How do I make more money when my main job isn't enough?
Low wages in trade and hourly jobs fail to cover high living costs, pushing people to consider sacrificing their limited free time for extra shifts. Tradespeople with years of experience still struggle to break into higher-paying brackets, leading to physical burnout and financial stress.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1getting a seasonal or second weekend jobDid this help you?
- 2finding a roommate to reduce rent costsDid this help you?
- 3looking for a higher-paying primary job with similar benefitsDid this help you?
- 4developing new skills to ask for a raiseDid this help you?
- 5Joining a trade union to secure higher hourly base wages and benefitsDid this help you?
- 6Getting licensed or earning credentials (e.g., J card, Red Seal, gas fitter certification)Did this help you?
- 7Specializing in a niche market (e.g., custom hydronic boiler systems, gas lines)Did this help you?
- 8Working extra hours or securing sales commission bonuses in residential serviceDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I just really want to know, where in this country is a plumber making over 100,000 a year? I am plumber in the OC/LA area in southern California and I have over 3 years of experience plumbing and I have never made above like 70k. I just don't know what I need to do to make a living in this trade”source ↗
“I don't want to give up on this trade but I'm in my early thirties and not only is my body feeling the pain but so is my bank account. I guess, besides just venting, does anyone know of any solid pathways for me to make a living in this trade?”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 2How to start investing with fluctuating or seasonal income
- 2How to scale a service business without enough capital
- 10How to get a mortgage without a traditional salary or employment history
- 2How to enjoy a pay raise and save for the future
- 11How to save money with unpredictable freelance income
- 5How to split savings between multiple financial goals on one income