7 Ways to Earn Extra Income as a Teacher

Teaching is one of the most rewarding professions you can pursue and offers a lifetime of career opportunities. While New Jersey’s median teacher salary of $68,893 places New Jersey in the top ten of states with the highest-paying median teaching salaries, teachers early in their careers or teachers just looking for a little extra money may want to use their free evenings or summers to pursue the many options available to them to earn supplemental income. Read on to see the top seven ways you can capitalize on both your teaching skills and spare time to earn extra money.

1. Publish Your Lesson Plans and Get Paid

Teachers are already lesson plan pros, so why not earn extra money from the hard work you put into your curriculum and help others learn at the same time?

• Plan, record, and publish your lesson plans online with Udemy a learning platform which allows its community of students to purchase courses to further their educational goals. Once you upload your lesson, it can be purchased again and again, creating a passive revenue stream for you which on average can earn between $1,500 to $3,000 per month!

2. Offer Private and Group Tutoring Sessions

Learning doesn’t end in the classroom, and parents are always looking for teachers to hire for private tutoring sessions. Tutoring can be a lucrative side job where you can use your skills to earn extra income during the summer and after-school.

• Make an online profile on a site that matches tutors with students like Care.com and set your specialty or area of study to help families connect with you. Average rates start around $14.75 but can be much higher depending on your subject area. See what you can earn by setting up your profile!

• Create your tutoring business by making a profile on an app like Wyzant which functions as a tutoring jobs marketplace, offering both in-person and remote tutoring opportunities. Students can find you based on your free profile where you can set your own rates and Wyzant takes care of the rest.

3. Become a Freelance Writer on the Side

As a teacher, you’re likely well-versed in the communication arts, so why not try your hand as a writer in your spare time? There are several outlets for teachers to get paid as freelance writers, especially writing for educational industry magazines. Here are some great ways to get started:

• Search education-focused publications for writing opportunities, such as Teachers & Writers Magazine, the American School Board Journal, and American Educator.

• Get social about looking for freelance work by following job board accounts like @Write_Jobs and @WhoPaysWriters to stay up-to-date on the latest writing opportunities.

• Writer’s Markets are directory of publications organized by speciality that pay for freelance writers’ submissions. You can browse and pitch your story ideas via sites like All Freelance Writing and start writing!

• There are several job board resources online, from paid platforms like Contenta to free sites like LinkedIn Jobs, Craigslist and Reddit - start by looking for work that falls under your interests. Happy typing!

4. Remotely Teach English as a Second Language

There's a huge demand for teaching English as a second language. Rates for remote tutoring range from $14-20 per hour and offer flexible schedules, making it a perfect way to earn extra income in your spare time. Take a look at some online platforms that make one-on-one or group tutoring sessions a snap – all you need is a computer, a webcam, and wifi of course!

• VIPKID offers one-on-one online sessions with rates that range from $14 to $22 per hour. The service also provides lesson plans and manages communication with parents, so you can focus on teaching.

• Qkids also sets the lesson plans for their teachers, most of whom average about 10-20 hours per week teaching English remotely. They also offer several incentives and bonuses for teachers with more time to dedicate to lessons.

5. Become A Nanny or Childcare Provider

When school is out but work isn’t, many parents need to find childcare for their kids and teachers are in high demand. See below for ways to find opportunities to connect with families in need.

• Go digital and create a free profile on a site like Care.com, SitterCity, and Sitters.com. From there, set your availability and rates, and start sitting!

• Go local and post an ad in your community – at coffee shops, daycare centers, doctor’s offices, churches, and schools. Just be sure to put safety first and meet in a public space or with someone you trust.

6. Start A Petcare Side Hustle

Interested in caregiving, but of the four-legged variety? Try pet sitting and walking for dogs and cats (and more!). Pet caregiving is always in high-demand and provides a steady side job for any pet lover with some spare time.

• Sign up for a free account with Rover, Wag, DogVacay and Care.com to name a few. Most require you have a smartphone to use their apps, which connect pet parents with potential sitters/walkers. Rates range differently for sitting, boarding, and walking, with most part-time workers earning around $1,000 per month, or around $12 per hour.

• Do an online search locally in your community for pet sitting and walking services and see what comes up. Just be sure to work with a company that is licensed, bonded, and insured to protect both you and your soon-to-be newest furry friends!

7. Get Paid for Ridesharing with Lyft or Uber

Rideshare apps are as popular as ever and new drivers are always in high demand. Like most other side jobs, driving for Uber or Lyft allows you to set your own hours and on average earns you around $14-17 per hour. Not interested in driving in your spare time but you do have a commute? Consider signing up for “Destination Mode” on either app, which allows you to continue on your route and pick someone up along the way, earning you money for miles you already have to drive!

These are just some of the many ways teachers can earn extra income in their spare time when school’s out. For those interested in finding new teaching opportunities, check out our post featuring the latest teaching jobs available in New Jersey and follow @RutgersAltRoute on Twitter for more updates.