We understand you are a busy college student who spends most of your time studying, but just because you are learning doesn’t mean your bills and expenses stop.
As such, you’ll require extra pocket money! Discovering a side hustle that suits your schedule and uses your skills and talents can be a fantastic way to pay for additional expenditures while in college.
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You can work from home or in your community as a side gig. Extra cash can also be used for savings growth, luxury item purchases, and loan repayment.
This post discusses excellent side hustles for students to supplement their money and concentrate on their education, whether you like the experience of in-person opportunities or the flexibility of remote employment.
Perfect Side Hustles for Students in College
1. Babysitter
Caring for kids while their parents are away is the flexible and fulfilling side hustle of babysitting. For those specializing in early childhood education, this is perfect!
Opportunities for college students with childcare experience can be found online, through local community groups, and word-of-mouth. A background check must be cleared for you to be eligible.
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Training in first aid and CPR is also necessary. Depending on the arrangement, the time required for babysitting might vary, but it usually entails nights, weekends, and occasionally weekday shifts.
Babysitters make, on average, $18 per hour, though there is considerable regional variation.
2. Freelance Writer
For college students specializing in English, journalism, communications, or similar fields, freelance writing might be one of the feasible side hustles.
If you’re a good writer, you can get jobs on sites like Upwork, where companies hire writers to do various tasks, like producing blog posts, articles, and website material.
You can also come across writing or editing assignments that use your specific knowledge if you’re an excellent writer majoring in a technical discipline.
In addition, you can choose your tasks and set your hours as a freelance writer. Although hourly wages for freelance writing might vary, copywriters and SEO writers usually earn between $15 and $35 per hour and $19 to $45 per hour, respectively.
3. Social Media Manager
Both large and small firms constantly need skilled social media managers. In addition to managing social media accounts and scheduling exciting material, a social media manager also monitors analytics.
This is an excellent side gig for students with an aptitude for social media and digital marketing. A degree in marketing, communications, digital media, or a similar field will benefit a social media manager.
Depending on experience and skill, hourly prices for social media management vary from $14 to $35.
4. Pet Sitter
Whether you’re a veterinary medicine major or an animal enthusiast, providing pet-sitting services can be a rewarding and enjoyable way to supplement your income.
Pet owners frequently require someone to watch over their animals while away. You can meet local pet owners through websites like Rover.
The cost of pet sitting might vary by type of pet, length of service, and other obligations, but the average price is $17 per hour.
5. Rideshare Driver
Being a rideshare driver might be a flexible side gig if you enjoy driving and have a dependable car. With apps like Uber and Lyft, you can make money by offering people your transportation services.
You can choose how much and how little work you wish to do. Although the average salary for a rideshare driver is $19 per hour, earnings might vary depending on location, demand, and time of day.
6. House Cleaner
One satisfying but physically taxing secondary gig is house cleaning. Many people pay for cleaning services to keep their homes neat or to save time.
You have two options: you can work for a cleaning company or sell your services independently. This is a fantastic opportunity to earn extra money close to your university.
Depending on the location, size, and amount of cleaning needed, hourly fees for house cleaning can change. The average compensation is around $13 an hour.
7. Graphic Designer
Graphic design is one of the fantastic side hustles for college students. Those with an eye for style might consider working as independent graphic designers.
This side hustle entails developing visual content for clients, such as logos, banners, social media graphics, and more. You can even sell some of your artwork or design t-shirts and caps.
Pursuing a side gig as a graphic designer can benefit significantly from having knowledge and abilities linked to graphic design, visual arts, or a similar major. Graphic design hourly prices might vary between $15 and $35.
8. Web Developer
Web development is a highly sought-after skill, and college students with coding knowledge can make good money with this side hustle. A computer science, software engineering, or related major can provide the necessary knowledge and skills to pursue this side job.
A web developer creates and maintains websites for clients, ensuring they’re functional and visually appealing. While this can be a lucrative side hustle, hourly rates for web development depend on your expertise.
9. Food Delivery Driver
With the rise of food delivery apps, becoming a food delivery driver has become a popular side hustle. You can earn money by delivering meals, groceries, or other items to customers in your spare time.
The flexibility of choosing your hours and the potential for tips make it an attractive option for many college students. The average pay is around $19 an hour.
10. Dog Walker
Dog-walking services might be one of the easy side hustles if you’re majoring in veterinary medicine or love spending time outdoors around furry friends.
Many pet owners have busy schedules and rely on dog walkers to ensure their pets get exercise and fresh air. You can promote your services locally or through online platforms. The average pay before tips is nearly $15 an hour.
11. Online Tutor
Working part-time and earning good money on the side is possible with online tutoring. There are many other prerequisites to work as an online tutor.
Nonetheless, you will gain from possessing a thorough comprehension and mastery of the subject you intend to educate. Thus, degrees in science, math, English, or history that are connected to that subject may be beneficial.
Students majoring in education are also qualified to tutor. You can contact high school kids who require tutoring in various disciplines. Establish a program and impart knowledge to learners worldwide.
Tutoring is a flexible and fulfilling side gig that lets you impart your skills and support others’ career growth. Also, think about making and marketing online courses to supplement your income.
12. Virtual Assistant
A virtual assistant provides remote support to individuals or businesses. Administrative tasks may include managing emails, scheduling appointments, conducting research, etc.
This side hustle suits college students with strong organizational and communication skills. No specific major is required to become a virtual assistant.
However, majors like business administration or communications can be beneficial due to their focus on organizational and communication skills.
Virtual assistants can also work remotely in project management, bookkeeping, customer support, and more. Hourly rates for virtual assistants can range from $10 to $20.
13. Data Entry Clerk
Data entry clerk is one of the best student side hustles and involves entering data into spreadsheets or databases. It is a good fit for detail-oriented college students who are comfortable working with computer software.
Majors like business administration, computer science, or any field that enhances attention to detail and computer skills can benefit aspiring data entry clerks. Data entry clerks earn hourly rates ranging from $10 to $20.
14. Editor / Proofreader
Working as an editor or proofreader might be fulfilling if you have an excellent grasp of language and a sharp eye for detail. To ensure the written content is accurate and precise, you will examine and edit it.
Central communications, journalism, and English majors can give prospective editors and proofreaders a strong foundation.
Combining your linguistic and technical talents may help you locate specialty editing employment because it’s beneficial to be able to “talk the talk” in a technical sector. Depending on the text’s intricacy, hourly editing and proofreading costs range from $18 to $35.
15. House Sitter
House-sitting is an excellent side hustle for responsible college students looking for a change of scenery. As a house-sitter, you’ll stay at someone’s home while they’re away, taking care of essential tasks like watering plants, collecting mail, and ensuring the property is secure.
This gig can be particularly appealing if you’re looking for a quiet place to study or work on projects. You can find house-sitting opportunities through word of mouth, local community boards, or websites.
Rates for house-sitting can vary widely depending on the stay and the responsibilities involved, but you can expect to earn around $17 an hour.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Side Hustle
- Time availability and scheduling flexibility: Understand your class schedule, assignments, and extracurricular activities to determine how much time you can dedicate to your side hustle. Choose one that fits well with your existing commitments.
- Personal skills, interests, and passions: Identify your strengths and interests to find a side hustle that aligns with your skills. Consider how you can leverage your central areas of expertise to make extra money.
- Income potential and financial goals: Evaluate your financial needs (hello, student loans) and set realistic income goals. Research the earning potential of different side hustles to ensure they align with your financial expectations.
- Remote or on-site work: Decide whether you prefer a remote side gig or one that requires your physical presence. Consider commuting time and flexibility in your decision-making process.