Many college students must work part-time to support themselves and cover tuition costs.
The good news is that it is possible to find a part-time job and earn extra cash while studying in college. The average college student makes $4,000 per year working part-time (source). The hourly salary of college students vastly depends on the job; it ranges from $7.25 to $30 per hour.
However, balancing work and school also involves important risks. Indeed, working more than 15 hours a week while attending school has a negative effect on academic performance. This is why we will only recommend part-time jobs with flexible hours that adapt to the class schedule of college students.
There are a lot of part-time job opportunities for students. Some part-time jobs are better than others, so we ranked the best part-time jobs for college students, considering criteria like training time, salary, flexibility, and career and academic advancement.
1. Teaching Assistant
- Salary: $12 per hour.
- Workload: 93% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 203 teaching assistant jobs are available on
Teaching assistants support the professor in charge of the classroom. Their responsibilities might include: preparing laboratory experiments, creating problem sheets, and answering the question of other students.
Teaching assistantships are usually reserved for the best college students. Assistantship programs are commonly offered in graduate studies, where appointed graduate student assistants are required to help professors prepare for undergraduate classes or research-related projects.
Requirements
- Required: In-depth knowledge about the subject.
- Preferred: A bachelor’s degree in a related field.
- Preferred: Previous experience as a tutor.
2. Campus Tour Guide
- Salary: $14 per hour.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 3 campus tour guide jobs are available on
Campus tour guide is an on-campus job where you’ll meet prospective students and show them around the area. It is the perfect part-time job for extroverted students who want to build friendships with college students who are in their freshman year.
Requirements
- Required: Excellent communication skills and in-depth knowledge of the university
3. Pet Sitter
- Salary: $15 per hour.
- Workload: 92% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 2,579 pet sitter jobs are available on
Pet sitters take care of pets while their owner is on vacation or traveling for business. They usually work at the pet owner’s home, but pets may also be at the provider’s home or at a pet sitting business. Even though most pet sitting jobs involve dogs and cats, some pet sitters also take care of birds, fishes, and reptiles.
Requirements
- An extensive amount of hands-on experience with the animal in question.
- Preferred: pet first aid and CPR training.
4. Tutor
- Salary: $20 per hour.
- Workload: 75% of positions are full-time.
- Medium Demand: 7,812 tutoring jobs are available on
Tutoring is all about sharing the beauty of a subject with students who have a hard time understanding it. As a tutor, you get the opportunity to help others in need. Maybe this is why teaching is one of the most rewarding jobs!
Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree in the subject-matter field is preferred.
- Recent teaching experience is a plus.
5. Driver
- Salary: $15 per hour.
- Workload: 86% of positions are full-time.
- High Demand: 161,152 driver jobs are available on
Here are the most popular ways to make money driving cars:
- Driving for Uber, Lyft, and other ride-sharing companies.
- Delivering food for Uber Eats, DoorDash, PostMates, and other food delivering companies.
- Deliver packages for UPS, FedEx, and other package delivery companies.
Requirements
- Required: a driver’s license and at least one year of driving experience.
- Required: auto insurance that meets the liability requirements.
- Usually required: 21 years of age or older.
6. Babysitter
- Salary: $18 per hour.
- Workload: 77% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 237 babysitting jobs are available on
Babysitters are responsible for the safety and well-being of children when their parents are away.
Babysitting also entails other responsibilities such as helping with homework, cooking, recreational activities, etc.
Requirements
- Ability to pass a background check.
- Preferred: Child care training and/or experience.
- Preferred: Driver’s license (some parents want you to pick their kids up from school).
- Preferred: CPR and First Aid certification.
7. Virtual Assistant
- Salary: $12 per hour.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 13 virtual assistant jobs are available on
Virtual assistants are administrative assistants from home. Their job involves:
- Scheduling appointments
- Making phone calls
- Responding to emails
- And more: bookkeeping, writing, marketing services, etc.
Requirements
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Preferred: prior experience as an administrative assistant.
8. Freelance Writer
- Average Salary: between $20 and $100 per 1000 words.
- Workload: 85% of positions are full-time.
- High Demand: 130,344 writer jobs are available on
Freelance writers get paid to write:
- Web content (blog posts, product descriptions, web pages, etc.)
- Video and radio scripts (Youtube video scripts, podcast scripts)
- Emails (marketing emails, newsletters)
- Press releases (for small businesses and online companies)
- Magazine articles
- Newspaper articles
Requirements
- Freelance writing requires a good grasp of grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
- You will need to show a portfolio to highlight your excellent writing.
