43 Amazing Under the Table Jobs that Pay Cash

If you’re looking to make some extra money on the side from a cash paying job, checking out some of these under the table jobs could be just what you need.

They can be a great way to supplement your main source of income – or even to serve as a way to earn some extra cash from time to time, particularly if you’re not able to have a more stable job right  now.

And the best part is that they often involve you getting paid in cash instantly, meaning that they’re perfect if you need some quick money.

So keep reading to find out how to find under the table jobs that pay cash, what are the best cash paying jobs out there and to confirm whether or not it really is against the law to do this (spoiler alert: it’s completely legal and I’ll even explain why).

What are the best cash paying jobs online?

Under the table jobs don’t always necessarily refer to jobs that put cold hard cash directly into your hand. It can also include jobs that pay cash virtually, like through PayPal, from working online. 

In the end, the outcome is the same: you’re receiving the money directly based on the work you do (and, of course, it’s then on you to report it).

1. Online tasks

You may have heard of some online sites that let you earn money from doing things like surveys, where the most you can earn is maybe a dollar or so per day at the absolute max.

This is why we recommend Swagbucks for anyone looking to make some quick money online. They’ve paid out over $300 million over time through people earning money from watching videos, playing games and, yes, doing surveys.

In case you were wondering whether Swagbucks is worth it, it definitely is. And the free $5 welcome bonus definitely helps.

2. Content writer

Many websites regularly hire writers to produce content for them. Whether it’s a one-off post, a touch up to their About page or a regular stream of articles, those who can produce quality content by a strict deadline are in hot demand.

Your fee can either be per article, per hour or per word and will vary depending on the level of research required to prepare the content and your experience in the subject.

But that doesn’t mean you have to have formal qualifications on a topic to write about it. In fact, plenty of content writers produce work on all kinds of subjects. This means you don’t have to limit yourself to areas where you think you have some expertise.

To get started, try advertising your services on sites like Freelancer.com and Fiverr, although relevant Facebook groups are also good for finding work in this area.

3. Website manager

Whether you’re getting paid under the table to manage someone else’s site or interested in making some extra cash from your own site, website management can definitely be one of the more lucrative jobs that pay cash.

If you’re doing it for someone else, they’ll gladly pay you to improve their SEO (so their site appears higher in Google search results) or to work on their affiliate marketing so they can make more money.

And if it’s for your own site? Well, those same things can also result in you earning a ton of extra cash.

Related: 13 Sites Where You Can Test Websites for Money

(If you don’t have your own site yet but are looking to do so, check out this step-by-step guide on how to start a blog to launch your new site in less than 20 minutes.)

4. Virtual assistant

Working as a virtual assistant involves supporting businesses with any sort of online work that they may not have the time or capacity to do themselves.

This can range from updating their website, posting on social media, managing their emails, writing content and more. In fact, to see the full range of services you can provide, take a look at this list of over 275 virtual assistant services you can choose to offer.

Having organizational skills is key here but if you can manage juggling multiple balls at once online, then you may find yourself able to earn remarkably good money as a VA.

Find out more about how to become a virtual assistant here.

Related: 11 Best Virtual Assistant Websites to Hire Your Next VA (or Be Hired)

5. Selling on Etsy

If you have any sort of creative streak, finding things to make and sell on Etsy can be one of the better cash paying jobs for you to show off your craft.

You don’t even have to be good at creating actual items, although that helps. And if you have a knack for that, your options are basically unlimited. Whether it’s jewelry, home decor, bags or anything in between, people love to buy handmade items from Etsy.

But if you prefer to keep your designs to the computer, many people sell things like online printables (to be used as pages in planners) or other designs, such as wedding invitations and menus.

(And if you want to get extra creative, you could even combine this with selling feet pics for money – and not in the way you think!)

The best part is that your potential audience is huge. By getting your pieces on their screens, you have the ability to make literally thousands.

6. Getting cash back

This isn’t really a job that pays cash, in the normal sense of the term, but it’s definitely a way to earn money under the table. And the best part is it’s by doing things you’re already doing, making it the easiest “job” ever.

For this, Ibotta is the best in the business. How it works is that when you buy something at one of its 500,000 partner retailers, you get a percentage of your purchase back.

