 I often recommend side hustles as a way to pay off credit card debt because the average credit card debt is about $6,000. He says the average side hustle would pay that off in about seven months. Sandy Kozel, WTOP News. The Bankrate survey found that 36% of U.S. adults earn extra money through a side hustle. Sports at 25 and 55. Powered by Maximus. Moving people and technology forward.