New research from Squarespace analyzed more than 30 hobbies across annual income, hourly rates and job posting volume to find which passion projects are generating the most real income in the U.S. right now. The top earners: App development: $119,786 average annual income, up 119% in search interest year over year Pottery and ceramics: $106,858 3D printing and maker projects: $101,249 The fastest-growing categories by search volume — even if they haven't hit the highest income numbers yet — include crafts and handmade goods (up 930% over four years), print-on-demand and merch design (up 636%) and social media management (up 490%). The context behind the numbers: a LendingTree survey found that nearly 60% of Americans picked up a new hobby during the pandemic, and about half of them turned it into a side hustle. That shift has continued well past COVID — and it's finding its most profitable phase yet as platforms, tools and marketplaces make monetization more accessible than ever. The common thread across every category on this list isn't a specific skill. It's the decision to treat something you already do as something worth building deliberately. The data on what pays is increasingly clear. The variable is whether you start. Read more: f.mtr.cool/flyeckvxiu