You can earn an average of $300 per year just from buying things like groceries, medicine and clothes that you were probably already purchasing.

Plus you can kick this off with a fairly unbeatable free $20 sign up bonus.

You can find out more from our Ibotta review here.

7. Website designer

While this may take some technical know-how, designing websites can be one of the highest-paying jobs that pay cash out there.

You have two options here. Either you can work one-on-one with people to customize their website to their specific requirements. Alternatively, you can design templates for people to buy, download and add to their site themselves.

The benefit of this second option is that once you’ve finished your design and made it available to the internet, you can continue to make money as people buy it. It basically becomes a form of passive income.

That said, working directly with individual site owners will make you more money for that specific design, given how much more time it will likely require. This means it’s up to you to figure out which one makes more sense based on your services and potential client base.

Related: Make $200 a Day Online: 17 Ways That Are Proven To Work

8. Graphic designer

Graphic designers can be used for all sorts of things. It may be as simple as designing a logo for a business or it could go all the way to doing the layout and specific graphics for company reports or proposals, which can be hundreds of pages long.

Word of mouth is key in this area, meaning that while you may have to start small, you can easily build up your client list as they start to tell friends and colleagues how great you are.

You could also target a particular segment, like businesses in your local area. They’re often more willing to work with local service providers and if you’re the only graphic designer nearby, you could be able to seize the entire market for yourself.

9. Social media manager

It’s hardly surprising to say that businesses these days need a strong social media presence in order to make themselves seen in an ever-growing market.

However, many business owners may not have the time or the know-how to do this properly. After all, social media is no longer slapping up a post and a couple of hashtags. It’s become far more strategic as the algorithms of the major platforms change.

This is why offering your services as a social media manager could be exactly what a business is looking for. 

This is another area where you could target companies in your local area. At the same time, the beauty of it all being online means that you’re not limited geographically if you don’t want to be.

Under the table jobs that pay cash only for having good attention to detail

Having an eye for detail is appreciated in many different areas of work, and there are plenty of cash paying jobs where the same could be said.

With many of these, they can also be a good way to get paid to type – although we’ve thrown one in that’s not computer-based as one of the under the table jobs that you may have even paid for yourself.

10. Bookkeeper

A bookkeeper is someone who logs the money coming in and out of a business, so that there’s always a record of its financial status.

It’s an incredibly important part of running a business, although many business owners simply don’t have the time to do it themselves. Which is why many are keen to hire freelancers to do it for them.

You don’t need to have a background in Finance, although it can help. But the important part is that you’re able to meticulously and accurately keep track of the numbers.

It can even be done online, so there’s no reason to limit yourself to only those businesses that you can visit in-person.

11. Transcriptionist

A transcriptionist is someone who types out words, usually based on an audio or video recording. Their services are often used for things like preparing subtitles for closed-caption TV or preparing and editing written transcripts.

Rates vary, but you’ll likely be paid anywhere from $0.40 to $1 per audio minute. That said, there are opportunities to earn more, such as if you can apply your skills to more specialized fields, like legal or medical documents.

Find out more here: 25 Websites Where You Can Get Paid to Type

12. Data entry

It’s true that data entry isn’t always the most exciting work in the world. But the fact that some people think this means that if you’re keen to do this as a job that pays cash (usually into your PayPal account), then it may be easier for you to find work that others don’t want.

What’s great about this is that there’s so much demand for people in this field. This makes it perfect if you need money quickly, as data entry is one of the best immediate hire work from home jobs out there.

And people are hired to enter all sorts of data. In fact, at the time of writing, the following are just a few of the data entry jobs that are available on Freelancer.com:

• Rewriting, consolidating and analysing Excel spreadsheets
• Entering lab results
• Copying out PDF into Word documents
• Website testing jobs
• Preparing eBay listings

13. Tailor

People are often willing to pay good money for their clothes to look just right. And often, the best tailors are the ones you find in someone’s lounge room.

So if you’re good with a needle, working as a tailor and being paid in cash can be a great way to make some extra money. Advertising on local Facebook groups can work well for getting clients, especially once word starts to get out about your work.

What are good under the table jobs that pay cash on the spot

While we’ve mentioned that some cash paying jobs actually involve being paid by PayPal, sometimes you may want a job that pays cash in hand directly.

