25 High Paying Jobs for College Students

It’s smart to know which jobs for college students pay the best. College is expensive – there’s no doubt about that.

According to College Data, the average four-year in-state public college tuition cost for the 2023-24 school year was $28,840. The average cost for a four-year private college during the same year was $60,420.

Need a way to help pay for that? Getting a decent job during college might help. You might be interested to know that there are actually high-paying jobs for college students.

Interested in making $12, $15, or even $25 per hour as you work through college? Check out the jobs for college students below. See which ones might work for you as you look to earn some cash during college.

Table of contents

Work for Yourself During College

This first list of jobs focuses on jobs you can work on your own. For these jobs, you’ll function in an independent contractor capacity. That means you’ll be responsible for keeping track of your income and expenses.

You’ll also be responsible for paying taxes. Therefore, it’s important to set aside a portion of your income as an independent contractor to pay Uncle Sam. See if any of these self-employed job opportunities sound good to you.

1. Nanny/Babysitter

Babysitting and nannying jobs abound in many larger cities. According to PayScale, nannies make an average hourly wage of $16.27. And depending on where you live, you might earn much more than that as a nanny.

Not only are there families surrounding college campuses that may need nannies, but some college students also need them.

If you are responsible, love caring for children, and like interacting with them, this might be your job. Find jobs by advertising your services to local neighborhoods or even on Craigslist.

2. Be a Rideshare Driver

You’ve probably heard of Uber. You may have even requested a ride through Uber. Driving on the Uber platform is a flexible way to earn money if you’re 21 or over.

One of the nice things about working as a rideshare driver during college is that, once you have been cleared to drive, you can make your own schedule. If you’re available, you can take riders. If not, you don’t have to.

College campuses are popular places for rideshare drivers. Many college students don’t bring cars to school and need to get to places they might not want to walk to.

While many college campuses are highly walkable, it’s not always feasible for students to walk to certain places. If you enjoy meeting new people and want to drive on your own time, consider being a rideshare driver.

3. Tutor

According to PayScale, the median pay rate for tutors in the U.S. is $19.94 per hour. Tutoring is another job where you can set your own hours if you work independently.

Advertising on Craigslist, school bulletin boards, and websites will help you find clients. When considering a tutoring career, it’s best to focus on the school subjects you’re best at.

If you’re a whiz at math, consider tutoring math. If English is your best subject, offer to tutor students on grammar and English rules.

While it’s great (and generally higher paying) to work on your own as a tutor, you could also work for a tutoring center. Local tutoring centers abound in most major metropolitan areas. It’s also possible to tutor online with a company like Course Hero.

4. Freelance Graphic Designer

As a graphic designer, you can do a number of jobs, especially when you’re working as a freelancer. According to PayScale, the average wage for a graphic designer is $30.14 per hour.

Freelance graphic designers can do anything from designing websites to designing and selling t-shirts online. Or you could design logos for companies or businesses. You could advertise your services on sites such as Upwork if you want to freelance.

Another option is to approach business website owners about improving the quality of their sites. A new design and easier functionality could really increase web traffic for some business owners.

If you didn’t want to freelance, you could always get a traditional job as a graphic designer. While some companies want people with graphic design degrees, others will hire non-degree designers.

5. Freelance Writer

If you have a talent for writing, you could make some serious money as a freelance writer. Freelance writers make an average of $27.88 per hour according to PayScale. As a freelance writer, you have several job options. You could write for blog owners, business manuals, or short stories.

Sites like Upwork or Craigslist could provide you with potential job opportunities as a freelance writer. You can also find work by approaching managers or owners of your favorite blogs.

Another way to find freelance work is to submit writing pieces to your favorite news or entertainment sites. Freelance writing is another one of those jobs where you can choose your work hours. This is extra nice because you can schedule your jobs around your school schedule, study time, etc.

6. Virtual Assistant

A virtual assistant is someone who completes administrative, technical, or creative tasks for others remotely. According to PayScale, the median wage for a virtual assistant is $18.66 per hour.

Some of the duties a virtual assistant might be assigned include:

Data entry tasks
Blog or website management duties
Management of other team freelancers
Updating or improving websites

The nice thing about a virtual assistant job is that it rarely gets boring. You’ll usually do a fair variety of tasks in this type of job, meaning it will stay interesting.

Check online sites such as Upwork or Craigslist for virtual assistant job openings. Many times, virtual assistant jobs are freelancing positions, but you may find one that’s a W-9 position.

