39 Side Hustles and Online Jobs for College Students [2022 Ultimate Guide] – Scholly

Tired of the broke college student stereotype? Well, these days, in the glorious age of the internet… your options for making money are practically endless. Well, maybe not endless. 

But, there are at least 39 potential online jobs for college students that can have you making GOOD money – without needing to add too much pressure to your already busy college schedule! 

And, in this guide, we’re going to look at what each of those online jobs entails, how much money you can make, where to look for work online, and where you can find more information to get started ASAP.  

At the end of the list, we also answer some FAQs and share resources on how to get over some common obstacles people face when attempting to make money online.

So, if you’re serious about making money online as a college student, read and bookmark this guide. Because we’re sharing everything you need to make it rain dolla dolla bills y’all – before you even graduate!

Source

Let’s get started by helping you choose the best online job for you! 

#1 Note Taker

Some students are good at taking notes. And some students… struggle. If you find yourself in the former category, you can actually make some extra cash just by taking and selling your notes for popular classes. Websites like the ones below allow you to upload your class notes, set a price, and then sell them to other students.

How much you can typically make: $100-$500/month

Where to find jobs: 

Resource to help you learn more: Sell Notes For Cash – 10 Best Note Selling Websites For Students! 

#2 Online Tutor

No matter your major, there are always going to be students who need help in your area of expertise. That’s where online tutors come in! Using online tutoring websites, like the ones we share below, you can find students who need tutoring in subjects you enjoy or subjects you’ve already mastered (e.g. SAT or ACT prep). And, once you get good at it, you can charge a lot for your tutoring services!

How much you can typically make: $20–$35 per hour (Experienced SAT and ACT tutors can charge $100+/hour!) 

Where to find jobs: 

Resource to help you learn more: How You Can Get Paid To Teach As An Online Tutor 

#3 Online Retail Arbitrage

You can make a decent profit by reselling items online, whether it’s on eBay, Amazon, Craigslist, or any other number of online marketplaces. The key is to find products being sold for less than they’re worth and then sell them online for a higher price. This online job is a great way to make some extra money. And it doesn’t require any special skills or experience!

How much you can typically make: $50-$500+ per month

Websites to find and resell products: 

Resource to help you learn more:

#4 Online Personal Trainer / Fitness Coach

Do you have a passion for fitness? Help people reach their fitness goals by becoming an online personal trainer! You can create workout and nutrition plans, give advice and support to clients, and track their progress.

First, you’ll want to complete a personal training certification program, which you can do online. Then, you can start your own website and offer your services. It will take some work to get your first few clients. So, make sure to check out the resource below that will point you in the right direction! 

How much you can typically make: $15-$30/hour

Resource to help you learn more: 7 Steps to Become an Online Fitness Coach 

#5 Freelance Translator 

Do you speak more than one language fluently? If so, you could be a freelance translator! Companies and individuals all over the world need translators to help them communicate with customers and clients who speak different languages.

For example, a company may need your help translating emails, a website, or social media captions into Spanish. Or, you may be hired to transcribe and translate audio interviews that are in French.

How much you can typically make:  Around $30/hour

Where to find jobs: 

Resource to help you learn more: How to Get Translation Jobs With Zero Experience 

#6 Online Language Teacher

So, you can only speak one language fluently? Well, you can’t be a freelance translator but you can definitely be an online language teacher. Oftentimes, you don’t even need to be a certified teacher!

And if you’re fluent in a language that’s in high demand (e.g. English, Spanish, Chinese), you can make a killing by teaching it to students online. The best part? Using one or more of the websites below, you can find online language teaching jobs that let you set your own rates and schedule.

How much you can typically make: $15-$30/hour

Where to find jobs: 

Resource to help you learn more: Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming an Online Language Tutor 

#7 Virtual Assistant 

A virtual assistant is an online administrative assistant. This is a great job for college students because it’s very flexible and you learn a lot of skills that will benefit you in any career path. 

