5 of the Best Jobs for College Students

5 of the Best Jobs for College Students

Making money as a college student can be tough. In addition to not having the qualifications to work in fields related to your desired career that might require a degree, it’s likely that you don’t have time to work much in between studying, doing homework, attending classes, and participating in extracurricular activities. If you’re a college student looking for extra money to spend this holiday season, keep reading to learn about some of the best (and highest paying!) jobs for college students around the country

Bartender

If you are older than 21, working part-time as a bartender at a busy bar in your city or near your college campus can be a great way to gain experience in the service industry while earning quite a bit of extra money. In addition to the wage you will be paid to work as a bartender (which, at many bars in major cities, is higher than minimum wage), you will have the opportunity to earn tips. Busy bartenders at the top-rated, most-frequented bars in their city can earn up to $1,000/night in tips from customers! Plus, most bartenders only work at night, meaning that this is a job that can easily be worked outside of the hours you are in class or doing work for school. While bartending can be a taxing job, many people find that the money makes it worth it.

Babysitting 

If you are in need of a job that allows you to have a fairly flexible schedule, babysitting might be one of your best options. Most parents need babysitters for after-school or weekend care several times a week, meaning that you can likely find work outside of school hours; plus, parents are more likely to be flexible with hours than a proper employer. Working with local babysitting services or apps like Sitter City or Care.com can make it easy to find babysitting jobs in your area. Babysitting also allows you to set your own wage, as the amount you will earn depends on the family you work for and how many children you will be babysitting; however, the average babysitter in America earns around $12 per hour per sitting opportunity. 

Tutor

If you are excelling in your field of study, working as a tutor can be a great way to earn steady income while helping students, often without even leaving campus! Plus, many professors offer extra credit points to students who work as tutors in a particular subject or field of study, and working to tutor others can help you brush up on your own knowledge of a particular subject and keep important information fresh in your mind. Another benefit of working as a tutor is that you can set your own schedule, and can often set your own pay rate. This is one of the best opportunities for students to make money while having a totally flexible schedule and working on their own terms.  

Mover

Are you strong enough to haul heavy items or do you own a truck or van that can be used to do so? Many people who need to complete last-minute moves and are unable to hire experts like Black Tie Moving are willing to hire college students to help them with a move. While this job can be physically demanding, it is one of the best ways to earn a considerable amount of money (most movers make an average of $30-55/hr) while also being able to work a fairly flexible schedule on your own terms. 

Barista 

One of the most common jobs for college students across the nation is working in a coffee shop as a barista. In addition to this being a fairly simple job that does not require experience in the food service industry or a degree in any particular field, it is also relatively easy for most college students to obtain as there are typically numerous coffee shops located throughout the average college campus. Most coffee shops are open all day long and are able to offer shifts to students that work with their class schedules. Companies like Starbucks even offer deals to students that offer the payment of tuition and other financial benefits to full-time college students, in addition to working around their busy academic schedules. Baristas tend to make minimum wage or higher, with the average hourly wage of a barista being roughly $13. Many baristas have the opportunity to earn tips from customers (even national chains like Starbucks have recently unveiled the option for customers to leave tips for their baristas), allowing them to earn even more money. Working as a barista is one of the most enjoyable, accessible, and high paying jobs that the average college student can work.