1. Animal Caretaker
What you’d do: Animals are natural stress relievers, which makes caring for them a great job for college students. Be a dog walker, or get a job feeding, grooming, and taking care of animals.
What you’d make: Pet care workers earn a median of $13 per hour.
2. Babysitter or Nanny
What you’d do: Miss your younger siblings at home? Work with kids! Babysitters work almost exclusively on nights and weekends, taking care of kids while the parents are out; nannies watch children while their parents are at work. You could also get a job in a daycare center, too.
What you’d make: Babysitters earn a median of $14 per hour.
3. Bank Teller
What you’d do: Banks like Citi and Bank of America rely on tellers for accuracy when counting money and handling other financial transactions for customers.
What you’d make: Bank tellers earn a median of $29,000 per year.
4. Barista
What you’d do: As a college student, you pretty much owe any sanity you possess to the godly gift that is coffee, which is probably why college towns are filled with so many Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, and other cozy little coffee shops. Perfect for squeezing a shift in before class, a job as a barista would involve taking orders, and brewing and serving coffee drinks.
What you’d make: Baristas earn a median of $11.50 per hour, plus tips.
5. Bartender
What you’d do: Bartenders work in a very fast-paced environment, taking orders, pouring drinks, and mixing cocktails, sometimes in fishbowl-sized glasses. Just watch how popular you suddenly become once you land this job. Age requirements for serving alcohol vary by state, but you typically have to be 21 or older to be a bartender.
What you’d make: Bartenders earn a median of $11.50 per hour, plus tips.
6. Bookkeeper
What you’d do: Small and large businesses alike need help keeping all their facts and figures in order. Using spreadsheets and bookkeeping software, bookkeepers record financial transactions, update statements, and check financial records for accuracy.
What you’d make: Bookkeepers earn a median of $41,700 per year.
7. Brand Ambassador
What you’d do: This is one of the more visible jobs for college students. Ever see people handing out free stuff around campus, or even selling products at parties, or handing out free energy drinks around town? Brand ambassadors get paid to promote brands and products, and sometimes, you can even earn commission or other prizes for meeting a sales goal.
What you’d make: Brand ambassadors earn a median of $35,770 per year.
8. Cashier
What you’d do: Scan and bag and collect a steady paycheck. Cashiers handle money transactions at stores (think grocery stores or the campus bookstore).
What you’d make: Cashiers earn a median of $11 per hour.
9. Driver
What you’d do: You probably rely on drivers to get a safe ride home after a night of partying, but you could always try your hand DD-ing and get a job as a driver for companies like Uber and Lyft. You'll need a state-issued driver’s license, but some states require a special license if you want to provide professional transportation.
What you’d make: Drivers earn a median of $14 per hour, plus tips.
10. Fitness Trainer
What you’d do: Help yourself and others avoid gaining the dreaded “freshman 15” by providing coaching and motivation in the gym with your custom workout routines. In addition to a strong foundation in fitness, you typically need to get certified as a fitness trainer.
What you’d make: Fitness trainers earn a median of $19 per hour.
11. House Sitter
What you’d do: Take care of the place while the owners are out of town. (That means no parties. None.) You'll have to come with recommendations that boast your responsibility and maturity before the owners fork over the keys.
What you’d make: Your pay will largely depend on where the home is located, the level of upkeep required, and the length of time you'll be caring for the home.
12. IT Support Specialist
What you’d do: Ever start writing a paper just to have your computer crash halfway through? It happens to the best of us, and if computers are your thing, a job as an IT support specialist should be right up your alley.
What you’d make: Computer support specialists earn a median of $21.50 per hour.
13. Line Cook
What you’d do: Working in a fast-paced restaurant kitchen or at a fast food restaurant, line cooks prepare meals, juggling multiple orders at a time. You also might be able to get a free meal or discounted food when you work a shift.
What you’d make: Cooks earn a median of $13 per hour.
14. Nursing Assistant
What you’d do: If you’re hoping to land a job in health care after graduation, working in a hospital or senior living center as an undergrad should give you an edge. Nursing assistants typically report to registered nurses, and aide in tasks like cleaning, feeding, and transporting patients.
What you’d make: Nursing assistants earn a median of $15.50 per hour.
15. Restaurant Server
What you’d do: A common job for the college crowd, waiters and waitresses do more than take orders and deliver meals—they also learn valuable people skills. You might be able to get a free meal or discounted food when you work a shift.
What you’d make: Servers and bussers earn a median of $11 per hour, plus tips.
16. Retail Sales Associate
What you’d do: Working in retail, you assist customers with their shopping needs and set up store merchandise. You also might even be able to get employee discounts or earn a commission.
What you’d make: Retail sales associates earn a median of $28,000 per year.
17. Security Guard
What you’d do: You could be a bouncer at a bar, checking IDs, or you could keep watch at a bank, museum, sporting event, or after-hours at a business.
What you’d make: Security guards earn a median of $14 per hour.
18. Social Media Assistant
What you’d do: In this role, you would schedule social media posts on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for brands and companies, using tools like Hootsuite and Tweet Deck.
What you’d make: Social media specialists earn a median of $44,100 per year.
19. Telemarketer
What you’d do: Plenty of companies and nonprofit organizations—even your school’s alumni association—need people to make phone calls to sell products, conduct surveys, or ask for donations, usually in the evenings when you’re out of class.
What you’d make: Telemarketers earn a median of $14.70 per hour
20. Tutor
What you’d do: Did you score high on the SAT? Or are you a math whiz, or excel in another subject? You’ll find plenty of opportunities to tutor students in grade school, high school, and even your college classmates.
What you’d make: Tutors earn a median of $19 per hour.
21. Writer
What you’d do: Writing jobs can be pay-per-post gigs, so you can write as much as your schedule allows. You could get assignments writing articles about subjects like fashion, sports, health, and fitness for local newspapers, magazines, websites, and other publications.
What you’d make: Writers earn a median of $24.50 per hour.
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