10 Under The Table Jobs That Pay Cash (& How To Find Them)
While most jobs these days pay by direct deposit, there are still many jobs that pay in cash.
For the purposes of this article, we’re considering “cash” to be money you get paid up-front and directly, whether in paper money or via electronic transfer to your bank, PayPal or Venmo account.
In most cases, these under the table jobs are independent contractor roles rather than formal W-2 employment. For each option listed below, we note whether an online or gig economy option is available. Many of the jobs on this list can also be turned into small-scale businesses.
Keep in mind that working under the table to skirt taxes is illegal. While there are benefits to getting paid in cash at the end of every shift or gig, you’re still responsible for reporting that income.
Note: The jobs below are listed alphabetically.
#1. Auto Detailing
This job can be as simple as shampooing and vacuuming vehicles, or as full-service as waxing, applying a kevlar coating, buffing and removing oil stains. As you get more customers and experience, you can offer more services to upsell and increase your revenue.
How to get this job: Promote your own services through local Facebook groups and set up a website to target customers in your local area. Consider asking local repair shops or auto supply stores to keep your business card or flyer in their stores.
How much it pays: $10 to $18 per hour.
Pro tip: Why only offer detailing for cars? Increase your market by offering detailing services for RVs, boats, semis, and other vehicles.
Gig economy option: While there isn’t currently an app for detailing cars, you could talk to a local Turo fleet owner to garner some potential business.
#2. Child Care/Babysitting
This can be one of the best ways to make cash quickly and easily — especially if you’re a teen with a flexible schedule or a parent with your own young children. If you’re an adult with a car, you’ll get paid more as a nanny or au pair who can help with homework, take kids to lessons and practices and prepare meals.
How to get this job: Parents want someone they know and trust to care for their kids, so word-of-mouth networking is the most reliable method of getting solid leads for babysitting gigs.
How much it pays: $10 to $15 per hour on average, but trusted sitters can earn significantly higher rates.
Pro tip: Offer overnight babysitting services to make money while you sleep. Overnight childcare is hard to come by, but essential for parents who work night shifts.
Gig economy options: Care.com, Urban Sitter and Sittercity.
#3. Day Labor
Movers, contractors and event coordinators often need day laborers, so there’s no shortage of day labor gigs. If you need quick cash, this is one of the best ways to make $200 or more in a single day.
How to get this job: Check websites like Craigslist, Nextdoor and Facebook Marketplace.
How much it pays: $15 to $23 per hour.
Pro tip: If you’re having trouble finding work, consider signing up with a temp agency for day labor gigs. Some temp agencies even offer same-day pay jobs.
Gig economy options: TaskRabbit, Thumbtack and Handy.
#4. Delivery For A Local Restaurant
While it may seem like DoorDash and GrubHub are everywhere, the truth is that many small restaurants still use their own delivery service instead of relying on gig economy apps. These jobs often pay per shift and under the table. How to get this job: Visit local, independently-owned restaurants in person and ask if they’re hiring delivery drivers. Local pizzerias and Chinese restaurants are the businesses most likely to still offer their own delivery.
How much it pays: Your pay will depend on how busy the restaurant is. In most cases, you’ll earn a small per-shift wage — think in the realm of $20 or $30 for a dinner shift — and then work primarily for the tips you collect on your orders.
Pro tip: If you opt to go the gig economy route, one tip is to choose the bike option even if you’re delivering in a car. This lowers your pickup and delivery radius and allows you to complete more deliveries in the same time period. While you’ll earn less base-wage per delivery (because that wage includes distance driven), you’ll earn more in tips.
Gig economy option: DoorDash, GrubHub, UberEats and more. Check out our complete list of the best food delivery job apps.
#5. Event Planning
This is more of a small business than a job, but demand for event planners is solid and increasing. While most people associate event planning with weddings, think outside the box to create events like corporate retreats, anniversaries, quinceaneras, historic tours, festivals and more.
How to get this job: To get your feet wet, you could work for another event planner to gain experience, or you could go straight to setting up your own website and run social media ads.
How much it pays: Event planners make about 15% of the total budget for the event.