As a virtual assistant, your job would be to help businesses with tasks that they don’t have time for. This could include tasks like scheduling appointments, managing emails, or even social media management.

How much you can typically make: $5-$25/hour

Where to find jobs: 

Resource to help you learn more: How to Become a Virtual Assistant & Land Your First Job 

#8 Blogger

Have any special interests you could talk about for hours? Of course, you do! Well, if you’re willing to put in the time to create your own blog around one of those interests, you could start earning some serious dough. 

Typically, bloggers earn money by monetizing their blog (e.g. advertisements, affiliate marketing, etc.), but there are other ways to have a profitable blog. For example, you could sell e-books, online courses, etc.

You could also become a freelance writer and write content for an already established company’s blog. If that sounds more interesting, check out the details of the next online job on this list, “Content Writer”.

How much you can typically make: $200+/month (depends on monetization strategies)

Resource to help you learn more:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGlJr0954qo

#9 Freelance Content Writer

Ever heard the phrase “content is king”? Well, it’s true. And as the world of digital marketing continues to grow, so does the demand for high-quality content. That’s where you come in as a freelance content writer!

As a content writer, your job is to create content for a company’s website, blog, or social media platforms. For example, a company might ask you to write a blog post about a new product they’re launching or a “how-to” guide on a topic relevant to their ideal customer.

How much you can typically make: $15-35/hour

Where to find jobs: 

Resource to help you learn more: Expert’s Guide to Becoming a Freelance Content Writer 

#10 Freelance Proofreader & Editor

If you are a college student with excellent grammar skills, you could make money online as a proofreader or editor. Your job would be to read over articles or documents and fix any errors. Why would a business pay you to do this? Because, it’s important to have error-free content, especially if you’re a business trying to build credibility.

How much you can typically make: $10-$30/hour

Where to find jobs: 

Resource to help you learn more: How to Become a Proofreader: the Ultimate Beginner’s Guide 

#11 Freelance Copywriter

Copywriting is a form of marketing that involves creating compelling, persuasive, and interesting written content to persuade a reader to take some kind of action (e.g. purchase a product, sign up for a trial).

You can also think of copywriting as sales in written form. And depending on what you help a client to sell, you could make a lot of good money as a copywriter by writing marketing materials like:

• Web pages
• Sales and landing pages 
• Sales and marketing emails 
• Social media ads and captions 
• Product descriptions 

How much you can typically make: $25-$100+/hour

Where to find jobs: 

Resource to help you learn more: Become a Freelance Copywriter in 2022 | A Guide For Beginners 

#12 Freelance SEO Specialist

Have you ever found a company for the first time after searching for something on Google? Probably! Well, as an SEO specialist, you would help make sure that happens more often for a particular company. SEO stands for “search engine optimization”. In other words, it’s the process of making sure a website appears as high as possible in search engine results.

An SEO specialist’s responsibilities might include keyword research, optimizing website content, link building, and more. There’s a highly technical side to SEO that can take some time to learn, but there are easier aspects that you can quickly learn and offer as a service to companies. And, with a little effort, you could even learn technical SEO and be a well-rounded SEO specialist.

How much you can typically make: $15-$35/hour

Where to find jobs: 

Resource to help you learn more: How to Become an SEO Specialist 

#13 Search Engine Evaluator

A search engine evaluator is responsible for improving the accuracy and relevance of search engine results. As a college student, you can apply your research and analytical skills to help achieve this goal.

Many search engine evaluator jobs will have you work with different search engines, like Google, Bing, and Yahoo, to do things like make sure the search results are relevant to the user’s query, identify SPAM results, and more.

How much you can typically make: $12-$20/hour

Where to find jobs: 

Resource to help you learn more: 8 Places to Get Search Engine Evaluator Jobs  

#14 Freelance Video Editor

Most businesses these days need some form of video content, whether that be a commercial, an explainer video, or just recording events. And guess what? Those videos are rarely done in one perfect shot! They need to be edited together, which is where you’d come in as a video editor.

