While balancing a job with classes can be difficult, there are definite benefits to working while in college. It means more cash for necessities like books, clothes, and personal items; more fun money for social activities and entertainment; and maybe even some spare funds to put toward reducing or avoiding student loan debt.
I worked while an undergrad and — although it by no means put a dent in my tuition payments — it did give me fun money that enhanced my ability to enjoy those years. I took the opposite track for grad school: Instead of working, I borrowed money to cover my living expenses. That resulted in an overwhelming amount of student loan debt, and to this day, it’s one of my biggest regrets.
So, while the juggling act is difficult, it can also be worth it. And there are tons of great job options perfect for college students — many of which teach skills that transfer easily to the post-grad workplace. And that gives you a critical edge when you’re applying to jobs after college, as 91% of employers prefer job candidates to have work experience, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) 2017 Job Outlook survey.
Even better, today’s gig economy and the prevalence of online jobs with flexible hours mean students aren’t limited to minimum wage incomes and locked-in schedules, which can make the juggling act easier. A well-chosen job means the ability to work when you can, and a higher income means you can get away with working fewer hours.
So keep those criteria in mind as you search out the best college job to get you through school today and help pad your resume for tomorrow.
On-Campus Jobs
On-campus jobs offer tons of benefits on their own, making them an ideal choice for most students. For one, college life is already hectic enough with juggling classes, homework, and extracurricular and social activities. A job on campus helps cut at least one activity out of your busy schedule: the commute. On-campus employers tend to be more understanding about academic commitments, and these jobs are a great way to meet other students and make connections with the faculty and staff at your school.
Additionally, if you take some time to explore your options, you can find one that pays higher than minimum wage and might even give you some directly applicable job skills for your post-grad resume.
1. Resident Assistant
Resident assistants (RAs) live in the dorms alongside other students and offer support services for both students and the university, such as scheduling social activities and enforcing dorm rules. While some schools offer RAs a stipend, it’s often minimal or nonexistent. The benefit of becoming an RA is mainly in the perks — namely, free room and board. This job can save you thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the costs at your school, that you might otherwise be forced to borrow.
Additionally, if you like to get involved in your school, being an RA puts you at the center of the action. This was definitely my favorite job from my college years for exactly this reason.
Job Duties
RAs are responsible for managing a lot of the normal operations of their assigned dorm, including supervising move-in and move-out procedures, organizing floor meetings, scheduling social activities, advising student organizations, enforcing dorm rules, and overseeing dorm security. Additionally, they provide ongoing support to dorm residents, which could include social or emotional support and mediating minor conflicts.
Compensation
The benefits vary from school to school, but most schools reward RAs with a free room plus some kind of meal plan or cash toward meals. In addition, according to a 2016 survey by Reslife.Net, 60% of schools give RAs some type of stipend — anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 or more per academic year.
How to Apply
To apply for a job as an RA, visit your school’s residential life department.
2. Peer Tutor
If you’re strong in a particular subject, becoming a peer tutor can help you make extra cash. Additionally, this is another campus job with excellent networking opportunities — especially with faculty. As an English teacher, I regularly interact with peer tutors.
Job Duties
Depending on the subject you’re tutoring, your job duties could range from helping students revise an essay to coaching them through writing a lab report to preparing them for an upcoming test.
Compensation
According to Glassdoor, the pay ranges from $8 per hour on the low end to $23 per hour on the high end, but the average is generally $11 to $13 per hour.
How to Apply
College tutoring centers often ask professors for recommendations, but you can always stop by and inquire about opportunities.
3. Teaching Assistant
Most colleges and universities hire undergrad or grad students as teaching assistants (TAs). Although the job can be demanding, it’s an excellent opportunity to deepen relationships with professors and work more intensely in a subject field you enjoy.
Job Duties
Job duties vary from one school to another and one professor to another. But, in general, TAs assist full-time faculty by teaching classes, leading breakout groups and seminars, grading papers, and proctoring exams.
Compensation
According to Glassdoor, the average pay for a TA is $11 to $13 per hour.
How to Apply
Some schools have specific application procedures, but if you have a good relationship with a professor or performed particularly well in their class, inquire with them about the possibility of applying to be their TA.
4. Research Assistant
Another way to gain experience in a field of interest is to work as a paid research assistant. In general, research assistants collect and analyze data and prepare materials for researchers. They may also do administrative tasks like manage correspondence or submit research to grant-giving foundations. As with being a TA, these jobs help you develop valuable connections with faculty. Additionally, you’ll often work alongside grad students.
