The best part-time jobs can help you reach financial goals, supplement your income, or fill your free time. If you already work full-time and need a little more cash or only want to work part-time, here are the highest-paying jobs and gigs to consider.
We’ve broken down the list by who each job is best for. Whether you’re a college student or have a full-time job to contend with, one of the jobs below could provide the flexibility and extra income you need.
Best Part-Time Jobs with No Experience Needed
The part-time jobs below don’t require any previous experience to be a successful venture:
1. Drive for Uber or Lyft
Driving for Uber or Lyft is a great part-time job because you work when you want, not when you’re told. The downside is that you aren’t an employee but an independent contractor. This means you’re responsible for all your expenses and taxes (employer and employee).
Uber and Lyft have a pay structure based on distance and time. They often run promotions or challenges to help drivers earn more money. In addition, you keep 100% of the tips any customers pay you.
You choose when to work by turning the app on when you want to accept rides and off when you aren’t available. The best times to work are typically nights and weekends, but this varies by location.
2. Make Deliveries
If driving people to their destinations isn’t what you want, you can still participate in the gig economy by making deliveries.
You can deliver restaurant orders using apps like DoorDash, Grubhub, or Uber Eats. You can deliver just about anything from restaurant food to items from the drug store with Postmates or be a full-service shopper for Instacart, shopping and delivering customers’ grocery orders.
If you prefer, you can even work for Amazon, making deliveries without working for the company directly. Amazon Flex allows drivers to deliver packages for predetermined blocks using their own vehicle. However, you must drive a mid-size sedan or larger with four doors to qualify.
Like Uber and Lyft, you’re an independent contractor for these apps, but you set your own schedule, so it’s a great part-time job that gives you more control. These apps also allow drivers to keep 100% of the customer tips.
3. Online Surveys
Taking online surveys is a great way to fill downtime. Whether you’re watching TV, sitting in the doctor’s waiting room, or are in between rideshare rides, you can answer online surveys and supplement your income.
Online surveys won’t cover your bills, but they can be fun because you get to share your opinion and get paid. Even a little extra money can help you reach your financial goals. Some of the top survey apps are Survey Junkie, MyPoints, and Prime Opinion.
Start taking surveys with Swagbucks
Best Part-Time Remote Jobs
If you’re looking for a job that you can do remotely, whether you’re at home or traveling, here are our top recommendations:
4. Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants offer various services online to companies of all sizes. Think of it as an administrative assistant position, but you work remotely, usually from your house, providing the services over the phone or online.
You might offer tasks like answering phones, scheduling, managing social media, writing blog posts, and balancing the books. Most people run their own gig when working as a virtual assistant, but you can check sites like Indeed to see if any companies are hiring part-time employees directly.
5. Web Developer
Web developers are always in high demand because every company needs an online presence to succeed. You don’t necessarily need a formal education in web development, but experience in various coding languages, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, will help you be successful.
6. Bookkeeping
If you have experience as a bookkeeper or recently took courses to master it, you can work a part-time job as a bookkeeper or start your own gig. Many small business owners need help with bookkeeping and would rather outsource to an independent contractor than take on more overhead. Bookkeeping is essential for businesses, yet most business owners either don’t know how or get too busy running operations that they can’t get to it.
Of course, you can also find companies hiring bookkeepers from home or in person on sites like FlexJobs. Just make sure you have the proper credentials to beat the competition in this popular part-time job.
7. Translator
If you are fluent in another language or two, you can make money as a translator. There are many ways to do this part-time job, including translating over the phone, in person, or translating written documents.
To succeed, you must be fluent in another language with the ability to speak, read, and write in that language.
8. Graphic Design
If you have a background in graphic design, you can work a part-time job for companies or start your own business, helping other businesses create ad copy and other materials. You can also leverage your expertise to create courses you teach online on platforms like Teachable.
This creates a form of passive income because you can sell the course multiple times but only create it once.
Best Paying Part-Time Jobs
Based on salary data, the part-time jobs below consistently offer some of the best pay:
9. Medical Sonographer
Medical sonographers help people in many stages of life with ultrasound tests. There are many ways to become one, including one or 2-year certificate programs.
Of course, like most professions, you can also get a Bachelor’s degree focusing on sonography. With an average pay of $43 per hour, it’s a great job to work part-time.
10. Physical Therapy Assistant
Physical therapy assistants work under physical therapists, helping patients with their exercises and gathering the necessary supplies for the therapist to treat patients. Most physical therapist assistant jobs require a 2-year college degree.
You can also work this job while studying to be a physical therapist if that’s your chosen path. Physical therapy assistants make an average of $32 an hour working part-time.
11. Speech-Language Pathologist
Speech pathologists assist children and adults with speech issues. You can work in schools or for a practice, including as a part-time job.
You’ll need a Bachelor’s degree in Communications Science and Disorders; in some states, you must also be licensed. Your efforts will pay off as part-time speech pathologists make an average of $47 per hour.
12. Dental Hygienist
Dental hygienists are the dentist’s right-hand person. This is a great part-time job because you can work a few hours and make great money, as they make an average of $48 an hour! Work 10 hours a week, and you’ll make almost $500 weekly working part-time.
Best Part-Time Jobs for College Students
Here are our top picks for college students looking for a part-time gig while they’re in school:
13. Tutoring
Tutoring is a great way to earn $25 to $80 an hour. The more experienced you are, the more you can charge. It also depends on where and how you tutor. If you tutor online, for example, you’ll make closer to $50 an hour, but if you offer in-person services, you can make as much as $80 an hour if your subject is in high demand.
