Top 12 Online Jobs for Students 2024

Top 12 Online Jobs for Students

 Many college students know all too well the struggle of balancing classes, homework, and extracurriculars. While adding a part-time job to the mix may seem overwhelming, it's a solid way to bring in extra cash and build work experience that you can add to your resume after graduation.

The good news is that part-time jobs are no longer limited to in-store retail or waitressing. There are now many online jobs that allow you to work from home while you manage your schedule and build skills that will transfer to your chosen career path.

Throughout this article, we'll explore the 15 best online jobs to earn extra money while pursuing anything from a bachelor's degree to a PhD.

Top Online 12 Jobs for Students:

1. Social Media Manager
2. Online tutor
3. Freelance writer
4. Transcriptionists
5. Graphic designer
6. Web Designer
7. Video editor
8. Proofreader
9. Photo editor
10. Interpreter
11. Photographer
12. Voice over artist

1. Social Media Manager

If your parents ever scolded you for spending too much time on social media platforms in high school, we have some good news for you! You can turn your knowledge of platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok into a lucrative side hustle, even if you're not an influencer.

In 2024, the number of social media users worldwide reached 4.95 billion and is predicted to reach nearly 6 billion by 2027. This number has caught the attention of businesses in almost every industry, not surprisingly.

If you're majoring in a field like marketing, graphic design or communications, social media management may be the part-time job for you. Social media management can include creating and posting content to a client's social media accounts, analyzing engagement, interacting with readers, and more.

While every client has their own unique needs, starting with small businesses and working your way up can be the best way to build a solid resume. The average social media manager can earn anywhere from $14 to $35 per hour on Upwork.

2. Online tutor

Remote tutoring can work part-time for teachers of all backgrounds and skill levels. If you're majoring in education, online tutoring can be a great introduction to working with students from grade school through high school.

But keep in mind that not all tutoring jobs involve working with children. Adult learners often hire tutors to teach them anything from finance to website development.

You can also sign up to be an English tutor for ESL learners on sites like Preply and Cambly, even if you don't have a bachelor's degree or any previous teaching experience. No matter what you specialize in, online tutoring is a great way to earn extra money by sharing your knowledge.

Online tutoring offers a flexible pay scale depending on the platform you choose to find your clients. Sites like Upwork and Preply allow tutors to set their own rates.

3. Freelance writer

If you're pursuing a major like English, journalism, or marketing, you'll have plenty of opportunities to put your skills to use as a freelance writer. Content writers enjoy a wide range of remote work opportunities, from YouTube and TikTok scripts to articles, sales copy, and posts for bloggers.

Freelance writing jobs also offer a lot of flexibility. As long as you meet your deadlines, you are free to complete projects on your schedule.

You'll also enjoy networking opportunities with clients across multiple industries and opportunities to build a professional resume. Depending on their specialty and experience, freelance writers on Upwork regularly earn between $15 and $40 an hour.

4. Transcriptionists (Top 12 Online Jobs for Students)

If you have typing skills, you should consider looking for remote jobs as a transcriptionist. Simply put, transcription involves converting an audio recording into a written document.

Beginners can find transcription work that includes typing meeting minutes for a business or closed captioning for a media producer. If you find that you enjoy transcription work, you may also consider getting certified to become a legal or medical transcriptionist.

Although these specialized transcription jobs often require certification, they also offer higher pay rates. They can also be a great way to gain additional familiarity with the field you hope to go into.

Transcriptionists on Upwork typically earn an average of $17 to $22 per hour.

5. Graphic designer

If you're a graphic design major with deep knowledge of Canva or Adobe Creative Suite tools like Photoshop and Illustrator, then why not get a head start on your career path?

From logos and promotional materials to printwork and digital content creation, clients in almost every industry rely on graphic designers for a wide range of needs.

Taking remote jobs while you're in college is a great way to earn money while supplementing your education with real-world experience. Don't hesitate to start with small projects that you believe you can master. This will ensure that you are able to build a solid list of network connections alongside your portfolio.

Depending on experience, graphic designers on Upwork can expect to earn an average of $40 to $75 per hour.

