Waiting in line can be a tedious task, but it can also be an opportunity to make some money. If you have the patience, you can get paid to wait in line (or get paid to queue for my British friends).
There are honestly people who have enough money and not enough time that they are willing to pay you to stand in line for them. All you have to do is wait until it’s their turn and then collect the cash.
If this sounds too good to be true, it’s not. Making money by standing in line for someone else is a legit side hustle that can help you earn extra money in your spare time.
You can even study, read or listen to podcasts while you wait in line so it’s not even a total waste of your time.
In this post we will look at how you can become a line sitter and cash in on this fun new side hustle.
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Can You Get Paid To Wait In Line?
Waiting in line is never fun, but it’s especially frustrating when you just don’t have time to wait around for hours or you don’t want to be near crowds when you have much better things to do.
Thankfully, there are a few apps and websites where you can hire sitters who will wait in line for you – for a price.
From the latest iPhone to the hottest tickets on broadway, there are lots of different reasons why people need to queue for something and are willing to pay for someone to do it for them.
How Waiting in Line Works
We’ve all seen the crazy lines outside BestBuy when a new games console is released or the people who camp out overnight to get a spot at a hot musical event.
But what if you don’t want to camp out overnight in the cold in order to secure a spot for yourself?
The “line-sitting’ business, where people are paid to wait in line for others and switch places later at the front, has grown considerably in recent years.
Most people don’t have the time or patience to wait in line for an extended period of time.
That’s why “line Sitters” have figured out how to make money by waiting in line for other people.
Line Sitters do exactly what the name says – they sit in line for someone else for money. They get paid to wait in line if you will.
Other names for line sitters include:
- Line Stander
- Queue Sitter
- Professional Queuer
- Line Holder
- Line Waiter
What Kind Of Things Will You Queue For?
Waiting in line is a part of life. You may have to wait for a coffee, an iPhone or tickets to see your favorite Broadway show.
People have FOMO and they don’t want to miss out on the latest product or sale so much that they are willing to line up for hours to be the first in line for the hottest new toy.
But many people have commitments which prevent them from waiting long hours in line.
For example, many people work during the day and can’t stand in line for hours at night.
Or maybe they have children who need care during the day.
Some of the different things that a line sitter may wait in a queue for include:
- Concert tickets
- New phones
- Gaming consoles
- Presale condos and new build homes
- Medical tests/ vaccines
- Free items giving out by stores
- Kids sporting events or classes
- DMV and other boring appointments
How To Become A Professional Line Stander
If you’re looking for a part-time job that can be done from virtually anywhere, line sitting may be the perfect opportunity for you. It’s an easy way to make some extra money, and it doesn’t require any specialized skills or training.
The great thing about line sitting is that it’s a very flexible gig.
You can work as much or as little as you want, and you can choose the hours that are best for you.
Plus, there are a lot of different sites and apps that make it easy to find opportunities near you.
One downside of line sitting is that it’s not always permanent work. This is often a one-off gig so don’t expect too much regular work.
Another thing to keep in mind is that getting paid to wait in line can be seasonal work.
For example, the holidays and Black Friday are the busiest time of year for line sitters because of the crazy sales that happen.
If you can make yourself available during the holiday shopping season, you can really cash in for Christmas.
What Qualities Do You Need To Be A Line Sitter?
In order to make money by standing in line, you’ll need a few key qualities.
First and foremost, you’ll need patience. After all, you are getting paid to wait. You may be sitting or standing in a line in the cold for hours, even overnight.
You need to be prepared to be cold and uncomfortable and most likely, bored.
The second skill you will need is the ability to complete tasks quickly and efficiently. Some tasks will require you to fill out paperwork or sign up for something once you get to the front of the line.
How Much Do Line Holders Make?
The amount of money you can make from standing in line generally depends on how long the queue is and what the demand is. If it’s a popular event, like an iPhone launch, or a chance to meet your favorite celebrity, you can easily charge $50-80 per hour for your time.
And, if you’re lucky enough to live in an area with below-freezing weather, you can make even more money in the winter!
However, if the queue isn’t very long or there’s not much demand, you may only be able to make a few dollars.
Some people choose to charge a flat fee instead of by the hour, which can be more convenient for some customers. For example, you can charge $200 for guaranteed concert tickets.
