Best Gig Work Opportunities in St. Louis
You need cash fast, and St. Louis has solid gig work options if you know where to look. The city's size means there's real demand for delivery drivers, rideshare, task services, and other flexible work. Here's what actually pays in the St. Louis area, with realistic numbers based on what people are earning right now.
Delivery and Rideshare Pay $15-25 Per Hour
Delivery driving is probably your fastest path to money. Apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Instacart operate heavily in St. Louis, and you can start earning within days of approval. Most drivers report making $15 to $22 per hour after gas costs during peak times (lunch and dinner). You'll make less during slow afternoon hours, sometimes dropping to $10-12 per hour.
Rideshare through Uber and Lyft works similarly. Evening and weekend work pays better here. Expect $16 to $25 per hour during busy times, though again, slow periods pay considerably less. One advantage over food delivery: you don't have to wait for restaurant orders or deal with complex pickup situations.
What you need: A relatively clean car, valid license, insurance, and a background check. The barrier to entry is low, and you could have your first delivery within a week if you're organized about the application process.
Task Services and Handyman Work Pay $18-40+ Per Hour
TaskRabbit and similar platforms let you do small jobs around people's homes: furniture assembly, moving help, cleaning, yard work, and minor repairs. St. Louis has consistent demand for this work, and you control your schedule completely.
Experienced taskers report earnings between $25 and $40 per hour, though some jobs pay flat rates ($40-150 depending on the task). Starting out, you might land jobs at the lower end until you build reviews and ratings. The platform takes a cut of your earnings, typically 20-30%, so factor that in.
If you're handy, you can go independent and advertise through Nextdoor or Facebook Marketplace. This cuts out the platform fee but requires you to handle your own scheduling and communication. Independent task work can pay $30-50 per hour if you build a solid local reputation.
What you need: Reliability, some skills, and transportation. No special licenses required for most tasks.
Gig Retail and Merchandising Pay $16-22 Per Hour
Mystery shopping and retail merchandising are steady options in a city like St. Louis. Companies hire people to visit stores, check product displays, take photos, and report back. Merchandising gigs involve stocking shelves or arranging products for brands.
These jobs typically pay $16 to $22 per hour plus reimbursement for gas or purchases. They're less exciting than delivery, but they're reliable and predictable. You know your schedule in advance, which helps with planning.
What you need: A smartphone for photos, transportation, and attention to detail. You'll need to submit work through an app.
Freelance Skills and Content Creation Pay Highly But Take Time
If you can write, design, create videos, or do social media management, platforms like Fiverr and Upwork connect you with clients. St. Louis-based freelancers report making anywhere from $20 to $100+ per hour depending on skill level and demand.
This isn't "fast money" in the immediate sense. You'll spend your first few weeks building a portfolio and getting your first reviews. After that, though, the hourly rate climbs significantly. People with established profiles can make $50-100 per hour doing graphic design, writing, or video editing.
What you need: A laptop and specific skills. No approval process barrier, but you do face competition.
Start Searching Today
St. Louis has multiple platforms and opportunities across these categories. The best approach is to start with what you can launch fastest (delivery apps if you have a car, tasks if you're handy, freelance if you have a skill). Many people run multiple gigs simultaneously to maximize income.
Search WhoPaysMe Now's gig work directory to find active platforms accepting workers in your St. Louis neighborhood right now. Get specific locations, current hiring status, and which gigs are actually available near you.