100 Best Side Hustles for Teachers

One of the most underpaid but most important jobs out there: being a teacher. These side hustles are ideal ways for teachers to earn extra income in their spare time. Some of these side hustles involve earning passive income, while others offer ways to grow new businesses. Many of the side jobs for teachers are ideal for those looking to earn extra cash during the summer months.

Below are the 100 best side hustles for teachers in need of some extra money.

1. Tutoring

Getting Started: Reach out to parents in your school or community to offer your services as a private tutor. You can also sign up with a tutoring agency or advertise your services online. Thanks to tools like Zoom, you don’t even have to live in the area of your students to offer tutoring services to them.

Potential Earnings: $20-50 per hour is common.

Other Helpful Information: Websites such as Outschool, Wyzant and TutorMe can help connect you with potential students. Along with offering in-person tutoring to local students, you can reach more people by offering online tutoring.

I have personally been using Outschool (through Zoom) with my children since before Covid hit (for several years now). During Covid, the Outschool tutors became my children’s full-time teachers when my children were schooling remotely (online).

There are a wide array of topics beyond pure academic topics, for example, piano lessons, various types of dance lessons, courses for young boys on how to become a man, courses to help people with life skills and social skills and even genuinely fun courses that try to work in some writing practice.

Though Outschool classes are generally geared towards children, the existing Outschool teachers have been happy to take adult students, especially when the sessions are one-on-one.

The platform can be glitchy on occasion, so if that happens, just send your students a Zoom login and you can work with them directly through Zoom.

2. Teach Summer School

Getting Started: Inquire with your school district about summer school teaching opportunities. Other districts might also offer summer school teaching positions even if you don’t generally work in said districts. Connect with other teachers in your network to ensure you’re informed about all potential opportunities.

Potential Earnings: Pay varies depending on your base pay rate. Typically, summer school pay involves adding to a teacher’s existing salary.

Other Helpful Information: Ask about other opportunities your district may offer to make a little extra cash during the summer months. Options may include developing educational materials and coaching a sports team.

3. Online Teaching (Selling Courses)

Getting Started: Create an online course or series of classes on a subject you are knowledgeable in and promote it through social media or online marketplaces such as Udemy or Coursera. Consider researching which types of online courses are most popular to determine which you should create.

Potential Earnings: $1,000-5,000 per course. As someone in the teaching profession, you may be able to charge higher rates than someone without your professional experience.

Other Helpful Information: Platforms like Teachable and Thinkific can help you create and sell your course.

4. Online Surveys

Getting Started: Research online platforms such as BrandedSurveys, Google Opinion Rewards, etc., and sign up for those you believe will help you earn some extra cash.

Potential Earnings: Don’t expect to earn much extra money taking online surveys. This is simply a way to earn some extra cash in your spare time. Often, online surveys pay in the form of gift cards rather than actual money.

Other Helpful Information: Additional paid survey platforms include MyPoints.com, Opinion Outpost, and Survey Junkie.

5. Focus Groups

Getting Started: Focus groups involve providing your opinion on various products and services to businesses. Traditionally, they’ve been conducted in person, but you can now earn extra money participating in virtual focus groups.

Potential Earnings: Between $30 and $150 per session. Additionally, some focus groups take the form of extended studies, asking participants to perform certain tasks or engage in certain activities over the course of several days.

These types of focus groups naturally pay more than those that only involve sitting and sharing an opinion over the course of a half hour or two.

Other Helpful Information: Popular focus group platforms include User Interviews, Respondent.io, and IPSOS I-Say. Again, be aware that some online focus group platforms also offer studies that may involve performing certain tasks or tracking certain behaviors over the course of several days or even weeks.

Make sure you’re ready to commit to the tasks that are being asked of you when signing up to participate in this type of focus group, or you may not be able to collect all your potential earnings.

6. Write Lesson Plans

Getting Started: Writing and selling lesson plans is one of the best side hustles for teachers because it typically doesn’t require putting in extra work hours. Start by reviewing your strongest lesson plans and editing them, so others will find them useful.

