The rise of the prompt economy: How people in the US earn income with AI
From AI side hustles to full-time freelance gigs, here's how gig workers are cashing in on the prompt economy.
Adobe Express
02/25/2026
The prompt economy is booming, and it's changing how people work and earn money across the United States. As generative AI tools become more accessible, gig workers, freelancers, and creators are using them to land paid projects, speed up content creation, and expand their service offerings without needing advanced tech skills.
To understand how this shift is unfolding, Adobe Express surveyed 1,010 gig workers and analyzed search interest for AI-related job terms across the 50 most populous US cities. The results offer a clear picture of how AI is unlocking new ways to earn, from micro-projects that take less than an hour to entirely new career paths.
Key takeaways
Searches for AI job roles have surged, with "AI consultant" (+196%) and "AI engineer" (+183%) seeing the fastest growth nationwide since 2023.
The top three US cities with the highest per-capita interest in AI and prompt-related jobs are Atlanta (7,051), Seattle (5,679), and Miami (5,356).
54% of gig workers have earned money from using AI tools, with 46% using it as a side hustle and 8% as part of their primary income.
68% of gig workers earned money from an AI-related project that took less than an hour, and 25% made at least $100 from a single sub-hour task.
Nearly seven in 10 gig workers (69%) now consider AI tools as part of their personal brand toolkit.
Only 21% of gig workers publicly attach their real identity to AI-generated work.
Interest in AI-related careers is on the rise across the country, but some cities are leading the charge.
Online searches for specific AI roles have skyrocketed nationwide. Interest in the term "AI consultant" has grown by 196% since 2023, while "AI engineer" searches are up 183%. These surges highlight not only job curiosity but also a growing awareness of the income potential behind AI-enhanced work.
Among the 50 most populous US cities, Atlanta, Seattle, and Miami emerged as the top three cities with the highest per-capita interest in AI and prompt-based jobs. This ranking is based on search trends for roles like "prompt engineer" and "AI content creator." The top 15 US cities with the highest per capita interest in AI and prompt-related jobs are as follows:
Atlanta, GA — 7,051
Seattle, WA — 5,679
Miami, FL — 5,356
San Francisco, CA — 5,324
San Jose, CA — 4,759
Washington, DC — 4,466
Boston, MA — 4,082
Minneapolis, MN — 3,966
Austin, TX — 3,443
Tampa, FL — 3,203
Denver, CO — 2,964
Baltimore, MD — 2,859
Las Vegas, NV — 2,634
Raleigh, NC — 2,590
Portland, OR — 2,546
These cities are quickly becoming hubs for gig workers tapping into the AI economy.
Making money with AI, no coding skills required
You don't need to be a software developer to profit from AI tools. Many gig workers are already being paid for AI-enhanced tasks that require no programming skills.
More than half of the gig workers we surveyed said they had earned income from using AI tools. For most (46%), it served as a side hustle, while 8% said AI tasks were part of their main source of income.
Fast earnings were also a common theme. Sixty-eight percent of respondents reported earning money from a project that took less than an hour to complete. One in four earned at least $100 for a single task that took under 60 minutes, which shows just how efficient AI-enhanced freelancing can be.
Many of these quick-turnaround jobs included writing blog posts, drafting social media content, generating product descriptions, or designing logos with the help of AI. The ability to complete polished projects quickly has lowered the barrier to entry for newcomers and sped up delivery for experienced freelancers.
Looking ahead, 64% of gig workers believe that "prompt engineering" — the skill of giving AI clear, effective instructions — will become a valuable long-term resume skill. That means we could see this niche skill evolve into a mainstream job requirement in the near future.
How creators present their AI-assisted work
As AI becomes a tool of the trade, creators are getting strategic about how much they reveal and revise when using it.
A majority of gig workers (69%) now consider AI tools an essential part of their personal brand toolkit. Whether they're using it to brainstorm ideas, polish drafts, or generate first-pass designs, AI is helping people deliver creative work faster and more confidently. However, many are cautious about how their use of AI is perceived. Only 21% of gig workers publicly attach their real name or identity to AI-generated content.
When it comes to quality control, editing remains a key part of the process. Just 2% of respondents said they rely entirely on AI to handle everything. The majority still make adjustments, as follows:
34% manually edit about 26–50% of their AI-assisted content.
24% edit 51–75%.
20% make only minimal changes (1–25%).
11% review and revise 76–99%.
8% heavily edit all output.
These habits show that even when AI plays a central role, human creativity and judgment are still essential to the final product.
Top Adobe Express AI tools for gig workers and creators
Creating content, marketing your brand, or landing freelance jobs doesn't have to take hours or a team. Adobe Express offers AI-powered features that help you work faster, create smarter, and make every project stand out. Whether you're building your side hustle or scaling a freelance business, these tools can help:
AI Assistant (beta): Prompt, create and edit anything. Make quick edits and refine every layer, all while keeping the parts you love intact.
Text effect generator: Add flair to your headlines and social posts with smart styling and quick AI suggestions.
Template generator: Get design ideas instantly, then customize with your content, colors, and images to fit your brand.
Where AI meets hustle: The future of freelance work
AI is transforming the way people work, and the prompt economy is opening up new, flexible ways to earn. From quick-hit gigs to new skills like prompt engineering, this shift is helping freelancers and side hustlers tap into growing demand without needing technical backgrounds. As AI tools become more common in daily workflows, the most successful gig workers will be those who combine creativity with smart AI usage and know when to let their own voice shine through.
Methodology
Adobe Express conducted a questionnaire of 1,010 gig workers to explore whether and how they are earning income using generative AI tools. All respondents were freelancers, digital creators, or individuals working in the gig economy, either as their primary job or as a side hustle.
In addition to the survey, we analyzed Google Trends search volume to measure year-over-year growth in public interest for AI-related job terms such as "prompt engineer," "AI content creator," "content automation," and "generative AI specialist" across the 50 most populous US cities. Data was collected in November 2025. The survey was conducted via SurveyMonkey, and all responses are self-reported.
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