Most teachers genuinely love the work they do. They’re in it for the students, the impact, and the craft. But the pay often doesn’t match the effort, and that gap gets louder when rent, groceries, and basic bills keep climbing.
Many educators handle it by adding side hustles for teachers that fit around school hours. Sometimes, it’s a flexible freelance gig. Sometimes, it’s a small online offer that grows over time. The point is simple: extra income lowers the stress, so you can keep doing the job you care about.
In this guide, I’ll break down the strongest options, what they realistically take, and which ones tend to pay off fastest. I’ll also show where second jobs for teachers make the most sense, and how you can use Sellfy to set up dependable income streams without turning your life into a second full-time shift.
Quick overview of the 10 best side jobs for teachers
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Sell lesson plans and digital resources |
Standards/grade fit Print-ready formatting Clear instructions + layout File hygiene: keys, versions Outcome-focused product copy |
Copyright/licensing risk Buyers expect plug-and-play Support and updates Seasonality and discoverability |
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Clear explanation and pacing Lesson structure Natural voice delivery Basic editing and captions Online teaching tools fluency |
Editing time creep Weak differentiation vs similar content Copyrighted visuals reuse limits Playback/support issues |
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Instructional design Assignments and rubrics Async clarity in prompts Pricing and positioning basics Content production literacy |
Overbuilding before validation Completion drop-off High upfront time Ongoing maintenance |
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Fast diagnostics Explaining two ways Session pacing and goals Online delivery confidence Clear scope boundaries |
No-shows and reschedules Scope creep Live-hour burnout Client acquisition |
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Persuasion basics Copyediting fundamentals Research and fact-checking Client briefing skills |
Subjective feedback loops Revision scope risk Regulated-niche compliance Pipeline swings |
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Near-native target writing Terminology research Style and voice control CAT-tool basics Confidentiality judgment |
Rate pressure vs quality Messy source text Format headaches Deadline clashes |
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Developmental editing Interview-style questioning Prompt and constraint fluency Voice-preserving feedback Ethics boundaries |
Ghostwriting pressure High-stress seasonality Parent involvement Privacy risk |
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Backward design Standards mapping Teacher-friendly writing Assessment design Accessibility basics |
Moving goalposts IP and NDA constraints LMS/format limits High-quality bar |
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Test prep instructor (SAT, ACT, GRE) |
Exam blueprint fluency High-leverage diagnostics Time-pressure explanations Data-based coaching |
“Guarantee” expectations Test changes the date content Motivation gaps Support overhead |
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Niche framing Clear instructional writing SEO intent basics Product packaging sense Simple visual literacy |
Slow traffic ramp Platform dependency risk Trust is fragile Copycats and updates |
Remote second jobs for teachers
When I talk about remote second jobs for teachers, I mean roles that are full-time or close to it, not “a few hours on the weekend.” This can include remote services and selling digital products, which often become the most profitable gigs, as I explained in this article.
Before you commit, treat it like a household decision. Talk it through with the people who share your schedule, responsibilities, and downtime, because a second job done remotely still takes up very real space in your week.
1. Sell lesson plans and digital resources
Selling lesson plans and digital resources means packaging the classroom materials you already create into downloadable files that other teachers can use right away. Demand is proven at scale: one large teacher resource exchange has 3M+ materials and 1B+ downloads. Nearly 96% of teachers use Google to find lessons and materials, so buyers already search for solutions like yours.
Example: Ideas Education sells a downloadable “Adaptable Activities for your Language Lessons” pack through a Sellfy store, using a simple “one file, clear outcome” setup.
Upfront cost: $0–$150
Time required: 4–12 hours/week
Income potential: $50–$1,000/month
Required skills:
- Curriculum planning that matches a clear grade level, standard, or classroom scenario
- Clean formatting in PDF/PPTX/Google Slides so it prints and projects correctly
- Basic visual hierarchy so instructions are scannable in under a minute
- File organization (versions, answer keys, editable vs non-editable copies)
- Simple marketing copy: title, promise, use-case, what’s included
Create an online store for your digital products
Potential challenges:
- Copyright traps (worksheet clipart, excerpts, paid fonts, “borrowed” layouts)
- Quality expectations: buyers want plug-and-play, not “ideas” without execution
- Support overhead (refund requests, “can you adapt this?” messages, updates)
- Seasonality (back-to-school spikes, slower mid-semester depending on niche)
- Discoverability: your niche and keywords decide whether you get found
How to start: I’d start with one tight resource that solves a repeat problem you see every week, like exit tickets, warm-ups, writing rubrics, or unit slides. List it as a digital product on a platform like Sellfy so checkout and automatic file delivery are handled for you. Publish, collect 5–10 real buyer questions, then build the next version as an upgrade that answers those questions. For a practical setup and packaging flow, use this guide on selling lesson plans and teaching resources.
2. Sell video lessons
Selling video lessons means recording short explanations and charging for access to the full pack. Video is already baked into how people learn. In a 2024 survey of educators, 88% said video technology is essential for teaching. 53% reported using more video than in 2023.
Example: Sellfy creator Melissa Maribel teaches chemistry on YouTube and sells digital learning materials through her Sellfy store.
Upfront cost: $0–$800
Time required: 6–20 hours/week
Income potential: $150–$4,000/month
Required skills:
- Explaining complex ideas in plain language, with clean pacing and examples
- Storyboarding and structuring lessons so viewers don’t get lost mid-video
- On-camera or voice delivery that sounds confident and natural
- Basic video editing literacy (cuts, trims, captions, simple slide overlays)
- Technical literacy with common teaching tools (LMS basics, screen recorders, file formats)
Potential challenges:
- Production drag: recording is fast, editing and re-takes quietly eat hours
- “Looks easy” competition: lots of similar content, weak differentiation kills sales
- Rights and reuse issues (textbook screenshots, paid visuals, copyrighted problems)
- Support load (device issues, playback complaints, “can you cover my exact topic?”)
