28 Side Hustles For Mechanical Engineers [2024]

Are you a mechanical engineer looking to channel your skills into a lucrative side hustle in 2024?

Balancing a full-time job while exploring additional income streams can be a game-changer. Whether you're seeking financial freedom, craving more flexibility, or wanting to explore new challenges, diving into a side hustle can unlock opportunities you never knew existed.

But where should you start? The versatility of mechanical engineers opens a treasure trove of side hustle possibilities. From innovative product design to consulting gigs, we've handpicked a collection of side hustle ideas tailored specifically for mechanical engineers.

We’ll break down each idea with concrete examples, showing you how others have successfully integrated them into their busy lives.

Here's the full list:

1. Start a product development consulting business ($119K/month)

Starting a product development consulting business makes a lot of sense for a mechanical engineer due to your in-depth knowledge of design, materials, and manufacturing processes. By leveraging your expertise, you could guide businesses through market research, prototype creation, and product launch strategies, transforming their ideas into market-ready products efficiently.

This side hustle can be highly adaptable to your current schedule and is easy to get started with minimal overhead. It requires more of your brainpower and strategic planning rather than extensive physical labor, allowing you to balance it alongside your regular job. Not only would you get the chance to work on various innovative projects, but you could also develop a valuable network of clients, each project enhancing your professional reputation and opening doors to further opportunities.

For entrepreneurial-minded mechanical engineers, turning your problem-solving skills and detailed market insights into a consulting business could provide a rewarding and profitable avenue to supplement your income. The dynamic nature of consulting allows you to keep your work engaging while making a tangible impact on multiple industries.

2. Become a software developer ($51.7K/month)

As a mechanical engineer, leveraging your strong technical skills and experience in programming to become a software developer could be a fantastic side hustle. Your background gives you a unique edge in understanding complex systems and problem-solving, which are critical elements in software development. By designing and testing computer programs, you could create valuable solutions for businesses or personal use, potentially opening up new streams of income without significantly deviating from your core expertise.

Starting a software development side hustle is relatively straightforward and doesn't require extensive investment, making it feasible to manage alongside your primary job. With the average salary for software developers at $110,140, even part-time endeavors can be financially rewarding. Moreover, the growing demand for mobile apps and cloud-based solutions provides ample opportunities to tap into a booming market, allowing you to enhance your entrepreneurial skill set while supplementing your income.

3. Start a micro saas ($83.3K/month)

As a mechanical engineer, starting a micro-SaaS side hustle could be a smart and lucrative move. This type of business allows you to leverage your specialized knowledge to develop targeted software solutions for niche markets within your industry. For example, you could create software for optimizing CAD workflows, maintenance scheduling, or even failure analysis – tools that your peers could find invaluable.

The best part is that developing a micro-SaaS doesn’t require a massive time commitment or resources. You could start small, focusing on a specific problem that needs solving and gradually scale up. By beginning with a clear, niche problem and directly incorporating customer feedback, you could continuously refine your product to ensure its long-term success and profitability. This makes it an ideal side hustle—low initial investment with the potential for significant returns.

4. Start an educational blog ($63K/month)

Starting an educational blog could be an excellent side hustle for mechanical engineers. By sharing your expertise on a niche topic within the field, you could provide valuable insights and resources to a wide audience. Creating quality content on free platforms like WordPress or YouTube makes it easy to get started and doesn’t require a significant financial investment.

Given your technical knowledge and experience, you could write blog posts or create videos that teach complex concepts in an accessible way. Your real-world experience could also be invaluable for offering practical tips and problem-solving strategies. Promoting your blog through social media and SEO techniques allows you to build a readership over time.

As your blog gains traction, you could monetize it through affiliate marketing or by selling digital products like e-books and courses. This setup could complement your full-time job since it allows for flexible hours and can be managed with a relatively small time commitment. Consistent updates and providing genuine value are key to growing a successful educational blog.

5. Start a tech talent platform ($852K/month)

As a mechanical engineer, you could leverage your analytical skills and problem-solving mindset to create a tech talent platform, bridging the gap between tech professionals and companies in need. Given the growing demand for specialized tech skills, this venture offers a promising opportunity to supplement your income without requiring a significant time investment initially. By developing an online service where companies post job listings and tech experts showcase their skills, you could facilitate job matches, creating a vital network that fosters professional growth on both ends.

