Teachers are some of the most dedicated, hardworking professionals out there. But with salaries often failing to keep pace with the cost of living, many educators seek side hustles to supplement their income.
The good news is that teachers possess a unique combination of skills that opens the door to some lucrative and rewarding side gig opportunities. From tutoring to blogging to organizing closets, there are many ways for teachers to leverage their expertise while earning extra cash.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll explore 21 of the best side hustles for teachers, along with tips for balancing the side gig with your teaching responsibilities.
1. Private Tutoring
Offering private tutoring services is one of the most natural side hustles for teachers. With your background in education and experience working with students, you can provide targeted support in academic subjects, test prep, college admissions counseling, and more.
You can offer in-person tutoring to students in your area or work with students remotely over video chat. The hourly pay often ranges from $20-$100+ depending on the subject matter, student needs, and your credentials.
2. Curriculum Development
Teachers have insider expertise when it comes to crafting effective educational materials. You can create and sell your original lesson plans, activity guides, worksheets, and more to other teachers on sites like TeachersPayTeachers.com.
Top-selling authors on TPT earn thousands of dollars each month by selling downloads of the curriculum resources they developed. As another option, you can create educational products to sell on your own website or via online marketplaces.
3. Content Writing
Every website, blog, and business needs high-quality written content. As someone skilled in communication, research, and explaining complex concepts clearly, you can work as a freelance writer covering educational topics.
Possible clients include textbook publishers, Ed Tech companies, test prep services and more. Subject matter expertise is highly valued, so don‘t hesitate to pitch your services to organizations related to your niche.
4. Educational Consulting
Leverage your insider understanding of the education system by working as an consultant. Schools, education companies, parents and students may seek out your advice on issues like improving standardized test scores, crafting compelling college applications, enhancing curriculum, teaching strategies and more.
You can provide these services on an hourly consulting basis or as an ongoing remote advisor. This side hustle is great for former teachers who want to stay connected to education.
5. Online Instructor
Many major online learning platforms like Udemy, Outschool and more rely on expert instructors to develop and teach online courses. As a teacher, you can easily transition into this role by teaching topics related to your niche.
Online teaching allows you set your own schedule and reach more students than you could in a traditional classroom setting. And with ever-growing demand for eLearning, this side hustle offers major income potential.
6. Educational Blogging
Launching an education-focused blog allows you to build a readership around your areas of teaching expertise. You can feature classroom tips, lesson plans, teaching strategies, education news and more.
Once your blog is established, there are several ways to monetize the site through advertising, affiliate marketing, selling online courses or eBooks, speaking engagements and more.
7. Proofreading/Editing
Harness your eagle eye for detail by providing proofreading and editing services to authors, businesses, students and more. This skill is especially valuable for checking over college admissions essays, academic papers, resumes and other high-stakes documents where errors could be costly.
You can advertise your services on sites like Fiverr or reach out directly to clients. This side hustle pairs well with an English teaching background.
8. Resume Writing
With your experience reviewing academic works and providing feedback, you have the skills to craft professional-level resumes. This is a scalable side hustle that allows you to charge premium rates since clients are investing in a pivotal career document.
Try specializing in teacher resumes to establish yourself an expert consultant in the education field.
9. Test Prep Instructor
Help students prepare for major tests like the SAT, ACT, GRE or other admissions/certification exams by working part-time for a test prep company or starting your own tutoring business.
You can teach test prep after school, on weekends or over the summer when demand spikes for students on break. This side hustle lets you leverage your teaching gifts during time off from your regular teaching job.
10. Corporate Training Developer
Companies invest heavily in internal training programs to advance the skills of their employees. As a teacher, you can use your expertise in instructional design and content development to create eLearning courses, training manuals, presentations, seminars and more on a freelance basis.
This side hustle may require some additional research since you‘ll be creating trainings outside of traditional education, but allows you to earn a lucrative rates as a B2B contractor.
Enhance your professional reputation while earning royalties by writing all or part of a textbook for major educational publishers like Pearson, Cengage, McGraw Hill and more.
You can reach out to publishers directly about open author opportunities or respond to their public requests for proposals. Credits as a published textbook author further boost your credentials as an education expert.
12. Resume Writer
Take your skills at reviewing student work and provide critical feedback to the next level by crafting professional-level resumes. With insider expertise about what skills and accomplishments appeal to academic institutions, you can market specifically to recent graduates, teachers and other education-based clients.
