A recent analysis finds that 2.4% of Dallas-Fort Worth workers have a side job.
Researchers with BackgroundChecks.org analyzed data from a 2019 Census Bureau survey to rank metropolitan areas using the percentage of workers with a side income. The organization defined workers with a side hustle as full-time employees who have positive self-employment income that is less than their full-time salary. The ranking only lists the top 100 largest metro areas.
With its total of 70,618 workers with side hustles, Dallas-Fort Worth was ranked 51st. The median total income for these employees was $76,000, and workers earn an average income of $6,000 from their side jobs. The study reports that the total median income for all workers in the metroplex is $50,000.
Nationally, 2.5% of US workers have a side income, a total of 2.8 million. The average total income across the country for employees with a side job is $75,000 compared to the $50,000 median total income for all workers. The average side hustle income nationally is $6,800.
The analysis says that the number of workers getting side hustle has probably increased in the last two years due to the pandemic. The report also found private surveys that estimate that as many as 45% of the workers in the country have a side job.
Census Bureau data are lower likely due to how the department defines a side hustle. Many respondents may hesitate to report their side income as a side job leading to lower numbers.
“Less serious side hustlers or side hustlers who earn only a minimal amount of money may not view their efforts as actual businesses and thus might not report their side hustle earnings,” the report said. “In addition, workers may be hesitant to report under-the-table pay to a government agency for fear of being taxed. As such, the side hustle estimates calculated using Census data reflect those more legitimate business ventures that workers are willing to report to a government agency.”
