Paid Surveys: Side Hustle or Full-time Job?

Paid surveys have become an increasingly popular way for people to make extra money in their spare time.

With the rise of survey platforms like SurveyJunkie, InboxDollars, and Swagbucks, it’s easier than ever to sign up and start taking surveys for cash rewards.

But is paid survey taking viable as a full-time job replacement?

Here are some pros and cons to consider when deciding whether paid surveys should be a side hustle or a main source of income for you.

The Pros of Paid Surveys as a Side Hustle

Easy to get started: Signing up for paid survey sites is quick and doesn’t require an application or interview. As long as you match the demographics surveys are targeting, you can begin taking surveys right away.
Work from home: Paid surveys allow you to earn money from the comfort of your own home, on your own schedule. You can take surveys while watching TV, riding the bus, or during other downtime.
Low commitment: With paid surveys, you decide when and how much you want to work. You can do surveys here and there when you have time or need extra cash. There’s no set schedule or demanding workload.
Provides supplemental income: For most people, paid surveys generate decent supplemental income, ranging from $100 to $1,000 per month. This extra money can help cover small bills, debt payments, entertainment costs, or be put into savings.
Open to anyone: Paid survey companies want input from all sorts of demographics. So no matter your age, education level, or background, you can qualify to complete surveys. Retirees, stay-at-home parents, students, and others often use paid surveys to earn.

The Cons of Paid Surveys as a Full-Time Job

Low hourly pay: Most paid surveys pay less than $1-3 per survey, which takes 10-30 minutes to complete. That works out to $6-18 per hour maximum, much less than traditional jobs. Earning a livable full-time income would require taking a high volume of surveys per day.
No guaranteed income: There is no steady paycheck with paid survey work. The availability of surveys depends on consumer demand. Sometimes there may be many surveys available, while other times few will be offered. Income can fluctuate greatly month-to-month.
Repetitive tasks: Survey taking involves answering the same types of questions repeatedly. The work can become tedious and boring over time, especially if relying on surveys as a primary income source.
Frequency caps: To prevent participants from overtaking surveys, companies often limit how many surveys someone can take per day or week. Too many surveys completed may result in being banned. These caps negatively impact earning potential.
Possibility of scams: Not all survey companies are legitimate. Some fake paid survey scams exist online, looking to take advantage of people. Vetting companies carefully is important when survey taking for income.
Taxes: Income earned from paid surveys is taxable and needs to be reported. Because companies rarely issue tax documents, keeping track of earnings and reporting taxes on your own can be tedious.

The Verdict: Better as a Side Hustle

Overall, paid surveys are a more viable option as a flexible side hustle than as a full-time job replacement.

While surveys can earn you extra spending money in your downtime, earnings are generally not high enough or consistent enough compared to traditional employment.

Unless you can take a high volume of surveys for many hours per day, income will likely stay supplemental.

That said, as a side hustle, paid surveys provide an easy, no-commitment way to generate additional income from home.

Surveys won’t make you rich, but they can be worthwhile for reaching financial goals when treated as a hobby rather than a career. Just don’t rely on surveys alone to pay the bills, and be selective about the survey platforms you use.

Frequenly Asked Questions

What are paid surveys?

Paid surveys are questionnaires that companies, organizations, or research firms create to get feedback from consumers. Survey takers get paid for each survey they complete.

What kinds of surveys are there?

Common paid survey topics include product feedback, political polls, health surveys, academic research questions, and market research. Different companies specialize in different types of surveys.

Can I make survey taking a full-time job?

It’s possible but challenging. Low per survey pay means you would have to take a high volume daily to earn full-time income. Frequency caps that limit daily surveys also make this difficult.

What are the pros and cons of paid surveys?

Pros include flexible hours, easy signup, open to many demographics. Cons include low pay, repetitive work, fluctuating availability of surveys. Surveys work better as supplemental, not primary income.