Jobs for College Students that Pay Well
Updated: June 19, 2024
Published: November 2, 2018
Are you a college student looking to make some extra cash? The good news is that there are many jobs for college students that pay well. By earning some money during college, you can help to cover the costs of college (to avoid accruing debt), take care of familial responsibilities, cover your costs of living, and hopefully, make some more disposable income for fun.
Good Jobs for College Students
Depending on your schedule, interests, and needs, you can choose from the following list of the best paying jobs for college students. Additionally, you may consider finding tuition reimbursement jobs, which is when an employer covers some or all of the costs of an employee’s education.
1. Independent Driver
Ever used services like Uber or Lyft? The popular ridesharing apps are constantly looking for independent drivers. Independent drivers get to set their own schedule, which is a major perk of this job. Additionally, you can give a lot of rides straight from and around your college campus if you attend one because many college students use the apps to get around (if they don’t have their own car). However, keep in mind, that you’ll still have to cover the cost of your car, the associated maintenance, and gas because you work as a freelance contractor rather than an employee.
The amount you earn driving for Uber and Lyft will depend on where you live, the times you drive, and how often you work.
2. Barista
Are you a coffee connoisseur or just someone interested in providing amazing customer service? Baristas take requests and make drinks for customers in coffee shops. They may also be responsible for cleaning up the dining area, updating inventory, and editing signage to increase sales. According to Indeed.com, baristas in America earn an average of $13.95 per hour. Plus, most coffee shops have a tip jar, so you can make a little extra based on the level of service you provide.
3. Bartender
Bars and restaurants are constantly looking for bartenders to whip up cocktails and service customers. In some bars and restaurants, you may be required to have attended bartending school to get a job. These courses typically run 40 hours, but you may be able to find accelerated bartending courses. While bartenders may not have the highest hourly wage, they earn a lot of their income from tips. Without tips, the average salary for a bartender is $26,094, but that number can greatly increase based on tips.
4. Teacher Assistant
Teaching assistants help professors or teachers prepare lessons and teach students. They may be responsible for taking attendance, calculating grades, and supervising students during tests. To become a teacher’s assistant, you’ll either need to have graduated high school, earned your GED, or have an associate’s degree. In 2020, teacher assistants earned an average of $28,900.
5. Bank Teller
Bank tellers have a variety of responsibilities including counting their drawers for cash, taking cash and checks from customers, preparing specialized accounts for customers, electronically recording transactions, and more. Glassdoor reports that the average salary for bank tellers is $71,167. Bank tellers require a high school degree.
6. Dog Walker
Dog walking is a wonderful option for college students because of the immense flexibility, the great physical exercise, and of course, hanging out with dogs! Dog walkers pick up dogs from their owners and take them to exercise, go to the bathroom, and socialize. While this job can be very enjoyable, it also comes along with the immense responsibility of keeping the dogs safe. The base salary for dog walkers in the U.S. is https://www.indeed.com/career/dog-walker/salaries
7. Virtual Assistant
Want a job that you can do from anywhere? In the same way that you can attend online college from anywhere with Internet access, you can work as a virtual assistant with the same requirements. Virtual assistants answer phone calls, take messages, manage emails, make travel arrangements and more for their employer. ZipRecruiter reports that virtual assistants can earn an average of $32 per hour.
8. Babysitter
Babysitters take care of babies, toddlers, and young children on behalf of their parents for set amounts of time. Depending on their employer, they may be required to pick up kids from school, cook, help with homework, bathe and dress the kids, and spend time with them. The average hourly wage for babysitters depends on one’s location, but across the United States, the average hovers around $18.60 an hour.
9. Tutor
If you are specifically interested or skilled in a specific subject, it could behoove you to become a tutor and help other students learn that topic. Tutors get to set their own rates and availability. It’s also a job that you can do from the comfort of your home if you want to tutor digitally instead of in person. As a tutor, you’ll also reap the benefit of knowing that you are helping students to learn and reach their potential.
10. Freelance Copywriter
For anyone with a knack for writing, it’s possible to make money sharing your talent. Many companies hire freelance copywriters for project-based, part-time, or even full-time positions. This is yet another job opportunity that offers flexibility. As a freelance copywriter, you may be tasked with writing websites, blog articles (much like this one), social media ads, emails, newsletters, or any other medium with words. Copywriters may be paid hourly, per project, per word, or on a retainer.
11. Fitness Instructor
Fitness fiends can make money helping others get fit! It’s a win-win for everyone involved. As a fitness instructor, you’ll manage your client’s workout regimen and can potentially also advise on their nutrition plans. Fitness instructors earn a wide range of income based on where they work, their experience level, and their clientele. On average, in the United States, fitness instructors are said to earn $43,535 per year.
12. Bookkeeper
Bookkeeping often gets confused with accounting. To clear up any confusion, check out this guide. Once you do, you’ll see that bookkeepers are tasked with data entry, monitoring financial records, collecting transactions, and more day-to-day operations within a business. This position requires a highly organized person who can pay close attention to details.
Tips to Balance Work and School
Balancing work and school can feel like juggling. In an effort to alleviate the burden of maintaining a job while studying, consider attending an online and accredited institution like the University of the People.
By doing so, you can choose from the list of jobs for college students that pay well, while also setting your own schedule for school. This level of flexibility in both your work and school life will make it easier to balance all your responsibilities. Plus, the University of the People is tuition-free, which means that less of the money you earn on your job will need to be applied to your education.
Ready to Get Paid?
Now that you have an idea of some jobs for college students that pay well, you can take your pick from the list! Flexibility will undoubtedly be a major factor in your ability to balance work and school, so choose wisely.