9. Doing Homework For Others
- Average Salary: depends on how well you negotiate with other students (a fair salary is $16 per hour).
Some websites actually pay you to do homework for other people.
The deeper your knowledge is, the higher your chances are to make a decent wage. Moreover, if you are good at finances, math, and physics, you will have a better chance of earning a respectable income.
Doing homework for other people can be deemed unethical, especially when completing graded assignments. Make sure answers to homework questions can only be used as a tutoring aid or a reference.
Requirements
- Good grades in the subject in question.
10. Lawn Mowing
- Salary: $19 per hour.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 17 lawn mowing jobs are available on
Lawn mowing is one of the most popular summer jobs.
Many employers hire to mow residential or commercial grounds. Lawnmowers are expected to cut lawn riding mower and edge around walks, flower beds, and walls. Some jobs also involve clearing leaves, applying fertilizer, and other general maintenance work.
Requirements
- Manual dexterity, physical strength, and stamina.
- Familiarity with lawn care equipment and tools.
11. Online Surveys
- Salary: $9 per hour.
- Workload: 93% of positions are full-time.
- Medium Demand: 10,260 online survey jobs are available on
Online surveys are a great way to make some money on the side. When registering on a survey site, you’ll be matched with online surveys from market research companies that are relevant to you. For example, college students might be asked about their favorite laptops, or the note-taking software they use during classes.
Requirements
- Required: Be willing to share your private information and personal opinions.
12. Data Entry Clerk
- Average Salary: from as little as $5 up to $25 per hour.
- Workload: 10% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 508 data entry clerk jobs are available on
Data entry jobs are exactly what they sound like! They’re jobs that involve entering data, such as:
- Describing or identifying images
- Entering up-to-date prices
- Transcription of audio notes
- Subtitling
- Tagging and annotating data
- You name it!
You are typically asked to perform on-demand tasks that computers are unable to do.
Requirements
- Preferred High school diploma or equivalent.
- Preferred: Completing a qualifier to validate transcription/subtitling/tagging skills.
13. Marketing Assistant
- Salary: $16 per hour.
- Workload: 91% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 142 marketing assistant jobs are available on
Marketing professionals often rely on assistants to carry out support duties and more routine tasks.
The role of marketing assistants is to help with clerical, administrative, advertising, sales, distribution, and research duties.
Requirements
- Preferred: Administration, sales, or marketing experience.
- Preferred: Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communication, psychology, or related field.
14. Barista
- Salary: $13 per hour.
- Workload: 92% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 3,953 barista jobs are available on
Baristas prepare and serve hot and cold drinks such as coffee, tea, artisan, and specialty beverages. Their duties include working with other Baristas to help take orders, make drinks and provide timely service to customers.
Most baristas have to work in a coffee shop on the weekends, which helps to accommodate the class schedule of college students.
Requirements
- Strong customer service and communication skills.
15. Social Media Manager
- Salary: $15 per hour.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 75 social media manager jobs are available on
Social media managers make money by representing companies on social networks. Many companies hire social media managers to:
- Attract new fans: publishing engaging content, promoting the brand with paid advertising, reaching out to local influencers, etc.
- Turn fans into customers: responding to questions about the product/service, retargeting advertisements, etc.
- Turn these customers into advocates: organizing giveaways (share this post to win our product), create communities on Reddit and other forums, etc.
Requirements
- Usually required: Social media marketing experience.
- Preferred: Degrees in English literature, psychology, sociology, and communication studies.
16. Administrative Assistant
- Salary: $16 per hour.
- Workload: 64% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 598 administrative assistant jobs are available on
Administrative assistants perform routine clerical and administrative duties. They organize files, prepare documents, update administrative databases, and support other staff.
Requirements
- Usually required: High school diploma or equivalent.
- Preferred: At least one year of relevant work experience.
17. Dog Walker
- Salary: $14 per hour.
- Workload: 93% of positions are full-time.
- Medium Demand: 5,219 dog walker jobs are available on
I was shocked when I found out that some people actually pay to walk their dogs.
Here’s the deal: dogs need to walk to get mental stimulation, exercise, and take a “potty break.” However, many dog owners are busy and do not have the time to walk their own dogs. This is where you can propose your service as a dog walker. It is a great opportunity to make side money while taking a quick walk in the park!
Requirements
- Proven experience working with dogs.
- Preferred: dog walker certification that includes dog first aid and CPR training.
18. Fast-food Worker
- Salary: $10 per hour.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 21 fast-food worker jobs are available on
Working in a fast-food restaurant isn’t glamorous, but you earn your pay every week/fortnight/month.
