NASA engineer by day, voiceover artist at night: How a ₹19,000 deficit led to a ₹30.5 lakh side hustle from closet
NASA Engineer by Day, Voiceover Artist at Night
Theindiapostdaily.com – In a cramped Houston closet lined with mattress toppers and cardboard panels, Eryn Andrews slips on headphones and steps behind a single microphone. She is a NASA engineer by day voiceover artist in the scattered hours between 5 and 9 p.m., recording corporate announcements and training videos for clients that include Apple and Coca-Cola. The improvised booth—no studio, no acoustic foam, just a stapled mattress topper dampening one wall—has generated over $2,27,000 (₹2.16 crore) in 2026 alone, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It.
That side income now eclipses her six-figure salary at NASA's Johnson Space Center, where she has worked as a human performance engineer since 2008 and holds a master's degree in space studies. The crossover point landed in summer 2025, when voiceover earnings first outpaced her aerospace paycheck.
A $200 Gamble Born of Post-Divorce Scarcity
The origin story is unglamorous. After her 2022 divorce, Andrews found she could not spare even $200 (₹19,000) for small pleasures—ice cream, a museum trip—with her then-six-year-old daughter without feeling guilty.
"All I wanted was an extra $200 a month. To be able to treat my daughter to ice cream or take her to a museum without guilt."
A Google search for single-mom side hustles pointed her toward voiceover work. She poured that initial $200 into a short course, a microphone, and the mattress topper, then assembled a tiny recording nook out of cardboard in her guest-bedroom closet.
Fiverr, Low Prices, and a Slow Climb
With no portfolio, she listed herself on Fiverr at rates below established voice actors. The first month yielded roughly $1,000 across several small jobs. Today she will not accept any assignment paying under $200.
"[I don't] turn on my computer for less than $200."
Longer engagements such as audiobooks command higher fees, but Andrews deliberately avoids them because they consume hours she wants to spend with her daughter. On the time cost of shorter jobs she is candid: every minute of finished audio takes her three minutes to record, edit, and second-guess before sending.
The pipeline remains uneven. "I'll go sometimes weeks hearing nothing, then suddenly, out of the woodwork, here comes a half dozen different clients within 24 hours," she told CNBC. Most bookings—including those from Apple—still flow through Fiverr, though her personal website and word-of-mouth referrals now account for a growing share.
Breathing Room, Not Survival
Andrews is emphatic that she never depended on the side income to cover rent or groceries. What it provides is psychological latitude amid soaring living costs. The extra roughly $32,400 (₹30.5 lakh) per month has funded travel, a used 2025 Toyota, and an opening savings account earmarked for her daughter's future college tuition.
"To have a second income stream that, at this point, has far surpassed my main salary in a completely different industry, really gives me some breathing room. I'm probably the most relaxed I've ever been in my adult life … I don't have to count every penny."
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Eryn Andrews earn from voiceover work?
Her monthly side income averages around $32,400 (₹30.5 lakh), and total 2026 earnings have exceeded $2,27,000 (₹2.16 crore). She sets a $200 minimum per job.
What equipment does she use to record?
A single microphone, cardboard panels for basic isolation, and a one-inch mattress topper stapled to one closet wall to dampen sound reflections. No professional studio or acoustic treatment is involved.
How many hours per week does the voiceover work consume?
Between one and eight hours, depending on the booking cycle. She deliberately caps longer projects to protect family time.
Which companies have commissioned her work?
Clients include Apple, Coca-Cola, PetSmart, and the University of Mississippi. The assignments center on internal corporate announcements, voicemail greetings, and workplace training videos—tasks that prioritize clarity over theatrical delivery.