Side hustles for teachers 2022

Are you a teacher in need of an exit plan or extra money? Choosing and working one of these teacher side hustles may be your answer.

There are just too many teachers who feel they have no other choice but to continue teaching in districts that don’t support them or pay them what they are worth.

Ever since I made the video, How I Started My Own School, so many teachers have expressed how they wished they could do the same or simply leave for something else.

However, many of them felt they were too dependent on their teacher’s salary to even think about leaving.

As a teacher who created options for herself, I refuse to believe teachers have to be stuck. You need a plan and a side hustle.

While I understand that some can’t just pick up and leave their teaching jobs today, I wholeheartedly believe they can plan to.  If that is what they want to do.

Better yet, stay with peace of mind.

You have to start somewhere and if you don’t, you will find yourself in the same place next year watching other teachers face their fears to pursue freedom and happiness.

Read this article and see what interests you. You can also browse this complete list of side hustle ideas to explore your options.

Can teachers have side hustles that are successful?

Not only can teachers have side hustles, but starting a teacher side hustle can be the avenue you need to eventually replace your teacher income or simply add to it.

The issue most teachers have is that they are not financially secure enough to quit teaching or to feel totally secure in it alone. 

That is why teacher side hustles are the best answer.

They allow you to keep your job (adding some security while you build and work your side hustle).

You get to supplement your income and if you eventually match your income or beyond,  it gives you more options.

Having options opens so many doors for us physically and mentally.

For many of us, teaching is a ministry. But the bills still need to be paid. 

I’ve thoroughly researched these teacher side hustles that have the potential to not only earn you extra money but has the potential to replace your teacher income. 

You just have to make the decision to engage in one or two that feel right for you. 

These are not “get rich quick”  jobs (although you could for sure be the lucky one).

In either case, quick or steady pace, you have to have the confidence, belief and put in a little work to make it happen.

And my dear teacher friend, it can happen. These are tried and true teacher side hustles that have transformed many teachers’ lives.

What is a good side hustle for a teacher?

The following list of teacher side hustles is good for teachers because you can work on all of these while you are still teaching.

Better yet, it will give you something to believe in and hope for while you pursue freedom and happiness even if you are mentally burned out right now.

The key is selecting one that feels right for you and taking ACTION.

Please know that I want to hold your hand and show you step by step how to get to your next. Make sure to join my email.

I will write detailed “how to” articles that will help you start and make money with your side hustle.

Let’s jump in and find out which teacher side hustle interests you.

LOAN SIGNING AGENT

If you are like me, you are asking, “What in the world is a loan signing agent (LSA)?”

A loan signing agent is someone who notarizes and certifies financial and legal documentation related to loan documents.

So they are a notary, but with a twist. 

Here’s the thing, a loan signing agent is a notary, but not all notaries are loan signing agents.

LSA’s are trained to process loan documents and are often used in the mortgage and financial services industries.

How much can I make?  You can make anywhere from $75 to $200 per signing (signings typically last an hour) depending on where you are getting your loaning signing offers from. 

According to Mark Wills, if you are getting your signings through loan signing services you make between $75 and $125.

However, if you are getting your jobs from escrow offices you can earn between $125 and $200. 

How do I start? Your first step is to become a notary, but remember it’s a little more to it. Read How To Become A Notary Signing Agent 

Quick question: Are you on our email list? If you’re a teacher who wants to own his/her time and not be dependent on your teaching job, you definitely want to be on our list where we send out teacher side job ideas as well as productivity tips, and inspiration to get through this tough yet awesome journey of being an educator this day in age. Click here to subscribe.

ORGANIZER & DECORATOR

If you are naturally gifted in the area of organization and making things look pretty and neat, congrats! You have found the perfect side hustle. 

It’s a bonus if you can create systems too. 

This field is wide open. You can do anything from helping teachers decorate and organize their classrooms to home organization and events. 

Not only have I hired people to come into my own home to organize, but I’ve paid someone to help with my classroom as well. 

It wasn’t easy to find someone, period, and staying within my budget was another thing.

Organization never goes out of style. There are always people looking for help.

