23 Best Jobs for Lazy People—and How to Get One

What are the best jobs for lazy people? That's a nuanced question—one that largely depends on how you define lazy. If you're truly a lazy person, our advice to you to find a job—especially one that pays well—would be to stop being lazy. 

Laziness doesn't lead to success. To find a job, and keep one, you’ll need to be motivated, dedicated and willing to put in some work. But if you're dubbed lazy because, say, you're a late riser, want to work entirely from home, prefer to make your own hours or lean more on the inactive side of the spectrum, don't sweat it—there are jobs out there for you. 

As long as you’re motivated enough to find them and get the job done, you can succeed professionally without being the traditional “go getter” who wakes up at 5 AM and works on Sundays. Here are 23 jobs for lazy people—and some that actually pay well.

23 best jobs for lazy people

Below, you'll find both side hustles and full-time jobs. Most of these pay by the hour, so your earnings will vary depending on the company, industry, how many clients you get, or how much time you have to work.

1. Survey Taker

There are tons of online sites looking to hire people to take surveys for money. For example, Swagbucks gives out gift cards for answering surveys and taking polls online. Companies, brands, and organizations that work with Swagbucks are seeking the opinions of consumers to help shape their products and services in the development and marketing stages. 

Swagbucks has paid over $600,000,000 in rewards to members around the world so far. All you have to do is spend a few minutes on your computer, even from the couch. There’s also added benefits for survey takers with specific professional expertise, whether you’re an engineer or a marketer. These surveys are more likely to offer more money for your time in trade for your unique expertise.

2. Online Shopper

Some people don't have time to shop in stores. Others don't even have time to shop online. That's why they want to hire people like you, who could sit around and online shop all day. Of course, you'll need to be on your game looking for the best deals around the internet, but you're essentially getting paid to do what you might already do from bed on lazy nights.

3. Line Stand-In

If you don't mind waiting in long lines, there are people in this world who will pay you to do it for them. They may need you to go pick up tickets for them, as they don't have time since they're at work all day, themselves. 

Or, perhaps, a new in-demand product has come out or there's a popular concert coming up, and the line for tickets is hours long. Someone is probably willing to pay you to wait in the line for them. And that's all you have to do—wait in line.

4. Rideshare Driver

There are tons of ridesharing apps today like Uber and Lyft. If you're keen on making your own hours, sitting in the car most of the day, and cruising around, this could be a great job for you. However, this can be a stressful job for those who don't like interacting with strangers or get easily frustrated with traffic. If that sounds like you, it might be better to check out other options on this list.

5. Librarian

Being a librarian isn't necessarily a job for a lazy person who wants to wake up late. Most libraries are open early, which means you'll have to be there early too. Once there, you can spend a good chunk of your day moseying through aisles of books and doing administrative work, such as cataloging, organizing, and circulating library materials.

According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average librarian made $68,570 in 2023. To become a librarian, you’ll need a bachelor’s or master’s degree in library science or a related field, though requirements can vary by state.

6. Food Taster

If you're much of a foodie, there are companies that'd pay you to taste test their products. This job involves checking out food's texture, moisture, smell, and other qualities. 

You usually don't need a degree to be a food taster, but having some culinary education can boost your chances. Companies typically hire and pay by the hour, so your earnings will depend on the company, your schedule, and complexity of the job.

7. Professional Cuddler

If there were a prize for the laziest job in the world, a professional cuddler would probably take the win. Believe it or not, there's a market for people who get paid to cuddle strangers. Companies like Cuddle Comfort, offer cuddle services by hiring or connecting people looking for platonic physical touch with professional cuddlers.

8. Hotel Sleep Tester

Hotels need to know that their beds and pillows are going to serve guests well. So they hire people to come test them out. You can literally get paid to spend a night sleeping in a hotel, testing out the mattress, pillow, and blanket situation.

9.  Beer Taster

Brewers, like restaurants and food manufactures, need to know that there's going to be a demand for their product. Many will hire beer tasters to drink and analyze their beers. Like sommeliers for wine, beer testers give feedback on taste, texture, appearance, smell, and overall quality. You don't usually need formal education, but a deep understanding of beer types and characteristics is essential. 

10. Video Game Tester

Imagine getting paid to play video games. Video game companies also need people to test out their products and inform them of any glitches and critical feedback. If you've spent long hours on the couch playing video games in the past, you might be the perfect person for this job.

