Almost half of all U.S. workers earn less than $25 an hour, according to the organization One Fair Wage. Data from the MIT Living Wage Calculator showed that a worker with one child in the cheapest county in the U.S. needs a minimum wage of at least $33 an hour to cover rent, food and transportation, according to a One Fair Wage news release.
Many Americans are turning to unusual side gigs to bridge that gap between their income and their financial needs. But even people who aren’t struggling are finding unique ways to earn extra cash in today’s economy.
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Google searches, browsing Etsy and conversations have revealed some of the weirdest ways people are making money in 2025.
Scooping Dog Poop
A Google search for “dog poop scooper” turned up giggle-worthy business names like “Poopie Hunter” and “Scoop Doggy Dogg.” But this side gig is no joke. Scoopers can earn $100 an hour or more, according to a YouTube video produced by Scoop Start, a seven-figure pet waste removal company.
Scoop Start owner William Milliken said he generated $1.5 million in revenue in 2023 and the business continues to grow. “It’s honestly crazy to say because we literally just go out and pick up dog poop,” he said in the YouTube video.
Of course, there’s more to it than just scooping poop. Generating a consistent customer base brings in recurring revenue, which means money in your pocket every month. But you’ll need some marketing skills and sales savvy to get started. Scaling the business and hiring other scoopers is the best way to achieve Milliken’s level of revenue, but you can still earn $15 to $20 per house, weekly, on your own.
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Decorating ‘Senior Jeans’
Senior jeans are trending on TikTok, Pinterest and even Facebook, where frantic suburban moms seek the latest on-trend look for their soon-to-be high school graduate. Teens wear these denim displays of their senior class at homecoming games and pep rallies and for spirit week photo ops. A quick Etsy search shows custom-painted jeans ranging from $70 to $125 and more, often with the customer supplying the jeans.
This side gig could be a great way for a creative teen to contribute to their college savings or a crafty mom to earn extra cash during an expensive school year. (If jeans are selling for $100 and more, buying a prom dress could mean taking out a personal loan!) Start-up costs to decorate and sell jeans can range from the price of fabric paints and patches to a Cricut machine.
Breeding Worms
SEO specialist and entrepreneur Jennifer Beam supplements her primary income in an unusual way: breeding and selling worms for local reptile owners in Virginia. “I had a hen that wasn’t getting enough protein. The vet told me to feed her worms,” she said. She bought a batch from a chain pet store and realized they were “expensive and half dead.”
So she started growing her own in a tub. She soon found herself with more worms than her hens could eat, so she posted on a local Facebook page. “I sold 4,000 worms that day,” she said.
Wormy Friends now feeds local reptiles, primarily, offering excellent prices and high-quality mealworms and super worms. The side business has grown so much that Beam has invested in building a 12-foot-by-24-foot shed to accommodate expansion.
This side gig may not be for everyone, but if you are raising chickens or reptiles, you can supply their food to save money and earn some extra income as a worm breeder.
Ultimately, to find a great side gig or business idea, you can follow a passion or see a need and fill it. You may surprised by how you can earn extra cash in fun or fulfilling ways.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 3 Weird Ways People Are Making Money in 2025 — Are They Worth It?