- Keeping content current when tools, standards, or exams change
How to start: Pick a tight topic (unit, exam theme, tool) and ship 5–10 lessons fast. Then sell them as streamable or downloadable content using Sellfy’s video-on-demand setup and embeds, so you can take payments and deliver access without building a full platform.
3. Create online courses
An online course is a structured path, with modules, assignments, and checkpoints, that takes a learner from “confused” to “I can do this.” IMARC estimates the global e-learning market hit $342.4B in 2024 and projects $682.3B by 2033.
Example: Ashley Keller built GlowBodyPT after getting certified as a Personal Trainer and Prenatal & Postnatal Exercise Specialist, turning her own prenatal and postnatal routines into a structured program.
Upfront cost: $100–$2,500
Time required: 20–30 hours/week
Income potential: $300–$8,000/month
Required skills:
- Instructional design: sequencing, scaffolding, and building mastery step by step
- Assessment design: writing tasks, rubrics, and feedback that actually guide progress
- Clear communication for asynchronous learners (prompts, instructions, expectations)
- Basic business skills: pricing logic, positioning, and simple audience research
- Content production literacy (video, slides, worksheets) without needing a full media team
Potential challenges:
- Overbuilding the curriculum instead of shipping a tight, outcome-based course
- Drop-off in completion without accountability, milestones, and quick wins
- High up-front build time before you see any revenue
- More questions and refund pressure than with one-off downloads
- Ongoing maintenance as examples, tools, and policies change
How to start: I’d outline a course around one measurable outcome and build a minimum version first. You can use course platforms like Teachable, Thinkific, or Kajabi, then tighten the offer based on early feedback. If your goal is passive income for teachers, Sellfy is a strong fit when you want a straightforward storefront for the course, plus add-ons like templates, downloads, or bundles.
4. Offer tutoring services
Remote tutoring is paid 1:1 (or small-group) instruction built around a student’s exact gaps and goals. In the U.S., tutors had a median annual wage of $40,090 (May 2024), and strong subject specialists can push well beyond that when they build repeat clients and retainers.
Example: Some tutors also sell “support materials” that students can reuse between sessions. For instance, one Sellfy store packages a paid study aid product, which is a clean way to add revenue without adding more live calls.
Upfront cost: $0–$250
Time required: 8–30 hrs/week
Income potential: $600–$5,000+/month
Required skills:
- Fast diagnostic questioning (find the real blocker in minutes)
- Explaining concepts two ways (simple first, then deeper)
- Lesson pacing and micro-goals (keep sessions outcome-based)
- Online delivery confidence (Zoom tools, shared docs, whiteboards)
- Boundary-setting on scope (what’s included, what’s extra)
Potential challenges:
- No-shows and last-minute reschedules that wreck your calendar
- Scope creep (“can you also review this essay tonight?”)
- Burnout risk if every hour is live and high-focus
- Child safety and privacy expectations when working with minors
- Client acquisition: referrals are great, but they ramp slowly
How to start: Pick one subject + one grade band you can own, then define a tight offer (60 minutes, goal, what’s included). Package sessions as a 4-pack or monthly retainer, and add a small download (practice set, checklist, recap notes) so value is not 100% tied to live time. Sellfy can handle both digital add-ons and paid service-style offers in one place.
5. Copywriter/copy editor
This is paid writing and editing for businesses, creators, or agencies. Popular copy types are landing pages, emails, blog posts, scripts, resumes. For baseline earning power, the BLS lists $73,690 median annual pay for Writers and Authors and $75,260 for Editors (May 2024).
Example: Many teachers start by offering fixed-scope copywriting packages on platforms like Fiverr, such as a landing page rewrite or a blog post edit with a clear style guide. Once one project ships cleanly, it’s easier to convert that client into a monthly retainer for ongoing edits, emails, or content updates.
For example, TrueSix runs a Sellfy storefront that helps freelancers learn copywriting, headlines, formatting, and editing.
Upfront cost: $0–$200
Time required: 10–35 hrs/week
Income potential: $500–$8,000+/month
Required skills:
- Voice matching (write “like them,” not like you)
- Persuasion basics (clarity, proof, CTA logic, objection handling)
- Copyediting fundamentals (grammar, consistency, style guides)
- Research and fact-checking for claims, numbers, and sources
- Client communication (briefing, clarifying questions, feedback triage)
Potential challenges:
- Subjective reviews (“I don’t know why, but I don’t like it”)
- Revision loops that eat profit if the scope is fuzzy
- Compliance risk in regulated niches (health, finance, legal claims)
- Feast-or-famine pipeline unless you build repeat work
- Pricing pressure from low-cost marketplaces and AI-assisted writers
How to start: Start on freelance platforms first so you can get paid quickly while you build proof and reviews. Offer 2–3 tight, easy-to-scope deliverables, then convert the best-fit clients into repeat work and referrals. Once you see a pattern in what you write over and over, package it into a simple product later, like a swipe file, checklist, or email template set.
6. Translator
A translator turns content from one language into another while keeping meaning, tone, and context intact. It can be a serious remote path if you’re bilingual and want to know how to make extra money as a teacher without leaving education completely. For context, the U.S. median pay for interpreters and translators was $59,440/year.
Example: Many teachers who translate start by taking small Upwork projects in one niche to build credibility fast.
