21 Best Under The Table Jobs That Pay Cash

Looking for under the table jobs?

When you’re looking for ways to earn extra cash, under the table jobs can be a route to take. These jobs typically pay with cash only.

These can be part-time jobs, side hustles, or even a full-time career.

Now, with under the table jobs, the person paying you is not paying taxes. But, you still should pay taxes, as it is the law in the U.S.

Key Takeaways

• Under the table jobs are a flexible way to earn cash without formal employment.
• You can tap into many different job fields, from childcare to handyman services, to make extra money.
• If a person pays you in cash, it’s still important to report that income to the IRS. If you don’t, it could be tax evasion, which is illegal.

Best Under the Table Jobs

If you’re looking for ways to earn cash, there are plenty of jobs that you can do under the table.

Some popular options include:

• As a handyman, you can fix things around a house, like replacing a bathroom mirror or broken doors. If you’re good with tools and fixing things, this can be a great way to make some money.
• If you like sharing what you know, tutoring might be a good side gig for you. You can help kids with their schoolwork or even teach music if you play an instrument.
• Babysitting is a classic way to earn cash. You watch kids while their parents are away and might even help them with homework.
• Love being outside? Try landscaping or mowing lawns. You can make yards look nice and make good money.
• For those who love animals, dog walking or pet sitting are fun ways to make money. Spend time with pets, take them for walks, and make sure they’re fed.

Continue reading below to see the full list and learn more about under the table jobs.

1. Reseller

Resellers buy items and sell them for a higher price to make a profit.

You can find things at low prices from garage sales, thrift stores, or online clearance deals. Then, you sell them in places like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or even to friends and family.

You can sell things like clothes, electronics, toys, and books that people want. It’s usually a good idea to choose items you know a lot about because it makes it easier for you to know a good deal when you see one.

I personally have many friends who are resellers, and I was a reseller in the past as well (before I started blogging full-time!). It can be a great way to make cash income.

Whether you’re looking to make just a little extra cash or if you want a full-time job, this is a good option to look into.

I recommend watching the free webinar Turn Your Passion For Visiting Thrift Stores, Yard Sales & Flea Markets Into A Profitable Reselling Business In As Little As 14 Days to learn how to make money by flipping items.

2. Childcare

A popular cash job is babysitting. Most moms and dads need good babysitters, and they’re happy to pay a fair amount for someone to watch their kids while they go out for the evening.

Babysitters make a good income these days – typically around $20 per hour.

If you think it might be tough to earn money this way, don’t worry – it’s possible. Just posting a simple message on your Facebook page could connect you with someone who needs a babysitter.

Note: I recommend making sure you check with your city or state before you begin. Also, make sure that your home is safe (if you watch children in your own home) and that you are CPR certified.

Recommended reading: 29 Best Stay At Home Jobs

3. Home and yard maintenance

When you’re looking for a way to make some extra money, you can do home and yard maintenance jobs. These are tasks people don’t have time to do themselves (or they simply don’t like to do!).

For example, if you like being outdoors, landscaping work might be perfect for you. Jobs in this area include lawn mowing, trimming hedges, and planting flowers.

If you prefer working indoors, you might focus on home maintenance tasks instead. Tasks like house cleaning or helping to organize a garage are commonly needed.

These jobs usually pay in cash at the end of the day or after the job is done. Usually, the homeowner pays you in cash before you go home.

4. Pet groomer

Pet groomers clean pets so that they look nice and healthy (and everyone needs a regular bath!). If you like pets, then you may enjoy being a pet groomer.

Pet groomers can sometimes get paid in cash, especially when you run your own business. I have seen many pet grooming businesses that operate out of a trailer that the person pulls behind their vehicle. They go straight to the person’s home, wash their dog in their mobile dog cleaning trailer, and then collect the cash payment once they are done.

Your work will include brushing and cutting fur, trimming nails, giving baths, and maybe even brushing the pet’s teeth. You make sure pets are clean, comfortable, and looking good. Sometimes, pet owners might also ask you to style their pets’ fur in a special way as well (such as by pinning back fur out of the dog’s eyes).

5. Pet sitter

Working as a pet sitter can be a simple and enjoyable way to earn extra cash.

As a pet sitter, your job is to keep an eye on someone’s pet while they are away. This can include feeding, walking, and playing with the pet to make sure it’s happy and healthy. You may need to stay overnight at the pet owner’s home or the pet may stay with you (it simply depends on what you and the pet owner agree on).