11. Sleep Study Participant

Scientists are always looking for participants in studies. So why not seek out sleep studies? In short, you'll get paid to sleep while researchers conduct a sleep study. You might not even have to do anything differently than you normally would, so long as you're comfortable being monitored or tracking your sleep patterns.

12. Breath Odor Analyzer

Gum and toothpaste companies hire people to analyze breath odor in order to gauge their products. In other words, someone will actually pay you to smell other people's breaths. In 2008, breath odor evaluator made it onto a CNN list of oddest jobs. It's unlikely that you'll make a living out of it, but if you're looking for extra cash and don't mind sniffing people's breath, this could be a lazy side hustle opportunity.

13. Dog Walker

Apps like Wag! exist for people who love dogs and want to walk them for some extra cash. You can make your own hours and just walk some stranger's dog whenever you feel like going for a stroll. Similarly, apps like Rover connect dog owners with dog sitters who are willing to take care of their pets while they're on trips or at work. Payments typically range from $15 to $45 per hour depending on the app. 

14. Binge-Watcher

Companies like Netflix hire people to binge-watch content on their platforms in order to help them categorize that content. So, if you're an avid movie watcher or a show series lover, this could be an ideal job for you.

15. Movie Extra

If there's a film shoot for a movie in your area, chances are that the team might be in the market for extras. All you have to do is apply to stand around in the background—usually not doing much. There's no official data on how much movie extras get paid, but based on the average hourly wage for actors, you could potentially earn between $20,50 to $41.01 per hour.

16. Commercial Extra

Like movies, commercials often need extras, too. And, again, all you have to do is stand around in the background, not usually doing much. Since commercial shoots are typically shorter than movie productions, this makes it a great side hustle for lazy people who prefer not to spend long hours on a set.

17. Cat Sitter

If you're a pet person, watching someone's animals while they're away on vacation could be a great job for you. Cats, especially, are easy to sit. All you have to do is make sure that cats have enough food, their litter box is clean, and they get some snuggles in. It's a pretty easy job, and laying around cuddling is sort of part of the deal anyway. You can find tons of pet sitting jobs on sites like Petsitter.com.

18. Plant Caretaker

19. Sports Fan

Some companies will hire legitimate sports maniacs to watch sports with clients and take clients out to show them a good time. This is to help amp up the people watching the game, as these sports fans know a lot about it and can get others involved.

20. Housesitter

If a family goes on an extended vacation, they may hire people, like you, to watch their house while they're gone. This might include stopping by to do things like watering the plants or feeding the cat. It also may include things like picking up the mail outside and tidying up so the house doesn't collect dust while they're gone. Depending on the tasks at hand, this can be an incredibly easy pop-in job. You can find these gigs on sites like HouseSitter.com. 

21. Dating App Messenger

There are people out there who will actually hire you to write their dating app profiles and message matches for them. They either don't have the time to do it themselves, or they don't know what they should say. So they're looking to others like you to do it for them.

22. Security guard

Being a security guard could be great for lazy introverts. The job mainly involves monitoring facilities to prevent suspicious activities. Most of the time, you won't need to interact with people or move around much—typically, security guards just stand or sit in place and only act when needed. 

If you land a job in quiet settings like museums or large retail stores, you might find yourself with little to do, especially during night shifts. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual wage for security guards in 2023 was $40,440. To become one, a high school diploma is often all you need—most companies provide on-the-job training and instruction, as stated in the Occupational Outlook Handbook.

23. Online customer service

Did you know that some companies hire customer service employees to work from home? If you're seeking remote jobs for lazy people, this might be the one for you. The role of a customer service representative varies by company and industry, but typically involves resolving customer issues, answering questions, and providing product or service information. So it's a job that demands more mental effort than physical.

While companies generally don't require a degree for this role, a high school diploma and strong communication and problem-solving skills are essential. In 2023, the mean wage for customer service representatives was $43,520.

This article reflects the views of the author and not necessarily those of Fairygodboss.

AnnaMarie Houlis is a feminist, a freelance journalist and an adventure aficionado with an affinity for impulsive solo travel. She spends her days writing about women’s empowerment from around the world. You can follow her work on her blog, HerReport.org, and follow her journeys on Instagram @her_report, Twitter @herreport and Facebook.

Amanda Cardoso also contributed to the latest version of this article.