It’s certainly a much faster way to be paid, especially if you need money desperately. Just make sure you’re keeping in mind all of your tax reporting obligations.

14. Babysitting

Babysitting is no longer just a way for teens to make money. In fact, good babysitters are in huge demand by parents, many of whom find themselves having to work longer hours than ever before.

And if you speak a second language or have a college degree, many parents will even pay more if you combine your babysitting services with tutoring.

Care.com is a good place to start for advertising your availability and also seeing what may be on offer in your area.

You may also be interested in: 20 Best Babysitting Jobs for 13 Year Olds That Pay Well

15. Flipping secondhand goods

Trawling antique stores and secondhand markets is fun, but turning it into a way to make some extra cash is even better.

And if you’ve got an eye for a bargain or an ability to fix something up that’s seen better days, you can make some serious money doing this.

Whether you advertise your fixed up item on Facebook Marketplace or in an actual market, there’s almost always someone out there who’ll be willing to buy what you’re flipping. 

16. Selling fruit and vegetables you grow

If you have enough space in your garden, selling home grown fruit or vegetables can be another great way to make some extra money on the side.

There’s been a real surge in popularity lately of people focusing on good quality, local ingredients in the interest of sustainability or even just because it tastes better.

So if you can offer that, you may find your garden producing that extra cash for you.

Just check any local regulations about selling food, especially if you plan to sell at something like a market, as sometimes there are health and safety requirements to comply with.

17. Car washing

As any kid who’s washed their parents’ car will tell you, car washing is one of those cash paying jobs that any auto-owner is keen to hire someone to do at some point.

Of course, you don’t have to be a kid to offer this. In fact, as an adult, you may be able to even offer to purchase and bring your own cleaning materials to people’s houses. This means it’s definitely not a cash paying job that you shouldn’t consider.

Letterbox drops can work well here to let your neighbors know that you’re available to do this either as a one-off or even on a regular basis.

18. Delivering goods

UberEats and similar companies may have a tight grip on the food delivery market, but there are plenty of other things that people want delivered – and are willing to pay cash for.

For example, have you ever bought a piece of furniture from someone and then wondered how the hell you’re going to pick it up? The “man with a van” service can be a lifesaver then.

The exact services you can offer are going to depend largely on the type of car you have. If you have a pickup, you’re clearly going to be more able to offer to deliver larger items, but even having a smaller car or even just a bike doesn’t mean you can’t offer this in some form.

And to find these types of work, check out some of the best odd jobs apps out there.

19. Tour guide

If you’ve got a good knowledge of your local area, or a specialty in, say, a particularly interesting historical or cultural quirk nearby, you could consider offering your services as a tour guide.

This is definitely going to work better if you live somewhere that’s already popular with tourists. But many people like to visit areas and get a “local touch”, meaning they prefer to avoid the super popular tourist zones.

So if you can offer your services as a local to show them around or help them find something they wouldn’t otherwise see, like some local cuisine, you may find being a tour guide as being the perfect cash paying job for you.

Related: 17 Legit Ways to Get Paid to Walk

Daily cash jobs that involve animals

Combining a way to earn extra cash with your love of animals sounds like the perfect under the table job. In fact, if you’re a real animal fan, you could even argue that it barely counts as working!

20. Dog walking

Dog walking can not only help the health of your wallet, but also your own physical health as it gets you moving.

And with plenty of dog owners being tight for time and looking for help to care for their furry friends, setting up regular dog walking appointments or a dog daycare at home can be a great way for you to earn a steady stream of income.

If you have your own dog, you could even combine this with their daily walks, meaning you’d be getting paid for something that you’d be doing anyway!

A great first step for doing this is to create a profile on Rover.com. It’s one of the biggest sites in the world for dog walkers and pet sitters, meaning you’ll be able to start earning money in no time at all.

Related: How to Make $100 a Day: 41 Ways That Actually Work

21. Pet grooming

Pet grooming is another one of those things that pet owners wish they had their own time for, but often don’t.

The services you offer here will depend a lot on your own skill and the equipment you’re able to bring. It could be as simple as washing people’s dogs or even going as far as clipping nails, cutting fur and even styling it, if you have some extra talent.

