looking to capitalize on their core PM skills. Similarly, event planning, which leverages your ability to organize and manage complex tasks, offers a chance to earn competitive rates. Business coaching is another great choice, with earnings ranging from $50-$150 per hour, and it’s highly appealing for those who enjoy guiding others to excel. For project managers who are tech-savvy, tech services or online course creation can bring in variable earnings but have the potential for high earnings as demand for expertise grows.
What is a project manager?
A project manager is responsible for leading a project, ensuring that all the working pieces, from people to budget and timeline, are aligned for success. They oversee various components of a project, ensuring everything runs smoothly from execution to completion. Projects can be temporary, lasting anywhere from weeks to months, or even longer depending on scope. The primary goal is to get projects completed on time while delivering excellent results.
While the title project manager is common, you may also encounter similar roles like project leader, program manager, project director, or chief project officer. These roles, often within general contracting or other professions, require a strong background and education in a related field, combined with experience.
A project manager must possess high-income skills such as critical thinking, organizational management, creativity, and analytical thinking. Time management and strong communication skills are essential for managing multiple projects and ensuring successful completion.
Side Hustles for Project Managers: Top 10 Opportunities
Freelance Project Management
Freelance project management is a perfect option for project managers looking to earn extra cash. Platforms like Fiverr and Upwork are filled with lots of work for freelancers offering project management services. With rates ranging from $30-$90 an hour, it’s a great way to utilize your skills and expand your career.
Whether it’s helping a startup manage a small project or overseeing a team on a large-scale initiative, freelance project management can be a rewarding side job that fits around your main responsibilities.
Business Coaching and Consulting
With your project management skills, you can step into coaching and consulting to help others improve their businesses or projects. Offering coaching sessions or consultations can be highly rewarding both personally and financially. You can charge clients for your expertise, and the best part is that you can manage these sessions remotely using video conferencing tools like Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
This side hustle not only brings in money, but it also allows for career growth as you expand your reach and work with diverse clients in various industries.
Event Planning and Coordination
If you have strong organizational skills, event planning and coordination could be a lucrative side hustle. Many good planners find success in organizing weddings, corporate events, and other special occasions. You can plan events remotely, handling everything from coordinating with vendors to managing clients through emails, calls, and virtual meetings.
Whether it’s a small gathering or a large-scale corporate event, your project management background will help ensure everything runs smoothly, making this a great option for those seeking flexibility and extra income.
Online Course Creation and Instruction
Creating online courses is an excellent way for project managers to generate passive income. The e-learning market is growing at a fast pace, making it a smart choice for anyone looking to share their project management expertise. By developing and selling courses on platforms like Udemy or Teachable, you can create valuable content that continues to earn money long after you’ve developed it.
It’s a perfect way to leverage your skills and knowledge while reaching a wide audience interested in learning more about effective project management.
Social Media Management
If you have a knack for planning and scheduling content, social media management could be a rewarding side hustle. As a social media manager, you can apply your project management skills to help businesses grow their online presence. This role involves creating strategies, posting regularly, and engaging with audiences. With rates ranging from $15-$65 an hour, it’s a great opportunity for project managers to step into the job of managing content while using their expert organizational skills to make a significant impact.
Selling Digital Project Management Tools
If you’re skilled in creating systems and tools for project management, consider selling digital products like project management software or templates. With many businesses looking for ways to improve their workflows, these tools can be a profitable side job. You can leverage your knowledge to create solutions that others can use to streamline their projects.
Whether it’s a custom template or a software tool, this hustle allows you to make money by providing value to fellow project managers and teams.
Education and Mentorship
As a project manager, you have valuable experience to teach and share with others. Offering online courses, webinars, or coaching can be a great way to mentor aspiring project managers. You can conduct one-on-one sessions or group coaching to teach project management methods, and introduce tools that help others succeed. By guiding them on the best ways to get better at their jobs, you can help individuals move up in their careers.
This is a fulfilling side hustle that also positions you as an expert in your field.
Tech Setup and Troubleshooting
As a project manager, you likely have a strong understanding of technology and how to make systems work smoothly. Offering tech setup and troubleshooting services can be a valuable side hustle. Many businesses need help to set up or fix their project management software or tools to ensure everything is working together efficiently. You can assist work-from-home teams with resolving tech problems to make sure projects run well and without trouble.
This hustle lets you leverage your knowledge and tech skills to help others manage their tools effectively.
Content Management
If you’re a project manager with a keen eye for details and organizing, content curation and management could be the perfect side hustle. By leveraging your skills in managing content, you can help businesses and clients manage social media and plan and schedule content. Developing content strategies that align with a brand’s goals allows you to help them stay consistent and meet their content goals.
With your expertise, you can easily talk to the audience and ensure the content resonates with them, helping businesses build stronger connections and grow their online presence.
Language Tutoring for Business Professionals
If you speak many languages, offering language tutoring can be an excellent side job for project managers. You can teach business professionals how to talk well in meetings, talks, and other professional settings. Helping clients become better at speaking and understanding cultural differences is especially important for business success. You can offer lessons online via platforms like Skype or Zoom, teaching everything from business manners to more specific ways of speaking that are essential in the business world.