Potential Earnings: How much teachers pay teachers for their lesson plans can vary depending on such factors as the length of the lesson plan, the difficulty of the subject matter, etc. Additionally, some platforms pay $10 per lesson plan, while others sell lesson plans and offer teachers royalties as low as $0.25 per download.

Other Helpful Information: Platforms through which teachers can sell lesson plans and similar teaching materials include EdGalaxy, TeacherSherpa, Study.com, and Teachers Pay Teachers.

7. Resume Writing

Getting Started: Create a portfolio of different types of resumes you know how to write to showcase your abilities. Also, consider writing a few resumes for family members and friends at a discount to help you begin developing your portfolio.

Potential Earnings: You can set your own rates depending on your experience. Many pros charge $100 per resume for their services.

Other Helpful Information: Consider searching for resume writing jobs on Fiverr and Upwork. Additionally, if you know any college students, reach out to them and ask if they or their friends would benefit from your services. College students who are preparing for graduation often need help writing resumes as they enter the workforce.

8. Freelance Editing

Getting Started: Same as the steps for freelance writing. This type of work is ideal for English teachers eager to earn extra money in their spare time.

Potential Earnings: Freelance editors charge between $0.01 to $0.02 per word. Thus, if you were to edit a 1,000-word document, you could earn up to $20.

Other Helpful Information: Fiverr, Upwork, and Craigslist are all platforms through which you may find freelance editing work.

9. Freelance Writing

Getting Started: Create a portfolio of writing samples and promote your services as a freelance writer on freelance job boards such as Upwork or Freelancer. Research the types of clients who are in most need of freelance writing services and determine which clients are best suited to your skill set.

Potential Earnings: $50-100 per hour is a typical rate for freelance writing services. Some freelancers charge by the word instead of charging an hourly rate. If you’re charging by the word, $0.05 per word is fair when you’re just starting. As you develop a reputation, you can charge $0.07 per word.

Other Helpful Information: Websites such as Contena and ProBlogger can help you find writing opportunities. Local businesses and publications might also be in need of freelance copywriters and article writers. Contact them to offer your services.

10. eBook Writing

Getting Started: Research which types of eBooks tend to sell well and which types of eBooks are in high demand. Determine which type you can write based on your knowledge and skills. Create an outline for your own eBook or search online platforms to find clients in need of eBook writing services.

Potential Earnings: This depends. Some eBooks never sell. Others earn their authors as much as $500 a month in passive income. In rare instances, popular eBooks earn millions in sales and result in their authors landing major book deals.

Other Helpful Information: You can publish your own eBook to Amazon through Kindle Direct Publishing. You may find clients in need of eBook writing services on Craigslist and Fiverr. Also, launch an advertising campaign on Facebook and other social media platforms to spread the word about your book.

11. Virtual Assistant

Getting Started: Offer your virtual assistant services to small businesses and entrepreneurs in your community or through online marketplaces such as Upwork and Fiverr.

Potential Earnings: $20-50 per hour. Although pay is sometimes lower, this is a perfect way to earn a little extra cash while maintaining a flexible schedule.

Other Helpful Information: Platforms such as Hootsuite and Asana can help you manage and schedule tasks as a virtual assistant. But you can also find virtual assistant work on platforms like Upwork.

12. Yard Sale

Getting Started: Make a list of items you own that you no longer need and begin assigning prices to them. Take pictures of the items as well because you may decide to sell some of them online if you don’t sell them in person.

Potential Earnings: This varies depending on the items you’re selling and how large your inventory is. Typically, items sold at yard sales are priced much lower than they would be priced when they were originally purchased.

Other Helpful Information: Consider hosting seasonal garage sales if you have many items to sell off. You may also sell items on Craigslist and other such platforms if you don’t sell out of all items at your yard sale.

