17 Side Hustles for Doctors and Physicians

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Side Hustles for Doctors and Physicians

Although most doctors and physicians earn an excellent income, many are looking for ways to make extra money outside of a full-time job. The average medical school graduate owes $241,600 in student loan debt (source), and income on the side can help to speed up the debt payoff.

Additionally, some medical professionals are looking for a change of pace that helps to take their minds off of the stress related to their careers. Side hustles can also be an excellent option for those pursuing financial independence who are looking for something to do after retirement.

There are many side hustles for doctors and physicians, and we’ll cover the best options in this article.

Looking for more possibilities? See our list of 150+ side hustle ideas for more ways to make supplemental income.

Side Hustles for Doctors and Physicians

Here are details of the best side gigs for medical professionals.

1. Medical Surveys

Taking online surveys through sites like Swagbucks and InboxDollars is one of the most popular side hustles, but medical professionals have the opportunity for much higher income through companies that specialize in medical surveys.

There are a number of companies that pay doctors and physicians for their opinion on medical-related products and services through online surveys.

Taking these surveys is completely flexible and can be done in your spare time. The length of the survey and compensation will vary, but you can make a nice side income by participating in surveys when you have the opportunity.

You can see a full list of companies that offer medical surveys from Passive Income M.D. Some of these companies also have referral programs that allow you to earn bonuses by referring other doctors and physicians who are interested in taking surveys. This can be an excellent way to earn some extra cash without too much effort.

2. Telemedicine

Telemedicine or telehealth is a growing field, and doctors and physicians can get involved in a few different ways.

One option is to offer telemedicine as an additional service from your existing practice. This can be a great way to attract new patients and provide more convenience for existing ones. You’ll need to make sure that you’re set up with the right equipment and software, but many practices are making the switch to telemedicine and it can be a great way to boost your income.

Another option is to work as a locum tenens physician. With this type of arrangement, you’ll provide care to patients via video chat or telephone. This can be an excellent way to earn some extra income, especially if you’re looking for something you can do from home.

There are a number of companies that offer locum tenens positions or part-time telemedicine work. For example, Doctor on Demand hires healthcare professionals to work from home, making it a great physician side gig.

3. Provide Medical Guidance or Advice

Sometimes people want a second opinion on a diagnosis or treatment plan, or they have a health-related question. As a medical doctor or physician, you can offer your expertise and guidance through a number of different platforms.

One option is to answer questions on JustAnswer. This website allows people to ask questions in a variety of categories, including health & medicine. You’ll earn compensation for each question you answer

Another similar option is to work with Best Doctors. Patients turn to Best Doctors when they want a second opinion. You would be reviewing their case, the diagnosis, and the treatment. After your review, you’ll provide your feedback and make suggestions.

This is a flexible way to use your expertise to earn extra income outside of your full-time job.

Related reading: Side Jobs for Nurses

4. Chart Review or Peer Review

If you’re looking for a more research-focused side hustle, you could offer your services for chart review or peer review.

This side gig involves reviewing charts from real patients, including the treatment they received from other doctors. You’ll use your expert knowledge to assess the chart and identify any potential errors.

Chart reviews and peer reviews are needed for quality assurance and to make sure that doctors are providing the best care possible. They may also be needed when there are disputes or medical claims from insurance companies that require verification from an independent third party.

This is a great way to use your skills and knowledge to help improve patient care while also earning some additional income on the side.

5. Become an Expert Witness

If you have experience in a particular area of medicine, you could offer your services as an expert witness.

This involves testifying in court or providing depositions in legal cases that involve medical issues. For example, you may be asked to provide testimony in a malpractice case.

There are a number of companies that help to match up expert witnesses with those in need of their services, including SEAK, Expert Institute, and American Medical Experts.

Serving as an expert witness can be a great way to earn some extra income. You’ll need to be able to commit the time needed for each case, but it can be a very rewarding way to use your knowledge and skills.

6. Investing

As a high-income professional, you may prefer a side hustle that allows your money to work for you. There are several different ways to invest for income. Two of the most popular options include investing in the stock market and investing in real estate.

Many investors generate passive income through dividend stocks. This involves owning shares of stock in a company that pays regular dividends. The dividends are typically paid out quarterly, and they can provide a nice source of income, or they can be reinvested to buy more shares.

Dividend stocks are usually considered to be a lower risk than the stock market as a whole because the companies are typically more established and have a history of paying dividends.

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Real estate is another option for generating passive income. You could buy rental properties or invest through a crowdfunding platform like Fundrise, CrowdStreet, or Cadre.