As a video editor, your job would be to take all the different footage from a video shoot and put it together into a cohesive story. This would involve choosing the right shots, adding transitions, adding music, and anything else that would make the final video engaging to watch.

How much you can typically make: $20-$50/hour

Where to find jobs: 

Resource to help you learn more: 7 Steps to Become a Freelance Video Editor 

#15 Freelance Podcast Editor 

Do you like listening to podcasts? Well, did you know that somebody has to edit them before they’re released? It’s true! And that somebody could be you.

Podcast editors help clean up the audio of a show, add music, and make sure everything flows smoothly. Most podcast editors work remotely, which makes it a great way to earn money online as a college student as long as you have a decent computer and editing software.

How much you can typically make: $25-$75/hour

Where to find jobs: 

Resource to help you learn more:

#16 Freelance Web Designer

Every business needs a website. But not every business needs a full-time web designer on staff. That’s where you come in! As a college student, you can build websites for businesses in your spare time. Sometimes, building a website using drag-and-drop tools like Squarespace or Wix is all that’s needed. Other times, businesses need more custom solutions and will require you to have coding skills. 

You can find web development jobs by using one of the freelance sites below or by asking friends and family members, who have businesses, if they need help. And, if you’re really good, you can start your own business and build websites for other businesses full-time after graduation!

How much you can typically make: $30-$100+/hour

Where to find jobs: 

Resource to help you learn more: How to Crush it as a Freelance Web Designer in College 

#17 Freelance Graphic Designer

Have an eye for design and know your way around tools like Photoshop? You can actually get paid to design simple logos, social media covers (e.g. Twitter banners), and other marketing materials for businesses. Even if you’re a beginner, you can use free tools like Canva to get started designing!

To find businesses looking for graphic design work, create a profile on one of the websites we’ve listed below. You can also create a portfolio website and reach out directly to companies that might benefit from your graphic design work.

How much you can typically make: $10-$35/hour

Where to find jobs: 

Resource to help you learn more:

#18 Freelance Social Media Manager 

If you’re constantly on social media and have a knack for engagement, you could make money online as a social media manager! There are thousands of companies looking for social media managers to help them grow their social media following and manage their online presence. This job might involve creating content, managing a team of social media influencers, or doing a little bit of both.

How much you can typically make: $20-$30/hour 

Where to find jobs: 

Resource to help you learn more: How to Become a Social Media Manager 

#19 Freelance PPC Marketing Specialist

When it comes to online marketing, Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising is still one of the most effective methods out there. And as a PPC marketing specialist, it’s your job to make sure that those ads are effective and bring in the results your clients need. Specifically, you’d be responsible for managing and optimizing campaigns on Google Ads, Bing Ads, Amazon Advertising, and other PPC platforms.

If you’ve never done anything like that, it may sound intimidating. But don’t worry! There are lots of online resources that can teach you the ropes. And once you get the hang of it, it’s actually a pretty fun and challenging way to make money.

How much you can typically make: $20-$30/hour

Where to find jobs: 

Resource to help you learn more: How To Start Your Own Freelance PPC Side Hustle Today 

#20 YouTuber

One of the most popular ways for college students to make money online is by becoming a YouTuber. If you can create videos that are entertaining, informative, or both, you can make a decent amount of money from advertising revenue.

But don’t be fooled! Making money on YouTube isn’t as easy as it sounds. You’ll need to put in a lot of time and effort, and you may not see any return for months (or even years). 

How much you can typically make: $3-$5 per 1,000 video views

Resource to help you learn more: How to Make Money on YouTube (Step by Step Guide for Beginners) 

#21 Social Media Influencer / Brand Ambassador 

Here’s another popular online job for college students that is not as easy as it sounds! As a social media influencer or brand ambassador, you’d be responsible for promoting a company or product on your social media channels. This could involve creating and sharing original content, running giveaways, or providing exclusive discounts to your followers.

