Teachers are possibly the most underpaid professionals in today’s economic climate. They’re also very underappreciated, despite the value they bring the classroom one student at a time.
For teachers who want to make a little extra money, there are some great side jobs to consider. Best of all, none of these require giving up your day job. You can keep following your passion
Best Side Jobs For Teachers You Can Start Today
1. Share Your Teaching Tools
Let’s be honest, some lesson plans or teaching resources can take you hours or even days to get just right. If you have something awesome you developed to enhance your students’ learning, chances are you can sell it.
Check out TeachersPayTeachers.com to list the resources you’ve worked so hard to create. Not only will you make a little extra cash, but you’ll also be helping other teachers who are willing to pay for your expertly-created materials.
2. Rideshare Driver
If you own a car, becoming a rideshare driver is one of the best ways to make extra money. Driving for Uber or Lyft is one of the best side jobs for teachers because it’s so flexible.
Along with tips from customers, drivers can earn sign-on bonuses, referral bonuses, and of course, extra bonus rewards for driving during peak times. Because you can work around your schedule, it’s a great side hustle for anyone who wants to be in charge of their own hours.
3. Sell Online Courses
If you’re a teacher, you’re already an expert in something. Why not create an online course to share your expertise with others, and get paid to do it?
A standard course on the popular course marketplace website Udemy is video-based with at least five learning modules and a minimum of 30 minutes of video content. For someone with teaching experience, there’s unlimited earning potential when you sell your courses through a site like Udemy!
One of the best aspects of this side job is that you can create as many courses as you like, so your earning potential is practically unlimited.
4. Start a Blog
If you’ve ever considered starting your own blog, what are you waiting for?
Blogs are a fun, creative outlet and can also serve as a means of making extra money. It’s super easy to get started. Start by grabbing a catchy domain name and then set everything up with a user-friendly service like Bluehost.
Note: If you sign up for Bluehost using the link above, I would be happy to set it up for free! Just send me an email.
Building a successful blog won’t make you rich overnight, but it could serve as your new money-generating hobby the more time and effort you put into it.
5. Photographer
With the rise of social media, becoming a photographer in 2019 couldn’t be easier. From family photos to senior photos to capturing special events, photographers are in high demand.
If you have a decent camera and a bit of creativity, you can start making extra money through photography in almost no time!
One of the best aspects of this side job for teachers is that you can schedule your clients’ shoots during evenings and weekends.
6. Food Delivery Driver
If driving around people doesn’t sound like your cup of tea after a long day of interacting with students, consider delivering food. It’s a win-win for those who have a car but may not enjoy chit-chatting with passengers to make some extra money.
With food delivery, you’ll still have the interaction of pick-up and delivery, but you can crank up any type of music you want and jam out while making a few extra bucks.
Popular delivery services like Doordash and Instacart are always looking for drivers, especially on nights and weekends during peak delivery times.
Like most of the previously suggested best side jobs for teachers I’ve listed, food delivery driver is another option for those who want something that fits their busy and sometimes unpredictable schedule.
7. Teach English as a Second Language
If you have an Internet connection and a computer with a webcam, you already have everything you’ll need to start teaching English to students from all over the world.
Companies like SayABC and Gogokid connect English teachers like you to students looking to learn English. You can earn from $20-$25 per hour, all from the comfort of your own home.
Most class sessions are between 30-40 minutes, so you can easily schedule them around your existing teaching schedule. The best part? All the course work is created for you, so all you have to do is log on and do what you do best – teach!
8. Fitness Instructor
Take your teaching skills for a spin in a new setting as a fitness instructor. Check out your local gym, senior center, or community center to see what types of classes are in demand.
This is a great job that lets you get paid to pursue your individual hobby – a true win-win for busy (and broke) teachers! Some gyms will even pay for you to get certified in a certain area of expertise.
If fitness isn’t your cup of tea, check with your local community education center or community college to see if you can teach something else – like writing, music, computer skills, or anything else you find interesting!
9. Rent Out Your Extra Space
If you have a spare bedroom or two, consider renting it out to travelers and tourists via Airbnb.
One of the best aspects of being an Airbnb host is that it brings in extra money for very little extra effort on your part. Sure, you’ll have to change the sheets and clean the bathroom before each renter arrives, but that small amount of effort is well worth the cost.
Depending on your geographical area and the type of space you have to offer, you could make anywhere from $40 – $250 per night. Plus, you can rest easy knowing that Airbnb will give you complete control over your availability. You’ll never get stuck with renters when it’s inconvenient for you.
10. Wedding Planner
No, we’re not stereotyping here – most teachers have a knack for planning. Wedding planners can make anywhere from $500 for being a day-of coordinator to more than $3,000 for taking care of planning and logistics for larger and more complicated weddings.
There are two great things about this side job. First, it’s something that takes advantage of nights and weekends, without any complications during the regular business day. Second, you have the flexibility to screen and pick your own clients. That means you can work as much (or as little) as you want!
As you can see, there are lots of great side job options out there for teachers. So if you’re a teacher who could use a little extra cash, why not take a stab at one of these jobs on this list? You might be surprised at how much extra money you can make without a lot of extra effort.
