15 Great Jobs For College Students

Being a college student often times means you’re broke and find yourself living on Ramen noodles. Classes are expensive, and paying for books is a nightmare. College students don’t always have it easy, which is why many of them need to work as well as attend class. Some attend night and online courses so they can work full time to support their families and others work part time so they can attend classes and study during the day. No matter which type of student you are, read on to find out which 15 jobs are the best ones for college students.

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Camp Counselor

Camp counselors are some of the most popular summer jobs for people. These are people the people who help kids throughout the summer at sleep away camp. For college students, this is a great job. You can work a few weeks during the summer and earn (and save) a bunch of money in the process. They are not the best paying jobs in the world, but since you get your room and board and your food free of charge all summer, and you don’t get to leave camp, you’ll have everything left over once summer is over. Plus you get to play outside and have fun – and meet new people.

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Babysitter

Many college students become babysitters during the summer. Perhaps you’re going home for the summer and you know people with small kids who need help while they work. It’s hard for parents when school is out and they still have to go to work. Even parents who work from home need a sitter a few days a week so they can accomplish something during the week while their kids are home (trust me, I pay a sitter to come to my house and keep my kids occupied during the week all summer for a few hours). This is a well paying job.

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Lifeguard

You get paid to get tan. What could be a better job for a college student? Of course, it’s a little bit more complex than that. However, in the grand scheme of things, you get paid to get tan and hang out at the beach or pool all summer. You will need to become CPR certified and you will need to take some training classes, but it’s a great job to get if you can. It’s more enjoyable than most summer jobs. Just be sure to apply your sunscreen regularly or you’re going to end up miserable.  Be sure to get a job at a pool, not a beach.  Beaches are way too tough!

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Bartender

It’s a much better idea to spend your summer behind the bar than it is in front of the bar. College students make great bartenders because it is a job that requires a bit of skill, but it’s also one that has flexible hours and good tips. Bartending requires a bit of knowledge as you will need to know a few basic things about making drinks and mixing things that taste good. However, you’ll get really good really fast and you can always look up recipes if you’re not sure what’s in them. It’s a great job if you can rely on tips.

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Caddy

If you enjoy golf and you’re not too bad at the game, you might make a great caddy. You need to know a few basic things, such as which club is which (they’re labeled). You’ll essentially spend your day helping golfers with their game. You might drive the golf cart or you might walk with the golf bag over your shoulder all day long. You might open drinks and place tees in the ground. You’ll chase balls and you’ll do some really physical work as a caddy. But, it’s a well-paying job with a lot to offer.

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Valet

Provided you aren’t a criminal with a background in jail and you have a driver’s license with a good driving record, you can be a valet. You can valet just about anywhere during the summer, from local restaurants to local malls and hotels, to your local country club. This job requires a lot of running, so you should be in good shape. People want their cars as quickly as possible, and you’ll get a bigger tip if your car doesn’t require them to wait a long time. Put on your running shoes and apply for a valet position.

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Wait Staff

Waiters and waitresses have the potential to make a great deal of money. The key here is to get a job at a good restaurant. Of course, you’re going to need some experience and great references to wait at a high-end establishment. You can become part of the wait staff at any restaurant without experience, but your everyday casual establishment is not where you’re going to make your big tips and a ton of money. Additionally, the friendlier you are and the better you are at your job, the more money you will make with this position.

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Barista

If you love coffee, you might love to become a barista this summer. It’s a good part-time job for anyone who wants to make a little money and work in the air conditioning. It’s not that hard to make coffee beverages, because you will be trained. You will need to learn quickly, but that’s something you’ll need with any job. This job pays a little more than minimum wage. However, it’s a fun job because you get to make fun drinks, listen to good music and meet new people. You’ll also learn to make your favorite drinks at home.

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Sales Associate

Pick a store; any store. You can apply for a sales associate job almost anywhere. Here’s a good piece of sales associate advice: Pick a place of employment that’s also a store in which you love to shop. This is going to make your job so much more fun. You’re going to get paid to find out when the sales start before anyone else, and you’re going to get a discount for being an employee. The only drawback to this job is that you might spend most of your paycheck as soon as you get it!

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Teller

Bank tellers are people who sometimes work full time and sometimes work part time. All banks have tellers; some in the lobby and some in the drive-thru and some in both. You can apply for this kind of job provided you have a clean criminal history. Some banks do not even require that you have any prior job experience as they do provide on the job training to those they hire. It’s a good job for someone looking to have nights and weekends off work since most banks are closed on the weekends and always around 5 pm.

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Tutor

College students usually make great tutors. You can become a tutor simply by advertising your services, letting local schools know you’re for hire or answering ads online for private tutors. The rate is usually pretty good and the hours very flexible. If you have a specialty in any particular area, you can mention that and probably make more money and have a better chance of getting hired than others. College students make great tutors for high school and middle school students, even elementary school students if need be. This is a job you can have all year, as well.

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Dog Walker

People who have pets want them taken care of during the day. People who have pets and busy lives want them taken care of even though they don’t have the kind of time necessary to take care of them on their own. If you want to make a little extra cash this summer, try becoming a dog walker. This job is something you can create on your own and take on as many clients as you want. You can create your own hours, hang out with companions that don’t talk back or interrupt, and you can get some good exercise in the process.

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House Sitter

Summer is a busy travel season for most people, and many of them would be far more comfortable with someone in their home watching out for it on their behalf. Leaving home is daunting and scary for those who travel often. An alarm is nice, but having someone present at all times is even nicer. Additionally, house sitters are responsible for caring for pets and even some light cleaning. Some homeowners will pay you to go to the grocery store and stock their fridge and dust and vacuum their home before they get home so they don’t have to worry about that on their own.

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Personal Assistant

College students make amazing personal assistants. You can apply for this kind of job with offices and professionals, or you can apply for this kind of job with moms and people who work from home. Believe me when I say that there are mothers and work-from-home parents who are more than willing to pay someone to do things like answer their emails, send off their mail, run their errands, do their grocery shopping and manage their household while they focus on what’s important to them outside of the necessary day-to-day things life requires.

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Caregiver

Even though some college students are not qualified to do jobs such as caring for those who are very ill, you can still be a sort of caregiver. You might know some families with older generations living with them that might like someone to drive them to and from appointments and engagements, who might need a little help grocery shopping or walking their dog or cleaning their house. A caregiver is a broad title for this kind of job, but it’s one that has the potential to pay very well.

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