Many departments hire research assistants, including the sciences, English, history, psychology, and sociology. And if you work as a research assistant in the department of your major, you’ll be able to use that experience to boost your resume.
Job Duties
The duties of a research assistant vary depending on the department or project. For example, the psychology department could have you conduct surveys or the chemistry department could have you perform experiments in the lab. The English department might have you do background research for a literary analysis or the history department could have you interview people who’ve experienced particular events. The tasks can be highly social, such as projects that involve interviewing people, or they could be solitary duties like running computer programs or doing data analysis.
Compensation
Of the research assistant positions that are paid hourly, Glassdoor reports the average at $11 to $19 per hour. Not all positions are paid hourly, however. Some receive a stipend, while others receive salaries in the average range of $35,230 per year — although these salaried positions are usually reserved for graduate students. And sometimes you’ll be paid in credits that apply toward fulfilling your graduation requirements.
How to Apply
First, figure out what professor or department you’d like to do research for. Then look into what research projects they’re currently working on — either by speaking directly with the professor or inquiring with the department’s administrative assistant.
Additionally, some universities require you to apply through their job portal or a specific website. And some only allow you to apply within your academic program or major.
5. Office Assistant
Academic departments, as well as other offices on campus, typically hire student workers to perform minor office tasks. That frees up the professional administrative assistants to focus on larger issues like supporting faculty, managing classrooms, communicating with staff, and fulfilling departmental purchases. Although these jobs might not be terribly exciting, they’re often low stress and provide the opportunity to interact with a lot of faculty.
Job Duties
Office jobs typically involve routine office management tasks like answering phone calls or emails, filing papers, or making photocopies.
Compensation
According to Glassdoor, student office assistants make $8 to $13 per hour.
How to Apply
Check with the department you’re interested in working for to inquire about positions. Note that many academic departments hire student office assistants at the beginning of the year. So if you’re interested in an office position, be sure to check with the department early.
Also consider asking about job opportunities at other types of school offices like career services, the registrar, human resources, or information technology.
6. Library Attendant
If you already enjoy spending a lot of your time in the library and can handle four- to eight-hour shifts sitting in silence, working as a library attendant might be for you. The job can have a social element, especially if you chat with other students and faculty who are working on research. But typically, library jobs are quiet and downtime is common. And that means you’ll have plenty of time to get your school work done while earning a paycheck.
Job Duties
Library attendants are typically responsible for staffing the main desk, which could involve answering general questions, directing students, assisting library patrons with checking out books, and helping to maintain an atmosphere conducive to studying by ensuring students aren’t being disruptive. They might also help organize library materials, sort and shelve books or other print resources, and perform administrative tasks like answering the phone or emails.
Compensation
According to Zippia, the average pay for a student library attendant is $11 per hour.
How to Apply
Search your school’s job board or inquire directly at the library to discover if there are any open positions.
7. Museum Assistant
Colleges and universities often have museums on campus, whether small, specialized collections or huge, well-known galleries. And you don’t necessarily need to be an art major to find working in one valuable. Some universities, for example, have history museums, zoology museums, and cultural anthropology museums.
Job Duties
As a museum attendant you’ll be required to conduct tours, direct visitors to specific exhibits, answer questions about exhibits, and control access to exhibits and the museum.
Compensation
According to Glassdoor, museum attendants make $11 to $18 per hour.
How to Apply
Search your school’s job board or inquire directly at the museum to see if there are any open positions.
8. Campus Tour Guide
A job as a campus tour guide is a great fit for students who are passionate about their school and know all the ins-and-outs of campus. Additionally, it’s a high-energy and social job that will help you develop your interpersonal and public speaking skills as you interact with hundreds of potential students and their parents. And it’s an ideal campus job to help maintain your cash flow over the summer when most prospective students visit campuses.
Job Duties
Campus tour guides are responsible for showing groups of prospective students and parents around campus. Additionally, they’re a kind of brand ambassador for the university — responsible for representing their school with pride and passion.
Compensation
According to Glassdoor, campus tour guides make $11 to $14 per hour.
How to Apply
To discover campus tour guide opportunities, inquire with your school’s office of admissions.
9. IT Assistant
Students and faculty are constantly in need of IT help. If you have sufficient technical skills, this is an in-demand job consistently in need of staffing. Plus, if you plan to work in a computer field for your future career, an IT job will give you directly applicable work experience for your resume.
Job Duties
An IT assistant will typically assist students and faculty with installing software, fixing technical issues in classrooms, setting up equipment in classrooms, and occasionally assisting the IT department with updating and maintaining campus operating systems and assisting in the configuration of new hardware, such as servers.
