New data from Squarespace, an all-in-one business management platform, has identified the most profitable hobbies and passion projects in the U.S. by analyzing over 30 passion projects on year-over-year search growth, average annual income, hourly wage, and more.
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Top 20 Most Profitable Passion Projects in the U.S.
| Rank | Passion Project | Monthly Search Volume(US) | YoY Search Growth (%) (Last 48 months) | Avg Annual Income ($) | Hourly Wage | # Freelance/ JobPostings |
| 1 | App Development | 1,160 | 119.00% | $119,786 | $57.59 | 2,204 |
| 2 | 3D Printing / Maker Projects | 12,210 | -5.00% | $101,249 | $48.68 | 2,787 |
| 3 | Pottery / Ceramics | 4,290 | 18.00% | $106,858 | $51.37 | 1,000 |
| 4 | Author/Writer | 10,230 | 189.00% | $81,001 | $38.94 | 7,201 |
| 5 | Web Design / Development | 11,530 | 111.00% | $72,500 | $34.86 | 13,141 |
| 6 | Personal Training / Fitness Coaching | 10,710 | 98.00% | $61,014 | $29.33 | 24,289 |
| 7 | Baking / Cake Decorating | 2,110 | 121.00% | $30,993 | $14.90 | 51,165 |
| 8 | Dog Walking / Pet Sitting | 48,240 | 55.00% | $35,770 | $16.05 | 1,011 |
| 9 | Podcasting | 9,000 | 82.00% | $75,498 | $36.30 | 1,894 |
| 10 | Crafts / Handmade Goods | 2,700 | 930.00% | $44,035 | $21.17 | 3,592 |
| 11 | Landscaping | 3,540 | 103.00% | $38,800 | $19.28 | 38,964 |
| 12 | Event Planner | 18490 | -47.00% | $63,335 | $30.45 | 5,295 |
| 13 | Animator | 1,700 | 18.00% | $81,974 | $39.41 | 2,006 |
| 14 | Print-on-Demand / Merch Designer | 1,470 | 636.00% | $39,309 | $18.90 | 17,329 |
| 15 | Social Media Management | 4,240 | 490.00% | $52,676 | $25.32 | 3,426 |
| 16 | Blogging / Newsletter Writing | 8,340 | 84.00% | $62,275 | $29.94 | 5,117 |
| 17 | Graphic Design (Freelance) | 5,680 | 104.00% | $55,951 | $26.90 | 3,759 |
| 18 | Virtual Assistant | 5970 | 39.00% | $50,749 | $24.40 | 10,930 |
| 19 | Jewelry Making | 7,330 | 69.00% | $53,775 | $25.85 | 2,399 |
| 20 | Gardening / Urban Farming | 940 | -15.00% | $50,833 | $24.44 | 8,026 |
App Development is the No. 1 Most Profitable Passion Project in the U.S.
As the No. 1 most profitable passion project in the U.S., App Development is the perfect opportunity for those looking to turn their coding skills into profit. This passion project has an average annual income of $119,786 and an hourly rate of $57.59, which makes it a financial powerhouse. With YoY Search Growth of 119%, a monthly search volume of 1,160, and 2,204 freelance and job postings, it’s clear that app development is in high demand, making it a rewarding, fast-growing project to pursue.
3D Printing/Maker Projects is the No. 2 Most Profitable Passion Project in the U.S.
Coming in at No. 2 among the most profitable passion projects in the U.S. are 3D Printing/Maker Projects. Although its YoY search growth is -5%, a monthly search volume of 12,210 and 2,787 freelance and job postings show that people pursuing this passion project are still in high demand. Additionally, an average annual income of $101,249 and an hourly wage of $48.68 making it a lucrative way for people to build their dreams from the ground up.
Pottery/Ceramics is the No. 3 Most Profitable Passion Project in the U.S.
Pottery/Ceramics claims the No. 3 spot among the most profitable passion projects in the U.S. Dedication pays off in this field, as those pursuing it have an average annual income of $106,858 and an hourly wage of $51.37. Pottery and ceramics have 18% YoY search growth, 4,290 monthly search volume, and 1,000 freelance and job postings, indicating that this popular creative hobby is rapidly gaining traction in the passion project space.