6. Web Designer (Top 12 Online Jobs for Students)

These days, the need for a high-quality website is a given for almost any business owner. If you are skilled in the art of web design, you should have no problem finding freelance jobs that will help you hone your skills.

Web design is a broad and diverse industry that includes professionals who use tools ranging from Adobe Creative Suite to HTML5. There are some web developers who specialize in UI/UX design or coding, while others use their skills to create WordPress pages or responsive websites.

Looking for different freelance jobs while still in school can be a helpful way to find the specializations you're most drawn to. Not to mention, class will be a lot more interesting when you can make money with the skills you learn on a daily basis!

7. Video editor

According to a recent report by HubSpot, short-form video is one of the most popular and fastest-growing trends among marketers today. Whether you plan to pursue video editing as a full-time career path or know your way around popular editing tools like Adobe After Effects or Premiere Pro, there are plenty of remote jobs out there for you.

Clients in a variety of industries are looking for video editors who can create anything from digital content to commercials or movies. If you have the necessary knowledge and technical skills for the job, be sure to check out Upwork's video editing job postings.

Freelance video editors regularly earn $15 to $30 an hour on Upwork.

8. Proofreader

From journalism and print to product copy, typos are a nightmare for professionals in countless industries. This is why many people are always looking for proofreaders who can prevent spelling and grammar mistakes from creeping into the final copy.

Whether you're an English major or just have a keen eye for detail, freelance proofreading can be a great part-time side hustle. As AI-generated content continues to grow in popularity, so does the demand for reliable proofreaders that can spot any errors that affect readability.

Proofreading professionals on Upwork can expect to bring in between $18 and $35 per hour on average.

9. Photo editor

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but for many professionals a well-edited photo is priceless. Photo editors use their skills to do everything from touching up photos to completely changing them as per the client's needs.

Many people also use tools like Photoshop to combine and edit images for social media, marketing campaigns, or other advertising. If you're pursuing a degree in a major like graphic design, fine arts, or photography, freelance photo editing may be the part-time job for you.

That said, Upwork is home to clients from a variety of industries looking for photo editors at all levels. As long as you are familiar with the tools needed to get the job done, don't be afraid to apply for freelance photo editing jobs regardless of your field of study.

You can expect to work flexible hours while earning $10 to $25 per hour

10. Interpreter (Top 12 Online Jobs for Students)

Whether you're majoring in language studies or simply speaking two or more languages, all you need is an internet connection to turn your skills into a part-time job. Today's global economy has created a high demand for translators who can reliably translate English into a wide variety of different languages.

Whether you're fluent in Spanish, Chinese, Russian, or dozens of other languages, Upwork is home to great paying translation clients. Just make sure you only apply for jobs that you're fluent in, and that you'll enjoy enough remote work to fit into your schedule.

Translators on Upwork typically earn an average of $15 to $30 per hour.

11. Photographer

If you have access to high-quality camera equipment (or can rent it from your school's photography department), remote photography could be a part-time job for you. Some photographers specialize in live local events such as weddings or graduations.

Others are paid to take photos of food for restaurant menus or to photograph products for Amazon or Shopify listings. If you have friends who are studying fields like copywriting, marketing, or graphic design, you can also consider teaming up to start your own online business.

While the pay scale can vary widely depending on the project, photographers on Upwork bring in an average of $25 to $45 an hour.

12. Voice over artist

If you're a theater or communications major, a part-time job as a voice-over artist might be right up your alley. Clients hire voice-over actors to produce audio tracks for social media videos, commercials, video games, and a wide range of other projects.

While not all clients require you to keep your own recording equipment, you may be able to charge higher prices if you do. You'll want to start by creating a demo reel that includes sample readings so potential clients can get a feel for your unique voice and abilities.

Voiceover artists on Upwork set their own rates, which can vary widely depending on the length and scope of the work, as well as the artist's skills and experience.

Start a job online for a successful career path.

Online jobs are often a good fit for college students, as many have the opportunity to gain real-world skills without having to work according to a traditional employer's schedule. If you're new to freelancing, check out Upwork's resources to learn more about a typical day in the life of a freelancer.