“Online tasks, surveys or data entry” ranked as the most appealing way to earn income among 27,285 KashKick members surveyed from June 8 to Sept. 29, 2026.

More than one-third (36%) ranked the category as their top choice among nine ways to earn—more than twice the share who selected selling or reselling items (14%).

While national surveys often focus on how many people have a side hustle and what they earn, this study examines a different question: What matters most to KashKick members when choosing how to earn?

We asked which earning opportunities they prefer, what factors shape their choices and how often members look for new ways to earn.

Here’s what respondents had to say.

“What stood out to us is how clear members are about what they want. Flexibility is at the top of the list. They want to earn on their own schedule, in the time they already have.”

— Katie Nelson, head of consumer research at KashKick

The Most Appealing Ways to Earn, Ranked

Survey respondents ranked nine earning categories from most to least appealing. “Online tasks, surveys or data entry” earned the highest weighted rank score at 6.81 out of 9, followed by selling or reselling items at 5.82. Rideshare or driving (4.30) and construction (3.39) ranked last.

Looking only at first-place picks, online tasks stood out even more: 36% of respondents ranked the category first, more than twice the share who chose any other option. 

How Rankings Vary Across Demographic Groups

The share of respondents ranking “online tasks, surveys or data entry” first increased with age, from 22% of 18- to 24-year-olds to 41% of those ages 45-54 and 47% of those 65 or older. The pattern appeared among both women and men. 

Looking at gender overall, women were more likely than men to rank online tasks first (39% vs. 23%), while men were more likely to rank construction first (12% vs. 3%).

Higher-income respondents were also more likely to rank online tasks first: 26% of those with household incomes under $25,000 chose the category, compared with 44% of those earning $100,000 or more.

By employment status, homemakers (49%) and retirees (46%) were the most likely to rank online tasks first.

Flexibility Tops the List of What Matters When Choosing How to Earn

A flexible schedule is the factor respondents most often selected when choosing a way to earn (55%), followed by the ability to work from home (48%), consistent earning potential (29%), no prior experience needed (25%) and benefits (23%). Respondents could choose up to three factors.

How Preferences Vary by Age and Income

Preferences varied by age. Working from home was selected by 30% of respondents ages 18-24, compared with 63% of those 65 or older. Younger respondents, meanwhile, were more likely to prioritize building skills or growing a career.

Preferences also varied by income. A flexible schedule was selected by 45% of those with household incomes under $25,000, compared with 66% of those earning $100,000 or more. Benefits showed the opposite pattern, falling from 29% to 14%. 

Among respondents who ranked online tasks first, flexibility and working from home were tied as the most-selected factors, at 63% each.

Nearly 6 in 10 Look for New Ways to Earn Several Times a Week

Side income matters to many respondents: 68% said it is important or very important to them, including 42% who called it very important.

That interest is reflected in how often respondents look for new ways to earn: 59% said they search daily or several times a week, including 35% who look daily.

The Search for More Income Extends Beyond Unemployed Respondents

Full-time workers looked for new ways to earn at the same rate as respondents overall: 59% said they searched daily or several times a week. Temporarily unemployed respondents were the most likely to search that often (80%), while retirees were the least likely (34%).

Employment satisfaction told a similar story. Overall, 57% said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their employment status, yet 56% of those respondents still looked for new ways to earn several times a week or more.

Household income revealed another pattern. Employment satisfaction rose with income, from 35% of respondents with household incomes under $25,000 to 75% of those earning $100,000 or more. 

The importance of side income moved in the opposite direction: 72% of those earning under $25,000 said side income was important or very important, compared with 59% of those earning $100,000 or more.

"There are a lot of assumptions about who's looking for extra income. What we're seeing is members with full-time jobs looking for new ways to earn about as often as everyone else, and most of them say they're happy with their work.”

— Katie Nelson, head of consumer research at KashKick

Side Hustles Top the List of Income Opportunities Respondents Want

“Side hustles or gig work” was selected most often, by 53% of respondents. Remote freelance work (36%), part-time jobs (35%) and full-time employment (31%) followed, while 22% were interested in online learning or upskilling. Respondents could select multiple answers.

Interest in Side Hustles Rises With Income

Interest in side hustles or gig work increased with household income, from 42% of respondents earning under $25,000 to 64% of those earning $100,000 or more.

Lower-income respondents were more likely to be interested in full-time employment: 35% of those earning under $25,000 selected it, compared with 24% of those earning $100,000 or more.

Side hustles also appealed to respondents who already worked full-time, with 60% expressing interest in side hustles or gig work.

Younger respondents showed more interest in part-time jobs. Nearly half (47%) of 18- to 24-year-olds selected part-time work, compared with 35% of respondents overall.

Mobile Apps Are Respondents’ Top Choice for Exploring New Ways to Earn

Nearly one-third of respondents (32%) said they prefer mobile apps when exploring new ways to earn, followed by job listing websites (18%), social media (16%) and email updates (14%).

Preferences varied by age. Social media was more popular among respondents ages 18-24 (20%), while word of mouth was more common among those 65 or older (13%).

The Takeaway

Across four months of responses, KashKick members’ preferences remained fairly consistent. The share ranking online tasks first ranged from 34% to 37% by month, while the share looking for new ways to earn several times a week or more stayed between 59% and 61%.

Flexibility also remained a top priority, with 53% to 58% of respondents each month selecting a flexible schedule as an important factor when choosing how to earn.

Taken together, the findings point to a consistent pattern among KashKick members: a preference for opportunities that fit around existing schedules and continued interest in finding new sources of income.

Methodology

KashKick surveyed 27,285 U.S. members on work and earning preferences from June 8 to Sept. 29, 2026. All respondents were existing KashKick members. Findings reflect self-reported preferences within this panel and should not be interpreted as representative of the U.S. population.