As another option, general resume writing for all industries is a scalable side hustle that allows you to charge premium rates since clients are investing in a pivotal career document. Specialize in entry-level applicants or executives to command higher fees.
13. Leadership/Career Coach
Help high school or college students unlock their potential by providing personalized coaching services focused on setting goals, navigating careers and leadership.
You can design individualized development plans for students centered around their strengths, interests and growth areas. This side hustle allows you to work one-on-one with students in a more focused environment than a crowded classroom.
14. College Essay Editor
Reading and providing constructive comments on student compositions is second nature for any teacher. Put those skills to work by reviewing, revising and strengthening college admissions essays and personal statements.
In addition to helping students gain acceptance into schools, you’re also equipping them with stronger writing skills that will aid their academic and professional careers.
15. Home & Life Organization
Teachers have unmatched organizational skills when it comes to coordinating lessons, schedules and classroom procedures. Apply that ability to bring structure to clients’ homes by decluttering, streamlining systems and processes and enhancing efficiency.
From organizing kitchens to closet clean outs to baby-proofing for new parents, your planning talents are perfect for this lucrative niche.
16. Event Planner
From designing memorable lessons to wrangling groups of kids, teachers know how to plan experiences that engage an audience. Put on your event planning hat to coordinate corporate gatherings, fundraising galas, weddings, parties and more as an expert side hustle.
You can even specialize in education-based events like school dances, graduations and student enrichment conferences.
17. Pet Sitting
If you need a major break from kids during summer vacation or holidays, pet sitting is a far less demanding side gig. You can care for pets in their own home when owners are away or offer dog walking services for neighborhood canines.
Veterinarian offices, pet stores and online job boards like Rover.com list numerous pet care opportunities. And you’ll earn extra income while enjoying furry companions.
18. Voice Over Artist
Recording voice overs leverages your verbal communication strengths while working from the comfort of home. This remote side gig provides a flexible way to earn income from commercials, branded videos, audio books and more.
Focus on opportunities related to the education niche, such as recording scripts for corporate eLearning courses, language learning programs or academic publisher multimedia.
19. Resume Writer
Take your skills at reviewing student work and provide critical feedback to the next level by crafting professional-level resumes. With insider expertise about what skills and accomplishments appeal to academic institutions, you can market specifically to recent graduates, teachers and other education-based clients.
As another option, general resume writing for all industries is a scalable side hustle that allows you to charge premium rates since clients are investing in a pivotal career document. Specialize in entry-level applicants or executives to command higher fees.
20. Sign Language Interpreting
If you have training in sign language, put that skillset to work by providing interpreting services for corporate events, school programming for deaf students or even television broadcasts.
Interpreters are often in high demand, allowing you to earn great rates during nights, weekends and other times you’re available outside of teaching obligations.
21. Jewelry Making
Express your creativity by handcrafting and selling custom jewelry designs using gemstones, precious metals and more. Expand your teaching talents into the world of arts while covering material costs and earning profit.
You can promote your collections on Etsy, at local craft fairs, holiday boutiques and other venues. Offer personalized pieces or themed designs focused on educational motifs.
Juggling side gig work in addition to your teacher salary can be demanding, but also rewarding. Here are some tips to balance a side business without getting overwhelmed:
Define Your Availability: Block off time already allocated toward teaching obligations so you don’t over-commit your schedule. Be clear with side hustle clients on when you can complete projects or provide services.
Prioritize Efficiency: Look for ways to repurpose existing teaching materials when developing assets for your side business. Also pursue passive income opportunities that don’t require hourly effort.
Outsource Tasks: Consider bringing on assistants for administrative work, posting on social media or other tasks that don’t require your direct expertise. This allows you to focus energy on high-dollar side hustle activities.
Set Income Goals: Calculate how much supplemental income you want to earn monthly through your side business. Meeting preset targets helps gauge how many clients or hours to take on.
The possibilities are truly endless when it comes to launching a rewarding, profitable side hustle as a teacher. Whether you utilize your instructional skills like tutoring and test prep or explore entirely new ventures like blogging and coaching, you can find the right fit that leverages your strengths.
We hope this guide provided ample ideas to pursuing your own teaching side hustle. With so many options, what niche will you choose first? Determine an area of expertise, passion or market demand and start turning your talents into money today!
