If you’re a student, having a side hustle that pays well can make all the difference. Cashing extra funds from a side hustle can help you cover tuition, pay your rent, or just give you some extra spending money. 2024 offers more opportunities than ever for students to start earning serious cash while minimizing their time spent away from studying. Here are eight of the best-paying side hustles for students.
1. Freelance Writing
If you have a knack for words, freelance writing can be a lucrative side gig. From websites and blogs to businesses, brands, and publications, there is always content to be created. You can write about the topics you love and work at your own pace. You can also work wherever and whenever you want. You can make anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars a month, depending on your experience and what’s in demand. You can find freelance writing work on sites such as Upwork, Freelancer, or Fiverr. Rates vary, but a seasoned writer can make up to $100 or more per article. If you’re an A student, you can also lend your expertise to others. You can work for an academic writing service, and other students will use this service for essay help. This is a win-win situation because you will get to deepen your academic knowledge and perfect your writing skills while making some side cash and helping out other students.
2. Online Tutoring
Online tutoring has become all the rage, and it’s easy to see why. Are you an ace in a particular topic? If so, tutor a younger student or someone struggling with a particular course. Sites like Tutor.com and Chegg Tutors can match you with students for whom you’d be a good fit, and the hourly pay can be as high as $20-$30 an hour. As a tutor, you can reinforce your own understanding of the subject while helping another person succeed.
3. Social Media Management
Companies have made social media a huge part of their marketing efforts, and they need people who know how to harness it. If you spend your free time on TikTok or Instagram, you should definitely consider turning it into your job. A small business, influencer, or startup could hire you to manage their accounts, make content for them, and/or grow their presence online. You can charge anywhere from $15 to $50 per hour to manage several social media accounts.
4. Delivery Driver
If you need to make quick cash, delivery remains one of the most accessible options. Apps such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Instacart help you work when you want, so they’re well-suited to working around a full class schedule. If you choose this job, you will get both money and some exercise. Pay varies with tips and the demand, but you can easily make $20 an hour or more during busy hours.
Why Delivery Driving Works for Students:
- Flexible hours that fit around classes
- Ability to choose high-demand times to work
- Low barrier to entry (just a vehicle and phone)
- Potential to earn extra through tips
5. Graphic Design
Graphic design is a natural side hustle for the creatively inclined, with lots of earning power. Are you a budding graphic artist? Do you enjoy designing logos, social media visuals, or marketing materials? You can sign up with a freelance platform or build your own clientele by word of mouth and social media. Rates vary, but talented designers can charge $30 to $75 per hour.
6. Virtual Assistant
You can help entrepreneurs and small business owners with scheduling, emails, social media, or just organizing files. It’s a 100 percent remote job, and you get to work on your own time. If you love being organized and are the one with five million tabs open on your browser, this is a great way to make money and sharpen up your professional skills. Virtual assistants make anywhere from $15 to $25 per hour, and such jobs are in great demand.
7. Sell Products on Etsy
A hobbyist or creative person can convert their art into cash by becoming a seller on Etsy. Etsy is an online market where you can sell hand-crafted goods, digital downloads, or vintage items. College students can make jewelry, create art prints, make custom stationery, decorate home items, and more. Etsy is particularly interesting because as soon as you set up your store, you can start making passive income. While it does take time to get a successful shop, some sellers make $400 or more every month.
8. Website Development
Arguably, the most lucrative side hustle for the tech-savvy is web development. Whether you’re coding websites from the ground up or using a content management system like WordPress, the demand for web development skills is huge. A new developer can start around $25/hour, but rates can exceed $100/hour with experience. This is a great way to use technical skills to make good money as a college student.
Maximizing Your Side Hustle in 2024
A side hustle isn’t just about finding a way to make money fast; it’s also about fitting work into your studies and finding something you like doing. Before you start a side gig, consider what you want out of it. What do you want to be known for? What skills are you great at, and which ones would you like to improve? When do you think you’ll have the time to devote to your side gig? What do you want to get out of it?
Hustle Smart, Not Hard
In 2024, students have more opportunities than ever to earn money alongside their studies, whether they’re tech-savvy, creative, or simply looking for a bit of flexibility. The problem is that many people will become side hustlers who just blindly take up the first thing they’re offered. Hustling for the sake of it is not the way. It’s about finding a side hustle that’s going to add value to your life and expand your skill set, in addition to boosting your bank balance. Use your time wisely, and you can earn extra cash without jeopardizing your studies.