Top side hustles in Tulsa
Tulsa has spent the last several years quietly turning itself into a magnet for remote workers and small business owners. Housing is affordable, traffic is light, and neighborhoods like Brookside, Cherry Street, the Pearl District and the Tulsa Arts District are full of people who would rather pay for help than lose their weekends. That makes the best side hustles in Tulsa a mix of high-value online work and dependable local services, with a boost from events and Route 66 tourism.
Here are 18 side hustles in Tulsa that work in 2026, with typical pay, startup costs and the local details that help you earn more.
How Tulsa's economy shapes side gigs
Tulsa isn't just an oil town anymore, and that diversity creates demand in a lot of directions:
- Aviation and energy. American Airlines runs a huge maintenance base at Tulsa International Airport, and energy companies like ONEOK and Williams are headquartered downtown. Shift workers and engineers outsource yard work, pet care and errands.
- Healthcare and education. Saint Francis Health System, Hillcrest, the University of Tulsa, Oral Roberts University, OSU-Tulsa and Tulsa Community College bring in steady demand for tutoring, childcare and rentals.
- Remote workers. The Tulsa Remote program has offered relocation grants to remote workers since 2018, so the city has a deep pool of freelancers and remote employees, plus coworking spaces like 36 Degrees North.
- Route 66 and events. 2026 marks a century of Route 66, and Tulsa has leaned hard into its Mother Road history. Add BOK Center concerts, Cain's Ballroom shows, Drillers games at ONEOK Field, Mayfest, Tulsa Tough in June and the Tulsa State Fair in fall.
The best side hustles in Tulsa for 2026
1. Remote freelancing
Tulsa's remote-worker community means referrals flow easily if you show up at meetups and coworking events. Writing, design, web development, bookkeeping and ad management all work. Start on Fiverr or Upwork, then move good clients to monthly retainers. Pick one niche, such as energy, healthcare or local restaurants, so referrals know exactly what you do.
2. Lawn care routes in the suburbs
Broken Arrow, Jenks, Bixby and Owasso have newer subdivisions with big lawns and busy families. A tight weekly route in one subdivision beats scattered jobs across the metro. Add leaf cleanup in fall and you have income from April to November.
3. Food and grocery delivery
DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart and Walmart Spark run steadily along 71st Street, Brookside and Cherry Street and in South Tulsa. Short trips and easy parking are Tulsa's big advantage over larger metros.
4. Rideshare driving
Concert nights at the BOK Center and Cain's Ballroom, weekends in the Blue Dome District and early flights out of Tulsa International are the busiest windows. Read our Lyft and Uber guide before signing up.
5. Pet sitting and dog walking
Brookside, Maple Ridge and Midtown are full of dog owners, and the River Parks trails make walks easy. Airline workers on long trips and travel-heavy professionals are great repeat clients.
6. Handyman and home repair
Older homes in Maple Ridge, Florence Park and Kendall-Whittier need constant small repairs. Newer homes in the suburbs need TV mounting, shelving and assembly. Skip licensed trades like electrical and plumbing.
7. Short-term rental cleaning
Rentals near downtown, the Gathering Place and the University of Tulsa fill for concerts, TU games, graduations and Route 66 travelers. Hosts need fast, reliable turnovers and pay a premium for people who don't cancel.
8. Content creation for local businesses
Restaurants on Cherry Street, Route 66 shops and boutiques in the Pearl District need short videos and social posts. A phone, a ring light and a simple monthly package can turn into steady retainers.
Price your work and plan your hours
Before you quote your first client or commit to driving shifts, figure out how many hours it takes to hit your goal:
Side Hustle Income Calculator
Plug in your rate and hours to see monthly and yearly take-home — and how long until you hit a goal.
| Side hustle | Typical pay | Startup cost | Time to first dollar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remote freelancing | $25–$75/hr | Laptop | 2–6 weeks |
| Lawn care | $40–$65 per yard | $0–$400 | Days |
| Delivery | $15–$22/hr before gas | Car or e-bike | Under 1 week |
| Rideshare | $15–$25/hr before expenses | Eligible car | 1–2 weeks |
| Pet sitting | $40–$70/night | $0 | 1–3 weeks |
| Handyman | $40–$75/hr | $100–$400 | 1–2 weeks |
| Rental cleaning | $70–$150 per turnover | $75–$150 | 1–2 weeks |
| Content creation | $300–$1,000/client/month | $50–$200 | 2–4 weeks |
Seasonal and event side gigs
9. Event staffing
The BOK Center, ONEOK Field, Expo Square during the Tulsa State Fair, Mayfest downtown and Tulsa Tough all need ushers, concession workers and setup crews.
10. Route 66 tours and experiences
Visitors driving the Mother Road want local guides, photo stops and food crawls. Package a two-hour Route 66 tour through Tulsa's neon signs and landmarks and list it on Airbnb Experiences or with local hotels.
11. Lake-season services
Keystone Lake, Lake Eufaula and Grand Lake draw Tulsans every summer. Boat cleaning, dock setup and cabin turnovers pay well on weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
12. Pressure washing
Spring pollen and summer storms leave driveways and siding dirty. Before-and-after photos in neighborhood Facebook groups sell this service for you.
13. Holiday light installation
South Tulsa and Broken Arrow homeowners pay to have lights hung in November and taken down in January. It pairs nicely with a lawn care business in the off-season.
Seasonal gigs are where Tulsa side hustlers often make their best money per hour, because demand arrives all at once. The trick is to line up clients before the season starts: pitch holiday lights in October, lake cleaning in April and State Fair staffing in August. Past clients are your easiest sales, so keep a simple list of everyone you've worked for and reach out a few weeks before each season.