A teaching certificate isn’t always necessary, either. If you have expertise in a subject, you can likely tutor in it. Of course, a teaching certificate helps, which is great for teachers taking time off to raise their kids, retirees, or teachers looking for the best part-time jobs to supplement their income.
14. Dog Walking and Pet Sitting
Pet lovers can make a good part-time income by watching dogs and other pets. You can walk dogs at lunchtime for owners who work or offer pet-sitting services for pet owners while they are on vacation or away from home.
You choose the services you’ll offer and what you’ll charge. If your area has a high demand for pet sitters, you can advertise on social media or use word-of-mouth. If not, you can leverage the audience on apps like Rover. The only downside is they take around 20% of your pay for each successful job.
15. Nanny
If you’re great with kids, you can make a great part-time income as a nanny. Working part-time may mean watching kids for a few hours during the day while their parents work or helping parents at night so they can have adult time out without worrying about the kids.
Part-time nannies make an average of $24 an hour, so if you work 10 hours a week, you’ll make $240 a week and almost $1,000 a month watching kids!
Best Part-Time Jobs for Full-Time Workers
Already have a 9 to 5? The jobs below offer a great blend of flexibility and earning potential for full-time workers:
16. Freelance Writing
If you have a way with words, there are many opportunities for freelance writing today. You can write blog posts, ebooks, or ad copy for small businesses. Freelance writers typically charge per word, so the longer the content, the more you make.
Fiverr and Upwork are great sites to advertise your services and find companies needing freelance writers. Typically, you’ll work as a ‘ghostwriter,’ which means the company buying the content has full rights to use it how they want, including publishing it in their name. However, some may ask if they can publish the content in your name, which can help you build a stronger portfolio.
17. Real Estate Agent
As the real estate market improves, there will be a need for more real estate agents. This is a great part-time job because the highest demand for real estate agents is at night and on the weekends.
If you can dedicate yourself to working those hours, you can help buyers and sellers with their real estate goals and earn great commissions.
18. Massage Therapist
If you have a massage therapist license, you can get a part-time job working at a local spa, chiropractor, or physical therapist office.
You can also start your own business; just make sure you understand your city or county’s laws so you’re familiar with the requirements.
19. Digital Marketing
If you love everything to do with SEO, click rates, and helping businesses grow, consider working a part-time job in digital marketing. This is another area most small business owners lack, yet they don’t have the capital to hire someone to do it full-time.
You can get hired directly by a company to be their digital marketer or start your own gig, advertising your services on sites like Fiverr to show small businesses what you can do.
To succeed as a digital marketer, consider creating a portfolio to show potential clients what you’ve achieved for past clients so they have an idea of what you offer.
20. Insurance Agent
Insurance agents don’t have to work full-time to be successful. Many agencies hire part-time agents to bring in more business. You must have the proper certification to sell the insurance you choose, whether auto, health, house, or life insurance.
Why Consider Part-Time Jobs?
You might wonder why you’d consider adding to your workload if you already have a full-time job. Many people find part-time jobs to help them reach financial goals, such as getting out of debt, buying a house, or saving an emergency fund.
You may also work part-time if you want to be at home to raise the kids or handle other responsibilities but want to support the household financially, too. The best part-time jobs pay handsome wages, allowing you to experience the best of both worlds – providing for your family and having more free time.
Tips for Getting Part-Time Jobs That Pay Well
If you’re going to work a part-time job, you should find one that pays well so it’s worth your time. Here are the top tips to help you find the highest-paying part-time jobs.
- Focus on what you qualify for: If you have a college degree, look for jobs that require your educational background. You’ll likely earn higher wages when you meet all the job’s requirements.
- Use your experience as leverage: Even if you don’t have a college degree, your real-life experience could be worth its weight in gold. Don’t withhold information about your life experiences, including places you’ve worked, volunteered, or different experiences you’ve had in life that may make you the perfect candidate.
- Take courses or training: If you lack a few skills needed for the best part-time jobs, consider taking courses or training to acquire those skills and earn higher pay.
- Think outside the box: You aren’t restricted to the jobs you went to school for or are in the same industry you currently work in. Consider your interests and where you might excel; there may be higher-paying part-time jobs in other industries that you qualify for and would enjoy.
Where To Find Part-Time Jobs
Finding the best part-time jobs can feel like looking for a full-time job all over again. First, decide if you want to get hired by a company or to run your own gig.
If you want to run your own gig, consider your skills and interests and download the appropriate gig-sharing app, like Uber, Lyft, Instacart, or even Fiverr, to offer freelance services.
However, if you want to get hired by a company, consider these tips:
- Check job listing websites: The top websites include Indeed, Monster, Google for Jobs, and LinkedIn.
- Network: Don’t underestimate the power of telling everyone you know what you want to do. You never know when you’ll come across someone looking for your exact skills or who knows someone who is looking.
- Contact companies: Don’t be afraid to contact companies directly, asking if they need part-time help. Be sure to share your skills and expertise, and be ready to ‘sell yourself’ to the company.
Which Part-Time Job Will You Do?
There you have it: an incredible list of the best part-time jobs! What will you do with your free time?
We’d love to hear whether you considered ridesharing, food delivery, starting your own gig, or if you landed the perfect part-time job from this list.
