Are you a college student looking for a freelance job?
Good news: we gathered the best freelance jobs for college students. These student jobs are terrific if you want to add experience to your resume while making some money on the side.
Methodology: To rank these student jobs, we took into consideration criteria like training time, salary, career advancement, and flexibility (low minimum workload, work-at-home, and online jobs).
1. Freelance writer
Salary: between $20 and $100 per 1000 words.
Training time: a few hours.
Workload: as much as you want.
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
- A good grasp of grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
- A portfolio that shows excellent writing and editing skills.
Information
- Salary: between $20 and $100 per 1000 words.
- Training time: a few hours.
- Workload: as much as you want.
2. Freelance social media manager
Salary: $15 per hour (on average).
Training time: a few days.
Workload: at least 5 hours per week.
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.
Information
- Salary: $15 per hour (on average).
- Training time: a few days.
- Workload: at least 5 hours per week.
3. Freelance photographer
Salary: $17 per hour (on average).
Training time: a few weeks.
Workload: as much as you want.
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.
Information
- Salary: $17 per hour (on average).
- Training time: a few weeks.
- Workload: as much as you want.
4. Freelance web developer
Salary: $20 per hour (on average).
Training time: a few weeks.
Workload: at least 15 hours per week.
Freelance web developers build websites for organizations and small businesses.
Building websites isn’t as hard as it seems, there are Content Management Systems like WordPress that do most of the jobs for you.
For tech-savvy college students, the difficult part of the job is:
- Reaching out to potential clients: local businesses, lawyers, photographers, music bands, influencers, etc.
- Understanding the client’s needs: talk with your client about the project and estimate the web development cost.
- Sketching a basic concept website: build multiple draft versions, make revisions as requested by the client.
Once you feel that you know enough to get clients, go on freelancing platforms to search for local companies and associations who will pay for your services. Unlike most side jobs, freelance web developers have the opportunity to create their own schedule.
Requirements
- A portfolio of websites that highlights web development skills.
- Proof that you can develop websites with WordPress or other CMSs.
- Understanding of HTML, CSS, and other languages.
Information
- Salary: $20 per hour (on average).
- Training time: a few weeks.
- Workload: at least 15 hours per week.
5. Doing homework for others
Salary: $16 per hour (on average).
Training time: a few hours.
Workload: as much as you want.
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
- Preferred: High school diploma or equivalent.
Information
- Salary: $16 per hour (on average).
- Training time: a few hours.
- Workload: as much as you want.
Find homework jobs
You can find homework jobs on this page: 9 Sites That Pay You to Do Homework for Others.
6. Freelance driver
Salary: $15 per hour (on average).
Training time: a few hours.
Workload: as much as you want.
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.
Information
- Salary: $15 per hour (on average).
- Training time: a few hours.
- Workload: as much as you want.
7. Freelance graphic designer
Salary: $22 per hour (on average).
Training time: a few days.
Workload: as much as you want.
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)
Information
- Salary: $22 per hour (on average).
- Training time: a few days.
- Workload: as much as you want.
8. Babysitter
Salary: $18 per hour (on average).
Training time: a few days.
Workload: as much as you want.
Babysitters are responsible for the safety and well-being of children when their parents are away.
Sitters can also take on additional responsibilities (helping with homework, cooking, recreational activities, etc.).
Requirements
- 18 years of age or older
- 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
Information
- Salary: $18 per hour (on average).
- Training time: a few days.
- Workload: as much as you want.
9. Online data entry jobs
Salary: from as little as $5 up to $25 per hour.
Training time: a few hours.
Workload: as much as you want.
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.
Information
- Salary: from as little as $5 up to $25 per hour.
- Training time: a few hours.
- Workload: as much as you want.
Find data entry jobs
You can find data entry jobs on this page: 12 Best Data Entry Jobs: Make Money From Home.
10. Freelance video editor
Salary: $22 per hour (on average).
Training time: a few days.
Workload: as much as you want.
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).
Information
- Salary: $22 per hour (on average).
- Training time: a few days.
- Workload: as much as you want.
11. Virtual assistant
Salary: $12 per hour (on average).
Training time: a few days.
Workload: as much as you want.
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.
Information
- Salary: $12 per hour (on average).
- Training time: a few days.
- Workload: as much as you want.
12. Freelance tutor
Salary: $20 per hour (on average).
Training time: a few hours.
Workload: as much as you want.
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 high school diploma or equivalent (usually required).
- A bachelor’s degree in the subject-matter field is preferred.
- Recent teaching experience is a plus.
Information
- Salary: $20 per hour (on average).
- Training time: a few hours.
- Workload: as much as you want.
Find tutoring jobs
You can find tutoring jobs on this page: 9 Legitimate Online Tutoring Jobs.
13. Pet sitter
Salary: $15 per hour (on average).
Training time: a few hours.
Workload: as much as you want.
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.
Information
- Salary: $15 per hour (on average).
- Training time: a few hours.
- Workload: as much as you want.