To be successful in this role, you need to have a strong social media presence with a large following. You also need to be able to show that you’re influential in your niche and can persuade others to take action.

How much you can typically make: Depends on the brand and products you promote

Resource to help you learn more: 7 Steps to Becoming a Social Media Influencer  

#22 Freelance PowerPoint Presentation Specialist

Companies use PowerPoint presentations for all sorts of things, from sales pitches to training materials. If you’re good at using PowerPoint and have some creative ideas, you can offer to do freelance work as a PowerPoint specialist. Your job would be to help businesses create better PowerPoint presentations that will engage their audiences and help them achieve their goals.

How much you can typically make: $20-$30/hour

Where to find jobs: 

Resource to help you learn more: 5 Guides to Make Money with Presentation Design 

#23 Voiceover Artist

If you have a pleasant voice and know how to use recording software, then you can make some extra cash being a voice-over artist. There are all sorts of things businesses need voice-overs for, from promotional videos to educational content like how-to videos. And, of course, many businesses need voice-overs for their commercials.

How much you can typically make: $10-$30/hour

Where to find jobs: 

Resource to help you learn more: How to Get a Voice Over Job with No Experience

#24 Audio Transcriber 

Transcription is another great way to make money from home. And you don’t need any experience to get started. All you need is a computer, a good pair of headphones, and a reliable internet connection. Companies will pay you for this work because they use those transcriptions for things like closed captioning for their videos or to create subtitles for their international audiences.

How much you can typically make: $15-$25/hour

Where to find jobs: 

Resource to help you learn more: How to Make Money Transcribing in 2022: Up to $25 an Hour 

#25 Stock Photographer 

Most photographers make money by meeting with clients in person. But you can also make money by selling your photos online. Websites, like the ones below, will pay you for your photos if people buy them to be used in their own projects (e.g. marketing materials). And you don’t even need a fancy camera to get started. You can use the one on your phone!

How much you can typically make: $1-$20 per photo

Where to sell your photos:

Resource to help you learn more: 

#26 Freelance Bookkeeper  

Are you good with numbers? Do you love organizing? If so, then you could make some serious money by working as a bookkeeper that helps businesses keep track of their finances.

You don’t need any formal qualifications to get started. All you need is some experience using accounting software like Quickbooks, which you can easily learn!

How much you can typically make: $15-$25/hour

Where to find jobs: 

Resource to help you learn more: How To Become a Bookkeeper and Make $40,000 Per Year 

#27 Website and App Tester 

If you have a knack for finding bugs and issues, then you could make money by testing websites and apps. Companies will pay you to test their websites and apps to ensure that they are functioning properly. This is an excellent online job for college students because it is relatively easy to do and does not require any experience.

How much you can typically make: $10-$15 per test

Where to find jobs: 

Resource to help you learn more: How to Get Paid to Test Websites and Apps

#28 Remote Customer Service Agent

If you have good people skills, enjoy helping others, and have a reliable internet connection, you could be a remote customer service agent. Companies will pay you to provide customer service to their clients via phone, email, or chat. 

How much you can typically make: $5-$20/hour

Where to find jobs: 

Resource to help you learn more: How to Get an At-Home Customer Service Job 

#29 Data Entry Clerk

As the world becomes more data-driven, businesses will only need more people to help organize and input all of that information. If you’re fast and accurate with a computer keyboard, a data entry clerk might be the online job for you! It won’t be the most exhilarating online job, but a data entry job is a great way to make some extra money from home.

How much you can typically make: $8-$15/hour

Where to find jobs:

Resource to help you learn more: How to Find Legit Online Data Entry Work from Home

#30 Freelance Computer Programmer / Developer 

Do you have experience coding? If so, you could potentially make good money as a computer programmer that helps companies create and maintain software applications. As you can imagine, there are thousands of companies out there that rely on software to run their businesses. 

