Offer your thoughts or opinion on the input financial query or topic using your financial background.

Taxable Website Ad Revenue
If the $5000 is income, then you need to pay income taxes on it.  That's simply the way it works.  Hourly rate has nothing to do with whether or not you pay taxes. If it helps, try to think of the $5000 as the first $5000 you make for the year.  Now it's covered by your standard deduction and you're not paying taxes on it.