Consulting for non-overlapping (with your employer) businesses is a very good answer. The majority of folks employed doing tech (day to day work is technical)

Consulting for non-overlapping (with your employer) businesses is a very good answer. The majority of folks employed doing tech (day to day work is technical) aren't employed by tech (i.e. for a tech firm shipping product). And those that are (HN-wise) tend to be employed at more targeted enterprises. Both of which are to say... there are likely a lot of clients you could consult for after hours, fully disclosing to your employer, that your employer wouldn't have any competitive concerns about. And critically, consulting is almost always hourly. Which vastly simplifies the expectations and transactions.