13. Blogging

Getting Started: Choose a popular topic you have knowledge of and interest in. Or, if you want to be more strategic about it, do some research on blogs that make the most money and aren’t so competitive that it will be difficult for you to rank.

Plan on writing regular blog posts and learn about search engine optimization so your blog posts actually get seen.

While freelance writing involves writing for clients, blogging involves writing about a topic of your choosing and making money by allowing advertisers to share your audience.

Potential Earnings: Earnings will vary depending on the popularity of your blog. The more viewers you attract, the more advertisers will pay. Some bloggers make between $500 to $2,000 in extra cash per month during their first years of blogging.

Other Helpful Information: Familiarize yourself with WordPress to easily post blog content. To add royalty-free images to your blogs, find content on Unsplash, Pixabay, and Pexels. Canva is another tool for adding images to your post.

14. Virtual Bookkeeping

Getting Started: Offer your bookkeeping services to small businesses in your community or through online marketplaces such as Fiverr or Upwork.

Potential Earnings: $20-50 per hour is a typical virtual bookkeeping rate. This is the type of side hustle that may be ideal for a math teacher earning extra money in their spare time.

Other Helpful Information: Platforms like QuickBooks and Xero can help with online bookkeeping.

15. Graphic Design

Getting Started: Create a portfolio of your design work and promote your services on freelance job boards or through social media.

Potential Earnings: $25-75 per hour is a typical rate for a freelance graphic designer. You can charge more if you have a degree in art or graphic design.

Other Helpful Information: Websites such as Dribbble and Behance can help showcase your work.

16. Babysitting

Getting Started: Advertise your services as a babysitter to friends, family, and community members both in-person and online. This may be a great option to earn extra income during summer break.

Potential Earnings: A babysitter’s average hourly rate is $17. You may charge more due to your teaching experience.

Other Helpful Information: Sites like Care.com or Sittercity can help you find babysitting jobs.

17. Dog Walking

Getting Started: Advertise your dog walking services to local neighbors on Craigslist and Facebook. Offer this service to friends and family members to begin cultivating a reputation.

Potential Earnings: The average pay for a dog walker is $15 per hour.

Other Helpful Information: Create accounts on platforms such as Rover and Wag! to find more dog-walking jobs in your area.

18. Pet Sitting

Getting Started: Offer your services as a pet sitter to friends, family, and neighbors. You can also advertise your services on websites such as Rover and Care.com.

Potential Earnings: $20-50 per day.

Other Helpful Information: Platforms such as Barkly and PetBacker can connect you with pet-sitting opportunities.

19. Photography

Getting Started: Create a portfolio of your photography and advertise your services on social media or local classifieds websites. One of my friends has photography as a side hustle, and says the best way to get clients is having a Facebook page and through an Instagram account.

Potential Earnings: $50-150 per hour is the average rate.

Other Helpful Information: My friend said the best way to sell photos is through Facebook’s Marketplace because it is free and it is big.

There are other platforms where you can upload your portfolio, but first check out if you have to pay to sign up as a seller. For example, websites such as SmugMug and Zenfolio can help you showcase and sell your photos.

20. Sell Stock Photos

Getting Started: Learn which stock photo genres and subjects are most popular. Take photos accordingly to build a portfolio.

Potential Earnings: You can earn an average of between $0.25 to $.045 per image per month selling stock photos. The more quality photos you take, the more you may earn.

Other Helpful Information: Sell stock photos on platforms like Alamy, Shutterstock, Getty Images, and 500px.

21. Freelance Photo Editing

Getting Started: Create a portfolio of photo editing work. Ensure you have all the tools and software you’ll need to offer this service.

Potential Earnings: A professional may charge up to $90 for freelance photo editing services.

Other Helpful Information: Look for photo editing jobs on Upwork, Fiverr, and Craigslist. Business owners in your area may also be in need of photo editing work. Pitch your services to them directly.

