NASA engineer earns Rs 2.16 crore from closet voiceover side hustle

Eryn Andrews, a full-time human performance engineer at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, earns over Rs 2.16 crore (USD 2,27,000) annually from a voiceover side hustle she runs from a soundproofed closet, as reported by CNBC Make It. She began the venture in 2022 after her divorce left her unable to spare Rs 19,000 (USD 200) a month for her daughter's treats. With a Rs 19,000 investment in a voiceover class, a microphone, and a mattress topper, she built a makeshift recording booth from cardboard and now charges a minimum of Rs 19,000 per assignment.

Andrews, who has a master's degree in space studies, initially found gigs on Fiverr and now records internal corporate announcements and training videos for clients including Coca-Cola, PetSmart, Apple, and the University of Mississippi. She works 1-8 hours per week and earns roughly Rs 30.5 lakh (USD 32,400) per month. Her side income surpassed her six-figure NASA salary in summer 2025, and she has used the extra money to travel, buy a used 2025 Toyota, and start a college savings account for her daughter.

Andrews told CNBC that the voiceover work is 'feast or famine,' with weeks of silence followed by sudden client surges. She does not rely on the income to pay bills but says it gives her 'breathing room' amid rising living costs. 'I don't have to count every penny,' she said. Her website states she brings precision and clear communication from aerospace to her voiceover craft.