You can find pet sitting jobs on Rover. I have personally used this site countless times to find a pet sitter for my dogs.

Another under the table job similar to this is becoming a house sitter. House sitters watch homes while the owner is away and this can be a great side hustle. I talk more about this in a section further below.

6. House cleaning

When you’re looking for work that’s paid directly in cash, without formal paperwork, you might want to start with house cleaning.

So, what does a house cleaner include? Well, you’ll do things like dusting, vacuuming floors, and cleaning bathrooms. Sometimes, you’ll wash dishes or do laundry. If the house has pets, you might need to clean up after them too. Some house cleaners may even specialize in areas like extensive deep cleans that may take a whole day or even many days (or weeks!).

House cleaners earn between $25 to $50+ an hour for cleaning for others.

To get paid in cash means that you’ll typically work for yourself and get paid once you are done with cleaning for the day or after a week or two.

Getting this kind of business going isn’t costly because you probably already have the cleaning supplies you need (like a mop and vacuum). You can let people know about your services on Facebook, tell your friends and family, or create an account on Care’s website.

7. Dog walker

Dog walkers are exactly that – they walk dogs to make money.

You can find these jobs posted on platforms like Rover or just by posting something on your personal Facebook page advertising your dog walking service.

As a dog walker, your job is to take dogs for their daily walks while their owners are busy. This may be a walk that is around 30 minutes to one hour each time, but it all depends on what you have agreed on with the owner.

Walking pets can earn you about $15 to $25 or even more for each walk per animal.

8. Snow removal

If you’re good with a snow shovel or snowblower, snow removal might be a great job for you. This work can pay cash, making it a common under the table job.

When it snows, many people need help clearing their driveways and sidewalks. Some jobs are for one-time events, while others might need you all winter right after it snows to keep their driveways and sidewalks safe for people to walk or drive on.

You can find snow removal jobs by asking your neighbors or local businesses. Sometimes people put up signs along the roads in neighborhoods or ads online looking for help when there’s a big snowstorm.

People usually pay right after you’re done with the work.

9. Makeup artist

If you enjoy using makeup and know all the latest beauty trends, being a makeup artist can be a fun way to earn money.

It’s a job where you can be creative and help people look their best for events like weddings or photo shoots.

As a makeup artist, you’ll work with different tools like brushes, sponges, and a palette of colors. Your job will be to apply makeup on clients’ faces. You could work with all sorts of people, from friends and family to clients in your area.

10. House sitting

When you house sit, you’re taking care of someone else’s home while they’re away. This could be at a house near where you already live or maybe you fly to a fun vacation destination and watch their house there.

It’s your job to make sure everything stays safe and clean and that nothing happens to the home (such as a frozen water pipe bursts).

You might need to pick up the mail, water plants, or feed pets. Sometimes, people will ask you to stay overnight to make sure the house does not stay empty.

11. Sell at farmers markets

If you’re looking to make some cash, you can start selling at a local farmers market.

Some things that you can sell include fresh produce, homemade goodies, jewelry, unique crafts, or even baking cakes are great items. You’ll want to make sure your product and booth stand out, as there will be a lot of booths around you.

Shoppers at farmers markets typically pay in cash, so you can get paid quickly!

Note: To sell at a farmers market, you might need to get a permit. You can start by checking with your county health department and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for rules. Every place has different laws, so it’s important to understand what applies to your situation.

12. Have a garage sale

Having a garage sale is a way to earn some extra cash, and you don’t need special skills to get started. Look around your home for things you no longer use or need, and these could be clothes, toys, books, or even bigger pieces like furniture.

Items sold at garage sales typically don’t sell for a ton of money, but it can be a great way to declutter while getting paid cash.

Weekends, especially Saturday mornings, are prime times for yard sales. Make sure to check your local weather forecast as a sunny day can lead to more foot traffic. Once you have your date, gather all the items you plan to sell.

Then, you’ll want to organize your items by category. For example, put all the kitchen items on one table and all the books on another. Price everything clearly – you might use colored stickers for pricing – to avoid confusion.

You can advertise your garage sale a few days before. You can do this by posting on social media (such as by sharing it in local Facebook groups), community bulletin boards, or local classified websites. Signs around your neighborhood can also help draw attention to your sale.

During the sale, you’ll want to have change ready for customers who pay with cash, and you’ll probably want to have a calculator handy if you’re not comfortable doing math in your head.