Compensation
According to PayScale, the average hourly rate for an IT assistant is $15.16.
How to Apply
See the IT department to discover if there are any openings, although typically colleges and universities will post them to a job board and require a formal application.
10. Social Media Assistant
Social media and other online content have become the primary way we consume information. Thus, most colleges and universities have extensive online presences, including Facebook and Twitter feeds and blogs. In fact, the student newspaper of yesteryear has been largely replaced at many schools with online blogs. And while these media outlets are a critical part of college marketing plans, many student services and academic departments also have their own online presence. And they regularly hire students to manage them.
Job Duties
Social media assistants are typically involved in all aspects of managing social media accounts, including writing and submitting posts, scheduling social media campaigns, writing blogs, search engine optimization (SEO), and monitoring online engagement.
Compensation
According to Glassdoor, college social media assistants make $10 to $15 per hour.
How to Apply
Any department that has its own online presence uses social media assistants, including academic departments. So start by inquiring with the department of your major. Alternatively, check your school’s jobs board.
11. Brand Ambassador
From Google to Red Bull to ZipCar, many companies hire students to act as “ambassadors” for their products on campus. Brand ambassadors can work for a variety of companies and organizations, including sports teams, restaurants, beverage makers, food makers, and hospitality services. Companies typically look for students who are energetic, outgoing, and enjoy interacting with others. In addition, a large social media following is helpful in scoring a position. This job provides directly applicable work experience for anyone looking to build a career in marketing.
Job Duties
Brand ambassadors are typically responsible for handing out product samples, discussing products with the public to build rapport, participating in social media campaigns, and monitoring customer feedback. Additionally, depending on the job, brand ambassadors might travel to represent the product at events. But travel opportunities usually take place on the weekends, so they shouldn’t interfere with classes.
Compensation
According to Repsly, brand ambassadors make $10 to $16 per hour. Additionally, the job often comes with some cool perks like freebies and discounts.
How to Apply
Start by searching typical job boards like Indeed, Monster, and LinkedIn. Another tactic is to contact firms that specialize in placing brand ambassadors like marketing agencies, event staffing services, or promotional modeling agencies. And it’s always a good idea to check with your college career services office as well, who might be able to direct you to companies specifically looking for student ambassadors.
12. Fitness Instructor or Personal Trainer
Chances are your college’s gym offers a number of group fitness classes like Zumba, yoga, cycling, or pilates. If you enjoy exercise, teaching a fitness class is an ideal way to stay in shape while interacting with other students and making some money. Alternatively, off-campus gyms are also frequently on the lookout for high-energy instructors with availability to work in the evening, on weekends, or in the early morning. And, if you’re studying a related field like kinesiology, physical therapy, or dance, you’ll gain some directly applicable work experience.
Job Duties
Fitness instructors generally teach group fitness classes, although some gyms might offer personal trainer positions where you work one-on-one with clients. You might also provide personalized diet and fitness advice.
Compensation
According to Glassdoor, group fitness instructors make an average of $23 per hour and personal trainers make $13 to $26 per hour. If you go the entrepreneurial route and start your own fitness class or program, you can make far more — typically $40 to $85 per hour. Look for a gym that allows trainers to charge their own fees, but be aware the gym will take a cut.
How to Apply
Many gyms, including college gyms, require you to be certified to teach group fitness classes or be a personal trainer, and these certifications aren’t free; typically they cost anywhere from $500 to $800. But the upfront cost may be worth it because this is one of the most lucrative job options for college students.
Depending on the certification you go for, the training and test could take one day, one weekend, or several weeks. Certifications can be earned through organizations like the American College of Sports Medicine or the American Council on Exercise Certification (ACE).
Some certifying organizations require continuing education credits (CECs) to maintain the certification. Fortunately, as a college student, you have easy access to those. Qualifying CECs usually include health and fitness or exercise science courses from accredited colleges and universities.
Once you’re certified, inquire about positions with your college gym or investigate nearby off-campus fitness centers.
13. Barista
Although working as a barista in college has become cliche, there are many good reasons to do it. For one, you’ll get your daily caffeine fix for free — meaning you can save a little extra money by cutting down on your latte factor. For another, it’s an excellent way to meet people, especially other students and faculty who’ll be consistently stopping by for their own morning favorites. And, working in the hustle-and-bustle of a college cafe can develop generally transferable skills for your resume, including customer service and management experience.