22. Pet training

Training dogs takes time and patience, two things that not everyone has. So if you consider yourself a bit of a dog whisperer, you could turn that into a job to make some money on the side.

Traditionally, pet training is done in classes, so the fact you’re offering one-on-one training means that you could perhaps charge even more than you initially think – although it’s good to check the going rate in your area first.

23. Pet sitting

Pet sitting is usually for people who want someone to look after their pet while they’re at work. This means that the only requirement is that you be at home and are able to give their pet some attention from time to time throughout the day.

Which makes pet sitting probably one of the easiest under the table jobs out there, especially if you already have another pet that can get along with the ones you’re sitting. As you’re (hopefully!) already giving some attention to your pet during the day, doing this for some extra animals is going to be almost no extra work – but a lot of fun.

Cleaning jobs under the table that are cash paying

Many people lean towards looking for cleaning jobs under the table as there’s almost always a demand for something to be cleaned up.

It’s also a fairly common genre of jobs that pay cash. As a lot of people have standing arrangements with house cleaners or are looking for a one-off arrangement relating to something like an event, cash paying jobs relating to cleaning can be some of the easiest to come by.

24. House cleaning

People who are looking for help keeping their house tidy are always keen for someone reliable to do this. If you’re trustworthy and do a good job, it’s highly likely that you’ll be able to pick up some work cleaning houses.

This can be a good way to get a regular source of income if you agree with the homeowner that you’ll come, say, once a week. You can also offer your services in relation to rental clean ups, when renters may want some help from someone to do a proper clean before they handover a property to a landlord.

Ask around your neighborhood or consider advertising in local Facebook groups. Once people start to see how good you are, you’ll quickly see your client base build.

25. Cleaning up after events

The last thing you want to do after a big night is come back and put everything back where it should be. Which is why people often like to hire someone to do this for them while they nurse their hangovers.

Whether it be at an actual event location, like a hall you can hire, or even in someone’s backyard, the morning after cleaning service is always welcomed.

It can even be something that you do with some friends to make money. By offering a small team of you, people will be more likely to hire you for this.

26. Hauling junk

Hauling junk is one of those under the table jobs that pay cash that’s perfect for anyone with a pickup.

Many people don’t have the means to get their garbage to landfill after a major clean up at home. And that’s where you come in.

This work can be a bit seasonal, as people are less likely to do things like clean out their basement or do a major yardwork session in winter. But when the work is available, people will pay you well for helping them to get rid of their trash.

How can I make money under the table with teaching?

The various under the table jobs relating to teaching have long been a way for people to earn some extra cash.

Almost every student out there needs some help with something and often they (or their parents) will pay you well if you can assist them with this.

And you don’t even have to limit yourself to current students, as you’ll see below.

27. Tutoring school and college students

If you’re good at almost any subject out there, you’ll find someone who wants some tutoring in it. And while it certainly helps if you have some sort of professional qualifications, it absolutely isn’t necessary. 

In fact, this is why so many college students who haven’t yet graduated are able to make some money by tutoring students that are still in school.

You don’t even have to stick to in-person tutoring, as there are plenty of sites out there that let you get paid to teach online. This means that your potential client base is almost unlimited, giving you a great opportunity to earn extra cash by doing this.

28. Language training

If you speak a second language well, it’s almost guaranteed that there’s someone else out there willing to learn it from you.

And as above, in-person language training is only half the story, with plenty of sites now appearing online where you can teach a second language to someone no matter where they are. This also applies if you only speak English, with various sites now letting you sign-up to teach English to children in China.

What makes this potentially more lucrative though is that you don’t need to limit yourself to students who are actually enrolled in a school or college. Plenty of adults are interested in learning a second language, whether it be for career purposes or just their own interest.

So if you’re able to offer them one-on-one training at their home with a schedule that works for them, this can be a great cash paying job for you.

29. Music lessons

Being able to provide music lessons in people’s homes is something that can be used by anyone of almost any age. Whether it’s a 7-year-old playing the piano for the first time or someone in their 50s who finally bought their dream guitar, all of them will, at some point, need lessons.

So if you know how to play any instrument and have the patience to create a new music lover with your skills, why not use it as a way to make some extra cash?

There are even some sites where you can teach people to play these instruments online. While not quite the same as teaching them in-person, it’s a good way to add to your money making opportunities.