Running this platform on the side is feasible as it mainly involves managing a user-friendly interface and ensuring effective marketing to attract users. The best part is that once the initial setup is complete, maintaining the platform could be largely automated, allowing you to focus on your primary career while earning extra income. With dedication to excellent customer service and a robust platform, you could create a thriving tech talent hub that not only benefits employers and tech talents but also adds a rewarding entrepreneurial dimension to your professional life.

6. Start a no code platform ($308K/month)

As a mechanical engineer, leveraging a no-code platform could be an excellent way for you to supplement your income and dive into tech entrepreneurship without needing to write any code. These platforms allow you to build applications using graphical interfaces, making it incredibly easy to transform your innovative ideas into functional tools. Whether you want to create a website, a mobile app, or a data analysis tool, the drag-and-drop features simplify the development process, enabling you to design, customize, and deploy your solutions quickly.

Given your background in problem-solving and system design, a no-code platform could help you address industry-specific challenges by creating practical applications tailored to your field. Starting this side hustle wouldn't require a significant time investment, allowing you to balance it alongside your current responsibilities. With the ever-growing demand for digital solutions and the user-friendly nature of no-code platforms, this venture could seamlessly fit into your schedule, providing an efficient avenue to turn your creative visions into profitable products.

7. Start an ecommerce reselling business ($83.3K/month)

Starting an ecommerce reselling business could be an ideal side hustle for a mechanical engineer. You could leverage your industry knowledge to identify niche products that resonate with your peers or the broader engineering community. This side hustle is particularly appealing because it is easy to get started; you don't need to worry about production costs, and you can begin by reselling products through social media channels before investing in a website.

Given your analytical skills and attention to detail, managing inventory and optimizing your supply chain for an ecommerce business would be second nature. This venture is flexible and doesn't require a significant time investment, making it perfect for fitting around your current job. By using evenings and weekends to manage sales and marketing, you could seamlessly integrate this business into your lifestyle while supplementing your income.

8. Start an ecommerce management services ($597K/month)

As a mechanical engineer, you could leverage your strong organizational and problem-solving skills to start an ecommerce management services side hustle. By offering comprehensive support to online stores in tasks like inventory management, customer service, marketing, and order fulfillment, you could become the backbone of an ecommerce operation, ensuring smooth and efficient processes that allow businesses to grow.

With minimal startup costs and the flexibility to work around your primary job, you could tap into this opportunity without overextending yourself. Your familiarity with digital tools and analytics will give you an edge in streamlining these ecommerce processes, making it a highly achievable and lucrative side venture. If you’re passionate about the online retail space and operational management, this could be the perfect side hustle to complement your existing engineering career.

9. Start a social media content creator ($170K/month)

As a mechanical engineer, you could explore the thriving world of social media content creation to supplement your income and engage a broader audience with your expertise. Creating educational videos, tutorials, and behind-the-scenes looks at your projects could effortlessly attract followers on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. The engineering knowledge you share could not only elevate your personal brand but also help companies enhance their online presence.

Starting as a social media content creator is relatively easy and doesn’t require a massive time commitment initially. You could begin by sharing short, consistent posts and engaging authentically with your audience. The demand for technical and engaging content is high, and by mastering digital tools and understanding your audience’s preferences, you could carve out a profitable niche, tapping into lucrative partnerships and sponsorships as your following grows.

10. Start a video content creation business ($125K/month)

Starting a video content creation business could make a lot of sense for mechanical engineers looking to supplement their income. Utilizing your problem-solving skills and technical expertise, you could easily produce engaging and impactful visuals tailored to various client needs, be it promotional videos, social media content, or tutorials. The best part? This side hustle doesn't require a massive time commitment and can be done with basic video equipment and editing software.

The surging demand for video content across multiple platforms means there is a significant market ready for new creators. You have the potential to work with small businesses wanting to boost their online presence or influencers in need of polished video content. With a minimal setup involving a good camera, editing software, and an understanding of audience engagement, you could easily get started, use your creative talents, and grow your portfolio—all while maintaining your full-time job.

11. Start a cloud management software ($129K/month)

As a mechanical engineer, venturing into cloud management software could supplement your income by leveraging your analytical and problem-solving skills in a new, rapidly growing field. Developing software that aids companies in efficiently managing their cloud resources—overseeing elements like data storage, cost optimization, and security compliance—could open up a lucrative side hustle without demanding an excessive time commitment. Given the high demand and extensive market spanning various industries from healthcare to finance, you’ll be stepping into a field ripe with opportunities.

