Side Income Overtake Calculator (when will my side hustle earn more than my job?)

How it works

If the side income grows by g% every month, after n months it is S × (1 + g)ⁿ. It passes your pay P when n = ln(P ÷ S) ÷ ln(1 + g), rounded up to whole months. The total earned until then is the sum S + S(1 + g) + … for those months. The growth needed to pass it within 12 months is (P ÷ S)^(1/12) − 1. Steady growth for years is rare: most side incomes grow in jumps and plateaus, so treat the date as a what-if.

⚠ Estimates for information only — not financial advice.

FAQ

Is 8% a month realistic?

Over a few months, sometimes; for years, rarely — 8% a month is about 150% a year. Try a lower rate such as 2–3% to see a more cautious date.

Should I quit when the side income passes my pay?

Wait until it has stayed above your pay for several months, you have an emergency fund, and you have planned for health insurance, pension and tax that an employer used to handle.

Checked 11 Nov 2026. Compound growth: Sₙ = S₀(1 + g)ⁿ, solved for n with logarithms; geometric series for the total.