Job Duties
Baristas are responsible for making drinks to order, working as a cashier, and — depending on your hours — opening and setting up the cafe or closing shop at the end of the day.
Compensation
According to PayScale, the average pay for a barista is $10.60 per hour.
How to Apply
To find a job as a barista, search your college’s jobs board. Or inquire directly at the cafes around campus.
14. Event Caterer
Most colleges and universities have their own catering services, which provide food for alumni events, admissions events, graduation ceremonies, faculty parties, and other special events. This job provides directly applicable experience for any student interested in a hospitality career. But it also provides valuable networking opportunities because it will give you the chance to meet the important people — including influential alumni — associated with your college.
Job Duties
Caterers are responsible for food preparation, set up of dining areas, and serving food.
Compensation
According to PayScale, the average pay for an event caterer is $12.92 per hour. Additionally, the job often comes with the perk of free food.
How to Apply
Check with your college’s dining services department to see if there are any available job opportunities.
15. Internship
Although not exactly an on-campus job, an internship is typically obtained through your school. More importantly, if your primary concern is directly applicable work experience to give you an edge in the job market post-graduation, then an internship in your area of concentration is the No. 1 way to get that.
When Richard Arum, a sociology professor at New York University and author of “Aspiring Adults Adrift: Tentative Transitions of College Graduates,” was researching the book, he found that students who participate in internships, apprenticeships, and job transition programs are more likely to find a job on graduation. This is why colleges focus so highly on them and why they’re among the top ways the best colleges help students transition to the workplace.
Job Duties
What you’ll do during your internship depends entirely on your field and the internship itself. For example, a medical internship could involve filling out patient paperwork while a programming internship might have you managing software.
Compensation
Most internships are unpaid, although it is possible to find a few paying opportunities. Regardless, an internship will lead to better income opportunities post-graduation, as they show potential employers you have applicable work experience. And, if you’re lucky enough to find a paid internship, it gives you ground to negotiate a better starting salary post-graduation because you’ll already have an income history in your field.
How to Apply
Inquire directly with the department of your major or your college’s career services office to find internship opportunities.
Off-Campus Jobs
While on-campus jobs let you skip the commute, going off-campus could yield better opportunities — including higher-paying positions. Additionally, many jobs off campus are ideal for earning some extra cash during summer and holiday breaks.
16. Data Entry Clerk
Although not the most exciting, data entry jobs provide students with the benefit of a fully remote job with flexible hours. These clerical jobs can be performed on your own time — any time of day or night — from the comfort of your dorm room. They generally require only a basic knowledge of data entry and data preservation, although some companies require typing or IT troubleshooting tests as part of their application process.
Job Duties
Data entry clerks are responsible for sorting and organizing data, verifying data, updating existing data, completing daily reports, and in some cases gathering data directly from customers.
Compensation
According to ZipRecruiter, data entry clerks make an average of $19 per hour.
How to Apply
To find a data entry job, search online job boards like ZipRecruiter, Indeed, Monster, and LinkedIn.
17. Server or Bartender
Although you may not immediately think of serving or bartending as a job that pays above minimum wage, servers can bring home significant cash depending on where you work. More, shifts can be scheduled for nights and weekends, so they don’t need to interfere with class time. And these are ideal jobs for working during summers or holiday breaks when some restaurants need additional seasonal help.
For example, during my college years, I spent my summers and breaks serving in a restaurant in a living history center. In addition to the fun of waiting tables in costume, I got to serve high-class dinners for historical society patrons. Our Christmas season was always especially lucrative, as I brought home hundreds of dollars in tips on a daily basis. Even better, I always earned enough spending money working only those few weeks over winter break to carry me through the whole next semester.
Although you need to be of legal age to make alcoholic drinks, bartending can be equally lucrative for upper-level students.
Job Duties
Servers and bartenders take orders, serve food and drinks, handle cash and credit cards, and occasionally do some light food preparation. And those with the best customer service skills earn the best tips.
Compensation
Hourly pay for servers varies widely by state. Some states set base pay at the state minimum wage, while others have a reduced minimum for tipped workers — which can be radically less than minimum wage. To find the base pay for tipped workers in your state, visit Minimum Wage Facts & Analysis. However, servers make the majority of their income in tips, and this ranges from $60 per shift at the lower end to upwards of $300 per shift at higher-end restaurants. According to Indeed, the average is $100 per shift.
How to Apply
The usual online job boards like LinkedIn, Monster, and Indeed are a good place to start. If you have a particular favorite restaurant you’d love to work at, inquire in person. Be sure to visit during a slow time of the day, as managers aren’t likely to have the ability to speak with you during hectic mealtimes.
