My paycheck is 'consistently' $14,200 a month.

Chris Pyle consistently wears a white tank top and boxer shorts while sitting in a recliner during his workdays.

In October 2006, Pyle began answering strangers' queries about their gas and diesel engines on JustAnswer as a profitable side hustle.

In his first month, he made $500, then doubled it in November, and doubled it again. He quit his full-time job at Ford Motors, which paid $75,000 per year, when JustAnswer surpassed his salary in 2012, according to Pyle.

In 2023, Pyle earned $170,500 on JustAnswer, which amounts to an average of $14,200 per month. This monthly income is significantly higher than the national median monthly side hustle earnings and mechanic's salary combined.

His work at JustAnswer has not only provided him with a stable income but also enabled him to purchase a 34-acre plot of land in Dickson County, Tennessee, where he resides with his family. Additionally, he has built a second home on the property, largely through his own efforts, using the funds generated from his work at JustAnswer.

He works long hours, seven days a week, but sets his own schedule to be present for his family.

"Pyle, 45, was a Cub Scout master for eight years and a soccer coach. He could choose to log off and play a video game with his son or swim in the pool."

Here's how Pyle built his clientele and stays successful on JustAnswer.

Building a well-oiled business

Pyle found his side hustle organically: Ford hired and trained him as a transmission tech, funded his certifications, and he discovered the solution to fixing a transmission through research on Just Answer.

He signed up and began answering a few questions in the afternoon after work, he says. He found the challenge of diagnosing a motor he "couldn't see, touch or smell" enjoyable and discovered he had a talent for virtually assisting people with their mechanical problems, he says.

Pyle recalls how he made $1,000 in his second month on JustAnswer, took his wife to the mall, gave her half of the earnings, and told her not to come back with any cash in her hand.

He spent half of his time at Bass Pro Shop in 15 minutes, he adds.

As Pyle's earnings became more stable, he recognized that he could utilize his side hustle to fund more than just mall runs. He began devoting more time to the platform. By 2012, he was spending three hours answering nearly 40 questions per day, he says.

"Pyle states, "I worked here for six years and my paycheck was always consistent. I thought, if I put in more hours, my check would increase.""

Saving up, standing out

Pyle's JustAnswer paycheck consistently increases every year, with the highest workload during the summer months when people are mowing their lawns and traveling.

Although his schedule is flexible, he must work at least 40 to 60 hours a week to maintain his income, as he is paid by the answer. He works every single day, including Christmas and birthdays.

Pyle is content with the tradeoffs he has made in his career. He has built a successful life without a boss through his work on JustAnswer.

Pyle states that his earnings support his wife, who quit her nursing job, and their two sons, who he homeschools. Although he must file his own taxes and pay for his family's medical insurance, he can deduct expenses such as his phone, internet, HP laptop, and 10% of his utilities bill.

Although Pyle has been working on the site for 12 years, he is not an official JustAnswer employee. The platform evaluates its "experts" weekly, and their performance determines their earnings per answer. The company does not disclose the evaluation criteria, but Pyle claims that his answers and customer service skills typically receive high ratings.

He plans to reduce his JustAnswer work hours after his house is completed, but he expects to remain online for at least 30 hours per week, he says.

Pyle states that he has no intention of returning to a traditional job unless he is the boss. He adds that he enjoys his current work environment and attire.

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