Upfront cost: $0–$200
Time required: 6–25 hours/week
Income potential: $20–$60/hour
Required skills:
- Near-native writing in the target language
- Fast research habits for terminology and subject matter accuracy
- Style control (formal vs casual, US vs UK, brand voice)
- Consistent grammar and punctuation under time pressure
- Basic CAT-tool literacy (translation memory, glossaries, QA checks)
- Confidentiality judgment when handling student or client data
Potential challenges:
- Rate pressure from clients expecting “AI prices” for human quality
- Messy source text that needs clarification
- Scope creep: “quick tweak” requests that become rewrites
- File-format headaches (tables, PDFs, LMS exports, subtitles)
- Tight deadlines that collide with the school week
How to start: Pick one specialty and build two sharp samples that match it. Post a simple service offer with a clear rate, revision rules, and file formats you accept on a freelance platform. As you collect recurring terminology, publish a small glossary pack so you’re not paid only when you’re actively translating.
7. Admission essay coach
An admission essay coach helps students plan, draft, and refine personal statements. Demand is real: by March 1, 2025, Common App users submitted 7M+ applications from 1.5M applicants.
Example: Some coaches bundle async support (brainstorm worksheet, outline template, revision checklist) so students can make progress between calls. It’s basically the same “structured template + clear instructions + instant file delivery” model Sellfy describes for resume template sellers.
Upfront cost: $0–$150
Time required: 5–20 hours/week
Income potential: $35–$90/hour
Required skills:
- Developmental editing (structure, argument, voice) beyond grammar fixes
- Interview-style questioning to pull real details from vague drafts
- Rubric thinking: prompts, constraints, word counts, school-specific goals
- Tactful feedback that keeps the student’s voice intact
- Basic counseling instincts (stress, perfectionism, deadline panic)
- Ethics literacy: coaching vs ghostwriting lines must stay clean
Potential challenges:
- Ethical gray zones when clients push for “write it for me”
- High-emotion revisions (parents involved, rejection fear, last-minute rush)
- Seasonality: heavy spikes Aug–Jan, quieter months outside cycles
- Voice drift: edits that accidentally make every essay sound the same
- Privacy risk: handling sensitive student stories and identifying info
How to start: Build a fixed package menu (outline + draft review + two revision rounds). Use a standard intake form to capture schools, prompts, deadlines, and “non-negotiables.” If you sell templates (brainstorm sheets, narrative frameworks), Sellfy-style digital delivery makes it easy to bundle async support with coaching.
Create an online store for your digital products
8. Curriculum developer
A curriculum developer designs units, scopes, assessments, and teacher-facing materials that schools or edtech teams can deploy consistently. It’s often closer to a near full-time remote contract than a casual gig, and the pay reflects that: instructional coordinators (a common curriculum-track role) had a $74,720/year median wage.
Example: A common model is to turn repeated teacher questions into structured, downloadable how-to guides and unit-style resource packs. When you build them as reusable assets, you can update them occasionally instead of rewriting from scratch every time.
Upfront cost: $0–$300
Time required: 10–30 hours/week
Income potential: $30–$80/hour
Required skills:
- Backward design (objectives first, assessments next, lessons last)
- Standards mapping and scope/sequence planning with traceability
- Instructional writing that is teacher-friendly and unambiguous
- Assessment design (rubrics, item types, mastery checks, re-teach loops)
- Accessibility basics (clear language, accommodations, UDL awareness)
- Stakeholder communication (SMEs, reviewers, district feedback)
Potential challenges:
- Stakeholder churn: feedback loops that keep moving the goalposts
- IP and contracts: who owns the work, reuse rights, NDA constraints
- Consistency across grade bands and multiple teachers’ preferences
- Format constraints (LMS limitations, PDF vs interactive, print fidelity)
- Quality pressure: “ready to teach tomorrow,” not “concept ideas”
How to start: Start as a freelance curriculum specialist with a clear offer, like “one standards-aligned unit” or “assessment pack + rubrics,” so scope stays tight. Build a small portfolio with 1–2 finished samples that show objectives, lesson flow, checks for understanding, and rubrics. Then pitch districts, edtech vendors, and instructional teams with a simple rate and deliverables list.
9. Test preparation instructor (SAT, ACT, GRE)
Test prep is remote teaching with a clear, measurable outcome: higher scores under real-time pressure. Over 1.97M students in the U.S. graduating class of 2024 took the SAT at least once, and more than one in three U.S. grads took the ACT. For GRE, ETS reports 256,215 GRE tests taken (July 2023–June 2024), which is plenty of serious, high-intent buyers.
Example: If you teach SAT/ACT/GRE, your “product” can be a pack: timed sections + answer key + mistake log + short video walkthroughs, sold as a download. Sellfy is built for that kind of digital delivery.
Upfront cost: $0–$150
Time required: 6–20 hours/week
Income potential: $400–$4,000/month
Required skills:
- Test blueprint fluency (sections, timing, question types, scoring logic)
- Diagnostic thinking (spot patterns fast, pick the highest-leverage fixes)
- Explaining under constraints (simple rules, quick drills, zero rambling)
- Data-based coaching (error categories, pacing math, progress tracking)
- Boundaries and communication (policies, expectations, feedback tone)
Potential challenges:
- “Guaranteed score” pressure and ethical marketing lines you cannot cross
- Test changes and format shifts that can date your materials quickly
- Motivation gaps: students buy help, then skip reps and blame the plan
- Schedule chaos (time zones, cancellations, parent involvement)
- Support load for digital packs (access issues, refunds, endless questions)
How to start: Pick an exam and an audience slice. Build a 4-week system: diagnostic, weekly lesson plan, daily drills, and two-timed mocks. Host the downloads and recorded walkthroughs on Sellfy so delivery is automatic, with files up to 20GB each if you need video.
10. Educational blogger
An educational blogger turns explanations into a repeatable funnel: content that ranks or circulates, then a paid resource that solves the full problem. I like this model because it compounds; one good article can bring readers for months. Sellfy’s creator story on Emma shows how fast it can scale when the niche is tight: she grew her audience from zero to almost 2.5M in six months and monetized by selling Excel guides and spreadsheet templates.