Starting this venture is relatively straightforward due to the abundance of resources and tools available today, allowing you to get up and running with minimal initial investment. The project-based nature of software development also means you could work on it during your free time, making it a flexible addition to your professional life. Plus, your background in mechanical engineering equips you with the technical mindset required to design user-friendly interfaces and robust back-end systems, making this a feasible and rewarding side hustle.

12. Start a lead generation service ($287K/month)

As a mechanical engineer, you could take advantage of your analytical and problem-solving skills to start a lead generation service on the side. This type of business involves identifying and attracting potential customers for products or services, making it highly relevant in today's digital age where businesses are eager for quality leads.

Given your technical background, creating strategies and campaigns to capture and convert interest into actionable leads could be a natural extension of your existing skill set. The best part is that lead generation can be started with minimal investment and requires only basic knowledge of digital marketing and data analysis. With the right tools and techniques, you can manage this side hustle without it consuming excessive amounts of time, making it a feasible and profitable venture alongside your main career.

13. Start a web scraping API ($34.2K/month)

For mechanical engineers with strong coding skills and a penchant for problem-solving, starting a web scraping API could be an excellent side hustle. The technical expertise involved in web scraping is akin to the analytical and systematic mindset you've honed in your engineering career, making this a natural extension of your capabilities. Your work involves in-depth problem analysis, which aligns well with what is needed to create efficient and reliable scripts to extract useful data from websites.

This side hustle doesn't require much overhead and can be managed with a manageable time commitment. You could start by offering your services to small businesses or startups that need market research or competitor analysis data but lack the means to gather it manually. The low initial investment and scalability make it ideal for someone looking to supplement their income without detracting from their main career. With the ever-growing importance of data analytics in various industries, a successful web scraping API could turn into a significant revenue stream.

What makes this side hustle particularly attractive is its ease of entry and flexibility. Initial setup mainly requires proficiency in programming languages, such as Python, and an understanding of web protocols. Once the API is up and running, maintenance is minimal, allowing you to operate it alongside your full-time engineering job.

14. Start a social media advertising specialist business ($106K/month)

Starting a social media advertising specialist business could be a feasible side hustle for a mechanical engineer. Leveraging your analytical skills, you could effectively utilize platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok to create targeted advertising campaigns. As a mechanical engineer, your problem-solving abilities and attention to detail would come in handy when designing and optimizing ad strategies.

The beauty of this side hustle is that it's easy to get started and doesn't demand a significant amount of your time. Initially, you could learn the essential concepts of social media marketing and gradually build your expertise in your free time. Since it primarily involves online work, it's flexible and can be effectively managed alongside a full-time engineering job, making it an excellent option for supplemental income.

15. Develop an online survey tool ($304K/month)

For mechanical engineers looking to supplement their income, developing an online survey tool is a practical side hustle that leverages their problem-solving skills and technical expertise. An online survey tool, such as Typeform, allows companies to gather essential customer feedback efficiently and cost-effectively. Notably, the demand for such tools is rising, evidenced by Typeform's impressive annual recurring revenue of $70 million in 2021.

Getting started with this side hustle is remarkably straightforward and does not demand significant time commitments. Mechanical engineers already proficient in data analysis and user-interface design can quickly develop and deploy a survey tool with a minimal initial investment. The combination of high demand and low operational requirements makes it an ideal way to earn extra money alongside a full-time engineering career.

16. Start a legal document processing business ($173K/month)

As a mechanical engineer, you could leverage your attention to detail and systematic approach to start a legal document processing business on the side. This entrepreneurial venture involves tasks like preparing, reviewing, and filing essential legal documents for individuals and businesses, such as those dealing with immigration issues or contract reviews. Given your existing skills in managing complex projects and information, transitioning to this field can be relatively seamless.

Starting this side hustle is straightforward and doesn’t demand a significant upfront investment or legal expertise, merely a comprehension of legal terminology and processes. The work is flexible and can be done during your off-hours, making it an ideal supplement to your main career. By helping clients ease their legal burdens, you provide a valuable service while tapping into a consistent demand for accuracy and reliability.

