More than half (54%) of Americans say they have started one side hustle to supplement their main source of income in the past 12 months, according to a survey by MarketWatch Guide.
Although there is no shortage of potential opportunities – the side hustles can stretch online teaching for cleaning grills, creating digital products and much more – one does not necessarily have the same winning power as the other.
Related: 10 of the most profitable side hustles you can start with little or no money
Choosing a side hustle is an essential piece of the puzzle—but where you decide to start is another that can make or break your success.
So where in the United States do side hustlers have the greatest earning potential?
The team in SideHustles.com conducted a study to find out, analyzing data from Bureau of Labor Statistics American Community Survey to determine which states and cities have the highest percentage of residents earning self-employment income and their median income.
Households in North Dakota, New Jersey and Connecticut earn the most in self-employment income, at $60,221, $55,748 and $55,192, respectively, according to data from SideHustle.com.
Lake Charles, Louisiana, has the highest average self employment Income at $179,080 per household, followed by San Tan Valley, Arizona ($141,459) and Upland, California ($130,291), the analysis found.
Related: Top 10 US Cities to Start a Side hustle, According to Statistics
Read on to see the top five cities and states where people earn the most on average self employment income, according to the study:
The top five cities where the self-employed earn the most
- Lake Charles, Louisiana: $179,080
- San Tan Valley, Arizona: $141,459
- Upland, California: $130,291
- Newton, Massachusetts: $118,527
- Bethesda, Maryland: $110,573
Related: This 20-year-old student started a side hustle with $400 — and made $150,000 over the summer
Top five states where the self-employed earn the most
- North Dakota: $60,221
- New Jersey: $55,748
- Connecticut: $55,192
- Massachusetts: $54,712
- California: $53,639