Skill-based and online side jobs in Tulsa
14. Tutoring and test prep
Jenks, Bixby and Union families invest in tutoring and ACT prep. TU and ORU students can tutor in person; teachers can tutor online after school.
15. Bookkeeping and virtual assistance
Small energy service firms, contractors and real estate agents need help with invoicing and scheduling. QuickBooks skills pay more.
16. Real estate and event photography
New construction in Broken Arrow, Owasso and Bixby keeps agents busy. Weddings and senior photos fill spring and fall weekends.
17. Reselling vintage and collectibles
Tulsa estate sales are strong for mid-century furniture, oil-boom era decor and Route 66 memorabilia. Sell locally on Facebook Marketplace and nationally on eBay.
18. Online courses and digital products
Teach what you know from aviation maintenance, energy, nursing or software on Udemy or Skillshare. It takes longer to start, but it scales.
Where the money is across the Tulsa metro
Tulsa is spread out, so knowing which part of town fits your hustle saves you hours of driving:
- Downtown, Blue Dome and the Arts District: rideshare, delivery and event staffing around the BOK Center, Cain's Ballroom and ONEOK Field. Greenwood draws visitors interested in Black Wall Street history, which helps tour and rental work.
- Brookside, Cherry Street and Midtown: dog walking, house sitting, content creation for restaurants and boutiques, and handyman work in older homes.
- Broken Arrow, Jenks, Bixby and Owasso: lawn routes, pressure washing, tutoring, holiday lights and real estate photography for new subdivisions.
- Near the airport and east Tulsa: pet sitting and errands for airline and aerospace shift workers, plus courier work for warehouses.
- The Gathering Place and Riverside corridor: family visitors, photo sessions and short-term rentals on busy weekends.
Pick one zone and build density there. A dozen clients within a few miles of each other is worth more than twenty scattered across the metro.
How to start a side hustle in Tulsa this month
- Pick one hustle. Choose based on the hours you can protect every week, not the highest possible rate.
- Join the local network. Coworking events, neighborhood Facebook groups and Nextdoor bring in referrals faster than ads.
- Set your rates. Use the freelance rate calculator so you don't undercharge.
- Land three clients and ask for reviews. Early reviews matter more than anything else you can buy.
- Plan around events and seasons. Add the BOK Center schedule, Mayfest, Tulsa Tough and the State Fair to your calendar.
- Save for taxes. Open a separate account and move a share of every payment into it.
Oklahoma taxes and Tulsa rules
- State income tax: Oklahoma's top rate fell to 4.5% for 2026, with fewer brackets than before.
- Self-employment tax: 15.3% federal on net profit. Use the self-employment tax calculator to estimate quarterly payments.
- Sales tax: selling physical products requires an Oklahoma sales tax permit. Most personal services aren't taxed.
- Licensing: there's no general state business license, and most simple service gigs don't need a general city license. Home businesses must follow zoning rules, and food, trades and short-term rentals have their own requirements. Check with the City of Tulsa.
Nearby cities to compare
Curious how Tulsa compares? Read our guides to the best side hustles in Oklahoma City, Wichita and Kansas City. Tulsa stands out for its remote-worker community and Route 66 tourism.
Choose one idea, give it 90 days, and track your hours and profit. That's how Better Side Hustles readers in Tulsa turn spare evenings into reliable income.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best side hustles in Tulsa?
Remote freelancing, lawn care in Broken Arrow, Jenks and Bixby, pet sitting, delivery and rideshare around Brookside and downtown events, short-term rental cleaning, handyman work and event staffing at the BOK Center are the strongest picks. Low living costs make online income especially valuable, and Route 66 tourism adds seasonal opportunities.
How can I make money in Tulsa fast?
Delivery apps such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart and Spark can pay within days of approval. Event staffing for BOK Center concerts, Drillers games and the Tulsa State Fair also pays quickly. If you own a mower, a pressure washer or basic tools, posting on Nextdoor in your neighborhood can land paying work within a day or two.
Do I need a business license for a side hustle in Tulsa?
Oklahoma has no general state business license, and most simple service side hustles in Tulsa do not need a general city license. Home businesses must follow zoning rules, and specific activities such as food vending, trades, and short-term rentals can require their own permits or registration. Check with the City of Tulsa before you expand.
How much can you make from side jobs in Tulsa?
Most people putting in 8 to 15 hours a week earn roughly $400 to $1,500 a month. App-based work typically nets $15 to $22 an hour after gas, while skilled services like handyman work, freelancing and photography often bring $40 to $75 an hour once you have repeat clients. Your results depend on hours, season and pricing.
What are the taxes on side hustle income in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma's top personal income tax rate dropped to 4.5% for 2026. You also owe federal income tax plus 15.3% self-employment tax on net profit. Set aside around 25 to 30% of your profit, keep receipts and a mileage log, and make quarterly estimated payments once you expect to owe $1,000 or more.
Is Tulsa a good city for remote side hustles?
Yes. Tulsa has invested heavily in attracting remote workers, including the Tulsa Remote relocation program, and it has coworking spaces like 36 Degrees North. Housing costs are well below national averages, so freelance and online income stretches further here. A strong local network of remote professionals also makes it easier to find collaborators and referrals.
Better Side Hustles Editorial Team. We research side hustles the practical way — platform fees, real pay ranges and what it takes to land your first dollar. How we write our guides.
Last reviewed October 26, 2026. Pay ranges are estimates and vary by city, season and effort. This article may contain affiliate links; see our disclosure.
