31 Part-Time Jobs for Teachers — Earn On Your Own Time

If you're a teacher looking for some extra income, part-time jobs and gigs present a unique opportunity to work around your pre-existing schedule, leverage your expertise, and secure additional income without committing to a full-time career shift. 

Caregiving and part-time teaching roles are particularly good avenues for educators. These positions not only cater to your natural inclinations and skill sets but also fulfill a strong demand for childcare, making them a perfect match if you’re looking to expand your professional horizons while maintaining a focus on nurturing and development. If you’re looking to find the perfect supplement to your full-time teaching job, there’s a glut of options. 

Driving gigs for teachers 

HopSkipDrive

While many rideshare and delivery apps offer flexible work, HopSkipDrive offers a distinct approach to ridesharing, specifically focusing on safely transporting children and individuals needing extra care. 

Drivers, known as CareDrivers, must have over five years of caregiving experience, including at least two with children, possess a valid driver's license with a good record and three years of driving experience, and own or lease a 4-door vehicle not older than 10 years. 

Additionally, CareDrivers must be at least 23 years old, pass a comprehensive background check including fingerprinting, complete a live orientation, and adhere to the community and zero-tolerance policies of HopSkipDrive. 

Certain rides may also require Advanced Certifications such as CPR Training. This ensures that riders, especially children, are in safe hands. 

Perks of the job

This rigorous process of becoming a CareDriver can take several weeks or even months, which may seem discouraging on its face. However, this can work to your benefit, since the supply of qualified drivers is significantly lower than other services such as Uber or Lyft, which allows you the opportunity to earn more per ride than you would from other rideshare services. 

HopSkipDrive also provides various promotions, such as the Welcome to Ride and Hello and Welcome promotions, which ensure an earnings floor for beginner drivers. After these promotions, you can earn around $40 per ride.

Another advantage this service provides is the ability to select rides that fit your availability up to seven days in advance. Since many parents and guardians plan ahead for their kids’ transportation needs, you can claim these rides in advance. This allows you as a CareDriver to plan out your own schedule in advance and maximize your time on the clock. For kids who regularly require the same ride, such as to and from school or extra-curricular activities, you can consistently be their CareDriver as part of a Ride Series. 

If you’re currently working full-time as a teacher, being a CareDriver provides an extremely convenient method of earning a few extra bucks, since some students in your school may need rides. Teachers make a real difference in their communities, and CareDrivers complement that role, helping kids, families, and schools effectively manage their transportation needs.

Key takeaways

• Rigorous screening process: HopSkipDrive mandates that CareDrivers have extensive caregiving experience, pass rigorous background checks, and meet vehicle standards, among other requirements. 
• Schedule in advance: You can plan your rides up to a week in advance, allowing you to get ahead of your schedule.
• Community benefits: CareDrivers can foster a cohesive and supportive community by supporting families and schools with reliable transportation for children.

Digital platforms for teachers 

If you want to employ your education skills more directly, you can tutor part-time either online or in person. Let’s dig into some virtual options you can pursue from your own home.

English as a Second Language (ESL)

VIPKid

VIPKid is one of the most popular English language online tutoring platforms. Although it historically catered to Chinese students, the company has in recent years pivoted to a global clientele and is now used primarily by Southeast Asian students. 

To become a tutor on VIPKid, candidates must meet several requirements: 

• At least two years of experience in teaching, tutoring, coaching, or mentoring 
• A bachelor’s degree in any field
• Be legally eligible to work in the U.S. or Canada. 

Compensation

VIPKid offers a base pay rate between $7-9 per class (25-minute classes), equating to $14-18 per hour plus additional incentives. Despite the challenges, such as early morning hours to accommodate global time differences, many teachers find VIPKid a flexible and rewarding way to earn extra money: curriculums are provided and minimal preparation is needed before each class. 

If you’re a language teacher or enjoy teaching with props, this may be a convenient method to earn some extra income without impinging on your full-time job hours. 

Other ESL programs

There are a handful of other ESL platforms that have similar pros and cons to VIPKids, such as QKids, Cambly, and Purple Ruler. We won’t get into details on each of these services separately, but if teaching ESL on a contract basis appeals to you, it may be worth digging a bit more into these options. 

Key takeaways

• Broad global demand: There’s a large contingent of English learners across the world, which can make it easier to find work.
• Early morning scheduling: Class schedules on platforms like VIPKid may require you to work early morning hours to accommodate the time differences between you and students.
• Best for language or ESL teachers: Your class prep for your full-time job may translate directly to a digital platform, which minimizes the effort you’ll have to put in for extra income.