What are good cash jobs from making things?

Wandering through a market is always a great way to spend a Saturday morning. Although, if you’re anything like me, you spend half your time pointing things out to whoever you’re with either observing how amazing the thing is or asking your friends how on earth they think it’s made.

But maybe you’re not like me and maybe you know exactly how to make that amazing thing. If so, there are definitely a few good cash jobs out there for you.

30. Selling baked goods or other snacks at markets

Whether you’re more at the sweet or savory end of the scale, baked goods are always a winner at any market or similar event where food is sold.

You can offer snacks or full meals and, if the price is right, people will pay you for it.

As with the suggestion to sell home grown fruit and vegetables above, it’s best to check on any health regulations that may apply. After all, you don’t want to be shut down or, worse, fined.

But once you’ve met those requirements, your treats will go down, well, a treat with attendees.

And bonus points if you can make it social media-worthy! There are a ton of people out there who will pay extra if they can earn brownie points from putting their new snack on Instagram or Snapchat – just something to keep in mind when designing your next thing to nibble on.

Related: 6 Proven Ways to Make Money on Snapchat

31. Selling crafts

If your creativity doesn’t extend to food, then finding things to make and sell at markets can also be a great under the table job.

This can be literally anything. Maybe you’re good at making earrings, creating decorative vases, selling candles…whatever it is, there’ll likely be someone who’ll pay you for it.

Of course, you can always combine this with selling the same items on Etsy, as mentioned above. There’s absolutely no reason why you have to limit yourself to one cash paying job, especially when you can do the same amount of work but have multiple income streams from the one thing.

What jobs can I do for cash around someone’s house?

When it comes to jobs that pay cash, you’re potentially going to find the most opportunities when it comes to helping people around the house.

A lot of people simply don’t have the time or energy to get these kinds of things done. These are those tasks that you know, as a homeowner, you have to do at some point…but it just never happens, unless there’s someone to help you with it.

And that’s where you come in!

32. Landscaping

If you’ve got a green thumb and live somewhere where people have enough yard that they need to look after it properly, doing some landscaping under the table jobs could make you quite a bit of money.

Usually people know what they want to do but just aren’t able to do it themselves, which means it simply becomes a question of you doing what they ask. This may include planting trees, trimming bushes, tidying up overgrown gardens, laying turf and more.

This can be really hard work, so you’re definitely going to earn your money. But with many of these jobs taking an entire weekend to do, charging by the hour can be a really good idea.

33. Mowing the lawn

Much like offering your car washing services, mowing the lawn can be a great way to earn some regular income.

That is, by agreeing with people that you’ll mow their lawn every week or so at the same time, you can set up a schedule of jobs that pay cash.

You’ll be especially popular if you’re able to supply your own lawn mower, as not everyone wants to buy their own. And this doesn’t even have to be an expensive outlay on your part – check Craigslist for a secondhand one and you’re on your way!

34. House painting

Whether it’s one wall inside or the entire outside of a house, house painting is one of those jobs where people are often more than willing to hire you under the table.

And while you may be expected to provide your own brushes, rollers and plastic covering, the paint itself will be provided by the homeowner, so you’ll be able to reuse your equipment for as long as you can look after it.

35. Home repairs/maintenance

Having a handyman on call when something breaks suddenly can be a lifesaver for homeowners, especially if they don’t know how to fix the problem themselves. 

You’ll need to provide your own tools for this, but you may have these on hand anyway. If you don’t, check for something secondhand as there’s no reason to buy a brand new toolkit.

Just be careful not to offer to repair anything where you could cause more damage and be liable for those repairs, unless you’re confident in your ability to deal with the issue. This mainly includes anything electrical as well as plumbing.

36. Snow clearing

While this is clearly seasonal, it’s also something that’s in hot demand if you get heavy snow in your area.

This means that it’s one of those things where a well-timed letter drop can earn you a small fortune. If it usually starts snowing in December, spread some flyers around in mid-November. That way, when the snow does start falling, people will remember your services and will likely still have your phone number available.

37. House sitting

House sitting is one of the best cash paying jobs out there, as it has the double bonus of also helping you to save money on your living costs.

This means that the actual cash you’ll receive is probably relatively low compared to some of the other options on this list. But when you consider what you’re saving, it can really add up.

