Stable income: Somewhat stable

I’d rate it a 3 out of 5 because while software engineering as a side hustle can provide a decent baseline income, it can be unreliable at times due to fluctuating demand, project availability, and client variability. It's not as unpredictable as a 2, where income swings wildly, but it lacks the consistent stability of a 4, where most months are similar and predictable.