15 Best Early Morning Jobs (Early Morning Shifts That Pay Well)

The early bird gets the worm, as the saying goes, but what about the early riser?

According to research, early risers are happier and healthier than night owls. They also tend to have more energy in their afternoons.

The early morning hours can be a great time to get some work done while the rest of the world is still asleep. There are fewer distractions, fewer phone calls from friends, and less traffic on the road.

Some of the most successful people in the world are also early risers. For instance, Apple CEO Tim Cook wakes up at 3:45 every morning. Michelle Obama is known to work out at 4:30 am before her kids are up. Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz is at the office by 6 am.

Best Early Morning Jobs

Not everyone is a morning person, and that’s okay! But if you’re looking for a job that starts before the sun rises, here is a list of the best early-morning jobs to help you earn extra cash and wake up before the birds.

Easy Morning Jobs

1. Dog Walker

Dog walkers are in high demand, especially during the holidays. Busy dog owners are willing to pay for someone who can keep their furry friends happy and active.

Dog walking is not a 9-5 job—it’s usually more like 4:30 am-7 am because their owners want to take their dogs on walks before heading off to work themselves. Walking dogs for your neighbors as a part-time gig could be more than enough work if you’re looking for “early morning jobs near me.”

As a dog walker, you get to spend your morning hours outdoors and get in some much-needed exercise and fresh air while earning some cash.

Rover (for the US and CA) is a great place to find dog walking or pet-sitting jobs. The site is essentially an Uber for pets. You can set your own rates, schedule shifts, and keep your money. You may also find clients through word of mouth or advertising on social media. 

So if that works with your schedule and you have a dog-loving heart, this could be a good option for making extra cash on weekends or during summer breaks.

2. Answering Online Surveys

With no extra effort added to your everyday routine, answering online surveys is a great way to make money online. It’s an easy early morning job that you can do in your PJs. Hundreds of companies will love to pay you to complete online surveys with PayPal cash or gift cards, but I recommend the following legit sites as they are easy to earn rewards and cash out.

Remote early Morning Jobs

3. Virtual Assistant

You’ve probably heard of virtual assistants, but are you aware of how many early morning hours they can save for a business or an entrepreneur?

Virtually every industry needs a virtual assistant, and it’s not just for a real estate mogul or CEO of a big firm.

An experienced virtual assistant can handle all the tasks that otherwise hinder productivity. These include answering emails, scheduling meetings and appointments, responding to client inquiries, and making phone calls. And all these tasks could be done while sitting at home on your couch in sweatpants or pajamas.

The job is flexible, but it’s better to start the work before the sun rises, especially if you have foreign clients in different time zones, as your international clients are more likely to be awake at the crack of dawn. Plus, getting tasks done earlier is a great way to get ahead of your schedule.

Read on: Make Money With Your Smartphone In Your Leisure Time

4. Blogger

Do you like reading and writing? Do you dream of becoming an online blogger but don’t think it’s possible because of the time commitment? 

Good news: Bloggers can get in some writing time before the rest of the world wakes up and begins their day. 

The early morning hours will give you time alone with your thoughts. It’s not just good for those who prefer solitude. Getting up early to write content is much easier if you are a stay-at-home mum or dad with young children. Similarly, office workers or college students with busy life and commitments outside work hours can also benefit from starting their day by blogging as early as 5.30 am.

Part-Time Early Morning Jobs

5. Real Estate Agent

Real estate agents are busy people. They spend their days meeting with clients and helping them find the perfect house at the right price. They also attend open houses and broker meetings and prepare for upcoming appointments.

But did you know they tend to have busy clients as well? Whether prospective buyers have tight work schedules or errands to run, they only have time to see houses in the early mornings.

So if you want to show them your listings, you need to be available when your clients are available. In other words, you have to be one of those early risers. Besides, the early morning is the best time to make calls or send emails to potential buyers or sellers.

Although the working hours are long and unpredictable, this is a fairly well-paying job. If you can stomach the early morning hours or late nights, give it a shot.

6. Personal Fitness Trainer

Being a personal fitness trainer (PFT) is the perfect morning gig for the early riser who already has a morning routine and wants to make extra bucks on top of their 9-5 job.

Early morning hours are prime time for a fitness trainer, but not every instructor will get up with the sun. So if you don’t mind leaving the house by 5 or 6 am, you can get plenty of motivated clients to exercise before heading to work.

