The 14 Best Part Time Jobs for Students in Grad School

Saddled with loans or living off increasingly smaller stipends, grad students often need part-time jobs to get by in the real world. Luckily, grad students can take on work in their field, where their skills are worth a premium, or any kind of work so that they can pay the bills on time again. Balancing grad school studies and work isn't easy though, so you'll want to find flexible work.

This is a great way to get a lot of bang for your buck — and as a graduate student, you can charge a high hourly rate for your expertise, arrange tutoring sessions so they fit in with your schedule, and even have your clients meet you on campus so you’re not wasting any travel time. If you don’t feel like taking the time to find students, there are tons of tutoring companies that will set you up with clients, even remotely.

Depending on your field, you may be able to offer consulting services. Businesses are constantly looking for experts to help them work on projects and solve problems, and as a graduate student, you have a lot to offer. Consulting has the added benefit of being a great resume builder, and may even lead to you launch a full-scale business upon graduating.

Nonprofits are notoriously understaffed and are always looking for new funding. If you’re a strong writer, consider looking for part-time grant writing work. Aside from giving you measurable results to put on your resume, grant writing can be done at home and on your own schedule. It’s also a great way to build up a professional network before you’re searching for a full-time job. Idealist.org is a great place to look for nonprofit work, and you can filter for part time or even remote work.

If you’re fluent in another language, freelance translating is a flexible way to earn extra income. Graduate students can also use this opportunity to network with companies that might be potential employers when they graduate. Particularly if you speak a less well-known language, this can be a great way to get to know people in your field.

Similarly, many small businesses don’t have the staff, time or skills to keep their websites and social media updated and fresh. Writing content for either social media posts or a company’s blog is a win-win, relieving a business owner of a tiring task, and helping you make some extra money while learning more about a specific industry.

Being a graduate student, you probably have strong attention to detail and the ability to power through work others find boring or difficult. Part-time administrative work, such as data entry, reconciliation reports or filing can offer a steady schedule and a reliable source of income if you find the right company.

If you aced the SAT but can’t stand the thought of spending your evening in a room full of high school students, consider writing practice SAT questions for test prep companies who need material for online practice tests and their printed books. These businesses often seek out people who are highly knowledgeable about specific content areas. 

Check if your university is hiring library desk staff — you’ll be ready to study as soon as you’re off the clock, plus you’ll have lots of downtime for your own reading. This job is relatively low-key and can give you time to get plenty of studying and work done, all while making money.

Dogs and exercise are both great ways to relieve stress. With a less traditional 9-to-5 schedule, dog walking is a fun way to make some extra cash. Check out sites like Rover or Wag to build a client base. Plus, you'll be able to be around puppies, even if you don't have your own. What could be better?

Caretaking is a job that will make you feel good too. Check out Care.com or call a local senior center. Many seniors need daily or weekly help with things like cooking, grocery shopping, or getting a ride to appointments. Ask around and see if any professors with young children need an extra babysitter and you may find yourself the department hero.

And last but not least, there’s always the classic fallback of bartending — the quintessential college student job. Though the hours can be tiring, you’ll get to meet lots of interesting characters and learning how to make fancy cocktails is a gift that keeps on giving. Plus, you can make plenty of fast cash in tips.