Example: Use Emma as the proof-of-path: read her story here, then mirror the structure in your niche (one problem, one format, one clear product).
Upfront cost: $0–$200
Time required: 5–15 hours/week
Income potential: $100–$5,000/month
Required skills:
- Niche framing (one grade, one subject, one recurring pain point)
- Clear instructional writing (examples, steps, predictable structure)
- Basic SEO instincts (search intent, headings, internal linking, updates)
- Product packaging sense (what to include, what to cut, naming that converts)
- Simple visual literacy (clean tables, readable PDFs, scannable layouts)
Potential challenges:
- Slow start: traffic is uneven until you have enough pages indexed
- Platform risk if you rely on one channel (Google, Pinterest, TikTok)
- Credibility tax: one sloppy post can kill trust in paid resources
- Content fatigue and inconsistency, especially during busy school months
- Copycats and republishing, plus ongoing updates when standards shift
How to start: Choose 10 posts that answer “how do I…” questions you’ve heard a hundred times in class, and publish on a fixed cadence you can sustain. Then build one paid “finish line” product (bundle, template pack, mini course) and sell it.
In-person side jobs for teachers
In-person side jobs are often the easiest way to start earning. You can lean on skills you already use, without learning new tech or building an online setup. If you want something you can begin this week, this category is usually the most straightforward.
The trade-off is real, though. In-person side jobs typically come with extra costs for transportation and, depending on the role, supplies or teaching materials. They also take more of your time, since commuting and on-site hours don’t compress the way remote work can.
11. In-person private tutoring
Private tutoring is paid academic support you offer outside school hours, usually at a student’s home, a library, or a learning center. Education Week notes that tutoring is one of the most common extra jobs teachers pick up, alongside coaching and other school-adjacent work.
Example
For example, coach Charlie Caruso sells custom workout plans through his Sellfy store, but for people who want more hands-on support, he offers a 1:1 coaching subscription. It’s a simple way to give clients personalized guidance while building steady recurring income.
Upfront cost: $0–$150
Time required: 3–15 hours/week
Income potential: $35–$60/hour
Required skills:
- Clear diagnosis of learning gaps using quick, informal checks
- Explaining concepts in three different ways without losing the student
- Pacing and session structure so time doesn’t drift
- Parent communication that sets boundaries and expectations early
- Basic pricing confidence and negotiation without discount spirals
Potential challenges:
- Cancellations and schedule churn during sports and school events
- Burnout risk if you stack sessions right after teaching all day
- Liability and safety expectations when meeting in homes
- Results pressure when families expect “grade fixes” fast
- Commute time, quietly eating your hourly rate
How to start: Begin with a simple subject you can teach cold and one grade band you know well. I’d run a 2-student pilot for 3–4 weeks, then tighten your offer based on what families ask for. If you build worksheets along the way, package the best ones later as a digital add-on.
12. Coach a school sport or lead an extracurricular team
Coaching is paid supervision and performance development for a sport or competitive activity tied to a school or local league. High school sports alone involve 8+ million participants, which is why schools constantly need reliable adults to run practices and travel.
Upfront cost: $0–$300
Time required: 6–30 hours/week in-season
Income potential: $500–$7,000 per season
Required skills:
- Safe practice planning that matches age and conditioning level
- Group control without escalating conflict when emotions spike
- Basic injury awareness and clean incident documentation
- Fast decision-making under time pressure
- Team communication habits that keep parents informed without anxiety
Potential challenges:
- Long days during tournament weeks and travel-heavy schedules
- Liability, safety compliance, and mandatory training requirements
- Parent politics and pressure around playing time
- Emotional labor after losses, conflicts, and discipline situations
- Pay often tied to stipends that do not reflect total hours
How to start: Look for assistant roles first so you learn the system without owning everything on day one. Lock your boundaries in writing with whoever hires you: practice days, weekend expectations, travel requirements, and what happens when school duties collide.
Learn how to sell online the simple way
13. Teach in-person community classes
Community classes are structured lessons for adults, usually taught in the evenings or on weekends. OECD data suggests that adult learning is widely adopted. 74% of tertiary-educated adults with the highest adaptive problem-solving proficiency participated in it.
Upfront cost: $0–$200
Time required: 3–12 hours/week
Income potential: $300–$2,500 per course
Required skills:
- Lesson design for adults who want utility, not homework
- Facilitation that keeps talkative rooms productive
- Clear learning outcomes that fit a short timeframe
- Confidence handling mixed skill levels in one room
- Simple assessment methods that feel supportive
Potential challenges:
- Enrollment volatility if the venue under-markets your class
- Room constraints, tech issues, and inconsistent supplies
- Payment delays, depending on the institution’s cycle
- Diverse expectations from learners with different goals
- Rework pressure if the class needs constant customization
How to start: Pick some topics you can teach with minimal prep and obvious outcomes, then pitch a 4–6 week format. Ask the organizer what their highest-demand class categories are first, then shape a proposal to match what they already know fills seats.
14. Paid test proctor
Test proctoring is supervising standardized exams, following strict rules, verifying IDs, and documenting incidents. The SAT and ACT still reach huge volumes, so test centers and schools regularly need trained, dependable proctors.
Upfront cost: $0–$150
Time required: 4–12 hours/month
Income potential: $15–$27/hour
Required skills:
- Close attention to detail and calm rule enforcement
- Comfort with written incident reporting
- Consistent professionalism with stressed test-takers
- Clear verbal instructions are delivered the same way every time
- Discretion with sensitive personal data and exam materials
Potential challenges:
- Early mornings and long, continuous blocks on exam days
- Zero-flexibility procedures that can feel rigid
- Handling misconduct accusations without escalating conflict
- Work availability tied to testing calendars
- Sitting and monitoring fatigue that makes mistakes more likely
How to start: Apply directly to local test centers and your district’s testing coordinator pool. Treat the first assignment like compliance training: show up early, document everything, and build a reputation for being the person who never creates problems.