Foreign language tutoring

iTalki

iTalki functions as a job board between students and tutors. You’ll be able to teach one (or more) of over 150 languages, including English, Spanish, French, and Chinese. It offers customizable lessons, allowing you  to offer classes that suit your schedule and teaching style. 

There are two different types of tutors on iTalkiL Community Tutors and Professional Teachers. If you have Language teaching certificates or accreditations, you can opt for certification on the site as a Professional Teacher. 

While both will allow you to set your own rates, Professional Teachers will likely have an easier time matching with students, and you’ll probably be able to set higher rates as well (keep in mind that iTalki takes a 15% cut of your earnings). 

Preply

Preply’s business model is slightly different than iTalki’s, but the tutoring experience is similar, with students able to reach out to individual tutors for instruction. Preply does take a higher commission than iTalki does, so keep that in mind when making your decisions (new teachers start with 33% taken out of their earnings, which then drops to 18% after 400+ hours on the platform).

Key takeaways

• Set your own rates: Although you’ll have to keep commissions in mind, you have the freedom to set hourly rates that suit your budget.
• Large selection of languages: The more languages you know, the greater demand will be for your services. 

Test preparation tutoring

Varsity Tutors 

If test prep is more your speed, Varsity Tutors is an online platform that specializes in preparing kids for standardized testing, from state tests through post-graduate entrance exams. The platform pays a base rate of $15/hour for 1:1 tutoring, but group classes, particularly for standardized test prep, do pay upwards of $50/hour. 

Note that there are more standard subjects available to teach on Varsity Tutors, including foreign languages and school subjects. If you would enjoy having all your students on a single platform, Varsity Tutors may be a good option for you, since it differentiates itself by having a specialized focus on standardized testing prep. 

Key takeaways

• Best for teachers who prefer test prep: The fixed scope of standardized tests is very appealing to some teachers and not others. 
• Group classes pay best: One-on-one tutoring won’t pay as well as group classes, so make sure to maximize the time you spend teaching group classes.

Other tutoring options

If your goal is to maximize tutoring earnings, working on several platforms allows you to experiment with pay rates, see what types of students are drawn to different profiles, and adjust your availability as necessary. This requires more overhead on your behalf than sticking with a single platform such as Varsity Tutors, but in the long run, it will ensure that you can make the best choices with your limited free time. 

We won’t get into the weeds on the following tutoring platforms, since they all focus on general tutoring without a strong differentiator. 

• Superprof 
• Wyzant 
• Tutor.com 

All of these platforms allow tutors to offer lessons online, and you’ll be able to set your own schedules and subjects of expertise. However, there are some differences worth highlighting between these services:

Key takeaways

• Rate setting: Superprof and Wyzant allow tutors to set their own rates, while Tutor.com provides a set hourly rate (usually the minimum wage where you reside).
• Commission structure: Wyzant takes a 25% commission from tutors' earnings, while Superprof's model is subscription-based for students. This means that you’ll have to set your Wyzant rates 25% higher to make the same hourly rate.
• Application process: Tutor.com has a rigorous application process that includes a skills evaluation, whereas Superprof primarily requires profile completion and subject expertise verification. Wyzant is somewhere in the middle, since your profile needs approval by moderators, but it isn’t as rigorous as Tutor.com.

Skills sharing

After spending all day in a classroom, you may not want a part-time job to feature more teacher-student interaction. If this is the case, pre-recorded video instruction might work for you!

Udemy is an online learning platform offering courses in various fields, from technology to creative arts, which enables experts to become instructors and share their knowledge. 

Skillshare is a similar platform focused on creative arts, such as audio production and photography — a great choice for art teachers.

You’ll earn money on these platforms by selling courses, which can either happen organically or via the promotion of your content. Once your courses are uploaded, your pay depends entirely on how many people view your content, so total earnings can vary. 

Udemy also has a Udemy for Business feature. Instructors whose courses are included in the Udemy for Business content collection receive a share of the revenue generated from subscription fees paid by Udemy for Business customers. 

Key Takeaways

• No active teaching required: You won’t have to interact with students on a day-to-day basis, since users are paying for pre-recorded content.
• More upfront investment is needed: These platforms pay best if you have specialized skills in high demand or have significant time to create and market your courses. 

Other Local Opportunities

In addition to the plethora of online platforms, there are likely many local opportunities in your area to make some extra cash. Evening or weekend positions in community centers, libraries, or museums can benefit from teachers' expertise and offer fulfilling work outside the classroom. This includes teaching night classes, coordinating local events, or being a museum educator. 