18. Sales Associate
Although most workers in retail sales don’t make much more than minimum wage, some stores have premiums for working during busy holiday seasons — perfect for a college student on break. There can also be bonus pay for working late at night or commissions on sales.
Additionally, sales associates can arrange to work around their availability, which can also vary week-to-week as needed. And although you may have to settle for low pay with this job, you don’t have to settle for a run-of-the-mill store. Instead, seek out a unique local place to work like an artisan bakery, fashion boutique, or an all-natural organic skincare shop.
If you find a place whose mission and way of doing business inspires you, you’re more likely to have a passion for your work. And if you seek out a job with a local small business, you’re likely to have the opportunity to learn a lot about running a company because you’ll work more closely with the store managers and even owners than you would at a large retail chain.
Job Duties
A sales associate performs customer service, makes sales, handles cash and credit cards, organizes store inventory, and could be responsible for opening or closing the store.
Compensation
The hourly pay usually starts at state minimum wage rates. However, sales associates can make significantly more at stores that offer a commission on sales. According to PayScale, the average for a sales associate is $10.75 per hour, but this rate doesn’t include commissions.
How to Apply
Search online job boards like Indeed or Monster for openings. Or inquire directly with the store you’re interested in working for.
Entrepreneurial Jobs
Although many college students don’t typically think of them, entrepreneurial jobs are ideal for students. You get to work when you want, decide on your own fee structure, and often make more than you would with the average minimum wage college job — depending on your ability to hustle and market yourself.
More, if you decide you want to keep growing your entrepreneurial endeavor after college, you’ll already have a running start. For example, a former student of mine started a business making cellphone cases from recycled plastic as part of a high school assignment. He loved the project so much, he’s now majoring in business and plans to keep expanding his company. Thus, when he graduates, he already has his post-college “job” all lined up.
Even if you don’t decide to continue with your business or side hustle after college, the skills you’ll learn as an entrepreneur — like how to run a business, market a product, manage sales, and respond to customer needs — are directly applicable to a variety of future career fields. Plus, in an uncertain economy, knowing you can make money on your own — with or without a traditional job — is invaluable in and of itself.
And, if you don’t want to fly completely solo, the prevalence of peer-to-peer and gig economy platforms allow you to offer your services as everything from a tutor to a tour guide to an errand-runner with a built-in customer base to market to.
19. Online Tutor
Although working as a peer tutor on your college campus comes with the opportunity to network with faculty and staff, online tutoring is more lucrative. Even better, your schedule is fully flexible — you can work when you want. And because it’s fully remote, you can tutor wherever you can take your computer.
Job Duties
You can tutor other students — including elementary, middle school, and high school students — in any subject you excel in. You can even teach English online to international students. Additionally, test preparation tutoring — especially for the SATs — is always in high demand.
Compensation
According to Tutors.com, online tutors make $30 per hour on average. But this can increase to $50 to $60 per hour for advanced subjects like SAT prep or calculus.
How to Find Work
For subject-based online tutoring, sign up with one of the many gig-economy platforms like VIPkids and Tutors.com or advertise your services on Care.com. Help students practice their English with a platform like Cambly. Or tutor students in a musical instrument with TakeLessons or art, crafting, or photography with Skillshare.
20. Tour Guide
It’s common to see students give tours on campus, but these jobs are often limited to admissions “season.” So, for outgoing, energetic students looking for additional work, consider expanding to become a local tour guide. Thanks to today’s gig economy, you can offer “insider” tours on your own time when you sign up with a “tours by locals” peer-to-peer online platform. This is an ideal job for students majoring in theatre arts, history, or English who have a knack for storytelling and live or attend school in an area that regularly attracts tourists.
Job Duties
Typically, tour guides escort the public around their city while telling stories about the history of sights, answering questions, and sometimes driving. When it comes to peer-to-peer tours, tourists look more for “experiences” — especially the “insider” view of a locale. So, for example, instead of pointing out all the usual sights, you might take tourists to a little known craft brewery complete with a tasting or guide them on a hike through the area’s best nature trails.
Compensation
According to Indeed, the average base pay for tour guides is $17.15 per hour plus an average of $75 in tips per day. However, as an entrepreneurial tour guide, it’s not unusual to charge upwards of $60 per hour for a tour or experience.
How to Find Work
Sign up with a peer-to-peer platform like Airbnb, Shiroube, Rent a Local Friend, or ToursByLocals.
21. Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants (VAs) are the new personal assistants. They help busy professionals with daily tasks including data entry, scheduling, appointment setting, and email and social media management. Essentially, they do jobs an administrative assistant would perform, but from the comfort of their computer
This job is perfect for the well-organized college student who’s proficient with the computer and possesses some administrative skills. It’s also ideal for the busy college student, as all work is performed remotely and can usually be done at any time of day.
Job Duties
VAs typically create and maintain schedules; book travel reservations; conduct research; manage websites, social media, and email accounts; and occasionally manage financial information.
Compensation
According to PayScale, the average pay for a virtual assistant is $15.85 per hour.
How to Find Work
Sign up with a site that connects VAs with potential clients like Zirtual, VANetworking.com, or PeoplePerHour.
22. Freelance Writer
If you love to write, this job’s for you. While you may not get to choose your paper topics for your English courses, freelance writing gives you the flexibility to write about any subject you love — from pop culture, movies, and TV to sports, cooking, fashion, or travel.
Whether you write for online blogs and publications or print magazines, freelance writing is generally done remotely and submitted online. And if you’re planning a future career in writing, you’ll have developed significant writing skills and built up a portfolio of published pieces before you graduate. In fact, bestselling Young Adult novelist Alicia Rades started as a freelance blogger in high school and worked her way through college freelancing until she built up enough audience to write novels full time.
Job Duties
Depending on the job, you may be assigned topics to write about in your subject field or you may pitch an editor your own ideas. Regardless, you’ll be responsible for fulfilling the writer’s guidelines at each publication you write for, including adapting your writing to their overall style or branding.
Compensation
According to PayScale, the average pay for a freelance writer is $24.22 per hour. However, writing jobs are often paid in per-word or per-project rates. So how much you make often depends on how fast you can write and do any applicable research.
How to Find Work
One strategy for finding work is searching freelance job board sites like Upwork, Textbroker, Guru, Freelancer.com, MediaBistro, or LinkedIn Pro Finder. Another strategy is to type your area of specialization (your writing niche) into a search engine like Google with the additional keywords “write for us.” For example, cooking + “write for us.” This will return you a list of websites actively looking for writers in your niche — just follow their guidelines to apply directly to the publication.
Note that most publications will want to see samples of your work. So it’s beneficial to have a portfolio of writing to show prospective clients. Your portfolio doesn’t, however, have to be paid work. It could be as simple as writing several blog posts in your niche that you publish on your own website or on a platform that allows you to self-publish content like LinkedIn.
23. Graphic Designer
If you’re skilled with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator and have an excellent design sense, graphic design is a field with endless possibilities for freelance work. Jobs could include designing anything from company logos to t-shirts. This is a great choice for any student majoring in art or planning to go into graphic design post-college. Not only is it applicable experience for your resume, but you’ll build a portfolio of paid work you can showcase to prospective employers or clients in the future.
Job Duties
Whether designing a marketing brochure, an advertisement, a logo, or company swag, graphic designers are responsible for creating the visual branding for clients, typically with the use of computer software. In essence, they create visual concepts that convey information through art. And that art could appear anywhere from a poster to a book cover to packing labels.
Compensation
According to PayScale, the average pay for a freelance graphic designer is $29.43 per hour. As with writing, though, graphic designers are typically paid per project.
How to Find Work
To find work, search freelance job boards that include categories for graphic designers. These include Upwork, PeoplePerHour, Freelancer.com, DesignCrowd, or LinkedIn Pro Finder. Or design your own products — like graphics or logos for webpages — and sell them on Etsy.
24. Photographer
Freelance photography is another ideal college job for art majors or anyone with a nice camera and an eye for capturing beautiful moments. This is not remote work, but photographers often work nights and weekends, so jobs can fit in around your class schedule. It is to your benefit to have some experience shooting professional photography. If you’re a total beginner, you can gain this by signing up for a photography class at your college or doing a few sessions for free until you gain enough skill to start charging clients.
Job Duties
A freelance photographer can find work taking pictures of everything from senior portraits to weddings and special events. Additionally, freelancers can submit their work to stock photography sites, which gives them more freedom to shoot non-human subjects like nature and travel sights.
Compensation
According to PayScale, freelance photographers make an average of $25.32 per hour.
How to Find Work
Find freelance photography work by searching job board sites like Upwork, LinkedIn Pro Finder, Get Photography Jobs, Photography Jobs Online, or The Creative Loft. Alternatively, grow your business by word of mouth by offering to photograph friends for special events or professional headshots. And for stock photography, submit your work to sites like Adobe Stock, Shutterstock, or Alamy.