15. After-school program instructor
After-school programs are structured supervision and learning support that happens right after dismissal until parents finish work. America After 3 PM reports millions of kids would enroll in an afterschool program if one were available, which is why providers keep hiring.
Upfront cost: $0–$250
Time required: 5–15 hours/week
Income potential: $15–$25/hour
Required skills:
- Group management that works in loud, mixed-age settings
- Positive behavior framing that prevents spirals
- Fast activity design with minimal materials
- Parent-facing communication that stays brief and clear
- Risk awareness and safety routines that are followed every day
Potential challenges:
- Energy crash window right after the school day ends
- Higher noise and motion than in a classroom, with fewer supports
- Pay caps that do not rise quickly
- Transport and setup time that is rarely compensated
- Managing emotional behavior from kids who are tired and hungry
How to start: Start with programs that run on campus, so commuting stays minimal. I’d choose one or two enrichment themes you can repeat with small upgrades each week, because reusable structure is how this role stays sustainable.
Creative side gigs for teachers
The best side gigs for teachers often start with the same thing that makes you good in the classroom: creativity. You’re constantly translating ideas into clear explanations, building engaging materials, and finding ways to keep people motivated when attention is low.
That creative skill is a real asset outside school, too. There are plenty of ways to turn it into income. I’ll highlight the strongest, most teacher-friendly examples in the next section.
16. Education YouTube channel host
Running an education-focused YouTube channel means publishing short, teachable videos (concept breakdowns, exam walkthroughs, study habits) and using them to build demand for paid resources. YouTube is also already a mainstream learning channel for adults. 84% of U.S. adults use YouTube, which gives teachers a huge top-of-funnel if the content is clear and consistent.
Example: Sellfy’s own creator examples show how “teach it on video, sell the assets” works: creators like Christian Maté Grab built a business by pairing YouTube content with paid digital downloads sold through a Sellfy store.
Upfront cost: $0-$2,000
Time required: 5-20 hrs/week
Income potential: $0-$2,500+/month
Required skills:
- Clear on-camera explanation, paced for beginners and skimmers
- Lesson scripting that stays tight and avoids rambling
- Basic video editing literacy and simple production workflow
- YouTube search basics: titles, thumbnails, keyword intent
- Audience trust skills: boundaries, comment handling, consistency
Potential challenges:
- Algorithm volatility can kill reach for weeks
- Consistency pressure: the channel punishes long gaps
- Student privacy and school policy compliance
- Copyright issues with clips, images, music, worksheets
- Comment moderation and the occasional toxicity tax
How to start: Pick a repeatable format (for example, “10-minute exam walkthroughs”) and publish on a fixed schedule for 6-8 weeks so the channel learns what you are. Then attach one paid asset to each video (notes pack, practice set, rubric, mini-guide) and sell it via Sellfy with automated delivery.
17. Graphic designer for instructional materials
This gig is designing classroom-ready assets for other educators: slide decks, worksheets, printable posters, assessment layouts, and clean handouts that look professional and scan fast. Design skill is valued in the market in general: the BLS lists $61,300/year ($29.47/hour) as the 2024 median pay for graphic designers.
Example: Sellfy’s creator story on filmmaker David Killingsworth shows how one polished pack of visual assets can keep selling after launch, which is the same build-once model behind reusable slide templates and printable worksheets.
Upfront cost: $0-$200
Time required: 2-12 hrs/week
Income potential: $200-$2,500/month
Required skills:
- Visual hierarchy that makes instructions scannable in under a minute
- Typography sense: spacing, alignment, readable pairing choices
- Slide and print layout fundamentals: grids, margins, export settings
- Accessibility basics: contrast, font sizing, color-blind safe palettes
- Classroom context awareness: what teachers need on the page
Potential challenges:
- Scope creep and endless “one more tweak” revision cycles
- Licensing traps: fonts, icons, illustrations, stock photos
- File-format chaos across schools: PPTX, Google Slides, PDF, Canva
- Clients pushing for editable originals, then sharing them widely
- Price pressure from marketplaces that normalize underpricing
How to start: Offer one tight package first (for example, “30-slide lesson deck template + worksheet layout + answer key style”) and test it with 2-3 teacher friends before taking paid orders. If you want the cleanest product model, sell the finished templates as digital products so each design can be reused and resold.
18. Self-publishing e-books or educational materials
Self-publishing means you package what you already teach into a paid digital product, usually an eBook, workbook, or reference pack. AAP’s latest StatShot annual report shows U.S. trade eBook revenues at $1.1B in 2024 (and $2.1B for all eBooks).
Example: MyB Success Center sells a “Meta Ads Made Affordable” e-book on Sellfy, which is a great use of digital products to target demand for ad know-how.
Upfront cost: $0–$300
Time required: 3–15 hrs/week
Income potential: $100–$2,000 per month
Required skills:
- Clear instructional writing that stays simple and outcome-focused
- Basic lesson structuring so a reader can follow without you present
- Editing judgment: tighten, remove fluff, keep the promise on every page
- Simple visual layout so pages scan fast on mobile and print cleanly
- Pricing and positioning sense for a narrow, specific audience
Potential challenges:
- Copyright pitfalls with images, excerpts, templates, and “inspired” layouts
- Low differentiation if the topic is broad or the title is generic
- Buyer expectations for real artifacts: checklists, examples, exercises, answers
- Piracy and file sharing once the product grows
- Support load from “can you personalize this?” requests
How to start: Pick a classroom pain point you can solve in 30–60 pages, then outline it as steps and checklists. Publish it through Sellfy so you can sell from your own site using a buy button, and protect the file with PDF stamping plus upsells and email marketing. Read this article to learn more about how to sell eBooks on your website.
