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How You Can Build a $2000/month Online Side Hustle Working on AI Projects

   May 10, 2025  Posted in Story Time, Tips And Tricks
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I never planned to work in the AI field. In fact, when I first started during the COVID lockdowns, I had no idea the tasks I was doing were part of a much bigger wave in tech. All I knew was that I needed work, and I stumbled across a remote gig that seemed interesting. I signed up, followed the guidelines, and started submitting tasks—transcription, content checks, text labeling, and chatbot reviews. That’s how my journey into AI began.

How It All Started (By Accident)

Like many people, COVID completely changed my work life. I was at home, searching for anything legitimate I could do online. I applied for a few projects and got accepted. At the time, I didn’t realize I was contributing to something as advanced as artificial intelligence development. But I stuck with it, kept learning, and slowly started to understand how my small tasks helped train smarter systems.

Even without a technical background, I found my place in the AI world—proof that anyone with curiosity, discipline, and basic digital skills can break into this space.

A Big Step: Full-Time On-Site AI Work

After some time working online, I got the opportunity to work full-time on-site for 1.5 years on AI projects, earning $16 per hour. That was a major step for me. I worked with a team, gained deeper insight into how AI systems are built and tested, and really saw the impact of quality human input.

That experience built my confidence and gave me the skills to go further. But even with the stability of a full-time job, I felt the pull toward flexibility, freedom, and creative control.

Choosing Freelance—and Why It Paid Off

Eventually, I made the decision to return to freelancing—and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’ve since worked on a wide range of projects as a:

  • 📝 Transcriptionist – Turning audio into precise text, often for training voice recognition models.
  • 📊 Data Annotator – Labeling content so machines can understand patterns.
  • 🎥 Content Creator – Crafting prompts, writing sample content, and evaluating AI responses.
  • 💬 Chat Evaluator – Rating AI conversations based on clarity, tone, and helpfulness.

How Much I Earn Working on AI Projects

My income varies depending on the project and the platform, but here’s a real breakdown of what I’ve earned:

  • Transcription: $5–$15 per audio hour
  • Annotation & Evaluation: $8–$18/hour
  • Content Tasks & Advanced AI Work: $15–$25/hour

Here’s a glimpse of some of the payments I received for my work on various AI-related tasks this past year.

On average, I now earn between $400 to $1,200/month, and during busier months or long-term projects, I’ve crossed $1,500 to $3500/month—working from home and on my own terms.

Why I’m Sharing This

If you’re feeling stuck, if you’re unsure where your next paycheck is coming from, or if you think you need a degree to work in tech—let this be a reminder that there is a way forward.

I didn’t start with a plan. I simply said “yes” to opportunities and kept going. Over time, it built into a flexible and rewarding career. And if I can do it, you can too.

Getting Started with AI Freelance Work: A Beginner’s Checklist

Here’s how you can begin your journey in the AI freelance space, even with no prior experience:

🖥️ 1. Set Up Your Tools

  • A reliable computer or laptop
  • Stable internet connection
  • Chrome browser with a grammar checker plugin (e.g., Grammarly)
  • Google Docs and/or Microsoft Word for writing and editing

🌐 2. Create Basic Accounts on Trusted Platforms

Look for project platforms that offer legit AI-related tasks such as:

💼 3. Prepare a Simple Resume

Highlight:

  • Language skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Any content writing, transcription, or tagging experience
  • Add freelance/remote work skills like time management or self-organization

🎯 4. Practice with Free Resources

📧 5. Start Applying for Projects

  • Begin with small tasks or hourly gigs
  • Be patient—some platforms have waitlists or qualification tests
  • Check emails regularly for invites to new projects

📈 6. Track Your Earnings & Skills

  • Use a spreadsheet to track income from each platform
  • Keep a record of your projects, types of tasks, and what you learned
  • Over time, this becomes your freelance portfolio!

🙌 7. Keep Growing

  • Don’t stop once you land your first gig
  • Learn more about prompt engineering, content evaluation, or testing LLMs
  • Consider joining online communities or LinkedIn groups for AI freelancers

🔁 Bonus Tip: Stay consistent. Small tasks may not pay much at first, but they open the door to better, higher-paying projects down the road.

Final Thoughts

This field is growing fast, and it needs real people—people like you—to help train and shape AI in meaningful ways. If you’re interested in working from home, earning consistently, and learning new digital skills, consider jumping in.

You don’t need to know everything. You just need to start.

Author: Amy