It’s also a good way to take a cheap holiday or to spend some time somewhere you’ve been wanting to explore a bit more, as it’s basically like having a free hotel room.

You may also be interested in: 11 Legit Ways to Get Paid to Advertise For Companies

What type of jobs pay cash in hand and involve helping people?

Sometimes we can combine earning some extra money with helping people out. 

In fact, that’s how many companies launched their brilliant business ideas: seeing where people needed some support and providing their product or service to do so.

And the same can apply here – where people have a need, you can step in…and make some cash in the process.

38. Personal trainer

There are all sorts of people looking for the services offered by a personal trainer.

They could be the fittest person on the planet looking for a training partner. They could be someone who hasn’t gotten off the couch in years but wants to make a change. Or they could be anywhere in between.

When it comes to personal training, you need a healthy mix of awareness of fitness needs and also an ability to click with your clients. But when it all comes together, you can often secure long term clients that will be happy to pay you for as long as your working relationship continues.

39. At-home daycare

If you’re good with kids, running an at-home daycare can be a real money maker for you – and a real lifesaver for parents.

This is often great for kids who are too young for kindergarten but whose parents are struggling to find them a spot in a traditional daycare. Or perhaps they prefer the smaller groups and closer attention that at-home daycares offer.

And this can be even better if you have your own child at home around the same age as your target audience. That way, you’ll be earning money while also looking after them (and getting them some built-in play mates).

40. Removalist

Much like getting paid to move individual furniture pieces or to haul junk, moving someone’s entire house is a classic under the table job.

This is most likely to work for people who are moving across town rather than to a new city entirely. In those cases, they’ll be looking for someone to help them get from A to B, preferably in one day.

So if you have a pickup and are willing to a hard day of work lugging things up and down stairs, then working as a removalist is a definite option.

Event-related under the table jobs that pay cash daily

It’s true that some people prefer to get “actual” professionals for their events. But there are plenty of others who recognize that paying someone in cash can produce results that are just as good, if not better than what you’ll get from an “actual” company.

41. Photography

Professional photographers can charge an arm and a leg so if you have a good camera, there’s definitely room in the market for you.

It’s probably unlikely that you’ll be hired for things like weddings, where people really put a premium on the highest-quality photos.

But for almost any other event, there’s no reason why they wouldn’t want to hire you. This includes birthday parties, family or school reunions, company events and more.

Having a portfolio is going to be important here, so maybe you could do a few events at a reduced cost at first. Then, once you’ve got some evidence of your work, you’ll be able to start charging your actual fees.

42. Makeup artist

Like photographers, many of us associate makeup artists with weddings. But there are so many other events out there where good makeup artists are in high demand, with absolutely no reason for people to go to a salon to get quality results.

In fact, the opposite can often be true: people prefer to have makeup artists come to their homes as they’re getting ready, meaning there’s absolutely no difference between someone associated with a company and someone hired as an under the table job.

As above, having a portfolio will help. A social media presence is also a good idea to show your work, so perhaps you can makeover a few friends as a way to attract clients.

43. DJ

Have you ever been to an event where you’ve asked from which company the DJ was hired?

The answer is probably “no”, as no one ever cares if the DJ is being paid cash in hand or not. All that matters at any party is that they’re good at their job. 

And this largely comes down to knowing your audience at the specific event.

You’ll sometimes be expected to bring your own equipment, which can be pretty costly to buy yourself. When this happens, you may want to look into hiring arrangements with someone that offers this in your area, as you may be able to come to some sort of agreement.

However, for some events, the equipment may already be there, meaning you basically just need to bring the music.

What are under the table jobs?

Under the table jobs are those that are considered as being “off the books”, meaning that your employer may not be recording in detail what you’re being paid. It also means that they’re not collecting taxes from you.

This means that you get to take home all of what you earn – although it doesn’t mean that you’re exempt from paying income tax.

It’s often thought that these kinds of jobs are those that are pretty menial and so are more likely to involve manual labor rather than something more skilled. Others see cash paying jobs as those that don’t require any sort of qualification.

That can actually be an advantage of under the table jobs. Even if you don’t have any sort of official qualification, they can be a great way to earn some extra cash, often by doing work that others don’t want to do or simply can’t.