22. Freelance Videography

Getting Started: Same as above, ensure you have all the necessary tools and begin developing a portfolio. You may have to offer your services for free before you can cultivate a strong enough portfolio to turn this into a side business.

Potential Earnings: Freelance videographers often charge between $28 and $42 per hour.

Other Helpful Information: As a freelance videographer, you’ll need to stick to local clients. As such, you should search for clients on Craigslist, local Facebook groups, and in person.

23. Freelance Video Editing

Getting Started: Follow the same steps as listed above, but emphasize video editing over videography. This may involve editing other clients’ video content instead of your own.

Potential Earnings: Full-time freelance video editors can earn an average of $54,000 per year. Because this is a side gig, you may earn less.

Other Helpful Information: Upwork and Fiverr are ideal platforms for finding this type of work.

24. Transcription

Getting Started: Offer your transcription services to businesses, podcasters, and other individuals in need of transcribing audio or video files.

Potential Earnings: $20-50 per hour is common for transcription services.

Other Helpful Information: Websites such as Rev and Scribie can help you find transcription work.

25. Translation

Getting Started: Put together a portfolio demonstrating your ability to translate a large number of different types of documents.

Potential Earnings: Freelance translators earn an average of between $30 and $70 per hour.

Other Helpful Information: Upwork, Indeed, LinkedIn, and Fiverr often list freelance translation gigs.

26. Voiceover

Getting Started: Create a demo reel of your voiceover work and promote your services on freelance job boards or through social media.

Potential Earnings: $50-200 per hour is the standard rate.

Other Helpful Information: Websites such as Voices.com and Upwork can help you find voiceover opportunities.

27. Personal Training

Getting Started: Get certified as a personal trainer and offer your services to clients in your community or through online marketplaces such as Thumbtack.

Potential Earnings: $50-100 per hour.

Other Helpful Information: Platforms such as MyFitnessPal and Fitbit can help you track and monitor your clients’ progress.

28. Event Planning

Getting Started: Offer your event planning services to friends, family, and local businesses. You can also advertise your services on websites such as Eventbrite and Eventful.

Potential Earnings: $500-5,000 per event.

Other Helpful Information: Platforms such as Trello and Asana can help you plan and organize events.

29. Handyman or Handywoman Services

Getting Started: Offer your handyman/woman services to friends, family, and neighbors. You can also advertise your services on websites such as TaskRabbit and Thumbtack.

Potential Earnings: $20-50 per hour.

Other Helpful Information: Websites such as HomeAdvisor and Angie’s List can help you connect with potential clients.

30. Personal Shopping and Styling

Getting Started: Offer your personal shopping and styling services to friends, family, and clients in your community. You can also advertise your services on websites such as Thumbtack and TaskRabbit.

Potential Earnings: $20-50 per hour.

Other Helpful Information: Platforms such as Stitch Fix and Trunk Club can help you provide personal shopping and styling services online.

31. Home Cleaning

Getting Started: Offer your cleaning services to friends, family, and neighbors. You can also advertise your services on websites such as Care.com and Thumbtack.

Potential Earnings: $20-50 per hour, similar to handyman rates.

Other Helpful Information: Platforms such as Housecall and Handy can help you connect with potential cleaning clients. Other sites like Care.com and TaskRabbit also have people looking to clean houses or organize your home.

32. Landscaping

Getting Started: Offer your landscaping services to friends, family, and neighbors. You can also advertise your services on websites such as Thumbtack and TaskRabbit.

Potential Earnings: $20-50 per hour. You may also account for the size of a lawn when setting a rate.

Other Helpful Information: Websites such as HomeAdvisor and Angie’s List can help you connect with potential landscaping clients.

33. Personal Chef

Getting Started: Offer your personal chef services to friends, family, and clients in your community. You can also advertise your services on websites such as Thumbtack and TaskRabbit.

Potential Earnings: $20-50 per hour.

Other Helpful Information: Platforms such as Blue Apron and HelloFresh can help you provide meal delivery services.

