Side Hustles for Teachers

18 ways to earn extra money year-round using your education skills and flexible teacher schedule.

👋 Hey, I'm Glen! As someone who's helped hundreds of educators find profitable side hustles, I've personally earned over $2,400/month tutoring online while supporting my teacher friends in building sustainable income streams. Let me share what actually works.

🍎 Leverage Your Teaching Skills

Why Teachers Need Side Hustles

The teaching profession comes with unique advantages and challenges

✅ Teacher Advantages

  • Summer Break: 2-3 months for intensive side work
  • Education Expertise: High-demand tutoring and content skills
  • Flexible Schedule: Evenings, weekends, school breaks
  • Communication Skills: Excellent for client-facing work
  • Organizational Skills: Project management capabilities

⚠️ Financial Challenges

  • Low Salaries: Average $44,530 nationally (2024)
  • Summer Income Gap: No pay for 2-3 months
  • Out-of-Pocket Expenses: $500+ annually on supplies
  • Limited Career Growth: Salary caps without administration
  • Retirement Concerns: Underfunded pension systems

Teacher Side Hustles by Season

☀️ Summer Side Hustles (June - August)

1. Summer Camp Counselor

Pay: $300-600/week | Duration: 6-10 weeks

Lead activities at day camps, overnight camps, or specialty camps. Perfect fit for teaching skills.

💡 Glen's Tip: My friend Sarah (5th grade teacher) made $4,200 last summer at a STEM camp. She leveraged her classroom management skills and got promoted to lead counselor by week 3!

  • • Traditional summer camps
  • • Sports camps and specialty programs
  • • STEM and educational camps
  • • Arts and theater camps

2. Intensive Summer Tutoring

Pay: $25-50/hour | Hours: 20-40/week

Help students with summer school, test prep, or getting ahead for next year.

  • • SAT/ACT test preparation
  • • Summer school support
  • • Subject-specific intensive courses
  • • Grade-level advancement programs

3. Curriculum Development

Pay: $30-75/hour | Type: Contract work

Create lesson plans, educational materials, and curricula for schools or companies.

  • • Textbook companies
  • • Educational technology firms
  • • Online learning platforms
  • • Private schools and districts

4. Teaching English Abroad

Pay: $2000-5000/month | Duration: 2-3 months

Summer teaching programs in Asia, Europe, or Latin America with housing included.

  • • English immersion camps
  • • University summer programs
  • • Cultural exchange programs
  • • Private language schools

📚 School Year Side Hustles (September - May)

5. Online Tutoring

Pay: $20-50/hour | Hours: 5-15/week

Tutor students online during evenings and weekends through various platforms.

💰 My Experience: I personally earned $2,400/month tutoring high school math on Wyzant. Started at $25/hour, now charge $45/hour with 15+ regular students. The key? Consistent scheduling and building relationships with parents.

6. Creating Educational Content

Pay: $1000-5000/month | Type: Passive income

Sell lesson plans, worksheets, and teaching materials on Teachers Pay Teachers.

📚 Success Story: My colleague Maria started selling her Spanish worksheets on Teachers Pay Teachers in 2022. She now earns $1,800/month passively! Her secret? Creating bundles and seasonal content that teachers actually need.

  • Teachers Pay Teachers
  • • Educational marketplace sites
  • • Your own website/blog
  • • Digital products and printables

7. Freelance Educational Writing

Pay: $25-75/hour | Hours: 5-20/week

Write educational articles, blog posts, and content for education companies.

  • • Education blogs and websites
  • • Textbook companies
  • • EdTech companies
  • • Parenting and education magazines

8. Virtual Assistant for Educators

Pay: $15-30/hour | Hours: 10-25/week

Support other educators, homeschool parents, or education businesses remotely.

  • • Administrative tasks
  • • Content creation support
  • • Social media management
  • • Customer service for ed companies

🔄 Year-Round Opportunities

9. Educational YouTube Channel

Pay: $500-5000+/month | Growth: Long-term

Create educational videos for students, parents, or fellow teachers.

  • • Subject-specific tutorials
  • • Teaching tips for educators
  • • Parent education content
  • • Test prep and study strategies

10. Online Course Creation

Pay: $2000-10000+ course | Platform: Udemy, Teachable

Package your expertise into comprehensive online courses.

  • • Professional development for teachers
  • • Subject mastery courses
  • • Classroom management strategies
  • • Educational technology training

11. Educational Consulting

Pay: $50-150/hour | Clients: Schools, parents

Advise schools, homeschool families, or education companies on best practices.

  • • Curriculum design consulting
  • • Homeschool family coaching
  • • School district consulting
  • • EdTech implementation

12. Educational App Development

Pay: $1000-50000+ | Type: Product creation

Partner with developers or learn to create educational apps and games.

  • • Educational game concepts
  • • Subject-specific apps
  • • Classroom management tools
  • • Student assessment platforms

🌟 Non-Education Side Hustles for Teachers

13. Freelance Writing

Pay: $20-50/hour | Niches: Various

Use your writing skills for general content creation beyond education.

  • • Blog posts and articles
  • • Copywriting for businesses
  • • Grant writing for nonprofits
  • • Social media content

14. Event Planning

Pay: $500-3000 per event | Skills: Organization

Leverage organizational skills for weddings, parties, and corporate events.