These local opportunities may match perfectly with your interests and situation, so it’s certainly worth your time to look into postings in your area. We’ll look at a few broadly accessible in-person part-time roles that are tailor-made for teachers. 

Local Tutoring 

While there are numerous small-scale tutoring and prep organizations in local towns and cities, we’ll focus on some larger companies with a wider reach:

Kumon

Kumon is one of the better-known extra-curricular tutoring services in the US. It’s a structured, self-learning program designed to help students from preschool to high school develop math and reading skills, using a daily worksheet approach. This allows students to progress at their own pace.

Because Kumon prioritizes self-learning and discipline, Kumon instructors are more involved in assessing students' levels, monitoring groups of children, and evaluating learning progress as opposed to direct one-on-one tutoring. Teachers looking to use Kumon for a part-time job may be able to focus exclusively on grading, which can be done outside of Kumon’s business hours.

Mathnasium

Mathnasium is another in-person tutoring service similar to Kumon. It offers personalized math tutoring to students in grades 2-12 through the proprietary Mathnasium Method. 

Mathnasium focuses exclusively on math, and tutors provide much more direct tutoring to children than Kumon. Because of the requirement to adhere to Mathnasium’s methods in teaching, it may be less conducive as a part-time job than some other in-person services.

Other Services

Other in-person learning services include:

• Tutor Doctor 
• HeyTutor 
• Huntington Learning Center 

In contrast with Kumon and Mathnasium, which emphasize learning through customized learning plans, these other services function more as a method of matching tutors to students for a more generalized curriculum. Huntington Learning Center also focuses more strongly on test prep, much like Varsity Tutor, which may appeal to some tutors due to its clear focus. 

Key takeaways

• Varied approaches to teaching: Kumon and Mathnasium teach via proprietary methods, whereas other tutoring services give more autonomy to tutors.
• Community involvement: While online tutoring gigs are convenient, working at a brick-and-mortar tutoring center allows you to connect with parents and kids in your immediate vicinity. 

Seasonal programs

When school is not in session, there are many camps and workshops that keep children engaged and occupied. Your community may have local programs available with specific opportunities, but here are some larger organizations that offer seasonal employment.

Work outdoors for a change of pace

CoolWorks is a job portal that connects individuals to seasonal employment opportunities. It primarily lists seasonal and adventure-oriented jobs across the United States, including roles in national parks, ski resorts, ranches, camps, and more. 

For instructors and educators, CoolWorks offers a unique opportunity to work in environments that are closely connected to nature and outdoor activities. 

Camps for students

The American Camp Association is an organization that focuses on promoting quality camp experiences that are safe, fun, and enriching for all camp participants. It offers resources, research, professional development, and accreditation for camp professionals, including instructors. The ACA supports camps across the U.S., providing standards for health, safety, and program quality. Instructors working with ACA-accredited camps benefit from a framework that emphasizes best practices in camp education and management.

The skills required in many of the jobs available through these organizations certainly include the tutoring and caregiving exercised regularly by teachers. However, the diversity in outdoor activities, educational structure, and day-to-day job duties make these opportunities unique among all the part-time roles we discuss here. Definitely take a second look at open roles here if you’d enjoy using your time away from work to travel or pursue more outdoor activities.

Key Takeaways

• Opportunity for outdoor work: These jobs may appeal to you if you’d enjoy working in national parks, ski resorts, and camps.
• Meaningful work: Working within natural environments may provide you with variety in your day-to-day life as well as a fulfilling work experience. 

Caregiving

Half the job of being a teacher is caring for your kids. Here are some jobs that let you leverage those skills.

Care.com

Care.com is an online platform designed to connect families with caregivers, offering a solution for those needing babysitting, senior care, and other home care services. Teachers looking for part-time work can utilize Care.com as a marketplace to find jobs that work around their schedule. The platform offers both basic and premium memberships, with the latter offering higher visibility and communication advantages for users (for a fee). Care.com does not take a cut from your earnings, which makes it an attractive option.

Other Caregiving options

You can also use Facebook Marketplace to find similar opportunities — it’s free to access and only requires you to have a Facebook account. 

The benefits of using Facebook Marketplace include a huge user base made of people looking for a wide variety of services. However, Facebook Marketplace also has the potential for more spam, since it lacks the rigorous vetting provided by services like Care.com.

Pet care

For pet lovers, Rover.com is a platform that enables pet sitters to earn money by providing pet care services, like pet sitting, dog walking, boarding, and pet daycare. As a pet sitter on Rover, you can set your own rates and organize your availability around your full-time job. 