34. House Sitting

Getting Started: Search local Facebook groups and Craigslist for house-sitting jobs.

Potential Earnings: House-sitting can allow you to significantly add to your full-time income. Professionals earn as much as $50,000 per year house-sitting. Although you will likely earn less, as you may not have much experience with this type of work, this can still be a lucrative side gig.

Other Helpful Information: HouseSitter.com or Care.com can help you find more house-sitting jobs. Be aware you’ll likely have to go through a background check for someone to hire you for this work.

35. Tour Guide

Getting Started: Becoming a tour guide is often a perfect side gig for a teacher who has access to local historical societies and museums. Research these societies and businesses to learn if they are in need of your services.

Potential Earnings: The average salary for a tour guide is approximately $25 per hour. You might earn more in tips.

Other Helpful Information: Teachers sometimes create their own small businesses, giving tours when there are no existing opportunities in their areas. You may do the same if this is the type of second job that interests you.

36. Social Media Management

Getting Started: Offer your social media management services to small businesses and entrepreneurs in your community or through online marketplaces such as Upwork and Fiverr.

Potential Earnings: $20-50 per hour, depending on the tasks involved.

Other Helpful Information: Platforms such as Hootsuite and Buffer can help you manage and schedule social media posts.

37. Etsy Shop

Getting Started: Create and sell your own crafts, jewelry, or artwork on Etsy.

Potential Earnings: Varies depending on the product and demand.

Other Helpful Information: Websites such as Craftsy and Skillshare can help you improve your crafting skills.

38. Online Marketplace Selling

Getting Started: Sell products on online marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace.

Potential Earnings: Varies depending on the product and demand.

Other Helpful Information: Websites such as Amazon FBA and eBay can help you get started. You can also sell at local thrift stores to make even more sales.

39. Podcast Recording

Getting Started: Purchase the equipment you will need to create a podcast recording studio. Ensure you have the extra space necessary for one.

Potential Earnings: You may charge approximately $45 per hour for podcast recording services.

Other Helpful Information: Promote your services on Craigslist or in local Facebook groups. Consider offering podcast editing services as well to earn even more money.

40. Adjunct Professor

Getting Started: Check the websites and job boards of local colleges for an adjunct teaching job that you’re qualified for.

Potential Earnings: Pay varies. On average, adjunct professors may earn about $27 per hour. Be aware a small community college will likely pay less than a major university.

Other Helpful Information: Consider earning your master’s degree. Unless you have significant teaching experience, it can be difficult to get this type of job with only a bachelor’s degree.

41. Music Lessons

Getting Started: Offer your music lessons to students in your community or through online platforms such as TakeLessons.

Potential Earnings: $20-50 per hour.

Other Helpful Information: Websites such as Music Teachers Network and TakeLessons can help connect you with potential students.

42. Art Lessons

Getting Started: Create a portfolio and set aside space to offer art lessons in your home. If you can, rent out studio space. Ensure you have all the supplies you’ll need.

Potential Earnings: If you have an art degree, you can charge approximately $50 per hour for art lessons.

Other Helpful Information: Start a Care.com account and offer both art lessons and babysitting services to earn even more money.

43. Home Staging

Getting Started: Offer your home staging services to real estate agents and homeowners in your community. You can also advertise your services on websites such as Thumbtack and TaskRabbit.

Potential Earnings: $500-5,000 per project.

Other Helpful Information: Websites such as Home Staging Resource and Stagedhomes can help you learn more about the home staging industry.

44. Online Personal Training

Getting Started: Get certified as a personal trainer and offer your services to clients online
through platforms such as Zoom or Skype. This is among the best side hustles for Physical Education teachers.

Potential Earnings: $50-100 per hour on average.

Other Helpful Information: Platforms such as MyFitnessPal and Fitbit can help you track and monitor your clients’ progress.

45. Online Language Tutoring

Getting Started: Offer your second language tutoring services to students online through platforms such as Zoom or Skype. This is an easy way for a language teacher to earn a little extra cash throughout the school year.