7. Photographer

Do you have a gift for taking great photos and some decent camera equipment? If so, you may want to advertise your services as a photographer.

As a photographer and a college student, taking college graduation photos in and of itself could keep you plenty busy. The average pay for a photographer is $18.56 per hour, but you can set your own rates as a freelancer.

And if you use the great outdoors as a venue, you could avoid many of the overhead costs photographers have. With no studio rental costs and no need for an office, it’s almost all profit.

8. Resume Writer

What’s one of the first things your fellow college students will need, even before graduation? A resume! If you have a knack for writing resumes, this could be your perfect college job.

Talented resume writers can set their own fees for writing resumes for others. I’ve seen people charge $250 for writing a resume, and I’ve seen people charge $5,000 to write one. The primary qualification you need to have to be good at writing resumes is to know how to make people shine on paper. If you’re a great writer, that’s a terrific start.

You also need to be able to draw out your clients’ talents and skills. Interview them, find those hidden specialized skills, and then make them look great on paper. Find clients by talking with fellow college students and advertising on campus.

9. Pet Care Specialist

If you like dogs, cats, and other animals, why not consider working as a pet care specialist?

It’s not uncommon for pet sitters to make $15 an hour or more. Groomers earn an even higher hourly wage.

Some of the types of services you could offer as a self-employed pet care specialist include:

Dog walking
Pet sitting
Yard clean-up for dog owners
Dog grooming

You could advertise your services on a site such as Rover by creating a profile listing your experience. You can also set your own rates on Rover.

You could also advertise locally on bulletin boards at veterinary offices or pet stores or on sites like Craigslist.

Jobs for College Students Working for Others

You might not want to own your own business while simultaneously attending college, and that’s okay. Business ownership does entail a lot of paperwork and sales responsibilities.

Conversely, working for others means you complete your shift and go home, free of the company’s responsibilities. No keeping track of income and expenses. Leaving serious problems at the feet of the manager.

Check out these jobs where you can work for others but still make serious cash as a college student.

10. Barista

Baristas serve coffee and other drinks at stores such as Starbucks. Payscale states that the average hourly rate for baristas is $12.79. However, most baristas also earn tips, which can increase their average hourly wage.

If you’re good with people and want to make coffee and other drink creations, consider becoming a barista in college.

Bonus: Most coffee shops offer a wide variety of hours, which would help you balance your work and life schedule.

11. Companion Care Provider

A companion care provider spends time with someone. The person could be an elderly person or someone who lives alone and wants company. Dozens of companies hire companion care providers for various work shifts.

If you like being with people and are a good conversationalist, this might be the job for you. Payscale states that the average hourly rate for a companion care provider is $13.00.

This will vary based on where you work. Many companion jobs pay $15 per hour or more.

12. Library Assistant

A library assistant helps out at a local library. In this job, you might help people find books, help check books out, or put returned books back on the shelves. A variety of other tasks are also needed to help keep libraries running smoothly.

Payscale states that the average library assistant earns $14.37 per hour. Search for jobs at your college or other local libraries near you.

This could be the perfect job for you if you love reading and books or prefer a quiet working atmosphere.

13. Transcriber

As a transcriber, you’ll transcribe audio conversations onto written documents. Payscale states that the average hourly wage for a transcriber is $17.97.

Of course, your hourly wage depends on many factors, such as your experience level, skill level, and typing speed. However, many great transcription jobs will hire beginner transcriptionists.

And even though you may not earn a high hourly wage when you start, you can work your way up quickly as you learn to excel at your job.

Bonus: You can do this job from your home or dorm room at any time of the day or night.

14. Hotel Desk Clerk

Hotel desk clerks check guests in and out of hotel rooms and ensure they have what they need. Although Payscale lists the average hotel desk clerk salary as $11.11 per hour, a quick job search will show you that you can earn $15 per hour or more at many hotels.

This job requires you to have excellent customer service skills and be somewhat organized. Most college towns have several hotels where you can find jobs, and there are also a variety of hourly shifts available.

15. Fitness Instructor

Do you love fitness? As a fitness instructor, you can do a variety of jobs, such as:

Yoga instructor
Personal trainer
Cardio-fitness classes
Outdoor classes such as hiking, running, and biking

And more. According to PayScale, the average fitness instructor makes $24.13 per hour. This is not bad cash if you love fitness and like teaching others.

Check with local gyms for job opportunities. You could also start your own business and be an independent fitness instructor, start a hiking or running club, or conduct personal trainer lessons for people at their homes.