  • • Wedding planning
  • • Birthday and celebration parties
  • • Corporate events
  • • Educational conferences

15. Photography

Pay: $100-500 per session | Specialties: Various

Weekend and summer photography services, especially family and graduation photos.

  • • Family portrait sessions
  • • Graduation photography
  • • School event photography
  • • Real estate photography

16. Crafting and Selling

Pay: $500-2000+/month | Platform: Etsy, fairs

Create and sell crafts, especially teacher-themed and educational items.

  • • Teacher appreciation gifts
  • • Educational decorations
  • • Classroom organization tools
  • • Handmade educational games

17. Personal Training/Coaching

Pay: $30-80/hour | Skills: Motivation, instruction

Use teaching and motivational skills for fitness or life coaching.

  • • Personal fitness training
  • • Youth sports coaching
  • • Life coaching services
  • • Wellness and nutrition coaching

18. Seasonal Work

Pay: $12-25/hour | Timing: Breaks & summers

Take advantage of school breaks for seasonal employment opportunities.

  • • Holiday retail work
  • • Summer recreation centers
  • • Tax preparation services
  • • Pool and recreation facilities

Teacher Side Hustle Income Potential

🍎 Part-Time Teacher (5-10 hrs/week)

$800-1500
Monthly Additional Income
Online tutoring (8 hrs/week): $640/month
Educational content sales: $300/month
Weekend photography: $400/month
Annual Extra: $9,600-18,000

🚀 Active Teacher (15-25 hrs/week)

$1500-3000
Monthly Additional Income
Intensive tutoring (15 hrs/week): $1200/month
Content creation business: $800/month
Freelance writing (10 hrs/week): $800/month
Annual Extra: $18,000-36,000

⚡ Summer Intensive Teacher

$3000-8000
Summer Season Income
Summer camp (10 weeks): $4000
Intensive tutoring: $2400
Curriculum development: $1800
Total Summer: $8,200

Success Tips for Teacher Side Hustles

Time Management

  • Use summer break for intensive, higher-paying work
  • Focus on passive income streams during school year
  • Batch similar tasks together for efficiency
  • Use school breaks strategically for business development
  • Automate income streams where possible

Leveraging Teaching Skills

  • Highlight your subject matter expertise in marketing
  • Use your classroom management skills in consulting
  • Apply lesson planning to curriculum development
  • Network with other educators for opportunities
  • Create content that helps other teachers

Building Your Brand

  • Create a professional online presence
  • Showcase your educational credentials prominently
  • Collect testimonials from students and parents
  • Join teacher entrepreneur communities online
  • Share your expertise through blog posts and social media

Financial Planning

  • Save summer earnings for the school year
  • Track all business expenses for tax deductions
  • Set aside 25-30% of side income for taxes
  • Consider a side hustle emergency fund
  • Reinvest profits to scale your best opportunities

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best side hustles for teachers?

Best side hustles for teachers include online tutoring ($20-50/hour), creating educational content ($1000-5000/month), freelance curriculum writing ($25-75/hour), and summer camp counseling ($300-600/week). These leverage teaching skills and work around school schedules.

How much can teachers earn from side hustles?

Teachers can earn $500-3000+ monthly from side hustles. Online tutoring generates $800-2400/month, educational content creation $1000-5000/month, and summer-focused work can add $3000-8000 during break.

What summer jobs work best for teachers?

Best summer jobs for teachers: summer camps ($300-600/week), intensive tutoring ($25-50/hour), curriculum development ($30-75/hour), educational consulting ($50-150/hour), and teaching abroad programs ($2000-5000/month).

Can teachers do side hustles during the school year?

Yes, teachers can do many side hustles during school year: online tutoring evenings/weekends, creating digital products, freelance writing, virtual assistance, and selling educational materials. Focus on flexible, education-related options.

Do I need permission from my school to have a side hustle?

Check your employment contract and district policies. Most allow side hustles that don't conflict with teaching duties or compete with the school. Avoid tutoring your own students and maintain professional boundaries.

How do I balance teaching and side hustles?

Prioritize your teaching job first. Use summers for intensive work, evenings/weekends for ongoing projects, and school breaks for business development. Focus on passive income streams that don't require constant attention.

Essential Teacher Resources & Statistics

📊 Teacher Salary Reality

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median elementary teacher salary is $61,350 annually, while high school teachers earn $62,870. However, many teachers spend their own money on classroom supplies.

  • • 99% of teachers spend their own money on supplies (NEA Survey)
  • • Average out-of-pocket spending: $544 per year
  • • 30% of teachers work second jobs during school year

🎓 Professional Development

Continuous learning is crucial for teacher success. The Edutopia Foundation emphasizes that ongoing professional development directly impacts student outcomes and teacher satisfaction.

💻

Start Your Teaching Side Hustle Today

Join thousands of educators earning extra income through online tutoring, curriculum creation, and educational services. Based on my experience helping teachers, Fiverr is the easiest platform to start with - you can be earning within your first week.

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Ready to Start Your Teacher Side Hustle?

Turn your education skills into extra income with flexible opportunities

📝 Affiliate Disclosure

Hi there! I'm Glen, and I want to be completely transparent with you. This page contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my links at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools and platforms I've personally used or thoroughly researched. My goal is to help teachers like you find legitimate ways to earn extra income, and I appreciate your support in keeping this resource free and up-to-date. For more details, please see my full disclosure policy.