12 Best Side Hustles for Teens and College Students
advertisement - scroll to continue
12 best side hustles for Teens and college students
Getting pocket money from your parents and guardians is quite good but as you grow the more as a teenager you get to that point it seems as if it isn’t enough to cover all your needs and still be able to afford that pretty fashion wears or shoes.
So you don’t just need a hustle but a side hustle that will earn you extra cool cash to flex, enjoy life, and even plan even as a college student.
advertisement - scroll to continue
Hence, in this article, I will highlight some of the best side hustles you can engage in as a teenager or college student to earn extra cash.
On This Page
Key Highlights
🎯 Being a college student or a teenager is not a barrier to earning extra income because several teenagers are earning huge incomes today even while going to school.
🎯 There are several side hustles for teens and college students to earn extra income such as freelance writing, playing online games, blogging, etc.
SEE ALSO: 15 Side Hustles That Make A Lot Of Money Without Selling Your Soul
SEE ALSO: 12 Best Certifications Suitable For Remote Jobs In 2023
SEE ALSO: 12 High-Demand Remote Jobs with No Tech or IT Background
advertisement - scroll to continue
15 Best side hustles for Teens and college students
1. Freelance Writing
According to a report released by Upwork on December 13, 2022, it was found that 60 million Americans performed freelance work in the past 12 months, representing 39% of the entire U.S. workforce.
Also in the 2022 global freelancer income report by Payoneer, it was revealed a significant increase in the global hourly freelancing rate from $21 in 2020 to $28 in 2022.
These reports and statistics point to just one thing: freelance writing is a great and profitable way for making money not just for adults but also for teens and college students who are interested in making money online.
And what makes it even more amazing is the fact that there are several niches you can position yourself as an expert, write a variety of topics and make extra cash.
Some of the top online marketplaces you can freelance as a writer and put your writing skills into use include Fiverr and Upwork. On average, a freelance writer has a rate between $30-40/hr, with an annual salary of around $42,000.
2. Playing Games Online
Another side hustles with which you can earn extra cash as a teenager or college student is by playing games online.
A lot of teenagers and college students are always playing different games online, so why not maximize it and make extra cash while doing what you love?
Some of the top game apps you can play and earn include; Pool Payday, AppStation, InboxDollars, Long Game, App Cent, etc. This is one of the easiest and most fun-filled ways of earning extra cash as a teen in 2023.
advertisement - scroll to continue
3. Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants are some of the most in-demand jobs right now according to a 2022 article by Upwork.
A virtual assistant is a remote employee or worker who assists businesses and business owners in their administrative, technical, or even marketing tasks. And what makes it less stressful compared to the traditional office assistant is that all your activities can be completed online.
With a good internet connection, you can work from the comfort of your room.
All you need to take up this side hustle is a few free hours daily to do whatever task that is assigned to you and some of these tasks could include; replying to emails, managing appointments or calendars, graphic designing, Blog posting, social media management, etc.
Working as a virtual assistant will not only help you earn extra cash but simultaneously build your resume such that you have the necessary skillsets and professional experience when you are ready to find jobs after graduation.
Some of the top online marketplaces for virtual assistant jobs include; Upwork, Indeed, LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, etc.
advertisement - scroll to continue
4. Blogging
Blogging is a great side hustle for teens and college students who enjoy writing and can become your starting point in earning extra cash and growing your income even as a college student.
Although it might seem like a slow process, if you are consistent and always putting out good stuff there is a high probability of earning more within a year or two.
As a beginner blogger, who can do effective keyword research and content creation, and can publish up to 10 posts per month, you can earn about $750/month by the end of your first year.
5. Social Media Manager
If you are passionate about online presence and well-skilled in social media communication, then the role of a social media manager is just the perfect side hustle for you.
The position of a social media manager would require you to manage sites like Facebook and Instagram by posting relevant questions as well as responding to comments.
The average salary for a social media manager in the United States is $70,287 with an average hourly rate of $33.79 (although it can sometimes be subject to location, education, experience, etc.) You can find social media management jobs on Freelancer, Fiverr, Hubstaff Talent, etc.
6. Tutoring
If you are an extra smart student or teenager and want to earn extra cash, why not try your hands on tutoring by helping your fellow students do their homework, and projects and in exchange get paid?
For this side hustle, the amount you earn will depend on your level of expertise in the subject.
As a tutor, you can earn about $14 or more but the average hourly pay in the United States is $14.30.
Some of the online platforms you can easily create a profile and connect with other students who might need your expertise and services include WyzAnt.
You can also find tutoring jobs in your community by checking local school districts, and through ads in newspapers and Facebook groups.
7. Starting a YouTube Channel
Today, a lot of people are cashing out on YouTube as the search engine has become one of the most visited by many people including teenagers.
To make money from YouTube, you’ll need to create videos and content that are targeted at teenagers and college students, of high quality and interesting to watch.
Although it might not be so juicy in the beginning, trust me, the more you put in the effort and create quality and interesting content, you will earn extra cool cash. All you have to do is have a large following, and you can also monetize your videos by including sponsored ads.
8. Taking Online Surveys
There are several survey sites online you engage with to make extra income as a college student or teenager. Although you might not earn millions with this side hustle, it is another great side hustle that will earn you extra cash to enjoy extra luxuries even as a college student.
Some of these online survey sites include; Survey Junkie and Swagbucks, etc and these sites allow their users from age 13 and above to partake in completing short surveys and other tasks like watching advertiser videos and in exchange earning some money.
9. Social Media Management
Who do you think understands the functioning of social media better than teenagers? None!.
And this is because they are the most curious to understand its functionality and everything that has to do with an online presence.
So working as a social media manager will allow you to use your mobile phone or PC all day and you can even set your working hours.
Your earning as a social media manager will vary depending on your experience and the amount of work required but you can earn over $30 per hour with this side gig.
10. Sell Online Course
Another side hustle with which you can earn extra cash is by selling online courses. Selling online courses is another profitable channel for earning extra income.
For example, 18-year-old Andrew Seguin earns several thousand dollars a month teaching finger-style guitar.
Therefore, if you have any skill you have expertise in and are willing to teach others and also have the time to create a course, then this is one side hustle you can invest your time for extra cash.
To earn a high income with this hustle, you will need a large audience but if you don’t have much starting, you can always try running small ads on Facebook and also sharing it with friends.
11. Writing eBooks
With the advent of the self-publishing companies like Amazon, writing an eBook and earning extra cash as a teenager has been made even easier.
If you have a passion for writing and wish to earn money using your writing skills, then consider writing and selling an eBook. By creating these books and selling them online you will easily have extra income.
12. Selling Photos
Do you enjoy taking photographs? Or do you seek to earn extra cash from your hobby as a photographer?
Then you don’t have to worry anymore about a side hustle to earn extra cash from because there are several websites and apps online that will reward you handsomely for your pictures such as Pixabay, Freepik, Stockphoto, Dreamstime, Shutterstock, iStockPhoto, etc
Final Thoughts
Being a college student or a teenager going to school is not an excuse to stop you from starting a side hustle to complement the income from your parents and the joy of having extra cash in your pocket.
Why don’t you give any of these side hustles a trial today and increase your pocket money with extra cash?