17. Start a peer-to-peer rideshare management business

As a mechanical engineer, you could leverage your technical skills and problem-solving mindset to effectively manage a peer-to-peer rideshare business, providing an entrepreneurial venture that aligns with your expertise. This side hustle is particularly appealing because it involves minimal upfront investment and operational work. By understanding vehicle mechanics and optimizing fleet maintenance, you'll minimize downtime and maximize profitability, allowing you to earn extra income without a significant time commitment.

Moreover, your analytical capabilities can help ensure efficient route planning and cost management, enhancing the experience for both drivers and passengers. Setting up and managing a rideshare business is as easy as coordinating vehicle rentals and ensuring proper service, freeing up time to focus on your primary career. This venture offers a high degree of flexibility, making it an ideal side hustle to explore alongside your engineering profession.

18. Start a gamified courses and classes business ($47.5K/month)

Starting a gamified courses and classes business could be an ideal side hustle for mechanical engineers, leveraging your technical and problem-solving skills. By integrating rewards, challenges, and progress tracking into educational content, you could create engaging learning environments that motivate users to complete tasks and retain information. This innovative approach to education could cater to a wide range of audiences, from children to adults seeking professional development.

Given your background in complex systems and engineering principles, transitioning into creating gamified learning modules could be relatively straightforward. The initial investment in technology and educational content is manageable, and the demand for innovative, digital learning solutions continues to grow. This side hustle could be operated with flexibility, allowing you to maintain your full-time job while progressively building your educational business, offering the potential for substantial returns and high user engagement.

19. Start a hiring credentials authentication business

As a mechanical engineer, you could leverage your analytical skills and attention to detail to start a hiring credentials authentication business. This type of side hustle would involve verifying the qualifications, certifications, and professional histories of job applicants for companies, which is increasingly in demand. Since you'll already have a robust understanding of industry standards and the necessary technical qualifications, you could quickly assess the authenticity of credentials, making this a natural extension of your existing skill set.

This business model is particularly appealing for its flexibility and minimal startup costs. Given that credential authentication can often be done remotely and asynchronously, you could easily manage this side gig alongside your primary job. The work mostly involves online research and communication, allowing you to fit it into your schedule during evenings or weekends without a heavy time commitment.

20. Start a video-editing app business ($38.8K/month)

Starting a video-editing app business could make a lot of sense for a mechanical engineer looking to supplement their income. With your technical background and analytical skills, developing software that simplifies and enhances video editing for content creators is a feasible and exciting venture. Leveraging your problem-solving abilities, you could design intuitive features like drag-and-drop interfaces and customizable templates, making the app user-friendly even for those with little technical knowledge.

Since this type of side hustle can be done in stages—such as initially creating a minimum viable product (MVP) and then iterating based on user feedback—it requires minimal upfront work, making it manageable alongside your full-time job. The increasing demand for high-quality video content across various platforms ensures a robust market for your product. Not only is it relatively easy to get started, but it also provides a creative outlet and the potential for significant financial rewards down the line.

21. Start a christian apparel business ($1.5M/month)

Starting a Christian apparel business could be a great side hustle for entrepreneurial-minded mechanical engineers. Given the low initial costs with print-on-demand services, you could easily manage this venture alongside your primary job. Such a business allows you to blend engineering precision in design and process optimization with your faith, creating meaningful products that resonate with a passionate and loyal customer base.

The flexibility of managing an e-commerce platform and leveraging social media for marketing ensures that this side hustle won't demand excessive time or effort. This approach enables you to comfortably balance both your professional career and your business. By targeting a niche market that values style and spirituality, you could make a significant impact while steadily supplementing your income.

22. Start a windows and doors installation business

As a mechanical engineer, you could leverage your technical skills and precision into a profitable windows and doors installation side business. The meticulous nature of your work aligns perfectly with the level of accuracy needed for installations, enabling you to ensure that each project is completed to high standards. You could start this endeavor with minimal initial investment, as the primary tools and materials required are straightforward and readily available.

Running this side hustle could be quite manageable alongside your full-time job. You could schedule installations during evenings or weekends, accommodating your primary work hours. Additionally, promoting your business through word of mouth and local online platforms could quickly generate a client base without excessive marketing efforts.

23. Start a RV and camping trailer storage business

As a mechanical engineer, starting an RV and camping trailer storage business could be a fantastic side hustle, leveraging your problem-solving skills and attention to detail. The demand for secure storage solutions is growing, fueled by increasing RV sales and the need for urban dwellers to find spacious parking options. This concept is relatively easy to get off the ground, requiring an initial investment in a secure lot, surveillance systems, and booking setups.