So, the amount of jobs available is endless. And because of that demand, you can easily charge a high rate and make $500+ a month by working a few hours each week!

How much you can typically make: $50-$100/hour

Where to find jobs: 

Resource to help you learn more: 13 Steps to Start & Thrive as a Freelance Programmer 

#31 Online Course Creator 

You may not think of yourself as a teacher, but if you know a specific area that others want to learn about, you can create an online course and earn money from it! And your course can be on just about anything. Seriously! Look on any course platform and you’ll find courses on everything from cooking to app development to creative writing.

The great thing about online courses is that once you create the course and put it out there, it has the potential to keep making you money for months or even years down the road. Of course, that only happens if your course is high quality and provides value to your students. But if you can create a course that does those things and market it to the right people, you could find yourself with a nice little passive income!

How much you can typically make: Depends on the course and profit margin 

Resource to help you learn more: 10 Steps To Creating A Wildly Successful Online Course 

#32 T-Shirt and Merchandise Designer

Ever dream of having your own clothing line? Well, now’s your chance (sort of). You can design and sell your own merchandise (e.g. T-shirts, tote bags, phone cases) without having to invest in any inventory. All you need is a design, and sites like Teespring will take care of the rest, including printing, shipping, and customer service.

How much you can typically make: Depends on the product margin

Where to design your merchandise: 

Resource to help you learn more:

#33 Product Tester 

If you love trying new products and giving your opinion, then this job is perfect for you! As a product tester, you would be responsible for testing out new products and giving feedback to the company about your experience. Companies use your feedback to improve their products and make changes before they release them to the public. 

This job is a great online job for college students because you can do it on your own schedule and it doesn’t require any special skills or qualifications.

How much you can typically make: $3-$500 per month

Where to find jobs: 

Resource to help you learn more: Product Tester: How to Get Paid to Test Products at Home

#34 Amazon Seller

If you’re a college student with an entrepreneurial spirit, then selling on Amazon could be the perfect online job for you! As an Amazon seller, you can sell just about anything on the platform.

To get started, you need to create a seller account and list your products. Once your products are live, you’ll need to manage customer inquiries, orders, and shipping. Amazon takes a cut of every sale that you make, but you can still earn a decent profit margin if you price your products correctly.

How much you can typically make: Depends on the product margin of what you sell

Resource to help you learn more: Beginner’s Guide: How to Sell on Amazon

#35 Etsy Seller

Similar to Amazon, Etsy is a marketplace where you can sell physical products. However, Etsy specializes in handmade or vintage items, arts and crafts, and unique gifts. This makes it a great platform for selling handmade, one-of-a-kind gifts.

To get started, you’ll need to create an Etsy account and set up your shop. Then, you can start listing products for sale. You’ll need to take quality photos, write compelling product descriptions, and price your products competitively. Etsy also takes a cut of every sale, so you’ll need to factor that into your pricing.

How much you can typically make: Depends on the product margin of what you sell

Resource to help you learn more:

#36 Gamer 

Video games aren’t just for entertainment anymore — you can actually get paid to play them! As a gamer, you can make money in a variety of ways. For example, you can make money from other people watching you play by creating walkthrough YouTube videos or streaming your gameplay on Twitch. You can also work as a game tester and test new games before they are released to the public.

How much you can typically make: $15-$100 per month

Where to find jobs: 

Resource to help you learn more: Make Money Gaming! How To Make Money Playing Video Games 2022 

#37 Freelance Consultant

As a college student, you may not think you can be a consultant. But you probably have a lot of knowledge and skills that businesses would be willing to pay for! 

For example, let’s say you know how to use social media to reach a target audience but don’t want to be a social media manager. As a freelance consultant, you can offer your services to advise businesses on their social media strategy.

