Moonlighting to full-time gigs: Techies widen income sources

BENGALURU: From young professionals to experienced developers, techies are increasingly taking up freelance assignments to supplement incomes and build alternative career paths as the industry grapples with slowing hiring, rapid advances in AI, and growing uncertainty around traditional tech roles. For some, these gigs are side hustles alongside full-time jobs-reflecting a rise in moonlighting-while others view them as a potential pathway to full-time independent work if the job market weakens further.

For Sharon Suresh, an engineering analyst with nearly a decade of experience and a member of the AnitaB network, gig work has become a steady source of income. She earns around Rs 2,000 per hour for automation projects, working with clients as far away as Australia and Texas. Many of these assignments run for several months, allowing her to plan workloads and income more predictably.

"When getting into gig work, it's important to know where the opportunities are. I stumbled upon a platform called Superprof when I was in college and signed up initially just to earn some pocket money," Suresh said. "Through that, I realised many businesses need help with digital transformation but don't always know where to find the right talent. They turn to such platforms for freelancers, and there are plenty of well-paying projects available." She says the flexibility of gig work has made it attractive for experienced developers as well.

At the other end of the spectrum are young professionals entering the workforce through freelance projects.

D S Chinmayi, a final-year mechanical engineering student, began taking up freelance IT assignments to build her portfolio even before graduating. Over the past year, she has completed five projects.

Meanwhile, hourly rates for IT gig workers vary widely depending on skills and project complexity. At student-focused gig platform TimbuckDo, the average pay for skilled gig workers ranges between Rs 850 and Rs 1,500 per hour.

Roles involving deeper technical expertise or specialised tasks such as cybersecurity or testing tend to command the higher end of the pay spectrum. By contrast, entry-level design or basic development tasks typically fetch around Rs 450 to Rs 550 per hour as AI tools increasingly automate routine work.

Globally, freelance rates have increased 11% year-on-year, according to HR consulting firm ManpowerGroup.

India's technology gig economy is set for strong growth in 2026, with hiring expected to rise nearly 60% from last year as companies rely more on project-based talent, according to Randstad Digital.

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