As a fitness trainer, you can work in studios, gyms, health clubs, or even at home as an independent contractor or get employed by fitness centers. Depending on your interest and expertise, you can specialize in different areas, such as yoga, weight lifting, or general cardiovascular exercises.

Although you don’t have to have a college degree to be a personal trainer, some employers may prefer candidates with an accredited certification or related experience.

7. Barista

The barista position is one of the most common early morning jobs for college students and those early birds who want to earn extra while others are asleep.

The barista is the face of a coffee shop, so you must be friendly and welcoming to customers while they’re still bleary-eyed. You’ll also need to know how to make different types of coffee with fancy equipment like espresso machines or milk frothers.

The job combines a passion for good coffee with excellent customer service and problem-solving skills. Baristas aren’t just slinging cups of joe on their own—they’re also responsible for stocking supplies, cleaning equipment, preparing drinks and food items like pastries and sandwiches, and running the register.

Most coffee shops are open early in the morning so that people who need their caffeine fix can get it before heading off to work, but plenty of late-night shifts are also available. If you’re willing to put in the time and energy, you can make a decent amount of cash—especially during holiday seasons like Christmas or Valentine’s Day.

8. Food Delivery Driver

You might think that the best time to deliver food is at lunchtime, but did you know plenty of food delivery driver jobs are available in the early morning (sometimes before sunrise)? 

If you don’t mind being on the road early in the morning and delivering hot breakfast burritos to hungry employees in your area, this job is for you! You’ll have a flexible schedule and earn an additional income stream while meeting new people and discovering new places in town. 

If you’re interested, you can start with an app like DoorDash. It’s one of the most popular food delivery services. The app makes it easy to find nearby orders, deliver food, and get paid. Don’t forget you can also keep 100% of all tips.

Jobs With Early Morning Shifts

9. Flight Attendant

You may have seen the TV series or heard about it from a friend of a friend who is an actual flight attendant. But it’s not just another show with pretty people and drama—it’s also an early morning job.

Flight attendants are friendly faces that greet you on a plane and make sure travelers have a safe trip. In addition to ensuring that everyone is buckled up before takeoff and has enough oxygen masks in case of emergencies, they assist passengers with food, refreshments, in-flight entertainment, and carry-on luggage. They must also have excellent communication skills to respond appropriately when a passenger is having trouble or complaining about something, such as food or service.

While staff might balk at getting up at 3:30 am and dealing with people all day, some nice perks make the job worthwhile. It’s an exciting job with lots of travel and adventure, and they get to meet many interesting people. Even a layover between flights can be fun—they can spend time with their cool colleagues, eat gourmet food at restaurants, and see new places.

But there are also some downsides to be considered. Flight attendants must be on call for days at a time. And they must be willing to work long hours—especially during busy seasons, such as holidays or spring break. The schedule can change frequently, and last-minute changes are expected.

If you’re looking for an early morning job that’s interesting, fast-paced, and constantly on the move, look no further than being a flight attendant.

10. Store Stocker

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting a store at 5:07 am, you know that stocking shelves is an art. They have to be fast, efficient, and organized.

As a store stocker, your job is to keep the shelves stocked with goods and restock sold-out products before opening hours begin at 8.30 am sharp. You also must ensure that the assigned shelves are organized and clean. You may also be responsible for pricing items and checking for damage.

This job requires physical strength and stamina since you’ll work on your feet during your morning shift. You might also be asked to lift and carry heavy items like boxes and cans.

The hours for this position vary by company and location. Many companies have early morning shifts and evening hours for their stockers. So if you are an early riser and want extra cash in your pocket, becoming a stocker might be right up your alley.

11. Cab Driver

If you live in a big city, there are cabs on the street 24/7. The cab driver is a staple of the early morning hours.

If you are often up before dawn and have a valid driving license, cab driving could be a part-time job to supplement your income. You might not get many fares between 3 am and 6 am, but there will still be enough customers to make this one of the early-morning jobs. Some tipsy passengers may need a ride home from late-night parties during the wee hours of the morning, while others want a pick-up from the airport as early as 3 am.

Whether you work for a taxi company or drive for yourself, you can choose morning shifts to avoid the rush hour traffic and probably make decent tips as people love cabs in the morning.

Super Early Morning Jobs

12. Baker

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of biting into a fresh, warm croissant or a classic chocolate-frosted éclair at seven on a Sunday morning, you know how delicious it can be.

You may not have thought about how the baker who created your pastry spent their early hours bringing that treat smack dab into your mouth.

Baking is fun for some people. The smell of fresh bread or cookies can be intoxicating, and there is something therapeutic about creating sweet treats from scratch. It’s also great to start the day with a fresh creation. If you are thinking about starting your own bakery shop one day, this is an excellent place to start.

This job is ideal for those who love working with food and want an opportunity to make their own creations. Because they work with doughs and batters that need to rise, bakers often have to get up very early—sometimes as early as 3:00 am.

The best time for an early morning baker would be between 4:00–6:00 am when most people are still asleep in bed. This gives the baker plenty of time before customers come in asking for their coffee cake or muffin fix!

13. Mail Carrier

The mail carrier is a classic early-morning job. It might be a good fit if you love working outdoors and meeting new people.

Although this job requires you to be on your feet for most of the day, it’s one of the best ways to get out of bed at 5 am and start your day off right.

Mail carriers are good at multitasking because they must sort through packages while walking upstairs or talking on their cell phone while carrying products.

This job also requires working with people from all walks of life. Some days, you’ll deal with angry residents complaining about their broken items. On other days, you’ll have happy customers thanking you profusely for delivering their Amazon Prime package before they even woke up.

14. Front Desk clerk

The job of a hotel front desk clerk is ideal for those who enjoy interacting with people and working in a pleasant environment.

You can help different customers: international travelers just passing through, business people who need to make last-minute changes to their room reservation, or attendees at a conference or wedding. You may even see some famous faces if you live in an area where many celebrities like to stay when they’re touring around town (like New York City).

Many benefits come along with being an early morning shift employee: it’s usually quiet and peaceful; there are fewer distractions from coworkers than during peak hours; and if you work directly with guests, it allows them to form strong relationships with you so that when they return later on down the road (or even years later), they’ll remember how great it was working with YOU!

As a front desk clerk, you will answer phones, greet guests, and check them in and out. You also handle payment transactions, make reservations, and answer questions like room service or local attractions.

The requirements for this position are pretty standard: excellent customer service skills, basic computer literacy and typing speed, good judgment skills, and the ability to multitask (particularly during peak seasons).

Front desk clerks must also be friendly while helping these customers navigate unfamiliar surroundings. A good attitude goes a long way when dealing with someone who has traveled many miles to get where they are now.

15. Warehouse Package Handler

Thanks to e-commerce and online shopping, the number of packages is constantly increasing, and so is the need for warehouse package handlers. Unsurprisingly, many big names like Amazon, Walmart, and Target are hiring warehouse workers to fill their orders.

As its name suggests, this job involves handling packages and moving boxes around the warehouse using forklifts or pallet jacks. You may also need to lift heavy objects. So you will need to be physically fit for this position.

The hours vary based on the company and its location. However, the early morning hours of most warehouses make it easier for workers with childcare responsibilities or who don’t want the hassle of commuting during rush hour traffic.

If you are willing to get up early (like 4.30 am or earlier) and stand on your feet for long periods, consider becoming part of their team.

How To Adjust To Working Early Mornings

There’s no doubt that waking up early is hard. But it’s not impossible. Here are some tips and tricks to help you adjust to working early mornings:

• Get yourself out of bed at the same time every day. It will ensure that you’re getting enough sleep each night and isn’t just going to be a habit that falls apart within a few weeks.
•  Don’t drink coffee late at night. It leads to restless nights and headaches in the morning. If you have trouble sleeping, try having a cup of chamomile tea before bed.
•  Set the alarm earlier than you need to get up and put your alarm clock across the room from where you sleep. The farther away from your head, the better—this way, when it goes off in the morning, it’ll take at least two minutes before you can hit snooze (which is often all we need).
•  Prepare your lunch the night before, so you don’t have to make sandwiches or pack lunches while half-asleep in the morning.

What Are The Best Early Morning Jobs?

To wrap up, I’m just as excited about your early morning job as you are! It’s a great way to start the day with a positive mindset, and it will help keep you balanced throughout the rest of the day.

Whether it’s an online or an in-person job, there are many options that will allow you to make money while doing something you enjoy—like writing articles about early morning jobs.

So go ahead—get up early and find the right job that genuinely inspires you while enjoying that sweet coffee buzz.