19. Sell workout programs
This side gig turns your teaching skills into structured training plans people can follow at home. The audience is huge: ACSM notes fitness apps hit about 850M downloads and nearly 370M users in 2023, which maps to sustained demand for guided programs.
Example: You can easily pair services with traditional digital products. Just like Medina and Mary of Coach Medina NYC, who show an excellent example of how you can pair coaching services with one-off digital products.
Upfront cost: $0–$400
Time required: 4–12 hrs/week
Income potential: $200–$4,000 per month
Required skills:
- Programming fundamentals: progression, recovery, and exercise selection logic
- Coaching clarity: cueing, modifications, and safety-first explanations
- Enough anatomy basics to avoid sketchy recommendations
- Video or document communication that stays confident and easy to follow
- Community instinct: how to motivate without sounding like a cliché
Potential challenges:
- Safety and liability risk if guidance is too generic or too aggressive
- Trust barrier: buyers want credentials, proof, or a clear niche promise
- Retention problems if results take time, and expectations weren’t set
- Content fatigue: repeating “the same plan” kills reviews and referrals
- Customer support around injuries, equipment limits, and substitutions
How to start: I’d begin with one tight program for one audience (posture, beginner strength, “no equipment,” etc.) and write the plan like you’re teaching a real class. Then publish it as a digital download and sell workout programs online on Sellfy so checkout, delivery, and add-ons are handled cleanly.
20. Create and sell printable classroom décor
Printable classroom decor is designed to create ready-to-print visuals, like posters, flashcards, bulletin-board sets, and quick activity packs. Demand is strong because many educators still pay for classroom needs. One 2024–2025 survey is putting the average at $895.
Example: This Sellfy listing is a clean “classroom poster” product format you can model: Food Learning Journey (editable, printable poster).
Upfront cost: $0–$150
Time required: 2–8 hours/week
Income potential: $50–$1,000/month
Required skills:
- Visual hierarchy so instructions and labels read fast from a distance
- Typography basics: spacing, alignment, font pairing, legibility
- Print-ready layout knowledge: margins, bleed awareness, export settings
- Classroom context sense: what teachers actually hang, reuse, and laminate
- Licensing literacy for fonts, icons, illustrations, and clipart
Potential challenges:
- Saturation in generic themes that look the same across stores
- Copyright and licensing traps that can get listings pulled
- Printing variability: colors, paper sizes, and “it looks different” complaints
- File-sharing and piracy once a product starts moving
- Support overhead for editable versions and format requests
How to start: Build a tight mini-collection first, for one grade band and one use-case, like “phonics wall set” or “lab safety posters.” Keep it classroom-real: readable at 6–10 feet, simple color palette, and a few sizes. Then, publish as a digital download, and iterate based on which designs people re-buy and request.
Part-time jobs for educators
Part-time jobs for educators can work well, but only when they fit your main job instead of fighting it. I always look at the boring details first: transportation and commute time, whether the topic overlaps in a helpful way, and whether there’s any conflict of interest with your school or district.
The emotional fit matters just as much. If your day job drains you and the part-time gig pulls you into a completely different kind of stress, a few extra hours can cost more than they earn. I’ve seen teachers make better money with a smaller, better-matched role than with a higher-paying option that wrecked their energy and week.
21. Substitute teacher on-call
Substitute teaching is the cleanest “plug-in and earn” option when you already know classroom routines. Pay varies by district, but the median hourly wage for short-term substitute teachers is $20.95 per BLS-based data.
Upfront cost: $0–$250
Time required: 5–30 hours/week
Income potential: $15–$30/hour
Required skills:
- Classroom presence that calms a room fast
- Clear, short instructions that students follow the first time
- Behavior management basics that work without “teacher voice” theatrics
- Fast reading comprehension for sub plans and schedules
- De-escalation and conflict boundaries with teens and parents
Potential challenges:
- Last-minute calls and unpredictable schedules
- Different grading policies, tech rules, and routines every day
- Higher stress when plans are thin or missing
- “Hard” classrooms that regular staff already avoid
- Travel time between schools, eating your real hourly rate
How to start: I’d start with your district’s substitute pool application, then ask which schools have the most consistent demand. Build a simple “sub kit” you can reuse: attendance routine, bellwork templates, and a calm behavior script. Once you get two or three schools you like, request them consistently.
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22. Remote assessment scorer and grader
Remote scoring is paid work for people who can apply rubrics consistently across hundreds of responses. The College Board reports that more than 1.97 million students in the class of 2024 took the SAT at least once, and constructed responses still need human evaluation in many testing programs. Pearson explicitly hires remote test scorers and notes peak availability from February through June.
Upfront cost: $0–$150
Time required: 5–25 hours/week
Income potential: $15–$25/hour
Required skills:
- Rubric literacy, including anchor responses and borderline cases
- Bias control and consistency under repetition
- Focus endurance for long scoring sessions
- Basic statistics intuition for reliability concepts like agreement rates
- Professional written communication for score disputes or clarifications
Potential challenges:
- Seasonal windows, with gaps the rest of the year
- Monotony and decision fatigue that lower accuracy
- Strict QA checks, retraining, or removal for inconsistency
- NDA and security requirements limiting flexibility
- Time zone and scheduling constraints during peak scoring weeks
How to start: Treat scoring like an audition: highlight rubric-based grading, AP-style writing feedback, or standards-aligned assessment work on your resume. Apply early for spring cycles, then block focused hours so you score when you’re sharp, not after a full teaching day.
23. Virtual classroom moderator and learning support
A virtual moderator supports live online classes by managing chat, pacing, attendance, and student questions so the instructor can teach. It is a well-paid and respected part- time remote job for teachers. NCES reports 9.4 million undergrads (61%) were enrolled in at least one distance education course in fall 2021.