What makes this side hustle particularly suitable for mechanical engineers is its low-maintenance nature, allowing you to juggle it alongside your primary career without excessive time commitments. Moreover, you could offer additional services such as maintenance checks and cleaning, turning your mechanical expertise into a unique selling point. This business venture marries the love for the outdoors with entrepreneurship, offering a steady stream of extra income while serving an emerging market need.

24. Start a consultancy business ($38.6K/month)

As a mechanical engineer, starting a consultancy business could be a lucrative and practical side hustle, given the demand for business consultants is expected to increase by 11% according to the US Bureau of Labor. You could leverage your specialized knowledge in areas like operations, supply chain management, and engineering to assist companies in optimizing their processes and achieving their goals. The flexibility of consultancy allows you to take on projects that fit your schedule, making it an ideal side hustle that doesn’t require a lot of upfront commitment.

Getting started is relatively straightforward; you could begin by defining your niche and target industries, which aligns with your professional strengths. Networking through industry groups can help you gain essential skills and build your reputation as an expert in your field. By offering tailored advice to businesses, you could not only earn extra income but also enrich your career with a diverse range of experiences.

25. Start a freelance marketplace business ($124K/month)

Starting a freelance marketplace business could be a lucrative side hustle for mechanical engineers, leveraging your industry knowledge and professional network. With freelancing platforms like Upwork projected to register more users in the coming years, there's an increasing demand for specialized services. You could target niche markets such as CAD design, prototyping, or systems analysis, which will appeal to both clients and freelancers in your field.

Moreover, building and running a freelance marketplace can be relatively low-maintenance and doesn't require extensive initial work, making it ideal for a side project. By choosing a specific niche and designing a user-friendly interface, you could quickly connect clients with freelance professionals for temporary jobs and special projects. This entrepreneurial venture allows you to capitalize on the growing freelance economy, all while supplementing your income without sacrificing your full-time job responsibilities.

26. Start a space hotel business

As a mechanical engineer, leveraging your expertise to venture into the space hotel business could be a uniquely profitable side hustle. Your background in designing complex systems and understanding structural integrity is precisely aligned with the emerging needs of space tourism. Developing innovative modules or components for a space hotel could easily be orchestrated on your own schedule, making it a feasible and exciting supplemental income opportunity.

Getting started might be simpler than it sounds; initial work could involve consulting, designing scalable prototypes, or partnering with burgeoning startups in space exploration. By utilizing your engineering skills, you could play a pivotal role without needing to commit to full-time efforts, allowing you to maintain your primary job while exploring entrepreneurial frontiers.

27. Start a heating pad business

As a mechanical engineer, starting a heating pad business could be an excellent side hustle that leverages your expertise in thermal dynamics and material properties. With your knowledge, you could design and build more efficient and effective heating pads, setting your product apart in a competitive market. The initial investment and time commitment are relatively low, making it a manageable venture alongside your full-time job.

Additionally, the manufacturing process for heating pads is straightforward, and you could easily outsource production if scaling becomes necessary. The market for heating pads is steady with demand from athletes, people with chronic pain, and wellness enthusiasts. This side hustle could provide a steady stream of supplemental income without requiring a significant amount of ongoing effort.

28. Start an edged tools business

As a mechanical engineer, you could leverage your understanding of metals, design principles, and manufacturing processes to start a side hustle in edged tools. This business could involve creating specialized knives, cutting tools, or custom blades. Given your existing skill set, the entry barrier is relatively low, as you already possess the technical knowledge and problem-solving skills required to design and manufacture high-quality edged tools.

This endeavor could work well alongside your main job because it's easy to get started with minimal investment in materials and equipment. You could begin in a small workshop or even a designated corner of your garage, and gradually scale up as demand grows. Producing these tools during evenings or weekends could provide a steady supplementary income without overwhelming your current workload.

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163 Million Dollar Solopreneur Business Ideas

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163 Million Dollar Solopreneur Business Ideas

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163 Million Dollar Solopreneur Business Ideas

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163 Million Dollar Solopreneur Business Ideas

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163 Million Dollar Solopreneur Business Ideas

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163 Million Dollar Solopreneur Business Ideas

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