13. Tutoring

If you’re knowledgeable in a subject, tutoring can be a good job for you. This is a job where you help others, like kids or even adults, to understand things better.

As a tutor, you work one-on-one or with small groups to teach things like math, reading, specialty exams, or even foreign languages.

Harder subjects usually pay more than easier subjects, and you may be able to earn $25 or more per hour as a tutor. You may get paid after each tutoring session. Or, if you are a regular tutor for a person, it may be weekly or even monthly – it depends on the agreement that you have with the person you are tutoring.

14. Painter

As a painter, your job is to paint walls, buildings, and other surfaces.

Your job responsibilities may include preparing surfaces by cleaning and scraping, mixing paint to get the right color, and applying paint with brushes, rollers, or sprayers.

Back when we were selling our first house, we hired a solo painter to come in and paint all the walls. This is a job that you may be able to find as well.

15. Handyman

If you’re good with tools and fixing things around the house, you might think about working as a handyman.

This job involves fixing leaky faucets, patching holes in walls, or putting together furniture. People tend to need help with these small jobs and look for someone who can do them without too much fuss.

You can find handyman jobs on websites like Craigslist or by asking friends and family if they know anyone who needs help.

With the same house I mentioned in the previous section, we also hired a handyman to renovate our bathroom as well as do around 10 other smaller things around our house too. We actually found him through a family friend, and he did so much work for us. It was great!

16. Dance instructor

Being a dance instructor can be a fulfilling under the table job in some cases. You could work with students of all ages, teaching them how to dance or different dance styles.

Of course, you will want to make sure that you are a skilled dancer, as this is not a job that anyone can do.

So, do you have experience in styles like ballet, hip-hop, or salsa? Or something else?

You can start by giving classes in your community or looking for local studios in need of instructors.

17. Auto mechanic

Working as an auto mechanic could be a great under the table job for you, and there are always people who need work done on their cars.

You’ll typically charge less than if a person would be going to a car dealership or a car mechanic business. People would usually be looking to hire a cash-pay mechanic if they were wanting to save some money.

As a mechanic, you make sure cars are running smoothly. Your job might include changing oil, replacing brakes, and making sure the engine is in top shape. Of course, you need to know what you are doing, as people are trusting their expensive cars and their lives with the repairs and updates that you do.

Working like this usually means you have to find your own customers. Good places to start are local ads or online platforms like Craigslist (start by looking under the “gig” section).

18. Photographer

Becoming a photographer can be a fun way for you to earn money if you are good with photography.

As a photographer, you can decide to work as an independent contractor, which means you are your own boss. This might involve getting paid in cash or a check for your services.

The different types of photography you can get into include:

• Portrait photography – You might take photos of people and families, capturing special moments. Families like to have memories of their loved ones, and they’re willing to pay you for this service.
• Event photography – This includes taking photographs at events like weddings or birthday parties. People like to remember these big events and may hire you to make sure they have great photos to look back on.
• Commercial photography – This is for businesses that need photos of their products, services, real estate, and more.

Recommended reading: 18 Ways You Can Get Paid To Take Pictures

19. Sell firewood

Selling firewood can be a way to make money, especially if you live in an area where wood is used for heating or camping. Homeowners in colder places are always buying wood for their wood burning fireplaces and stoves, so this can be a good way to make some extra money by selling truckloads of wood.

First, you need to get firewood. If you have trees on your land, you might be able to cut your own wood.

After you have wood to sell, think about how you will sell it. You can sell wood online on websites where people buy and sell things in your community. You can also have a place at your house where people come to buy wood from you.

If you don’t have trees of your own, look for jobs where you can gather wood. Some people will even pay you to take away old trees or wood piles they don’t want.

Note: I recommend that you always keep in mind to follow the rules about selling wood where you live. Some places have rules about moving firewood to stop bugs and diseases from spreading to other trees.

20. Junk hauler

Being a junk hauler might be a great fit for you if you don’t mind a bit of heavy lifting. People tend to hire junk haulers when they have big, heavy things that they want to get rid of after all.

As a junk hauler, you get to help people clear out unwanted items from their homes or businesses. These items could be anything from old furniture to broken appliances.

Your job will mostly involve picking up and removing junk. You’ll need to have a reliable vehicle, maybe a truck or a van, that can carry all the items. Sometimes, you’ll be recycling things or taking them to a landfill.

