We all know teachers aren’t teaching to get rich. But struggling along from paycheck to paycheck isn’t right. We believe teachers should be paid like professionals, and side hustles should be a choice, not a necessity. Until that happens, check out these side jobs for teachers and find smart ways to earn some extra money.
Teaching is an incredibly meaningful yet often underpaid profession. Many teachers love the reward of educating and inspiring young minds but struggle with making ends meet on a modest teacher salary.
Fortunately, there are numerous ways for teachers to supplement their income through side hustles and part-time work With a bit of effort and creativity, you can expand your earning potential while still maintaining your full-time teaching job
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore:
- The benefits of making extra money as a teacher
- 15+ smart side hustles and part-time jobs for teachers
- Tips for balancing side work with your teaching career
- Maximizing your income through passive income streams
Implementing even just a few of these practical ideas can help you achieve greater financial comfort without sacrificing your passion for teaching.
Why Make More Money as a Teacher?
Here are some of the top benefits of earning supplemental income as an educator:
- Pay off student loans, debt, and other expenses faster
- Save more for retirement, vacations, a house, a car, or your child’s college fund
- Gain financial stability and peace of mind
- Find fulfillment using your skills in new ways
- Try out alternate career options like tutoring, writing, or coaching
- Reduce financial stress and avoid burnout
- Open up more options if considering leaving teaching
Making more on the side also allows you to stay in a teaching career you love while enjoying greater financial freedom.
15+ Smart Side Hustles for Teachers
1. Teach Summer School
Many school districts need teachers for summer school programs. Use your expertise to teach summer classes, which typically pay $25-$35 per hour for part-time work.
2. Offer Private Tutoring
Leverage your teaching skills for $20-$50 per hour as an independent tutor in academic subjects, test prep, music, sports, or other areas based on your background.
3. Sell Lesson Plans and Classroom Materials
Create quality lesson plans, activities, assessments, and other classroom materials to sell through online marketplaces like TeachersPayTeachers.com. Popular materials can generate ongoing passive income.
4. Provide Childcare or Babysitting
Use evenings, weekends, and school breaks to earn $15-$25 per hour caring for neighborhood kids, providing your own daycare services, or babysitting.
5. Freelance Writing
Use your writing skills to earn income as a freelance writer creating blog posts, web content, curricula, ebooks, and other projects for education companies, nonprofits, and publishers.
6. Create an Online Course
Develop online courses in your subject expertise and sell access on platforms like Udemy or Teachable. Promote your course to generate passive income from student enrollments.
7. Coach Youth Sports Teams
Become a part-time youth coach in your sport of expertise. Stipends typically range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per season of coaching.
8. Teach Music or Dance Lessons
Share your talents in music, voice, dance, or other arts by teaching lessons before school, after work, or on weekends for $30-$60 per hour.
9. Proctor Exams
Earn extra income working occasional weekends, evenings, or school breaks to proctor exams like the SAT or ACT which pay $15-$25 per hour.
10. Consult as an Education Expert
Consult with education companies, startups, or think tanks as an expert advisor in your subject area or on trends in teaching and learning. Typical rates range from $50-$150 per hour.
11. Work as a Virtual Assistant
Use administrative skills honed as a teacher to provide virtual assistance with tasks like email management, data entry, research, scheduling, and more for $15-$50 per hour.
12. Rent Out Your Home or Yard
Rent out extra rooms or your yard through services like Airbnb to generate recurring passive income, especially in summer months when school is out.
13. Resell Items Online
Sell gently used clothing, household items, or other goods through apps like Poshmark, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace to earn extra cash.
14. Do Food or Grocery Delivery
Earn side income making food deliveries for services like UberEats, DoorDash, or Instacart which let you set your own schedule.
15. Provide Resume and Interview Coaching
Help students or young adults improve their resumes and interview skills by offering coaching sessions focused on career readiness for $25-$75 per hour.
Tips for Balancing Teaching and Side Work
- Set boundaries and limits on your availability for side work. Prioritize your teaching job.
- Communicate your needs clearly with side job clients and set expectations up front.
- Block off dedicated time for your side hustles and stick to a schedule.
- Start slowly with one or two manageable side gigs.
- Outsource tasks when possible to save time.
- Automate processes that generate passive income.
- Know when to say no if your plate becomes too full.
Maximize Income Through Multiple Passive Revenue Streams
Creating ongoing passive income sources is a smart way to boost earnings as a teacher without requiring large investments of extra time each week. Consider combining several streams:
- Digital products like online courses or video tutorials
- Selling lesson plans, classroom materials, or printable teaching resources
- Affiliate marketing through a blog or education site
- Display ads through a website, blog, or YouTube channel
- Consulting or tutoring services marketed digitally
- Directing students to paid online resources you’ve created
Building even one consistent passive income channel over time can make a big difference. The initial time investment pays off in the long run.
Final Tips for Financial Success as a Teacher
- Take advantage of tax deductions for teachers and education expenses.
- Set up direct deposit to automatically save and invest a portion of each paycheck.
- Negotiate your teacher salary and seek pay raises when possible.
- Consider teaching abroad or at private schools for higher salaries.
- Apply for grants, fellowships, and teaching awards.
- Be frugal and optimize your budget.
Supplementing your teacher pay strategically with smart side hustles provides the flexibility and income to manage expenses, save more, reduce debt, and gain financial peace of mind while still doing what you love – teaching!
Open an Etsy shop
Are you that teacher who has a perfect Pinterest classroom and is just naturally crafty or artsy? Take that talent to Etsy. We recommend specializing in a craft to start with. This way you can build up your reputation and ranking in Etsy search. We also recommend doing a little research first so that you’re not offering something that many people already do.
Write as a freelancer
Lots of companies use freelance writers for a variety of purposes. You may not always get a byline, but you can pick up some spare cash. This is one of our favorite ways that English teachers can make extra money! Try a site like Fiverr or Guru for opportunities.
Have you ever been to a thrift shop and come across a gorgeous piece of old furniture that needs a little (or a lot of) love? Well, with the right redo, this piece could earn you plenty of money! This is a creative teacher side hustle, and we love this article with great tips on how to flip furniture.
You’ll need some capital up front, and it’ll take a lot of hard work, but in some markets flipping houses can be incredibly lucrative. Investopedia has a great article about finding out if this is the right side hustle for you.
How I’m Becoming a Millionaire on a Teacher’s Salary | Side Income for Teachers that Build Wealth
Can you make money as a teacher?
Working as a teacher means numerous options for making extra money to supplement your income. Teacher side jobs can range from education-focused positions like tutoring students to unrelated roles like working as retail employees.
How can I make money teaching extra hours?
If you’re interested in earning extra money through teaching extra hours, you can consider offering tutoring options to local students. You can tutor in many methods: you can choose to tutor groups, individuals, through online platforms or in person. Many teachers provide tutoring in the subject area they teach.
How do teachers make extra money?
You could apply your extra income to tuition or certification bills, allowing you to advance your education or pursue a promotion. Alternatively, you could put your extra earnings toward your retirement fund or save for a major purchase, such as a new home. Related: How Much Do Teachers Make? Here are 23 ways teachers can make extra money: 1.
How do I get more money if I’m a teacher?
At many schools, coaches and extracurricular advisors can earn extra money for their time. Keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities in your district. Teachers have plenty of built-in experience with kids, so you can ask for higher rates. Ask your local connections or try a website like Care.com.