This is not only a rewarding way to help people but also a lucrative option that allows you to make a lot of money while using your language skills.
The Rise of Side Hustles in Project Management
The world of side hustles is rapidly expanding, and project managers are uniquely positioned to take advantage of this trend. Many project managers are turning to side gigs to make more money while also gaining additional experience. These side hustles not only help to improve careers but also provide opportunities to increase skills and expertise outside of their primary roles. For gig workers, the flexibility to explore different avenues, whether it’s consulting, coaching, or freelance work, can even change a career path.
With the growing demand for project management services, these side hustles are becoming a significant way to enhance both income and professional growth.
Why Project Managers Are Turning to Side Hustles?
Project managers are increasingly turning to side hustles for a variety of different reasons. Many seek extra money to pay off debts or save for big goals, while others want to explore new industries and gain experience in new areas. Whether it’s freelancing, consulting, or creating online courses, project managers use their skills, such as working with Gantt charts or managing clients, to develop new opportunities outside their main job.
These side hustles not only help project managers earn additional income but also allow them to expand their expertise and explore new industries in ways that enrich their project management careers.
Benefits of Side Hustles
Side hustles offer numerous benefits for project managers looking to balance their main job while growing their careers. By engaging in activities like freelancing, consulting, or even creating online courses, project managers can develop additional skills that complement their existing expertise. This allows them to expand their experience in areas like managing clients, creating Gantt charts, or planning events, helping them to explore new industries.
Moreover, side hustles can also provide extra money to pay off debts, save for big goals, and potentially open doors to new career opportunities. Whether it’s honing their skills or discovering new areas in project management, side hustles can significantly contribute to long-term career growth.
Balancing Full-Time Work and Side Gigs
For project managers, balancing a full-time job with side hustles can be a rewarding challenge. The key is leveraging your skills to manage both roles effectively, focusing on flexible tasks or side gigs that allow you to work when possible.
You can apply the same planning and organizational techniques you use in your core responsibilities to ensure that team projects and individual efforts don’t overlap. It’s important to treat seriously each side hustle and set hours that work with your primary job schedule.
By staying organized and prioritizing tasks, you can succeed in both roles, discovering new chances and opportunities for growth in this changing world of project management.
Opportunities for Project Managers; Exploring Additional Income
As a project manager, you’re already skilled at managing tasks, organizing teams, and leading projects. These skills can easily translate into side hustles that not only help you make money but also help businesses reach their goals.
One of the most useful options is offering consulting services, where you can use your knowledge of strategy and problem-solving to guide others. Whether it’s through freelance project management on platforms like Upwork or Freelancer, or by working directly with clients on projects, the freelance world has many opportunities for a project manager.
For those who enjoy creating, a fun choice might be becoming a content creator. You can share your unique project management skills or online courses on platforms like Udemy or Teachable, where people are eager to learn about planning, time management, and risk assessment.
If you have experience in WordPress CMS management or beautiful websites, web design could be a great side hustle as well. The flexible nature of these gigs allows you to combine your organizational expertise with your passion for helping others, all while earning extra income.
If you’re interested in consulting, think about offering business consulting or customer service to real estate agents, or providing virtual assistance to busy entrepreneurs. Your communication and leadership can shine through while working on your own terms, and the platforms available today make it easier than ever to get started.
So, dive into these money-making jobs and start exploring ways to turn your skills into a steady stream of income.
Maximizing Success in Your Project Management Side Hustle
To maximize success in your project management side hustle, it’s important to combine your skills, interests, and the right platforms. Whether you’re working as a freelance project manager or a content creator, knowing your niche and having a solid online presence can really boost your career.
You should focus on networking, attending industry events, and engaging with potential clients online to increase your visibility and reputation. For example, if you specialize in WordPress CMS management, offering your technical skills can help you attract more projects.
On the other hand, online course creation can be a great way to share your expertise, with courses ranging from $1,500 to $12,000 depending on the market demand. However, it’s important to understand that time investment and initial costs vary between different side hustles.
A freelance project manager typically makes $35–$100 per hour working 15-20 hours/week, while online course creation might take more time but offers higher returns. By focusing on project management help, building your personal brand, and being flexible, you’ll be able to grow your steady income and become an expert in your field.
Conclusion
The future of side hustles for project managers looks bright, with a lot of potential in the project management world. As the industry is changing fast, more freelance project managers are taking advantage of the growing trend of remote work. This is especially true in fields like the digital marketing industry, which is growing 9% each year from 2020-2026.
There are plenty of chances to use skills and expand in this growing field, whether it’s through freelance work or exploring new side hustles. With the market demand increasing, project managers will continue to find exciting opportunities to scale their side hustles and secure a steady income.
With the rise of digital platforms and powerful tools that make it easier than ever to manage projects and connect with clients. The virtual assistant industry, expected to reach $19.6 billion by 2025, is a big market that offers great opportunities for project managers to leverage their skills.
The online education market is also growing fast, allowing you to sell courses or mentor others while making extra money. By learning, adapting to new tech, and even exploring AI, project managers can gain a big edge in the world of project-based work.
As flexible work becomes more common, embracing new tools and tech will allow you to match skills with what clients need, making the future of side hustles in project management look good and full of exciting career paths.