Upfront cost: $0–$200
Time required: 5–20 hours/week
Income potential: $18–$30/hour
Required skills:
- Calm multitasking under time pressure
- Clear written communication that stays kind and firm
- Platform fluency in common LMS and video tools
- Rapid triage instincts for minor tech problems
- Student support judgment, knowing when to escalate
Potential challenges:
- Split attention and a higher mental load than it looks
- Parent messages and student issues arriving mid-session
- Platform outages you cannot control
- Emotional strain from being the “front line” for complaints
- Pay tied to sessions, with cancellations and no-shows
How to start: Start with organizations that already run scheduled online cohorts, then position yourself as “instruction support.” Build a one-page workflow: how you handle chat, late arrivals, tech issues, and escalation. That document gets you hired faster than a long cover letter.
24. Educational research assistant
Research assistant work fits teachers who can read studies, follow protocols, and keep data clean. The BLS lists about 30,890 jobs for Social Science Research Assistants. Annual mean wage: around $62,370.
Upfront cost: $0–$100
Time required: 5–15 hours/week
Income potential: $20–$35/hour
Required skills:
- Research literacy: sampling, bias, validity, basic study design
- Data hygiene habits that prevent messy spreadsheets
- Interviewing and survey skills that avoid leading questions
- Academic writing basics for summaries and reports
- Confidentiality awareness and ethics discipline
Potential challenges:
- Slow timelines and ambiguous project scope
- IRB or consent rules adding friction
- Stakeholders changing questions mid-study
- Work that is detail-heavy and not “creative”
- Limited hours unless you join multiple projects
How to start: Begin with local universities, education nonprofits, and grant-funded projects that need part-time help with surveys and coding. Pitch a narrow, credible package: literature summaries, data cleaning, or interview support. If you’re comparing ways for teachers to make extra money, this one gets easier after the first finished project because referrals tend to follow.
25. Museum or science center educator
Museum education pays for live, hands-on teaching with curious audiences. The American Alliance of Museums notes the field supports over 726,000 U.S. jobs and contributes $50B to the economy.
Upfront cost: $0–$150
Time required: 6–20 hours/week
Income potential: $18–$35/hour
Required skills:
- Storytelling that simplifies complex topics without “dumbing down”
- Group facilitation across mixed ages
- Safety awareness for labs, exhibits, and equipment
- Improvisation when a plan fails in public
- Customer-service tone that still holds boundaries
Potential challenges:
- Evening and weekend shifts colliding with family life
- Physical fatigue from standing, crowds, and noise
- Pay caps that limit long-term upside
- Program prep often not fully paid
- Seasonal swings tied to tourism and school calendars
How to start: I’d target museums that already run recurring programs and ask what age groups are hardest to staff. Offer a single ready-to-run session outline as a work sample. Once you’re in, ask for recurring slots so your calendar stays predictable and the commute stays worth it.
Summer side hustles for teachers
If you still have some energy left after the school year, summer can be the easiest time to turn that momentum into extra income.
The key is pacing. Summer side hustles for teachers are only a win if they don’t drain you so hard that you start the next semester already burned out. Think in terms of a realistic weekly cap, recovery days, and a plan you can sustain through August.
26. Grant writer for schools and nonprofits
Grant writing is a summer-friendly gig because proposals have hard deadlines and clear deliverables. It also pays like a serious professional skill: the BLS reports a $66,490 median annual wage for fundraisers (grant work often sits inside that umbrella).
Upfront cost: $0–$200
Time required: 3–15 hours/week
Income potential: $25–$65/hour
Required skills:
- Persuasive writing that stays concrete
- Fast research habits and source-checking discipline
- Budget literacy and comfort with basic financial narratives
- Logic mapping from need to plan to outcomes to metrics
- Stakeholder interviewing that extracts specifics
Potential challenges:
- Conflicts of interest if you write for organizations near your school
- Compressed timelines and last-minute data requests
- Heavy compliance language that can’t be “creatively rewritten”
- Unclear ownership of attachments, resumes, letters, and budgets
- Payment risk when the scope expands after you quote a price
How to start: I’d pick a niche first, like K–12 STEM, arts, or youth mental health, so your proposals get sharper with each project. Build a simple intake checklist for programs, budget, outcomes, and past results. Then pitch local nonprofits and smaller districts that don’t have a full-time development team.
27. Camp counselor or camp instructor
Camps run on structured learning and high-energy facilitation, which maps well to a teacher’s strengths. The American Camp Association says it impacts 26 million campers annually, which supports steady summer demand for staff who can run activities safely and confidently.
Upfront cost: $0–$150
Time required: 30–45 hours/week
Income potential: $450–$900/week
Required skills:
- Group leadership that keeps kids engaged without constant policing
- Safety-first judgment and calm reactions under pressure
- Clear instructions for games, labs, crafts, or sports
- Boundary setting with kids and parents that stays respectful
- Emotional regulation when noise, heat, and chaos stack up
Potential challenges:
- Physical fatigue and long days that eat recovery time
- Behavior issues outside a classroom structure
- Liability and safety rules that leave little room for improvisation
- Housing and food trade-offs if the role is residential
- Schedule rigidity during peak weeks
How to start: Target camps that match your comfort zone. Ask about training, staff-to-camper ratios, and facilities.
28. Summer tutoring bootcamps
A bootcamp is tutoring in a tight sprint: 2–6 weeks, clear milestones, and a defined outcome like “raise math confidence” or “prep for fall placement.” Pay can be solid, and BLS lists a $40,090 median annual wage for tutors, which helps anchor realistic rates.