You can find junk hauling gigs on websites or by signing up with companies that look for contractors. These could be one-time jobs or regular work, perfect if you’re looking for a side hustle or even to grow your own junk removal business.

You’ll generally get paid after you complete a job and since it’s often under the table, payment is usually in cash. This means you get paid directly, with no checks or direct deposits.

We personally had to call a junk hauler when we had several pieces of rotten wood that we needed thrown away – it was several hundred pounds and extremely messy – not something that we wanted to mess with and we also wanted it gone right away. That same day, a junk hauler came by and took it for $125. We paid him cash and he took it to the dump for us. It was so convenient for us and good business for him.

21. Rent out a spare room

If you have an empty room at your place, you might want to think about renting it out. This can be a good way to make some money on the side without a lot of work.

I have had several roommates over the years. We would rent out our spare room to long-term renters and people that we personally knew (such as friends and my sister).

To find a roommate and make money from renting your place, you can tell people about it in different ways. You can share it on your own Facebook page, post an ad on websites like Craigslist, make a rental listing on Airbnb, and try other methods.

Frequently Asked Questions

When you’re looking into jobs that pay cash, also known as under the table jobs, you might have a lot of questions.

What are under the table jobs?

Under the table jobs are ways you can earn money that’s usually paid in cash and not recorded officially by an employer. This means no tax forms are involved and no taxes are taken out of your pay right away (but you should still pay them!).

Is under the table work legal?

Okay, this is a great question to ask. After all, this is a whole article on how to find under the table jobs. So, does that mean these types of jobs are legal?

Well, working under the table can be tricky when it comes to the law. Your employer might pay you in cash without giving you a contract. While it might seem straightforward, not reporting this cash income to the IRS is considered tax evasion. Earning cash itself isn’t illegal, but failing to report it on your taxes can lead to problems.

What are the positives of working for cash?

When you get paid under the table, you get to keep all the money you earn immediately. This kind of setup is nice for jobs like babysitting or doing yard work, and you don’t have to wait for a paycheck. But, remember, you still have to pay taxes! So, the main positive is that you are paid cash right away, instead of having to wait a couple of weeks.

What are possible risks of working under the table? Is it OK to get paid under the table? Can an employee get in trouble for working under the table?

Working under the table can be risky. If the IRS finds out you’re not reporting your income, both you and your employer could face penalties. Also, you won’t have official records of your income, which can make it tricky if you need to show how much you earn for things like loans or renting a place to live.

What jobs can be paid under the table?

You can find jobs like babysitting, pet sitting, house cleaning, or gardening that pay under the table. These jobs usually pay cash because they are informal and may not involve paperwork. There are many other jobs that I didn’t even get into in the list above, such as becoming a personal assistant (doing things like grocery shopping and setting up appointments), personal trainer, graphic designer (making logos and more), and so on.

How do I find under the table jobs? How can you find local jobs that pay in cash?

To find these jobs, you can start by asking friends or neighbors if they need help with anything. You can also look at community bulletin boards or online classifieds for local job opportunities.

How do I ask for payment under the table?

If you’re looking for cash payment for a job, be honest and up front with your employer. Tell them you prefer cash payment, but realize that it’s usually smaller gigs that will pay cash and not more regular job opportunities. Keep in mind, though, that all income should still be reported for tax purposes.

How can you find jobs that pay under the table on Craigslist?

On Craigslist, you can filter your job search by using keywords like “cash pay” or “under the table.”

Under the Table Jobs – Summary

I hope you enjoyed this article on how to find the best under the table jobs.

Getting paid cash right after you complete a job is nice – you don’t have to worry about waiting for a payment and you can pay your bills right away.

There are many ways to find under the table jobs, such as by asking people that you know or by looking at gig/job websites in your area.

Now, there are pros and cons to being paid under the table. Being paid under the table means you get cash quickly. However, there are risks like missing out on legal protections and benefits, and if not reported, it might lead to tax evasion consequences.

So, when working under the table, it’s important to keep track of how much money you make. After all, you’re responsible for your own records and taxes, even if you’re paid in cash.

So, you do still need to pay taxes on the income that you make.

When you work under the table, you’re often working part-time or full-time but without the usual job benefits. If you’re planning ahead, think about how these jobs might affect your career later on. Eventually, it may be a good idea to find a job with more regular benefits where you pay taxes straight out of your income.

What do you think are the best under the table jobs?

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