Rental properties can provide a steady stream of income, but they also require a lot of work unless you hire a property manager. You’ll need to find tenants, collect rent, and handle any repairs or maintenance that’s needed.

Crowdfunding platforms have become increasingly popular because they provide a hands-free way to invest in real estate. With Fundrise, you’ll invest in a portfolio of income-generating properties, so you don’t need to research any individual projects or properties. Both CrowdStreet and Cadre allow you to invest in individual properties, which increases your potential return but also increases the risk.

Investing can be a great way to generate income without having to put in a lot of extra hours. However, it’s important to remember that there is always some risk involved, so you should only invest money that you’re comfortable losing.

7. Freelance Writing

If you have a knack for writing, you could use your skills to earn some extra income. Freelance writing is an excellent side hustle for anyone, but as a licensed physician, you can demand a much higher rate than the average freelance writer due to your expertise.

There are many clients who need a qualified professional to write an article, and most freelance writers don’t have the qualifications that you have. If you’re able to find a few medical writing clients who have an ongoing need for new content, like medical websites or blogs, you won’t have to dedicate time to look for new opportunities.

You can find clients by checking freelance writing job boards, creating a profile at sites like Upwork, or direct outreach to anyone that you think could benefit from your services.

This is a very flexible side gig and you can take as few or as many clients and projects as you’d like.

Freelance Writing 101 by Brad Merrill is an excellent resource for anyone interested in becoming a freelance writer.

8. Create an Online Course

Creating an online course is an excellent way to monetize your knowledge and experience. You can create a course based on your particular area of expertise.

This is a great way to earn passive income because once it’s created, you can sell it over and over again. However, it does require a significant amount of work upfront to create the course. But it’s possible that your course will continue to make money while you sleep for years to come.

Don’t be intimidated by the idea of creating a course. Platforms like Podia and Teachable make it easy to set up a professional website for your course material. Students will be able to pay directly at your site, and they’ll have a dashboard where they can log in and access all of the content for the course.

To learn how to create and sell an online course, see Online Course Masters.

9. Start a Blog or Niche Website

If you enjoy writing and you’re looking for a long-term business opportunity, creating a content-based website is an excellent option. As a medical professional, you could create a site or blog on some aspect of health care, clinical medicine, or any other area related to your expertise.

This is a great side hustle because it allows you to share your knowledge with the world and earn income from advertisements, sponsored posts, or affiliate marketing.

It takes time and effort to grow a successful blog, but it can be very rewarding both monetarily and personally. The long-term income potential is unlimited, so this is an ideal option, especially for those who are looking for something to do after retirement or early retirement from actively practicing.

Most content-based websites make very little money for the first 6-12 months while the site is being established. But once you have a steady flow of traffic, the income can rise quickly.

To learn more, read my Guide to Building a Profitable Niche Website.

10. Write a Book or Ebook

If you have an idea for a book, writing it can be a great way to earn additional income. You could write on any number of topics related to your area of expertise.

Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is a popular option for self-publishing ebooks and paperbacks. It’s easy to use and there are no upfront costs. You simply upload your book to Amazon and they’ll handle everything else. Paperbacks are printed as they’re ordered by customers, so there’s no need to pay for a print run before the books are sold.

Of course, you could also sell your book or ebook on your own website. This will require more work and effort as compared to selling on Amazon, but you’ll have more control and the long-term income potential is higher. Podia makes it easy to sell digital downloads like ebooks. They even offer a free plan so you can start with no financial investment.

Writing a book or ebook can also be an excellent move for your career. You’ll be able to brand yourself as an expert on the topic of the book, and it’s very effective for building name recognition within the industry.

Aside from the money generated directly through book sales, you can also benefit from other opportunities that may arise as a result of the added exposure.

For a comprehensive guide on self-publishing, see From First Draft to Bestseller.

11. Start a YouTube Channel

With the rise of video content, starting a YouTube channel is a great way to share your knowledge with a wide audience. You could create videos on any number of topics related to medical care, health, or wellness.

This is a great side hustle because it’s relatively easy to start and you don’t need any expensive equipment. A smartphone and a tripod are all you really need to get started. You can always upgrade your gear later once your channel is growing.

YouTube does have some restrictive policies when it comes to medical content, so be sure to familiarize yourself with their guidelines before you start creating videos.

Despite the potential hurdles, starting a YouTube channel can be a very rewarding physician side hustle. You can earn income from advertisements that are displayed on your videos. There may also be possibilities for direct sponsorships and affiliate marketing.