At the same time, as you may have seen by now, it’s far from the case that they all involve unqualified work. In fact, you can even use any qualifications you have to your advantage to earn a bit of cash on the side from some of these under the table jobs.

Is it against the law to get paid under the table?

It’s not against the law to get paid under the table, as long as you have the right to work in your country and declare your income yourself.

Unfortunately, a lot of people consider under the table jobs as meaning work that isn’t strictly legal, so you might get pushback from certain people if you say you’re looking for jobs that pay cash.

However, just consider income you earn from tips. While this is taxable and the IRS expects you to declare it, it’s not “on the books”. Despite this, it’s still perfectly legal.

The exact specifics of the legality of this are going to vary depending on where you are (and you should always check these ahead of time to avoid getting into trouble). That said, these are at least the general requirements for making sure that the cash paying jobs you’re looking at are legal.

How do I pay taxes if I work under the table?

The way to pay taxes if you work under the table will vary depending on where you are. But keep in mind that not declaring this income will likely be considered tax evasion by the tax authorities in your country, so it’s very much worth figuring this out.

In the US, any individual employer that pays you at least $600 in a calendar year has to issue a 1099-MISC form to you and the IRS.

But any less than that, then you have to report the income from your cash paying jobs yourself. The exact way to do that will vary depending on the source of your income, but Form 1040 is a good place to start.

If you’re not sure where to go from there, the IRS website has plenty of information. Otherwise, a tax professional will be able to help.

How to find under the table jobs that pay cash in hand near me?

It’s actually not as hard as you may think to find under the table jobs near you. While you may have to be a bit strategic, there are some places that are always good starting points.

Craigslist

Craigslist is a super common place to find jobs that pay cash. You’ll often see advertisements on there for people looking for one-off help, such as to move furniture or help with something around the house.

That said, there also can be more regular gigs on there, such as people looking for dog walkers.

Let’s be honest though: some of the job opportunities can also be pretty questionable, so make sure you know exactly what the job you’re responding to involves.

But once you get past those, there’s a wealth of legitimate offers for jobs that pay cash on Craigslist, meaning you’re bound to find something that suits you.

Facebook Groups

Facebook Groups, especially those that are set up to serve a certain city or region, regularly have offers for cash paying jobs posted in them.

They also can be good if you know the kind of work you want to do, as you can post your credentials and see if anyone contacts you.

If you see something in which you’re interested, it’s always a good idea to do a bit of Facebook detective work first to see if the person seems legit. This includes seeing what else they may have posted in the Facebook group where you found them.

But if everything seems ok, then you’re good to go.

Reddit

If you’re wondering how to find under the table jobs on Reddit, then you need to take a look at the various subreddits where these can be found.

These include:

• Subreddits for your specific city. Take a look at this post, for example, from r/chicago or this one from r/orlando.
• Subreddits relating to jobs in your city. The subreddit r/houstonjobs is a good example of this.
• The more generic r/jobs subreddit
• Other subreddits relating to making cash on the site, such as r/beermoney.

Job websites

It may sound obvious, but checking job-specific websites can often produce some great leads.

For example, if you want to start babysitting, check Care.com for any opportunities in your area.

Or if you’re looking for dog walking jobs that pay cash, Rover.com will definitely have something, given it’s one of the largest sites in the world for linking up pet owners and dog walkers (as well as pet sitters).

You can even check more generic sites, like Freelancer.com, for a broader range of potential cash paying jobs.

Look around your neighborhood

This may be the more traditional way, but asking around your local area is still a strategy that works.

You can even put up signs or do a letterbox drop with flyers describing the services you want to provide. That way, you can have people approach you when they need something rather than their usual first instinct to look online.

A great tip is to try to catch seasonal trends when reaching out to people like this. For example, you could offer to trim trees before storm season hits or share flyers around the neighborhood for snow plowing just as winter starts to set in. 

That way, you may jog someone’s memory that this is something that needs to be done – and making it more likely that they’ll turn to you first.

How do you make money under the table if you are unemployed?

The way to make money under the table if you are unemployed is exactly the same as if you already have a job and are looking for jobs that pay cash to make a bit extra on the side.