Upfront cost: $0–$250
Time required: 5–25 hours/week
Income potential: $30–$60/hour
Required skills:
- Diagnostic thinking to spot gaps fast and prioritize fixes
- Explanation skills that work for different learning styles
- Session design that balances practice, feedback, and confidence
- Simple progress tracking with measurable checkpoints
- Parent communication that sets expectations and boundaries
Potential challenges:
- No-shows, reschedules, and inconsistent commitment
- Parents pushing for unrealistic results on a short timeline
- Student motivation dipping mid-program
- Local competition and price pressure
- Burnout risk if you stack too many sessions per day
How to start: Package one bootcamp with a clear promise, a weekly plan, and a progress check every session. Set a cap on weekly hours before you start selling spots. Then fill the first cohort through school networks, local groups, and parent referrals.
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29. Seasonal retail or event staff
Seasonal retail and events are the simplest “start tomorrow” option when you want predictable shifts and fast paychecks. For context, the BLS reports a median hourly wage of $16.62 for retail salespersons.
Upfront cost: $0–$100
Time required: 10–35 hours/week
Income potential: $14–$25/hour
Required skills:
- Customer communication that stays polite under stress
- Basic sales instincts without being pushy
- Conflict de-escalation for complaints and returns
- Reliability and punctuality across changing shifts
- Stamina for standing, lifting, and repetitive tasks
Potential challenges:
- Low pay ceiling compared to specialized education gigs
- Nights and weekends cutting into recovery time
- Commute costs that quietly shrink your take-home pay
- Physical fatigue stacking over weeks
- Unpredictable scheduling in peak periods
How to start: Look for roles with consistent shift blocks. Ask about overtime rules and whether you can choose weekend-only or evening-heavy schedules.
30. Create and launch a digital product bundle
A summer build sprint is when you batch-create a bundle of resources, then launch once and sell repeatedly without trading hours for every sale. One market estimate values the digital goods market at $124.32B in 2025.
Example:
Jeanette Andrada sells a paid home-office deduction spreadsheet on a Sellfy store (a practical accounting worksheet product you could also create/sell alongside client work).
Upfront cost: $0–$300
Time required: 6–20 hours/week
Income potential: $200–$5,000/month
Required skills:
- Audience clarity: who it’s for and what problem it solves
- Structuring skills that turn knowledge into steps and templates
- Clean formatting in PDF, Slides, or editable files
- Pricing judgment for bundles and tiered offers
- Basic launch marketing: email, short posts, simple landing copy
Potential challenges:
- Building a bundle nobody asked for
- Perfectionism slowing you down until summer ends
- Low traffic if you rely on “publish and pray”
- Support requests for edits, formats, and customization
- File sharing and piracy once it starts selling
How to start: I treat summer like a production window. Pick one narrow bundle, set a two-week build deadline, and pre-sell to validate demand before polishing. Then launch with a clear promise and a small set of upsells so the sprint keeps paying into the school year.
Teacher side hustles to avoid
Here are the part-time/full-time jobs and gigs that teachers should avoid:
- Low-pay gig apps with long commutes. If the travel time is unpredictable, most teacher side hustles like this end up paying less than minimum wage after gas and wear.
- Anything that breaks district policy or creates a conflict of interest. Even “small” violations can cost you trust, your position, or future opportunities.
- Unlicensed tutoring in regulated areas. Test prep is fine, but anything that crosses into therapy, diagnosis, or legal advice is a hard no.
- Content mills, ultra-low-rate freelance marketplaces. They train clients to underpay you and burn your time on endless revisions.
- Multi-level marketing. The math rarely works, and it can strain relationships faster than it earns money.
How to choose a side hustle as a teacher
Pick a side hustle that fits your weekly schedule, follows your district’s outside-work rules, and pays enough after real costs. Start with skills you already use at school, then choose a format you can sustain during the busiest months. If the gig adds heavy commute, constant emotional load, or policy risk, it’s usually a bad trade.
Check school policy and conflict-of-interest first
Skim your contract or handbook for outside employment rules, tutoring limits, and disclosure requirements. Avoid anything that uses school materials, school devices, or student access as leverage. If it feels “gray,” treat it as a no.
Match the hustle to your calendar, not your ambition
Map your week on paper and set a hard hour cap before you pick a gig. Choose work that stays stable during grading weeks, testing windows, and parent conference seasons. A hustle that only works when school is easy won’t last.
Do the money math with real expenses
Calculate your true hourly rate after commuting, supplies, platform fees, unpaid prep, and cancellations. Favor options with reuse and leverage, like digital downloads, templates, or course packs. Hourly-only work can be great short-term, but it has a ceiling.
Protect your energy with boundaries that hold
Choose gigs with clear deliverables, fixed timelines, and rules for reschedules and revisions. Avoid work that requires you to “perform emotionally” right after teaching all day. The best hustle is the one you can still do in April without hating your life.
FAQ
Are teachers allowed to have a second job?
Usually, yes. The catch is policy. Many districts require disclosure, restrict conflicts of interest, and may limit work that overlaps with your role, uses school resources, or affects performance. Check your contract, district handbook, and any outside-employment rules before you commit.
How to make extra money as a teacher
If you want to know how to make extra money as a teacher, pick one skill you already have. Sell it in a format that fits your schedule. Tutoring, test prep, and after-school programs pay quickly. Digital products, lesson resources, and templates can scale beyond hourly income.
What are the easiest side hustles to start?
In-person tutoring, substitute teaching, after-school programs, and seasonal shifts are usually the quickest. They don’t require setup or an audience. If you want remote, start with tutoring online or rubric-based grading roles.
How to find customers for my side hustle?
Start with the closest trust network: coworkers, parents, former students’ families, and local community groups. Make a simple one-page offer with price, outcome, and availability, then ask for referrals after the first small win. If you sell digital products, use content that answers real questions, then link the paid resource as the “full solution.”
Aleksey is a Content Marketing Specialist at Sellfy. He loves using language and the power of words to make even the driest eCommerce topics fascinating. Using his degree in literary studies and passion for the latest trends, he creates well-researched and structured content to inspire other people and help them grow their eCommerce business.