Sitters benefit from Rover's 24/7 support, vet consultations, and the Rover Guarantee, which offers up to $25,000 in vet care reimbursement. 

Key Takeaways

• Flexible scheduling: You can choose the caregiving gig that works best for you.
• Physically demanding: There may be a greater demand for physical labor in a caregiving role.
• High responsibility: Being in charge of another’s care requires constant vigilance and attentiveness.

Other gig apps

These next gigs don’t utilize the skills that set you apart as a teacher, but they’re still great ways to earn some extra cash thanks to their flexibility. 

Rideshare

Driving apps like Uber and Lyft present a viable option for teachers who want to earn extra money en route to or from their workplace. This is particularly beneficial for those residing a significant distance from their schools, as you can transform commute time into an income-generating activity.

Delivery apps

For teachers seeking more control over their schedules, restaurant delivery apps such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub offer considerable flexibility. For these gigs, you’ll pick up food from restaurants and deliver it to customers. Demand for these services peaks during teachers' off-work hours, making them ideal side hustles.

Lastly, platforms like Instacart, Shipt, Roadie, and Walmart Spark offer grocery and general merchandise delivery services. They typically involve a bit more work than restaurant delivery apps, but the pay is better too.

Check out our full post on delivery driver apps for a detailed comparison of all of these options. 

Advice from experienced gig workers

We asked three of our Gig Pros what advice they’d give to teachers looking for part-time work. Here’s what they said. 

Catherine's advice

Catherine Meyers has been working with Instacart for 5 years and with Shipt for 2 years. She’s also worked on Amazon Flex and DoorDash. Here’s her advice:

For teachers, I feel like there is a greater need for flexibility in their part-time work. They aren’t only limited to school hours and they definitely take their work home with them. Part-time work that allows you to dictate your own schedule is important. One teacher I know chooses to work Instacart because of this flexibility. He’ll pick up one or two batches on his way home most days just to fit in a small portion of extra earnings. Another teacher I know works at Mathnasium for 1-2 days a week to help tackle her heavy student loans. There are tons of options that allow for a trickle of extra income, but I would definitely recommend something like tutoring to a teacher because they’re already equipped with the skills to teach another person, and it gives them the opportunity to potentially make more money than something like gig work.

Faith's advice

Faith McLaughlin has 8 years of gig work experience. She’s worked with Postmates, Uber, Lyft, Instacart, and DoorDash. Here's her advice for teachers:

For a new teacher looking for part-time work (to cover the cost of all those supplies you end up footing the bill for), I would suggest a platform like Varsity because you have more of the structure and familiarity with in-class teaching that will not only earn you money but will also sharpen your teaching skills as well.

For the seasoned teacher, a platform like Udemy would allow you to shine with more creative ways to teach than what your district-curated syllabus probably allows. Or maybe you want to demonstrate the concept of Pi in the form of creating a bicycle as a tool for learning? Using your creative talents to demonstrate lessons and create quite literally “teachable moments” to help students learn is where you will shine on Udemy.

Scott's advice

Scott Jones has been doing DoorDash, Lyft, Amazon Flex, and Instacart since 2018. Here’s what he had to say:

My brother-in-law is a full-time teacher. He has a dramatic amount of student loans to get his doctorate, so he needed extra income. he had tried other things but found out that he could tutor with Veritas online and make $100-200 an hour for specialized topics, for which he is very knowledgable. Veritas was acquired by Varsity Tutors in 2019, and he has continued the work. I have interviewed with Preply. They will have you make a video of yourself doing a mock tutor lesson. So, you pick something simple like basic math or colors and numbers. Then, make sure to bring props, they love props. For math lessons, make your props a visual cue for the numbers you are counting. Then, record yourself as if you were doing the lesson. They will watch it and do a full interview with you over Zoom. 

HopSkipDrive is fairly new to me, but I found out it is mostly paid for by the McKinley-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and is primarily for homeless kids or those in foster care. It pays really well but is only available in 13 states currently. My advice would be to play to your strengths: you have a teaching degree, are knowledgeable about many topics in education, and obviously, like educating and instructing- Well, use that strength, and do something you'll enjoy, like tutoring or teaching English to foreign people. You could be a driver or something else, but why? You are a teacher, and that is a valuable commodity in this modern world. As an extra piece of advice, be aware that the background checks are extensive and ongoing during your time of employment with any of these companies. Misdemeanors on your record will disqualify you, unlike the Doordash type, that are less strict.