17 high-paying side jobs you can do in your spare time

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Trying to make some extra cash? Have free time you don't know what to do with? Trying to develop or hone a new skill? You should consider getting a side gig.

FlexJobs, an online service specializing in telecommuting and remote work, recently put together a list of 17 high-paying jobs you can do on the side. To qualify for the list, each job had to be considered "flexible" (and not full-time), and had to pay at least double the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, according to the job posting on FlexJobs. 

Brie Reynolds, the director of online content for FlexJobs, says "side jobs" are defined as anything part-time, including freelance, temporary, short- or long-term, work-from-home, or in-person flexible gigs.

Here's FlexJobs' list of high-paying side jobs you might want to consider:

Curriculum writer

Pay: $50 an hour

Type of flexibility: Temporary, part-time

Description: Education professionals with experience in curriculum writing will find a variety of part-time and/or temporary positions to assist educational institutions and organizations with curriculum development, writing, and adaption. These jobs seek people who have excellent teamwork skills and who work well under deadlines.

City-guide writer

Pay: $50-$100/project

Type of flexibility: Freelance, telecommute

Description: Travel and tourism businesses, as well as real-estate companies, often hire writers to write city and/or neighborhood guides with information about population size, shopping, recreation, culture, entertainment, things to do, climate, transit, and more.

Business consultant

 Pay: $48 an hour

Type of flexibility: Part-time, telecommute, freelance

Description: Consultants may work with one local business or a variety of nationwide or international companies to handle questions, review processes, and improve performance. Extensive previous management experience is typically required.