25. Maker/Artist
If you have a special artistic talent — whether sewing, knitting, wood burning, or jewelry making — earn some extra cash by selling your handmade goods on a site like Etsy or Amazon Homemade. While it can be tricky to figure out how to sell on Etsy — and you’ll have to do some hustling to market yourself — it is possible to make money with handmade products. One of my nieces, for example, worked her way through college designing and selling press-on acrylic nails.
Job Duties
There are few limits to what you can make and sell, aside from any applicable laws. For example, if you make food or skincare products, you’ll need licensing and a health inspection of your preparation facilities, and you’ll need to be careful about any claims you make on your product labels. Visit Made Urban for more info. But as long as you’re careful to follow legal regulations — and you make a product people want to buy — the possibilities are virtually limitless.
Compensation
According to Career Explorer, the median income for a crafter is $17.59 per hour. But a beginning crafter can expect to make closer to $10.50 per hour.
How to Find Work
Advertise your handmade goods for sale on an online platform like Etsy or Amazon Homemade. Or make use of social media — especially visual platforms like Instagram and Pinterest— to showcase your work. But don’t limit your customer base to the Internet. You can also try selling your crafts at local boutiques, holiday markets, or craft fairs — or even in your college dorm.
26. Dog Walker/Pet Sitter
Animal lovers with the ability to travel to client’s houses can make money as a dog walker. Pets are often left home alone all day while their owners are at their jobs. So, if you can squeeze in a few walks in between classes, you won’t have trouble finding work. And those who are willing to pet sit overnight while their owners are on vacation can make even more.
Job Duties
Dog walkers and pet sitters agree on their responsibilities with the pet owners, but it could include walking dogs once or several times a day, cleaning up after them, feeding pets, and engaging with them in play.
Compensation
According to PayScale, dog walkers make an average of $14.82 per hour.
How to Find Work
Sign up with a site that connects you directly with pet owners in need of dog walkers or sitters, such as Rover, Wag!, or Holidog.
27. House Cleaner
As with dog walking and pet sitting, this entrepreneurial endeavor isn’t remote, so you’ll need transportation to get to and from client’s houses. But as long as you can manage that, house cleaning is a low-stress, low-overhead job where you can make decent money. I cleaned houses when I was in high school because I earned significantly more than minimum wage, which meant I could work fewer hours overall.
Although you won’t likely be able to clean anyone’s house during late-night hours or the weekends, you can schedule cleanings around your classes. More, if you’re able to get audiobook versions of any of your required class readings, you’ll be able to complete your homework while you do some scrubbing.
Job Duties
House cleaners are responsible for cleaning all required interior (and sometimes exterior) areas to a client’s satisfaction. This includes vacuuming carpets, sweeping and mopping floors, scrubbing kitchens and bathrooms, and dusting surfaces.
Compensation
According to PayScale, the average pay for a housecleaner is $11.91 per hour. But if you work for yourself instead of a company, you can easily make twice that or more. In many areas, it’s not unusual to charge $40 to $50 per hour.
How to Find Work
When I cleaned houses, I found clients through word of mouth. I started by cleaning one house for a co-worker of my father’s and word spread from there. Our own house cleaner finds clients the same way — in fact, that’s how I found her. Alternatively, you can offer your services through a platform where people intentionally search for house cleaners like Housecleaners.com, Care.com, Thumbtack, Angie’s List, or HomeAdvisor.
28. Errand Runner or Task Completer
Errand and task jobs probably won’t be a big asset for your resume. But they are easy to fit in your schedule — you accept jobs one at a time, so you can do them whenever you need a little extra cash or not do them when your schedule gets busy.
Job Duties
Job responsibilities vary widely from one task to another. Essentially, you sign up to run whatever errand or complete whatever task a client requests. So that could mean helping a housebound client get needed items from a store, unpacking boxes after someone moves to a new home, completing minor house repairs, or even planning a party.
Compensation
The pay is completely dependent on the task. With some sites, you’ll be able to set your own rates, whereas with others the rates are predetermined. For example, with Handy, you’ll make $22 per hour as a cleaner, $45 per hour as a handyperson, or $62 per hour doing lawn care.
How to Find Work
Sign up to perform a wide variety of tasks — 50+ different kinds — with TaskRabbit, where you might do anything from baby-proofing a home to washing a car to assembling Ikea furniture. Or sign up with Handy, which specializes primarily in cleaning services, home repair, and lawn care.