Many options here for college students. Also, the shifts aren’t very long, giving you more flexibility as you balance work and school.

16. Bookkeeper

One of the jobs I had while in college was as a bookkeeper for a local electronics store. According to PayScale, the average pay for a bookkeeper is $20.15 per hour.

I liked bookkeeping as a job for two reasons:

I like working with numbers and budgets
It was a backroom job perfect for introverts

Although I’m not an introvert, my busy college life kept me around people a lot. Working as a bookkeeper during college allowed me to have some serious downtime, and I got to make money while doing it.

Some bookkeeping jobs might require prior experience before applying, while others might be okay with training you. The bookkeeping job I had was fine with training me, and I was working independently within two weeks.

Related Post: Ways to Work From Home as a Bookkeeper

17. Bank Teller

Working as a bank teller could be another great job while you’re in college. Many banks will hire for part-time shifts, meaning you can work around your school schedule.

PayScale reports that the average pay for a bank teller is $14.64 per hour. I worked in the banking industry in some capacity for nearly 15 years, and I credit the industry with giving me a love for personal finance.

If you like finance and money, you might like being a bank teller.

18. Landscaper

I’m the first to admit landscaping is tough work. I know people who have worked in the field. It’s not easy, but it’s exercise, and the pay is nice. Payscale.com says the median wage for a landscaper is $16.99 per hour.

However, I know that in larger cities, they’re paid even more. The landscapers I know get between $15 and $20 an hour. Not bad cash for a college student.

If you work for a landscaping company, you may work on various job projects. You might mow the lawn of a homeowner or business owner one day. The next day, you might be helping to install a retaining wall.

19. Warehouse Worker

If you don’t mind moving boxes around, you may want to pursue a job as a warehouse worker. The average pay for a warehouse worker is $17.16 per hour, according to PayScale.

One cool thing about working as a warehouse worker is that evening and overnight shifts are often available. This means you could schedule work shifts outside of when your classes are.

In many companies, warehouse workers are responsible for loading boxes onto or off delivery trucks. The atmosphere is usually casual despite the importance of handling the boxes carefully.

20. Administrative Assistant

Administrative assistants can be asked to perform a variety of tasks depending on the company they work for. For example, they may be asked to complete data entry tasks or technical tasks.

You might be asked to run errands or organize office files. Payscale.com says the average wage for an administrative assistant is $18.72 per hour.

21. Dental Receptionist

According to PayScale.com, a dental receptionist makes an average wage of $18.49 per hour. They perform traditional receptionist responsibilities such as scheduling appointments.

However, they also need to deal with insurance claims and other tasks. If you are detail-oriented, can multitask, and like helping people, this could be a good job for you.

22. Bartender

PayScale says the average pay for a bartender is $10.22 per hour. However, that number doesn’t include tips. Much of a bartender’s income comes from tips; the better you are at your job, the higher the tips.

You don’t have to attend bartending school to become a bartender, but it may be helpful or required. Bartending schools generally run 40-hour courses, although some have shorter courses.

Check with local restaurants and bars near you for the qualifications for bartending positions. With tips, you can make a pretty decent living and work outside of traditional class hours.

23. House/Office Cleaner

If you like cleaning houses or office buildings, this might be a good job for you as a college student. The average cleaner makes roughly $14.39 per hour, according to PayScale.

While house cleaners generally work during the day, office building cleaners tend to work at night. This is when the offices are empty and free of workers. Check local job websites to find cleaning jobs near you.

24. House Painter

When I was in high school, I painted the interiors of houses. My mom and I worked for a couple of guys who owned rental properties.

Whenever they needed the interior of a property painted, they’d call us out, and we’d spend several hours painting. According to PayScale, the median pay rate for a house painter is $20.45 per hour.

To find house painting jobs near you, check local papers or online job sites such as Craigslist or Indeed.com.

25. Tax Preparer

The average pay for a tax preparer, according to PayScale, is $14.97 per hour. Depending on what company you work for, this is a job that could be done nights and weekends.

Tax preparers generally gain most of their working hours during the first half of the year. And many large tax prep companies will pay you for your training. They’ll also often allow you to set your own schedule.

Once you learn how to prepare taxes, this is a job you could have for life. You simply need to commit to continuing education.

Also, after you become experienced as a tax preparer, you could start doing the job on your own. Simply charge a fair rate to family and friends who need their taxes done.

Jobs For College Students – Summary

There are many high-paying jobs available to college students. You just need to do your research and find the right one for you.

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