12 High-Paying Part-Time Jobs for College Students

Last updated on August 11th, 2024 at 08:10 pm

A Georgetown University Center on Education survey found that roughly 70% of college students work while taking classes. Keeping a job during the demanding college years is no easy task, especially for professions that demand traditional 9 to 5 job hours; frequently, these employers offer little flexibility in terms of shift changes, and some only offer full-time, salary positions that may not be conducive to school academic schedules.

You don’t have to decide between getting good grades and working while studying; you can have a solid education and some side jobs.

There are good jobs for college students on university and student union websites. On the blackboards, you’ll see job openings regularly posted. These positions can be found on campus (e.g., librarian, research assistant) or at various nearby businesses and organisations.

In reality, most overseas students must work to pay for at least some of their living and educational costs.

There are many good job ideas for college students – easy to get and fun to do. Below are categories of jobs you can do while studying at the university:

1. Summer or winter holidays jobs for college students

Most nations allow three months of full-time employment in between school years. The nicest thing about summer jobs is that there is no concern about the possibility that they may interfere with your schooling. You should solely concentrate on doing a great job in your job. Not to mention the benefits of working in a tourist area like a seaside or resort.

2. Part-time jobs for college students

An excellent option to pay for your study expenditures is to take on a part-time job. Depending on how well-paid the job is, you may also be able to make some extra cash. You can choose your schedule thanks to the availability of flexible part-time employment.

A part-time job can give you valuable experience, whether you are working in a customer centre, on campus, or as an assistant in a large company. In addition to looking for less obvious options, consider part-time work in your area of interest, as these can be excellent learning opportunities and help you build a diverse range of abilities.

You may work 20 hours per week at a part-time job as an international student during the semesters (in most developed countries).

Read: When to Apply for Grad School Fall 2023 & How Long Should You Give Yourself?

3. Work Placement for university students

A work placement is a way to get real-world work experience while typically going unpaid. Universities provide a lot of them as part of degree programs. You may be graded on the tasks you perform during your work placement, and as part of the placement, you’ll probably need to finish a project and potentially some progress reports.

Work assignments, also known as year placements, are often completed between your second and final academic year. Most big graduate recruiters post job openings from the beginning of the fall semester until the spring semester.

4. Internships job for college students

A successful career at a prestigious firm related to your academic interests can be developed through internships. Some paid internships give you the chance to be recruited when you finish your internship.

Even if you are not hired, you will gain favourable recommendations for future employment chances and establish contacts with people who might become your future coworkers or business partners. Anyone can benefit from internships since you learn more about the subject you want to study.

5. Volunteering (fun) jobs for college students

While giving back to the community and gaining experience and connections in the industry, volunteering jobs can be more beneficial than employment while in college. Through volunteer work, you can gain a deeper understanding of societal issues and contribute to at least some of their solutions. Not only will your work be highly respected, but you might also provide creative ideas and assist groups or organisations that seek to prevent various societal issues.

You may meet people while volunteering that you could later use as references for jobs or who could work for you in the future.

6. Job observing or shadowing during summer or winter break

Spend some time observing one or more professionals within an organisation. You have the opportunity to understand the type of work required in a particular profession through work shadowing during the holidays, which is the ideal time to do so. Work shadowing may be a rare opportunity for you to obtain experience in a setting where paid work experience positions are uncommon, even though it is rarely a compensated choice.

You will never see advertisements undertake work shadowing; instead, you will always need to get in touch with the business directly and discuss the details of the task. Although less regimented and more difficult to get than an apprenticeship, work shadowing is akin to it.

You must always seek clarification on anything you don’t understand or know during a work shadowing assignment, and you may even need to conduct some independent research to ascertain the fundamentals of the industry or the subject you are studying.

7. Freelancer or casual worker

Both the employer and you as an employee will benefit from the flexibility of this arrangement. You can work in a long-term agreement even though they are typically employed for brief and occasionally erratic periods. As a casual employee, you could be requested to work on short notice and will typically receive notice when your labour is no longer required.

In contrast, you will receive a small bonus for your working hours to compensate for the lack of a formal contract or agreement. Telecommuting and remote employment are two frequent examples of casual employment.

Working from home in front of a computer with a set or flexible schedule is an option. A work-from-home job can be incredibly convenient if you have a strong internet connection and occasionally need to use the phone.

The biggest benefit is that, even if you are studying in the US, Canada, or Europe, you can work for an organisation with headquarters anywhere in the world. The majority of telecommuting employment is in writing, editing, data entry, virtual consulting, and customer support.

Part-Time Job Options Available for Students (Work and Study Plan)

Knowing which part-time occupations are most in demand is important because most students prefer part-time employment.

1. University research assistants

University research assistants make between $15 and $20 per hour. You have several benefits from this type of work because you are already familiar with the setting and the people, and it can support your academic endeavours. This type of job can both be fun and high-paying for college students.

2. Office assistants job for college students

Your key responsibilities are answering the phone, providing customers’ or business partners’ information, and performing other administrative activities.

