Today we’re addressing what is affectionally called the side hustle: ways educators can earn additional income beyond their teaching duties.
In a sane world, teaching would be one of the highest-paid professions. The reality is that teachers in the US have an income gap between what they are paid vs. their cost of living. According to a PEW Research Study, 1 of 6 teachers in the United States have second jobs year-round, not just during the summer. And while part-time jobs can be lucrative, they can also be draining, especially after a day of teaching. But there is hope! Read on to see resources and options to help you find a side hustle that fits you!
First, consider hobbies, skills, or talents you could share with the world. What educator skills would be helpful to people outside the field? Think of places you love to shop or visit, your favorite ways to stretch your creativity, and the time you realistically have for a side hustle. Each of these factors plays into how you create your side hustle experience. Remember to look for balance in the extra commitment, along with attention to balance, time management, time away from family, and flexibility.
There are side hustles built especially for teachers, like selling lesson plans, templates, and handouts through Teachers Pay Teachers. Investigating this avenue is a great first step, especially if you have purchased from a marketplace and have been pleased with the result. Here’s a tutorial for selling on Teachers Pay Teachers to get you started!
Below are three side hustle categories: All About Education, Bon Appetit!, and Playground for Your Brain.
All About Education
As an educator, I researched how to transfer skills to different opportunities with writing, proofing, and editing as my side hustle.
Finding people who need your services can happen organically through word of mouth in your community or social media networks, local colleges or universities, bulletin boards at your local coffee shop, or you can go big by joining a marketplace. There will be a fee for the larger skill-focused marketplaces and of course they will take a cut, but your qualifications will have a bigger reach. Start local, and get the word out through friends and family to build interest before you commit to something larger.
Rebecca from Bosssinglemama.com shares an important piece of advice to those pursuing a side hustle through writing, editing, or proofing skills: don’t lowball yourself, or complete writing jobs for free! Consider what you want your per-hour rate to be and stick to it. Keep in mind, sometimes the online marketplaces set your rate according to education, experience, and demonstrated skills.
Bon Appetit!
There are many ways to connect food to a side hustle, and an obvious first suggestion is to look into bartending, serving, or another task as a member of a restaurant's staff. These resto-related jobs can be lucrative but require both physical stamina and a commitment to hours worked. If energetic and people-facing jobs appeal to you, I’d highly recommend researching this option.
Have a banana bread that knocks your friends’ socks off? Do people request your special blackberry jam? Feel like creating seasoning mixes from your garden herbs? Dig into the idea of selling your creations! You’ll want to research regulations for selling food, but once you’ve learned, go for it! You can even investigate how you can sell your well-tested recipes to other food lovers and aspiring cooks!
Playground for Your Brain
Explore your local gift shops and specialty stores. Often, they pay above minimum wage, have flexible work times, and even offer generous discounts on employee purchases. If you like working with customers and a team atmosphere, I’d highly recommend seeking out part-time employment in an established retail business as a possible side-hustle. Be prepared to use that discount!
Do you have any hidden creative talents? Use these talents to create and sell your homemade goods to boost your income, and give your brain a needed creativity break.
Like every side hustle, this route takes a bit of preparation and research to determine where and how you would like to sell your fine creations. Social media is a solid place to start, as free advertising and access to the seller. There is power in working with a marketplace model like Etsy, but don’t overlook organizations in your community holding craft sales (especially in November/December). Plus, small businesses in your area may work with you on a consignment model: they take a percentage of your sales and you are responsible for the display and refreshing the selection.
No matter what you choose, it’s a wonderful thing to be rewarded for something you enjoy. As with the freelancing we discussed above, you need to make sure you are paid what you are worth. Remember, how much you make and sell is completely at your control- don't overwork yourself! Once this side hustle stops feeling like a great creative outlet, consider shifting to another idea to protect your passion.
There are too many side hustles ideas to include them all here, so you should definitely look around and chat with your colleagues. No matter your side hustle, look for ways to fuel your passion so you can maintain balance and enjoy your work- all of it!
These resources can help you get started on your side hustle:
- “12 Amazing Side Hustles for Teachers to Earn Extra Money,” by Matt Williams, Side Hustle Startup
- “17 Best Part-time Jobs for Teachers,”by Bobby Hoyt, Millennial Money Man
- “35 Best Online Proofreading Jobs for Beginners,” via bossinnglemama.com
- “50+ Crafts You Can Make and Sell in 2021 {For extra cash this month},” from whatmommydoes
- “Cooking as a Side Hustle,” from ApexStatus
- “How Can I Get an Editing Job from Home?” by Angie Nelson, The Work at Home Wife
- “How to Keep Your Side Hustle from Messing Up Your Taxes,” from Ramsey Solutions
- Resources, from Side Hustle for Teachers.com
- “These 15 Companies Hire for Remote Editing,” from FlexJobs
- Remember to Google “Side Hustles for Teachers”: resources abound online!
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