It may even work in your favor as you may have more flexibility to take cash paying jobs during business hours. For example, if someone is looking for a pet sitter while they’re at work, this may be harder to do for someone who has to be at their job during office hours.

If you don’t currently have a job though, this could be an easy way for you to swoop in and save the day.

Similarly, if you’re a stay at home parent so aren’t working for that reason, running an at-home day care as an under the table job may be perfect for making arrangements with your own kids. This means that the fact you’re unemployed is clearly an advantage.

That said, if you don’t have any other income coming in, be careful when accepting cash paying jobs that may require you to pay for your own equipment upfront. For example, if you’re looking for lawn mowing jobs, you may have to supply your own lawn mower. 

Whether or not this is a sound financial decision when you don’t have any other income will be up to you, the cost of the equipment and the amount you plan to charge for your services.

How do I show proof of income if I get paid cash?

For a steady job, you’re more likely to have pay slips or regular bank deposits to prove this. But when earning money from jobs that pay cash, you’re going to have to do some of the work of recording your earnings yourself.

It’s quite common for anyone who is self-employed – including if they’ve been earning their income from under the table jobs – to struggle a bit when they need to show proof of income after getting paid cash.

How do you prove income if you are paid under the table?

Some ways to do this include:

1. Regularly log your earnings 

Every day that you earn money from a cash paying job, you should log it. This can be done by hand or electronically and should include both a record of the date and how much you receive. Any receipts that help to support these amounts should also be kept on file.

2. Get it in writing

If possible, having some sort of written confirmation from your employer on your earnings is great for helping to show proof of income if you get paid in cash. 

Ideally, this would state how much you were paid and when, as well as the identity of the employer and the nature of the working relationship – that is, whether you worked for them as a one-off or on a more regular basis.

Any other documentary proof you have that would help, such as banking receipts if you deposited your income in your bank account, would also help.

3. Tax documents

If you did work for anyone who paid you at least $600 for the year, they must provide you and the IRS with a 1099-MISC form. You can then submit all your 1099 forms that you earn from different employers as proof of income.

4. Keep in contact with relevant people

It is possible sometimes to have your earnings confirmed by a third party who’s considered to have knowledge of the situation, such as a co-worker or landlord. The person doing the verifying will, however, need to have your written permission to review your purported income.

This can be a good method to follow if you don’t have any other written proof, although it can also serve as additional proof in combination with the other options above.

5. Store your invoices

If you send out invoices to the people for whom you perform services, these should list the amounts they owe alongside itemized lists of what you did, for whom and what it cost you in terms of materials.

These can be useful for showing your earnings and have even been accepted by lending institutions as proof of your income when you’re trying to take out a loan.

Why do employers pay under the table?

When considering why do employers pay under the table, the answers can broadly be split between reasons that aim to help employees and reasons that aim to get around the rules.

Some employers state that it’s common in their industry or that it allows them to be more competitive in their market. Others claim that employees may not want to pay withholding taxes or want their cash quicker than it can be provided through a standard payroll process.

Of course, it would be naive to ignore the fact that some employers pay under the table to avoid their tax obligations.

Much like when people take jobs that pay cash, employers are legally allowed to pay their employees in cash. However, this can complicate the process of paying the correct amount of payroll taxes.

And businesses that fail to comply with their tax reporting obligations can be fined (both the company as a whole and the responsible individuals) and directors can be jailed for tax evasion.

This isn’t to say that the homeowner down the road who wants to pay you cash to paint his house or your neighbour who’s looking for a dog walker are trying to avoid paying taxes – in those cases, it’s usually a question of convenience. 

But when actual, legitimate businesses try to recruit you for under the table jobs that pay cash, it’s worth pausing for a moment and considering what the real objective is here.

Final thoughts on whether you should get an under the table job that pays cash

As a way to earn some extra cash, whether it’s in addition to your full or part-time job or even to contribute to your household when you’re not currently working, taking on jobs that pay cash can be a good way to increase your earnings.

The best cash paying jobs for you are going to be those that align with your skillset and schedule. And as the gig economy grows in popularity, so too will under the table jobs be considered more and more normal for anyone wanting some extra money.

Just make sure that you comply with your tax obligations to avoid getting into trouble. Otherwise, in terms of your potential earnings from cash paying jobs, the sky’s the limit!