If you’re in college (or you have a kid going to college) and you’re strapped for cash as most students are, there is no rule saying you have to work at the local fast-food joint. There are tons of online jobs for college students that offer both great pay and a flexible schedule.
If you’re looking for a way to get through college without exhausting yourself running from school to work or getting yourself a pile of debt, nothing beats a side hustle.
Working an online side job can earn you far more than minimum wage and some of these jobs are good enough to make a difference to your resume as well.
Here are 13 online jobs for college students that you should definitely consider looking into:
Online Tutor
Working as an online tutor for VipKid, where you teach English to young kids from China, is a great way to earn some extra cash on the side and it doesn’t have tons of requirements needed to qualify.
You simply need to apply online on their website and the team behind the idea will get you set up in a matter of days. The average teacher can earn between $15 to $22 an hour which sure beats minimum wage at a fast-food restaurant.
Tutor.com is another great option for online tutoring that you could look into if you would like to teach other subjects like math or science.
Everything is online and all you need is your laptop to get started. This means not only do you earn more than minimum wage, but you also save on gas and transportation costs.
Social Media Assistant
Bloggers, small businesses, and entrepreneurs are outsourcing social media management jobs more and more every day. While most brick and mortar businesses may choose to hire someone to come into the office, online businesses like bloggers are always on the lookout for extra help.
It can also be helpful for anyone who aims at starting a blog or online business of their own someday. If you are going to spend hours of your time slogging for someone else’s company, it is always a good idea to get some work experience along with the pay.
This is a career that can especially help media or PR major students since it looks great on your resume. You can find some good job openings on websites like Glassdoor and Indeed.
Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistant jobs are one of the best online jobs for college students and you will never have to worry about getting bored. A virtual assistant’s job profile includes everything from answering emails to managing social media for the business.
You can find some well-paying virtual assistant jobs on websites like Indeed but it’s also important to make connections within the community since a lot of job opportunities prop up thanks to organic relationships.
Drew Duboff, for example, took on his first virtual assistant client by engaging with them on their Facebook group!
With only 59% of virtual assistants working full-time, this job suits students perfectly thanks to its flexible nature.
Translator
If you are bilingual, consider looking into some translation jobs on websites like Translators Cafe or Translators Directory. Sites like these will hook you up with TV shows, movies, tutorials, or videos of any kind that need subtitles in another language.
If you are fluent in English and any other language, taking on translator jobs are a great way of getting some extra cash into your pocket.
Sell Stock Photos
If you have a decent camera and an eye for what makes a good picture, there is no reason why you can’t make a few bucks off it. It may be a competitive market to make a mark in but it is a great way for you to make some extra cash.
If you are a freelance photographer or a photography student you probably already know how important it is to diversify your income which is why this idea is so perfect.
Here are some places you could sell your photos.
Data Entry Clerk
Admin work can be boring but it can also be done from home and needs little to no qualifications or work experience. A data entry clerk updates, formats and enters data for a company so it’s a pretty straightforward job.
You can find data entry clerk job opportunities on a website like FlexJobs. The reason this website comes highly recommended is because they filter out any spammy or low-paying job postings by getting their team review every one.
Freelance Writer
Freelance writing is probably the best way to get started if you are new to the world of online jobs. You can jump on to a website like Problogger that offers some of the best job opportunities out there for freelance writers.
With the average freelance writer’s hourly rate being $23.79 it is a job that is worth considering since it has tons of growth potential. It is also pretty easy to get your foot through the door.
Take Kat Boogaard, for instance, who has worked her way up and is now a six-figure blogger!
Graphic Designer
Graphic design students or art students could make some extra cash by taking on some graphic design work on the side. A lot of employers will need a few samples to look at but most won’t focus on actual college qualifications so there could be a job out there for you.
Just like freelance writing, FlexJobs is great for graphic design jobs as well since they have an entire category dedicated to it.
Online Surveys
Online survey companies like Swagbucks or Survey Junkie pay survey-takers with cash or gift cards and it does not take very long to finish one.
With Swagbucks, you also get a $5 welcome bonus the moment you sign up for an account!
It is definitely not a way to make money that can replace your income stream but you can earn a few extra hundred dollars every month which can go a long way.
App Testing
App testing may not be a dependable income stream but it is a good way to make money online while you are lazing around on your couch. Much like taking surveys, app testing is a way for companies to improve upon their product and they pay you for your help.
To get started all you need to do is use a service like Testerwork that lets you earn money by testing websites and apps from home.
Give Music Lessons
If you have an ear for the right notes or know how to play an instrument, you could consider selling classes on a platform like Udemy. Creating a course on a platform like this one allows you to reach a wide audience from the comfort of your own home.
It also has the added bonus of being timeless. This means that once you record tutorial videos and compile them together to create a course, you keep reaping the rewards every time someone buys it.
Flipping
If you know how to see past the junk and find the golden nuggets that are worth working on, you can make a fortune off flipping.
Flipping essentially means reselling refurbished goods. You would buy old or damaged stuff for extremely discounted rates and make it as good as new so you can sell it for five times the price.
Flea Market Flipper is a great example of this. They teach their audience how to earn thousands selling stuff on eBay or selling refurbished furniture that travels across the country.
Chat Agent
Online businesses are always looking for someone to take care of their customers and make sure they stay happy with their services. As more businesses move their staff online, chat agent jobs are becoming increasingly home-based.
You can find some great opportunities on a website like Indeed.
So what did I miss? Are there any other online jobs for college students that you would recommend?
This is a guest post by Freya Kuka. Freya teaches readers how to grow their passive income, save money, and manage debt on her personal finance blog https://collectingcents.com.