The most important thing to remember is that you will need to fulfil your job by getting whatever it is you are in line.
Make sure to arrange payment with your customer beforehand, especially if you are expected to purchase the item for them.
How To Get Paid To Wait In Line
Now you know why people hire line sitters and how much you can make, how do you actually get paid to queue?
In order to make money as a line sitter, there are a few things you need to do:
Firstly, you should sign up for the side hustle apps in the list below. They offer a way to match line sitters with potential customers without any hassle.
Next, you’ll want to advertise your services on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
Create a Facebook page for your business and tell everyone you know about your new venture.
See if anyone needs someone to stand in line for them during peak queuing times–you could be their lifesaver!
You can also reach out to nearby businesses and see if they would be interested in hiring a line sitter for special events or occasions where there might be long lines.
Make sure you have business cards printed up so that potential clients can contact you easily.
Another option is to set up a website so people can learn more about what it is you do!
Where Can You Find Line Sitter Jobs?
If you’re looking for a way to make some extra money, line sitting may be the perfect opportunity for you. Luckily, there are plenty of websites and apps that can help you find line sitter jobs in your area.
Some of the most popular websites for finding line sitter jobs include TaskRabbit, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter. These websites allow you to search for line sitter jobs in your area, so you can find a job that’s close to home.
In addition to online resources, networking is another great way to find work as a line sitter.
Talk to friends and family members, they may know of someone who’s looking for a line sitter.
If there are limited tickets available or if the event is sold out, let people further back in line know about your services – maybe they will pay you to get their tickets for them next time.
The Best Line Sitting Apps
TaskRabbit
TaskRabbit is a great app where you can post your available as a line sitter for free.
You can sign up as a “Tasker” and the list your rates, experience and wait for people to contact you.
Depending on where you live, most Taskers charge between $25-50 an hour for line sitting and many have a two hour minimum to make it worth their while.
Same Ole Line Dudes
This New York City based company hires out professional line sitters for events such as Hamilton, the opening of a new restaurant or the hottest new club.
According the website, most line sitters are college students, stay at home moms, veterans, and even people with full-time jobs who want some extra money.
Payment is expected up front from all customers and they will swap with you (the line sitter) when you get to the front of the line so you do not need to do any transactions.
Inline4you
This is an app that connects users to professional line-sitters known as Spotters who will wait in line for them.
The going rate for a spot in line is usually around $25 per hour. Keep in mind that the price can go up depending on the event or situation. For example, if it’s raining outside or there’s a popular event taking place, you can make more money.
The nice thing about this app is that they have tons of opportunities for line sitters, from concerts, Broadway shows, sporting events, product releases and casting calls.
Payment is through the app so there is no need to wait until the end of the transaction to get your hard-earned cash!
Skip The Line
Skip The Line is Washington, DC based line sitting service that offers more than just queue sitting.
In addition to a line-sitting service, Skip The Line also offers local delivery, and both personal and executive local and virtual custom services geared depending on customer needs.
Other Places To Find Line Sitting Jobs
There are a few other places to find line sitting gigs near you:
- Gigwalk
- Craigslist
- Local Buy and Sell Groups
Get Paid To Wait In Line – FAQs
Can Line Sitting Be A Full-Time Job?
Although the work is in high demand, most line standers do not do this as a full-time job unless they live in a major city such as NYC.
In many places, work can be sporadic depending on what new releases or events are happening right now. If you live in a large city, you are more likely to be able to get full time work as a line stander.
Do I Need To Actually Buy The Product Or Ticket For the Customer?
In most cases, you will “swap” with the customer when you get to the front of the line. You won’t need to actually buy tickets with your own money in order to get paid to wait in line.
A smart phone is essential in this job so that you can be in constant communication with your client to let them know where you are in the line.
How Do Line Sitters Get Paid To Wait In Line?
Most of the time payment for line sitting is via PayPal, Venmo or Cashapp.
Make sure to take a deposit before starting a job to ensure you are not left with no payment after you wait in a queue for hours.
Get Paid To Queue – Final Thoughts
Can you really make money standing around doing nothing?
Line standing is a job that almost anyone can do with no special skills or experience other than some perseverance!
In fact, all you need is some patience and maybe an interesting story to share with the others in line!