29. Delivery Driver or Food Shopper
Food delivery is a new norm for today’s busy families. Between work and child care, parents too busy to cook or get takeout can use a food delivery app to have dinner at their door promptly, freshly prepared by a local restaurant and dropped off by a delivery driver. That means if you sign up to deliver food with a service like DoorDash, Grubhub, or Uber Eats, you won’t lack for work.
Additionally, individuals and families use delivery services like Instacart and Amazon Prime Now to get groceries to their doorstep or Postmates to get food, personal items, and more.
As with other gig economy jobs, you’ll be able to work whenever you want. You sign on when you’re available to make deliveries and sign off when you’re not. Even better, if you live in a different location than you attend school, you can make deliveries in your college town when school’s in session and deliver in your hometown when you’re on breaks. So you’ll be able to work whenever and wherever you want.
Job Duties
The job duties vary slightly depending on what kind of service you sign up for. For example, DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats involve picking up and dropping off restaurant orders. With Instacart and sometimes Postmates, you’ll be doing the shopping in addition to the delivery. And with Amazon Prime Now, you’ll only do the shopping.
Regardless, you’ll sign up with one of the apps and let the app know when you’re available to receive jobs. The app will then send you deliveries to accept or reject. And with Amazon Prime Now, you’ll use the app to select shopping shifts.
Compensation
According to Glassdoor, food delivery drivers earn between $11 and $15 per hour. Keep in mind the fee structure is different for each platform, so be sure to read the fine print with each. But generally, you get to keep all your tips and most, if not all, of your earnings (delivery fees). Additionally, some services allow you the option of weekly deposits to your bank account or an instant cash-out of your earnings.
How to Find Work
Sign up with your preferred platform, whether that’s DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats, Instacart, Amazon Prime Now, or Postmates. Know that all of the platforms require you to prove your identity and some require a background check. And if you’ll be using your car to make deliveries, you’ll need to provide proof of insurance.
You’ll also need a smartphone to use the apps, as well as your own transportation. Depending on the delivery area, that could be a car, bike, scooter, or your feet. Some delivery services require you to be at least age 18, and others require you to be at least 21 years old. Typically, the age requirements depend on the mode of transportation you’ll be using to make deliveries.
30. Rideshare Driver
Ridesharing allows anyone with a decent car to act as a private taxi and shuttle customers from one location to another. Individuals seeking a ride use a rideshare app, such as Uber or Lyft, to alert drivers whenever and wherever they need a lift. You — the driver — have the ability to accept or reject the job. Just like with food delivery, you’re able to work whenever and wherever you want.
Riders can opt to share the ride with others for a lower fee. Your earnings increase when you have several passengers headed in the same direction because it means you can pick up more fares.
Job Duties
As with food delivery, you’ll use an app on your smartphone. Sign on when you’re available for work and sign off when you’re not. When you’re on-duty, you have the ability to accept or reject rides. You simply pick up riders and shuttle them to their desired destination. Customer service is a plus because — just like with taxi drivers — riders often tip.
Compensation
According to Glassdoor, rideshare drivers make $12 to $20 per hour. The pricing structure varies depending on the service. With both Lyft and Uber, drivers keep 80% of the fare. And during peak hours, Lyft drivers keep 100% of the prime-time surcharge. While Uber charges riders a similar peak-time fee, they’re unclear about what percentage, if any, their drivers keep.
No matter the service, drivers keep 100% of their tips. You can choose to cash out instantly or get automatic weekly deposits to your bank account.
How to Find Work
Sign up with a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft. You’ll need to pass a background check, including a driver history, and you need to be at least 21 years of age. You also need to provide proof of insurance, and your car needs to pass an inspection.
For the most flexibility, you need your own car. Lyft allows you to work with a local rental company if you don’t have — or can’t use — your own vehicle. However, you’ll need to provide a security deposit and complete a minimum number of rideshares every week to use a rental.
Final Word
If you’re just looking for a little extra pocket money while in school, you could definitely settle for a run-of-the-mill minimum wage job. But if you have to work anyway, it’s worth the effort to find a job that will give you directly applicable work experience to highlight on your resume. More, a job with flexible hours that you can fit in around your studies will help you manage the work-school balance.
To find the best job for you, take advantage of all the available resources. These include your college’s career center. But they can also include networking in student organizations and at alumni events, participating in career development seminars, and talking with faculty. Additionally, more colleges and universities are using social media to post job openings, and networking online can help connect students to the right opportunities.
Keep in mind, though, that while social media can be a great place to start building connections, nothing beats face-to-face interactions when it comes to making a memorable impression.
Are you a working college student? Any job ideas you would add to this list?