3. Teacher

Teaching is one of the highest-paying jobs for college students. If you have a passion for teaching and you can do it in a much more proficient way, you can get work as a tutor in a school or even for some local businesses. Teaching is fun especially when you have a passion for it.

Even though not every college student has the skills or resources to tutor, those who can take advantage of one of the highest hourly rates on our list. Peer tutoring programs at universities, commercial businesses, or even remotely in online forms are just a few locations where tutoring positions can be obtained. Regardless of the tutor’s platform, they will undoubtedly enjoy and discover a lot of liberty in this part-time position.

Responsibility:

academic mentoring
test preparation
essay writing training

Depending on experience and customer requirements, tutors can earn anywhere from $30 and $85 (and even much more).

4. Café and bar waitstaff

12 High-Paying Part-Time Jobs for College Students

Café and bar waitstaff make seven euros per hour. One of the simplest occupations you can find may be waiting tables in a café or bar. The majority of these employees also have flexible schedules.

5. Shop assistants

Looking for a lucrative job while studying? consider shop assistants. with this job, you can make around $14/hour educating clients and assisting them in making the best product choice. You’ll need to be able to communicate well to qualify for this position.

6. Nanny jobs for college students

Nanny jobs are popular among college students because they offer plenty of flexibility. Depending on the age of the children, some nannies only need to work afternoons, while others looking after babies are lucky enough to work on their term papers during nap times. As a bonus, some families are willing to exchange room and board for childcare services, which can be a huge plus for students attending school in high-rent cities.

Responsibility:

Homework help for school-age children
Performing household chores
Meal preparation
Looking after the health of the children
Taking children on playdates
School drop-off/pick-up

Hourly rates for nanny jobs can vary greatly depending on the area in which you work.

7. Call centre representatives

Take calls, analyse customer requests or complaints, and deal with them. You must exercise patience, good judgment, and interpersonal skills. Additionally, you must be proficient in German. In most cases, you can set your timetable.

By donning a headset and working at a call centre, many college students may create a cushion. Most employers require workers to be available on weekends and evenings because it’s their goal to attract customers to pick up the phone, which is a schedule that most college students can readily commit to. Although any student who speaks fluently and isn’t afraid to make a sales pitch could succeed in this position, hiring managers frequently look for bilingual individuals who have previous sales experience.

Responsibility:

handling incoming and outgoing calls
Reading from a pre-determined script.
selling goods or requesting donations
entering client information into a database
investigating client issues

8. Virtual Assistant job for college students

Virtual assistant is one of the best and one of the highest-paying jobs to have in college. It’s work from home job that students can look up online and apply for. A virtual assistant is responsible for assisting busy professionals with everyday duties, scheduling, appointment planning, IT, research, and more. Any college student who is well-organized, computer savvy, and preferably has prior administrative experience is a good fit for this position. The fact that all work can be done remotely and, in certain situations, at any time of day sweetens the offer.

Responsibility:

Setting and maintaining schedules
booking reservations for travel
carrying out research
managing financial data
Support for IT, websites, and social media

A virtual assistants can earn up to $15.64 per hour

9. Field interviewer

Some businesses or organisations frequently require data collectors who must question customers about their opinions on goods or services, ultimately resulting in a survey.

10. Home delivery jobs for college students

Deliver goods to customers’ houses while working for a restaurant or online retailer. Although the work is well paid, keep in mind that you will frequently receive tips.

11. Fitness professional jobs for college students

Exercise centres are constantly looking for qualified fitness instructors with plenty of availability for their clients in the early morning and late nights. College students with lots of enthusiasm who are already certified in personal training, participate in collegiate sports or are majoring in related disciplines like kinesiology, dance, or physical therapy are excellent candidates for fitness professional jobs.

Responsibility:

holding sessions that are customised to each client’s fitness objectives
facilitating group lessons
Performing fitness assessments for clients
providing clients with dietary and health information

Fitness instructors make an average of $19.79 per hour.

12. Dog Walker/Pet Sitter

Are you a pet lover in need of some extra cash? If so, become a dog walker and/or pet sitter. Sites like Rover offer on-demand employment options that fit even the most offbeat schedules. And, those willing and able to host doggy daycares and overnight pet sit can make twice as much money as dog walkers. Of course, your income could be even higher if you have experiences working with non-traditional pets, such as farm animals, reptiles, and horses.

Responsibility:

Dog walking
Pet cleanup
Administering medicine
Emergency vet visits
Pet transport

The average pay for dog walking and/or pet sitting is $15-40/hour, depending on location and duties performed.

Part-time Job for College Students Helps Improve Your Resume

You may use your money to pay off a portion of your student loan, cover your tuition, or take care of other costs common to students (accommodation, insurance, etc.). Working while in school typically has more positive effects on an individual than on their income.

You will learn to manage your money more carefully and wisely, become more responsible and disciplined, and overall, the experience will look well on your resume.