In 2021, Patrick, a 34-year-old from California, found himself with an abundance of free time. His remote account manager job didn't demand a full eight-hour workday, and pandemic restrictions limited his activities outside of work. This led him to a game-changing idea: seeking additional work to boost his income and professional skills.
This decision transformed his life. By 2023, Patrick secretly balanced two full-time remote jobs, along with extra freelance work, earning nearly $200,000 and increasing his income by about 70%. The additional earnings allowed him to pay off debts, improve his home, invest in rental properties, and grow his savings. Despite juggling multiple jobs, he only worked an average of 20 hours per week across both full-time positions.
This boost in income also brought significant changes for his family. His wife was able to switch from a full-time to a part-time job, giving her more time to care for their child. For Patrick, this journey towards "financial freedom" reinforced his belief in being his own boss and having a stable income. "Overemployment helped me learn the skills and gain the confidence to start my own business," he remarked.
Patrick is part of a group of Americans who have secretly taken on multiple remote roles to secure their financial futures. Some have even earned up to $1 million annually from their extra jobs, using the income to settle debts, save for retirement, and enjoy high-end vacations and lifestyle enhancements. However, this practice isn't without risks—unapproved extra work can lead to consequences, and factors like competition for remote jobs, return-to-office mandates, and burnout make over-employment a potentially unsustainable strategy.
Patrick's journey through employment equipped him with the skills and confidence needed to start his own business. Since 2020, he maintained the same primary remote job, but his other commitments evolved significantly. He started with growth marketing freelance work alongside his main job in 2021, comfortably handling two clients. By 2022, he had taken on a second full-time remote job and increased his freelance roster to three clients, without either of his full-time employers knowing about his additional roles.
Mid-last year, Patrick left his second remote job—demanding about 15 hours weekly—due to his wife’s pregnancy, requiring more support at home. Currently, he manages his primary remote job along with seven freelance clients, which collectively need about 80 hours of work per month. This freelance work has blossomed into a full-fledged business, as evidenced by the LLC he established last December.
Patrick credits his over employment experience with helping him realize his capability to manage a business. Looking ahead, he plans to maintain his over employment strategy, reassured by his employer's policy that exempts employees living over 50 miles from the office from commuting.
While his finances have greatly improved, Patrick emphasizes that the extra income remains "really important," especially as a new father with financial freedom being his ultimate goal.