The college student who survives on pizza and ramen isn’t necessarily a stereotype. For some students, loans and scholarships aren’t always enough. And while working part-time throughout the college years is fairly common, you may not have reliable transportation to get you to an off-campus job, and competition for on- or near-campus jobs can be fierce.
Fortunately, there are other options. Working a remote job as a college student is possible. You just have to know where to look and what kinds of remote jobs for college students are out there.
>>MORE: Still deciding what you want out of your career? Try our free career quiz for college students.
What Are Jobs for College Students?
When we say “jobs for college students,” we mean part-time or summer jobs — so, jobs you can do in your spare time that leave you with enough time to go to class, study, and enjoy hanging out with friends. Examples of typical college student employment include:
- Camp counselor
- Retail clerk
- Barista
- Waitstaff
There are, of course, plenty of other types of jobs for college students, but these are some of the more common ones. Why? They are all in-person jobs that you’ll likely find on or near a college campus when you may not have a car or access to reliable public transportation.
However, some college students prefer to work a remote job, which doesn’t require you to report to a particular location to do the work. You can perform the job from anywhere with an internet connection (almost!).
Why College Students Might Want a Remote Job
College students may want a remote job for many of the same reasons people pursue remote work in general.
- Flexibility. Remote jobs are often flexible, meaning you have the ability to choose when you work. This makes it easier to fit the job around your class schedule and other responsibilities.
- It goes with you. While there are some rules about where you can work a remote job, you can perform many of the tasks from your dorm room or any work or living space. So, when you go home for summer vacation, you may be able to work a remote job over break and continue when you return to campus.
- Remote work saves money. One of the advantages of a remote job is that you don’t have to commute. This, in turn, saves money since you don’t have to buy gas or pay for public transportation. And when you’re a college student, saving money is an essential life skill!
Top 10 Remote Jobs for College Students
Does a remote job sound ideal for your situation? If so, don’t get caught thinking remote jobs for college students aren’t a thing — or that remote work is only for people with either a college degree or extensive work experience. Fortunately, there are plenty of jobs for college students that also happen to be remote!
Here are some ideas to kick-start your remote college job search.
1. Tech Support
Average pay: $29.61 per hour
Not everyone is as tech-savvy as they want to be, and that’s where tech support comes in. Working this kind of remote job in college is a great way to develop your hard and soft skills. In addition to helping people figure out why their tech isn’t behaving, you’ll work with a wide variety of customers who may be difficult to please, which will help you flex all sorts of interpersonal and communication skills.
Some companies even have remote tech jobs specifically for college students — like working at Apple as a remote support college advisor.
2. Customer Service Representative
Average pay: $19.80 per hour
Customer service representative is another great remote job for college students. It’s similar to tech support in that you’re working with the public. But, in general, you aren’t helping customers navigate technical issues. You’re more likely to track down lost packages, help with returns, and possibly schedule appointments.
3. Editor
Average pay: $40.78 per hour
If your friends describe you as a “grammar nerd,” working as a remote editor might be the right job for you. You’ll help writers take their prose, essay, or paper to the next level. What’s great about this job is you don’t have to be a regular employee for another company — you can work for yourself as an independent contractor.
4. Tutor
Average pay: $21.55 per hour: $21.55 per hour
Working as a tutor is also an excellent remote job for college students. If you’re proficient in a particular subject, being a tutor allows you to earn some cash and help others. What’s more, you don’t have to work for a tutoring company. Like other jobs on this list, you can work for yourself and be the boss. And while on-campus tutoring is often possible, virtual tutoring can help you extend your services to more people.
5. Brand Ambassador
Average pay: $44.02 per hour
Working as a brand ambassador is more of a hybrid role in that much of the job is in-person. Think: handing out swag, signing people up, and so on. However, being a brand ambassador is a great remote job for college students because the work is flexible and usually doesn’t require a commute since most of the work takes place on or near campus, though you’ll likely have some preparation work to do that is remote.
Omnichannel Marketing
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Avg. Time: 4 hours
Skills you’ll build: Project management, product development, marketing principles, data analysis
6. Writer
Median pay: $44.02 per hour
As a writer, you can work for yourself or a company. And as a college student, you may think you’re limited to helping other students write papers for class. However, there are options outside of college essays. You could write articles for a website, copy for social media, or even ad copy.
7. Virtual Assistant
Average pay: $20.87 per hour
When you think of remote jobs for college students, virtual assistant probably doesn’t leap to mind. But being a virtual assistant allows you to help one or more clients with tasks. This could include things like booking airline tickets or hotel reservations, managing someone’s calendar, or responding to their emails.
8. Data Entry
Average pay: $18.26 per hour: $18.26 per hour
While data entry may not be everybody’s idea of a good time, it can be an excellent remote job for college students. In addition to having a computer and keypad, data entry requires strong attention to detail. If you’re a fast typer and spot mistakes easily, this may be the ideal role for you.
9. Coding
Average pay: $49.42 per hour
Aspiring coders and software engineers often work on passion projects in their spare time. But why not get paid for those, too? Coding and website design have always been excellent remote jobs and can be the perfect remote job for college students. You can find plenty of part-time and freelance opportunities helping small companies and individuals design and maintain their websites.
Know the Code
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Avg. Time: 5-6 hours
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10. Social Media
Average pay: $54.73 per hour
No matter how you feel about social media, it’s here to stay. What’s more, it’s not just a place for funny cat videos or the latest viral challenge. Social media is also a form of digital marketing. So, if you’re interested in a marketing career, consider a job in social media. It’s well suited to remote work, and the hours are generally flexible.
Not sure what job is right for you? Check out Forage’s virtual job simulations. They’re free and help you master the skills you’ll need to land a job.
Image credit: Canva
