10 of the Best Side Hustles for Teachers

“I went into teaching for the money,” said no teacher ever. While teaching is certainly a rewarding job—and one that is truly necessary to society—it’s not one that is known for creating billionaires. So, what’s a teacher to do when the standard salary isn’t cutting it? Whether you’re saving up for a long-dreamed-of vacation, getting ready for a home or car purchase, or just looking to make paying the bills a little less painful, there’re plenty of options to find the perfect side hustle! You likely already have the skills and credentials needed for a part-time gig, or you may even have the connections to start up a business at home.

Don’t let financial stress get the best of you (you’ve seen Breaking Bad, right?). Give one of these 10 money-making side gigs a try!

1. Offer your tutoring services

You’ve already mastered the gift of teaching—why not put it to more good use? Check out your school’s policies on tutoring, as there may already be a system in place for teachers to make extra money after school. If not, you can always try working for an online service like Tutor.com, and many cities have local tutoring businesses you can apply to as well.

2. Sell your lesson plans and classroom materials

Teachers Pay Teachers is a classroom staple these days for cute, well designed, and engaging classroom lessons. If you’ve been teaching for a while, chances are you’ve created plenty of lessons and activities for yourself. Why not share your masterpieces with other educators and make some extra money in the process?

3. Become a coach

Did you participate in sports when you were in school? Were you an avid dancer throughout college? Even if you don’t still participate in these activities, many organizations look to hire not only former athletes but also ones who are currently educators because of the flexibility of their schedules. Check to see if any local districts are hiring (including your own!), or visit one of the many dance studios, YMCAs, or gyms in your area.

4. Sell a product you believe in

If you have a Facebook profile, you’ve most likely seen at least one post from a friend who is selling some sort of skincare product, health supplement, makeup, clothing line, or anything else you can think of! While there is some controversy to this route, many teachers swear by the extra income they make, and some even leave their full-time jobs to pursue a career in network marketing. Check out this article by WeAreTeachers to learn more.

5. Rent your place on Airbnb

If you’d rather spend your free time traveling instead of working a second job, look no further than Airbnb. By providing insurance and charging guest taxes directly, this is an incredibly easy option to make additional cash by renting out your extra space (as long as you don’t mind sharing it with others!). Pro tip: leaving delicious chocolates on your guests’ pillows leads to five-star reviews.

6. Open an Etsy shop

Are you the teacher who everyone secretly envies because your classroom is “Pinterest perfect”? If you’re naturally crafty and love a good creative outlet, capitalize on your talents with an Etsy shop! For every crafty teacher who wants to make everything in his or her classroom, there’s always one (or more) who would rather just buy it online—and pay you for it.

7. Write for an educational website

There’s a reason they’re called “educational websites!” A lot of times, most of the articles on these types of sites are written by former or current educators. After all, you’re the ones with the experience. Never freelanced before? Find a site you’d like to work for, get familiar with the type of writing it publishes, and then try pitching a strong article on something it doesn’t already have! Some of our favorites are WeAreTeachers, EdSurge, and Edutopia—plus, you could write for us!

8. Be a pet sitter

Calling all animal-loving teachers! You already swoon at the idea of meeting new furry friends, which makes pet sitting an easy and fun way to make extra money. Try out one of the many pet sitting apps like Rover, and build yourself a profile. A lot of these new companies allow you to host either at your house or the owner’s, making it an incredibly flexible part-time gig after class too.

9. Drive for a delivery service

If you like driving but, at the end of the day, need some quite time away from people, driving for a delivery service could be for you! You can get just about anything delivered to your door these days, and there are companies popping up all over the place that specialize in providing this service. DoorDash and Postmates are two good options, but there are plenty of local services as well. Many of these companies allow you to pick your hours, so they can be great for teachers with unpredictable schedules.

10. Become part of the #FitFam

While some teachers consider corralling a group of rowdy 4th graders all day long plenty of exercise, there are many who enjoy a more organized activity for burning calories. Getting certified in one of the many “fitness guru” areas could help you knock out both your workout, and your part-time job! Becoming an instructor for yoga, spin, or other fitness classes is a great way to stay healthy and earn extra money (plus save some on a gym membership) before or after school, and during the summers!

Once you’ve gotten started with your own side hustle, be sure to reward yourself for all of your hard work—both inside and outside the classroom! Check out these 8 Ways for Educators to Treat Yo’Self!