Mechanic quit job to write, makes $170,000/year (could you copy?)
I’ve always wished I had more practical skills.
My brother-in-law, for example, is an HVAC guy with electrician credentials. You always need heating and/or cooling, and when our furnace crapped out, we knew who to call.
A fellow dad on one of my son’s sports teams owns a garage, and let me tell you, the peace of mind that comes with having a trusted “car guy” is priceless.
And my best friend is a lawyer, so I was able to call him for guidance when another acquaintance got into a bit of a legal pickle.
All of these career paths offer side hustles of their own, but it turns out that one very specific type of online writing is one of them.
And the money is actually a lot better than you think.
Allow me to explain.
Real-life skills, real online dollars
I’m pretty decent at online writing — to the tune of multiple five figures per year in earnings— but nobody’s calling me to bail them out of a sticky situation.
I do wish I had something more applicable to everyday life on top of being able to put pen to paper in an entertaining way.
Because if I did, there’s one side hustle I came across last week that I’d be trying out right away.
In fact, the money is so good that one American mechanic quit his job and now makes about $170,000 per year with his laptop.
Here’s how he did it.
Trading wrenches for writing
Chris Pyle lives in Tennessee, sets his own hours, and pulls in close to $200,000 per year from his recliner.
How does he do it?
A site called JustAnswer, apparently.
I actually didn’t know this site existed until I read the article, but it’s been around for 20 years and provides a pretty nice opportunity for specialists and professionals to make some decent coin on the side.
If you run into a problem in any of 14 main categories and can’t find the answer on YouTube, you can submit your question to the site and it’ll connect you with a subject matter expert in minutes.
The answers people seek on the site are typically very specific and in a very narrow field of expertise, so not everyone can just sign up and start pontificating.
In other words, you actually need to know stuff.
So instead of working on cars, Pyle now answers questions about working on cars — and makes a lot more money doing it.
Here’s a screencap of the categories they’re looking for experts in:
Now anyone can claim they make that much money online (and lots of people do) so full credit to CNBC for actually examining the mechanic’s financial statements to verify his story checked out.
And check out it did.
“Pyle started answering strangers’ questions about their gas and diesel engines on JustAnswer as a side hustle in October 2006.
“It was quickly lucrative: He made $500 in his first month, then doubled it in November, then doubled it again.
“He quit his full-time $75,000-per-year job at Ford Motors when JustAnswer outpaced his salary in 2012, Pyle says.
“Pyle made $170,500 in 2023, an average of $14,200 per month, on JustAnswer, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It.”
Not bad!
But before you think about ditching the rat race to answer questions online, there are some drawbacks to consider.
The downside
Now it’s not all sunshine and roses with this side hustle.
According to Pyle, he works every single day of the year and logs long hours (we’re talking 8–10 hours per day).
Still, he says the freedom that comes with being your own boss is worth it.
“I was a Cub Scout master for eight years … I was a soccer coach,” he told CNBC. “I could log off right now and go play a video game with my son, or go swim in the pool.”
The long hours and the uncertainty of gig work aren’t for everyone, but if you’re in a practical field and find it physically taxing or increasingly uninspiring, perhaps this could be a way to chase that online writing dream.
Or at the very least, you might be able to make some extra pocket money on the side while generating those big bucks at your day job.
Have you turned your real-life skills into profitable side hustles?
How could you do it?
Let me know in the comments!
Looking for something else to read?
My top 5 trending stories right now
Sad and aimless at 40 or 50? Listen to this Bill Gates advice
Why are Millennials aging way better than Boomers and Gen Z?
The 1 worst processed food to avoid at all costs: top dietician
1 toxic decision is the real reason you can’t get fit over 40
Disclaimer: The author of this article is not a financial advisor. Always speak to a financial advisor before making money or career decisions.
I do a lot of paid freelance writing for clients, and I've earned a bundle writing content for HVAC businesses. That is definitely a lucrative niche.
Such an inspiring story. There's a limit to how much tax advice I can provide. I'm retired but I have to wait another 2 years before I can provide guidance about taxes. I think I may be able to do it to a certain extent as long as I refer people to irs.gov.