How much you can typically make: $30-$45/hour

Where to find jobs: 

Resource to help you learn more: What Is a Freelance Consultant and How to Become One

#38 Freelance Market Researcher

Market research is a vital part of any business, so this job can be very interesting and rewarding. As a market researcher, you would be responsible for conducting online surveys, researching market trends, and collecting data about people’s opinions and behaviors. 

This data would be used to help businesses make better decisions about their products and marketing campaigns. It’s also a great skill that’s transferable to any industry or field when you get a job after graduating!

How much you can typically make: $5-$30/hour

Where to find jobs: 

Resource to help you learn more:

#39 Dropshipper 

This last online job is pretty popular. But it’s also one of the most challenging to get right! Dropshipping is a type of eCommerce business where you sell products manufactured and shipped by someone else.

The biggest challenges with dropshipping involve selecting the right products to sell, managing the shipping logistics, and building a website that converts visitors into buyers. But if you’re up for the challenge, dropshipping can be an incredibly lucrative online job!

How much you can typically make: Depends on the product margin of what you sell

Resource to help you learn more: How to Start a Dropshipping Business: A Complete Playbook for 2022 

Is making money from online jobs easy? 

Making money online requires effort, dedication, and consistency! So, no, it’s not “easy”. However, some of the online jobs we’ve shared are easier than others. And, if you’re willing to do the work, you can make money easily.

Which online job is best for college students? 

The best online job for you will depend on your skill set, interests, and schedule. For example, if you’re a great writer, you could be a freelance content writer. If you’re good at social media, you could be a social media consultant. And if you’re great at customer service, you could be a remote customer service agent. It all depends on you!

How much time do I have to spend working online to make decent money? 

You can make as little or as much money as you want with online jobs. It depends on how much time and effort you’re willing to put in. For some online jobs, you can set your own hours so the work can be done in your spare time, while others may require more commitment and a set schedule.

How do I get paid online?

Most online jobs will require you to get paid through a digital payment platform like PayPal. However, some online jobs will pay you via direct deposit into your bank account. 

We recommend putting any money you don’t need right away in a high-yield savings account or an investment account. That way, the money you earn from your side hustle can build over time without you needing to do anything! 

Where can I learn the skills to make money from online jobs? 

If you’re not sure where to start, there are plenty of online courses and tutorials that can teach you the basics of making money online and the skillset to do any of the jobs on this list. You can look for courses using online learning platforms, like Coursera, Udemy, or Skillshare. 

How can you land your first online job if you don’t have experience? 

We’re sure you know the paradox of experience. You need experience to get a job, but how do you get experience if you don’t have a job? It’s tough, but not impossible! 

For example, as a freelancer, you can start working on smaller projects for free until you build a portfolio and reputation to land bigger clients. You can also check out this awesome guide on how to get freelance work with no experience for more tips!

How can you manage your time for a side hustle while you’re in college? 

You probably already have a lot on your plate as a college student. So, how do you add a side hustle into the mix without slacking off in your college classes? Time management is key! You’ll need to create a schedule and figure out what works best for you. 

For some people, that means working on their side hustle in the morning before classes. For others, it may be working on it in the evening or on weekends. The important thing is to figure out what works for you and stick to it!

How do you file taxes for your side hustle?

It may be scary or confusing to think about filing taxes as a college student. But it’s actually not that complicated. 

The most important thing you’ll need to remember is to save some of the money you make for taxes. Why? Because taxes won’t be taken directly from your earnings like they would from a paycheck from a traditional job. Experts recommend saving 25-30% of your side hustle income to account for taxes.

There are a few other things to keep in mind when you’re filing taxes for your side hustle. To learn more, check out this helpful article on how to handle taxes on side hustle income.

College is expensive, and many students are looking for ways to make extra money. If you’re one of them, we hope this guide has given you all the information you need to find the online job that helps you achieve that goal! 

And if you’re looking for more ways to make and save money while in college, check out the rest of our blog where we share tips on topics like how to build credit fast as a beginner and how to start an emergency fund.