12. Start a Podcast

Podcasting is another excellent way to share your knowledge and expertise with a wide audience. You could launch a podcast on any number of topics related to the medical field.

Starting a podcast is relatively easy and inexpensive. All you need is a microphone and some basic audio editing software. The built-in mic on a laptop is sufficient for getting started, although you’ll want to eventually upgrade to a higher-quality microphone. As far as software is concerned, Audacity is a free editing program that does everything you need.

Once you’ve recorded and edited your episodes, you can submit them to popular podcast directories like iTunes and Stitcher.

Podcasts are usually free for listeners, but you can still earn income from them through advertisements, sponsorships, or affiliate marketing. Podcasting is also a great way to build name recognition and establish yourself as an expert in your field.

To learn all about podcasting, please see A Practical Guide to Creating a Podcast.

13. Sell Printables

If you’re creative and have an eye for design, you can start selling printables on Etsy. Printables are digital files that can be downloaded and printed by customers. They typically include things like planner pages, organizers, worksheets, and checklists.

Creating printables requires some design skills, but it’s not necessary to be a professional graphic designer. There are plenty of free or low-cost tools that you can use to create attractive designs. Canva is a popular option that has everything you need to get started.

And if you’re not a designer, you can easily hire someone on Fiverr to create the designs for you. It’s an inexpensive way to create a product that you can sell over and over again.

There is a huge demand for printables, especially in the realm of organization and productivity. Etsy is a great platform for selling printables because it’s easy to use and has a built-in audience of buyers.

Aside from Etsy, you can also sell printables on your own, which offers higher long-term income potential. Podia makes it easy to sell printables on your own.

As a doctor or physician, you could create medical or health-themed printables like planner pages for tracking appointments, medications, and symptoms. You could also create educational worksheets or checklists related to various medical topics.

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14. Teaching or Tutoring

Doctors and physicians have a lot of knowledge to share, and there are a number of ways that you can use your expertise to earn some extra income.

One option is to teach medical students. This can be done in person or online, and it’s a great way to help the next generation of medical professionals while also earning some extra income. You can find opportunities to teach through your local medical school or hospital.

Another option is to offer tutoring services to medical or pre-med students. This is a great way to earn income from your medical knowledge. You can advertise your tutoring services online or through word-of-mouth.

15. Speaking Engagements

If you’re comfortable with public speaking, you can give lectures or speeches at conferences and seminars. This is a great way to earn some extra income and share your knowledge with others.

You can find speaking opportunities through your existing professional network. You can also search for conferences that are related to your area of expertise.

It’s also a good idea to create your own website with a detailed professional bio and information on the topics you can cover. This will make it easy for conference organizers to find you and invite you to speak.

16. Consulting

Consulting is one of the best ways for any professional to earn income from their existing knowledge and expertise.

As a consultant, you can offer your services to hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare organizations. You can also offer your services to businesses in other industries that need expert advice on health and safety issues.

To get started, create a website or online portfolio that showcases your work. You can also search for consulting opportunities on job boards or through your professional network.

For more details and information, please see Kings of Consulting.

17. Invent Something

If you have a creative mind, you can use your knowledge to invent something new. This could be a new medical device, a new piece of software, or anything else that you think would be useful to the medical industry.

Inventing something requires a lot of research and development, but it can be a great way to earn income from your knowledge. And if your invention is successful, it could even lead to a full-time business venture.

To get started, you’ll need to come up with an idea for something new that you think the medical industry needs. Once you have an idea, start doing some research to see if it’s feasible. If it is, start working on prototypes and testing them out.

It’s also a good idea to consult with experts in the medical field to get their feedback on your invention. And if you have a solid prototype, you can start marketing your invention to potential customers.

See our list of companies that pay for invention ideas.

Is a Side Hustle Worth Your Time?

As a doctor or physician, it’s likely that you earn an excellent salary and your time is very valuable. So is a side hustle worth your time?

The answer depends on a number of factors, including your goals, income needs, and the amount of time you’re willing to invest.

For many medical professionals, a side hustle is much more than simply a way to make extra money. A side hustle that involves something you’re interested in could be an excellent distraction from a stressful career. It could also be a bridge to a retirement income that allows you to step away from your career of practicing medicine earlier.

It’s also important to consider the tax implications of earning income from a side hustle. Be sure to speak with an accountant or tax advisor to see how your side hustle will affect your taxes.

Final Thoughts on Side Hustles for Doctors and Physicians

There are many great doctor and physician side gigs. The best side hustle for you will depend on your goals, interests, and expertise. Choose the option that best suits your skills, interests, and goals.


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