Pro tip: Finding your first clients will be the hardest part of getting this business going. Offer to plan a friend’s wedding for free — or at a serious discount — so you’ll have a solid testimonial and pictures for your marketing materials.
Gig economy options: We couldn’t find a dedicated gig economy option, but you can advertise your event planning services on Fiverr, Upwork and Facebook Marketplace.
#6. Farm Work/Harvesting
There’s never any shortage of work on a farm or ranch, and many farmers need extra help during harvest and other busy seasons. Day laborers are often paid in cash, and the opportunities for overtime here are bountiful.
How to get this job: If you have some experience, you can find farm or ranch work at websites like Ranchwork.com. However, your most reliable method is to network. Agricultural jobs often involve dangerous equipment and working with livestock, so farmers and ranchers prefer to employ those they know and trust.
How much it pays: Agricultural workers typically make around $14 per hour, but many day laborers are paid by the day, rather than by the hour. So whether rounding up the cows takes five hours or 15 hours, you work until the job is done.
Pro tip: Even if you don’t have farm-specific experience, you can tout your skills in welding, heavy equipment, or construction to a potential employer, as these are all relevant to farm work.
Gig economy option: The HitchPin app helps farmers connect with buyers and sellers of livestock and equipment, but you can also find ads for help wanted on farms and ranches. This app is in early adoption, but there are currently several listings throughout the United States.
#7. Gardening, Landscaping And Lawn Care
Helping homeowners with lawn care or landscaping is one of our top side hustle ideas. Start with simple jobs like lawn mowing, raking leaves or weeding. Then ask your clients if they have additional work they need, such as planting flowers.
How to get this job: Local Facebook groups or apps like Nextdoor can help you get started. Once you get a few customers, ask them for referrals.
How much it pays: Landscapers make an average of $17 per hour. Additional skills, such as sprinkler repair and tree pruning, will allow you to up your rates.
Pro tip: The best way to get landscaping jobs is to “answer your phone,” says Gary Pratt, co-owner of Rivendell Tree Experts. “Many times, we get jobs just because the other guys don’t call their customers back.”
Gig economy options: You can find jobs with GreenPal, Eden, Lawnstarter, Thumbtack, TaskRabbit and a number of other task-oriented apps.
#8. Dog Walking
Another great side hustle idea, walking dogs is easy and flexible, and clients generally pay the same day.
How to get this job: Sign up with one of the gig economy apps mentioned below to start getting clients, then ask for referrals. You can also hand out flyers or cards at dog parks, or join local dog-related Facebook groups to connect with dog owners that might need your services.
How much it pays: Between $12 and $19 per walk, plus tips. Working part time, it’s not uncommon to make between $250 and $350 per week. Pro tip: Offer additional services, such as boarding, drop-in checks, grooming and training to earn extra cash.
Gig economy options: Rover and Wag are the major dog walking apps. Wag offers same-day pay.
#9. Handyman Work And Odd Jobs
Carpentry and home repair skills are in high demand right now, and if you’re the handy type, there are likely to be plenty of gigs in your area that will pay you in cash the same day.
How to get this job: Many carpentry workers note that word of mouth and local Facebook groups are the most fruitful ground for finding gigs.
How much it pays: $30 per hour and up.
Pro tip: If you can connect with real estate investors, you’ll have plenty of consistent work. These people can’t run their businesses without handymen, and reliable contractors are difficult to find.
Gig economy option: TaskRabbit is a great way to snag odd jobs, not just handyman work. There are a host of customers willing to hire out tasks like furniture assembly, painting, mounting TVs and so forth. You can learn about more options in our list of the best apps for finding odd jobs.
#10. House Cleaning
Even if you don’t have much experience, you can make good money cleaning houses. Even in small and/or rural towns, there’s a market for this service.
How to get this job: Because you’re going into the nooks and crannies of people’s homes, word of mouth is your best bet. Have several references ready to affirm your trustworthiness to new clients.
How much it pays: This varies widely according to geographic area and your experience level, from $25 to $100 per hour.
Pro tip: Use “green,” environmentally friendly cleaning products for eco-conscious clients.
Gig economy option: Angi, Handy and Homeaglow are apps that offer cleaning jobs.