Potential Earnings: $20-50 per hour is a common rate.

Other Helpful Information: Websites such as iTalki and Preply can help you connect with potential language students.

46. Virtual Event Planning

Getting Started: Offer your event planning services to businesses and individuals for virtual events. You can also advertise your services on websites such as Eventbrite and Eventful.

Potential Earnings: $500-5,000 per event.

Other Helpful Information: Platforms such as Zoom and Google Meet can help you plan and host virtual events.

47. Restoration

Getting Started: Restore your own furniture, clothing, or other such items to demonstrate your skills. Also, offer restoration services to friends and family members.

Potential Earnings: Furniture restoration costs can range from $100 to $700 per item. Use this as a guide when setting your own rates.

Other Helpful Information: Offer your services on Craigslist and create your own website to show off your work.

48. Yoga or Dance Instruction

Getting Started: Take a course to earn a yoga or dance instructor certificate. Look into fitness centers and yoga/dance studios in your area in need of instructors.

Potential Earnings: For private yoga or dance instruction, you can charge between $30 and $70 per hour.

Other Helpful Information: If you have a spare room, you can offer yoga or dance instruction in your own home. You can also offer your services online through Zoom.

49. Web Design

Getting Started: Ensure you have the tools necessary to create strong websites. Create a portfolio and a website to show off your work.

Potential Earnings: Freelance web designers charge approximately $75.00 per hour on average.

Other Helpful Information: You may find web design clients on platforms such as Upwork and Fiverr.

50. App Design

Getting Started: Build a portfolio and research the different types of apps clients are most often in need of.

Potential Earnings: Average rates for freelance app design services are between $60 and $80 per hour.

Other Helpful Information: Look for freelance app design gigs on Upwork, Craigslist, and Fiverr. Additionally, approach small business owners in your area and pitch your services.

Other great side hustles for teachers include:

51. Create a YouTube Channel
52. Podcasting (having your own podcast)
53. Rent Out a Room
54. Rent Out a Vehicle
55. Rent Out a Parking Space
56. Modeling
57. Tailoring
58. Freelance Fashion Design
59. Doing Nails
60. Cutting Hair
61. Car Washing
62. Car Detailing
63. Songwriting for Local Business Ads
64. Music Performing
65. Acting
66. Teaching New Skills to the Elderly
67. Selling Jokes and Greeting Card Ideas
68. Depositing Recyclables
69. Jewelry Design
70. Tattoo Artist
71. Renting Out Specialized Equipment, Such as Fitness or Music Equipment
72. Bake Sales
73. Cooking Lessons
74. Selling Art
75. Doing Portraits and Caricatures
76. Appliance Repair
77. Caddying
78. Participating in Studies at Local Colleges
79. Beta Testing Products
80. Camp Counselor
81. Carpentry
82. Furniture Assembly
83. Proctoring Exams
84. Essay Writing
85. Local News Coverage
86. Sports Lessons
87. Exterior Property Cleaning
88. Bouncer Gigs
89. Musical Instrument Repair
90. Selling Old Books
91. Moving Services
92. Mentoring College Students
93. Massage Therapy
94. Life Coaching
95. Visiting the Elderly
96. Giving Seminars at Local Libraries
97. Freelance Game Design
98. Drama and Theatre Lessons
99. Selling Produce at Local Fairs
100. Food Delivery
101. Private Driving Services

Conclusion

Unfortunately, although teachers play one of the most valuable roles in our society, their importance is not reflected in their pay. If a teacher is interested in adding to their income, as these examples demonstrate, there are many ways they can do so in their free time.

These side hustles for teachers help educators earn extra money on their own: solo. If you start to think about pairing up with others who have certain talents, or can gather enough money for a side business, your “side hustle” could become your retirement plan. The possibilities will be practically endless!

One more thing: if you are a teacher reading this, thank you for your selfless acts of service to our children. Every. Single. Day.