There are many different fast-food related jobs:
- Assembling items, such as sandwiches and salads.
- Cashiers
- Customer service
- Restaurant manager and logistics jobs
Requirements
- Preferred: customer service experience.
- Preferred: time management skills.
19. Internships
- Average Salary: paid internships can pay up to $20 per hour.
- Workload: 91% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 1,351 internships are available on
Internships are not a considered part-time work. However, summer internships are a great opportunity for college students to gain practical experience in their field of study, build their resume, and make professional connections that could lead to a job later down the line.
Requirements
- Minimum GPA: Some companies may have a minimum GPA requirement for their interns. Typical GPA requirements are around 3.0 or 3.5.
- Letter of recommendations: some companies require letter of recommendations written by your professors.
20. Proofreader
- Average Salary: From $5 to $50 per hour.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 72 proofreader jobs are available on
Proofreaders ensure that written content is free from grammatical errors including spelling, formatting, and syntax
Most proofreading jobs do not require a college degree, it is a great part-time job to make extra money as a college student!
Requirements
- Preferred: English proficiency, attention to detail, and persistence.
21. Research Assistant
- Salary: $22 per hour.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 94 research assistant jobs are available on
Research assistants are hired to assist in academic or private research. They are not independent researchers and are not directly responsible for the outcome of the research.
Requirements
- Required: A bachelor’s degree in a related field of study.
- Preferred: Academic or work experience related to the field of research.
22. Freelance Graphic Designer
- Salary: $19 per hour.
- Workload: 93% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 127 graphic designer jobs are available on
Graphic designers are hired to design logos, magazine covers, advertisements, and other communication materials. There are many graphic design jobs on websites like Fiverr, Upwork, and other freelance websites.
Requirements
- A strong portfolio of logos, illustrations, or other graphics
- Familiarity with design software (such as InDesign, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Photoshop)
23. Outdoor Adventure Guide
- Salary: $13 per hour.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 3 outdoor adventure guide jobs are available on
Outdoor adventure guides are passionate about nature.
They share their passion and conduct activities such as bungy jumping, hunting, mountaineering, and trekking. The goal of these adventures is to provide tourists with an unforgivable experience.
Requirements
- Preferred: first aid and CPR certification.
24. Freelance Photographer
- Salary: $17 per hour.
- Workload: 93% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 137 photographer jobs are available on
There are many opportunities to make money by taking pictures:
- Event photography (festivals, weddings, etc)
- Advertising for local businesses (bakeries, kennels, etc.)
- Professional pictures (music bands, influencers, lawyers, etc.)
Requirements
- A portfolio of beautiful pictures.
- Working knowledge of Photoshop.
25. Video Editor
- Salary: $22 per hour.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 20 video editor jobs are available on
More and more businesses need videos to promote their services on Youtube and Instagram. It is a golden opportunity to make money as a freelance video editor.
Requirements
- A stunning video editing portfolio.
- Extensive experience with editing software (e.g. Lightworks, Premiere, After Effects or Final Cut).
26. Lifeguard
- Salary: $12 per hour.
- Workload: 71% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 183 lifeguard jobs are available on
Keeping people safe is something to be proud of!
However, being charged with people’s safety is no light matter. This is why lifeguards must be alert at all times and assertive when they see unsafe behavior.
All in all, lifeguarding is an excellent summer job for responsible young adults who are strong swimmers.
Requirements
- Be at least 16 years of age.
- Complete lifeguard training and get a lifeguard certification.
27. Retail Sales Associate
- Salary: $18 per hour.
- Workload: 78% of positions are full-time.
- Medium Demand: 5,354 retail sales associate jobs are available on
A retail sales associate works in a retail store and is responsible for helping customers find and purchase products.
The hourly rate for retail sales associate positions revolves around the minimum wage.
Requirements
- Excellent customer service skills
More Part-Time Jobs for College Students
Some majors offer special job opportunities for students. For example, medical students can work as phlebotomy technicians. This is why we also have ranked the best part-time jobs by college majors:
- Best Part-Time Jobs for Computer Science Students
- Best Part-Time Jobs for Mathematics Students
- Best Part-Time Jobs for Psychology Students
- Best Part-Time Jobs for Economics Students
- Best Part-Time Jobs for Chemistry Students
- Best Part-Time Jobs for Engineering Students
- Best Part-Time Jobs for Medical Students
- Best Part-Time Jobs for Nursing Students
If you are a college student looking for seasonal jobs, the following articles might help your job search: