Want to give it a shot? Here’s my referral link: Apply to Outlier →
Part 1 covered the application process and the waiting game. This one is about the actual income — and the part where I got removed from the platform.
If you haven’t read Part 1 yet, start here.
How the Pay Works
The hourly rate varies by project.
For the tasks I’ve done, it’s been around $20/hour. That’s not a fixed number — different skills and different projects pay differently. Some might be higher, some lower.
How I Made $3,000+ in a Month
During my best stretch, the task volume was massive.
I was working almost every evening after my day job — basically from the time I got home until I went to sleep. The tasks were flowing, the rate was solid, and my best month came out to just over $3,000.
But let me be upfront: that was not normal.
Task volume is completely outside your control. Some months are busy, some are slow, and sometimes a project just dries up with no warning. Hitting $3,000+ requires both a high volume of available tasks and enough free time on your end to actually do them. Both things have to line up.
I’ve also had months under $600. And months where there was barely anything to work on.
If you want to see what it’s like yourself:
Getting Kicked Off the Platform
At some point, my account got deactivated.
No warning. I was doing tasks one day, and the next day I got a notification that my account was suspended.
After looking into it, I figured out it wasn’t because I did anything wrong. It was a project ramp down — the company scaled back, and a batch of workers got removed. This is just how Outlier works. It’s not personal.
I’ve since been re-added once. I’ve also heard from people who got removed and brought back multiple times.
If you want to be the last person they cut, my only real advice is this: keep your quality scores high. Don’t rush through tasks just to get them done. Workers with strong ratings tend to be the last ones affected when a project scales back. And if you do get removed, you can appeal — it sometimes works.
Is the Income Stable?
Honestly, no. And I think it’s important to say that clearly.
Outlier works great as supplemental income. It doesn’t work well as a primary income source. Task volume swings a lot, and your account can be deactivated at any time due to project changes — not because you messed up, just because that’s the nature of this kind of platform.
My personal approach: treat it as bonus money. Work when tasks are available, don’t stress when they’re not, and never rely on it for fixed monthly expenses.
Who It’s Good For (and Who It’s Not)
It’s a good fit if you: already have a steady income from somewhere else, can read English reasonably well, and are okay with inconsistent earnings. It’s also a great option if you’re between jobs, building up savings, or just want some extra cash flow without a rigid schedule.
It’s probably not for you if: you need a stable, predictable income, aren’t comfortable reading English, or can’t handle the idea of your account being deactivated due to project changes outside your control.
Honestly, my best advice is simple: just go sign up, pass the screening, and wait.
There’s nothing to do during the waiting period — they’ll notify you when something’s available. Worst case, you wait a long time and nothing comes through. But you haven’t lost anything. Best case, tasks start coming in and you’ve got extra money for savings, investments, or just life.
If you want to try it:
Would I Recommend It?
Yeah — with some caveats.
The downside risk is pretty low. If you don’t pass the screening, no big deal. If you pass but barely get any tasks, you’re out nothing. There’s no upfront cost, no equipment to buy, no commitment.
For what it is — flexible, remote, low-barrier side income — it’s worth trying.
Disclosure: If you sign up through this link, I receive a referral bonus. Your application process is exactly the same either way.
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