Not all of us teachers have the ability to create IG (Instagram) worthy classrooms. But we want to.

Even if we can create it,  with all of the things that are required during preplanning, most teachers don’t have the time to focus on giving their room the look they want.

There are so many ways you can fill that gap.

Imagine spending your summer creating and cutting to make fellow teachers’ lives easier instead of teaching summer school. 

The ideas are turning in my head right now.

Not to mention, the services you can provide for stressed and overwhelmed moms who have executive function issues.

If I am speaking to you keep reading. 

How much can I make?  According to Salary, the average Professional Organizer’s salary in the United States is $49,020 as of August 29, 2022, but the salary range typically falls between $43,108 and $55,849. 

Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors.

How do I start? Your first step is to learn a little more about this industry and you can start by reading How to Become A Certified Professional Organizer As A Teacher. 

THE MIDDLE MAN TEACHER SIDE HUSTLE

I actually came across this on Facebook. I thought it was creative and genius.

This side hustle is where you position yourself as a middleman. Most importantly, you do little to NO work. 

How it works is that you select some service that you would offer. The key is this service has to be in demand and offered on a platform like Fiverr. 

Say for instance you offered web design services. You would list your service places like Craigs List and other places where people are looking for those services.

Once someone selects you to do their website, instead of doing the work you will outsource it to someone on Fiverr. 

This is just me personally; however, when I saw this, it was being positioned like anyone could do it. 

I don’t think it should be used like that. I think people who already do that service should do it as a way to be able to do more and finish faster.

REAL ESTATE AGENT

I’ll talk more about this in a future article. 

Becoming a real estate agent can be a very lucrative teacher side hustle. It also has the potential to replace your income. 

This can fit easily into your teacher’s schedule because of its flexibility. You can show homes in the evenings and on weekends.

Also, you will have a base (fellow teachers) to market to without even trying. 

Word of mouth is always the best marketing and you can be known as the teacher realtor. 

How much can I make?  Some people can make 40K+/- with 20 hours or less to over 100K+ with 40 hours or more.

Obviously, there are many factors here; however, according to Real Estate Express the more hours you put in the more you can make. 

Remember, because most teachers can’t up and quit teaching, I am all in favor of working a teacher side hustle as a real estate agent until it can replace their teacher’s salary.

How do I start? To become a real estate agent you need a real estate license, and requirements vary by state. 

Read about these two teachers, both have changed their lives via this industry. 

TRAVEL AGENT

Working as a travel agent is (in my Tony the Tiger voice) grrrrrreat teacher side hustle. 

I have to be honest with you, when I first heard about the travel agent business a few years ago, it was presented as a MLM (multi-level marketing) business.

I wasn’t impressed! Nothing against those types of businesses, but they never worked for me and I’ve tried several.

However, they did make me more business minded.

Nevertheless, I almost dismissed the opportunity in this industry until I had a heart-to-heart with my brother-in-love.

He gave me the real scoop. And that is you don’t have to run your travel business like a MLM.

What is also true is that you get to travel…for next to nothing and sometimes free while also making money. 

How much can I make? Generally, travel agents earn a commission off the travel packages they book for their clients. The bonus is that the client isn’t paying this commission.

What is also good is that a teacher could totally do this. 

You can work part-time- evenings and weekends and we can’t forget about summers.

How do I start? There are several different ways to enter this field. To learn more about it and to see if this is a good fit for you read How To Become A Travel Agent.

BOOKKEEPER

Hello math teacher or any other teacher who likes numbers. 

I feel like this is an industry that is wide open and as more and more people start small businesses the more it will grow.

Honestly, this is such an easy teacher side hustle. 

Although I am very transparent, I don’t always share numbers. Just for you, I am going to this time.

As many of you may know, I run a small non-profit. Although, I could totally learn how to do Quickbooks myself (referral program), with everything else I do it’s easier to outsource it.

I found someone who has given me a discount, a discount!

I send her my 12-month bank statements all at once (I don’t have many transactions, sometimes it’s only 5 to 7 transactions for the month).

She typically gets them back in two to three days. I pay her $1300. Remember, this is a discount and she gets all the documents I need back in 2 to 3 days.

I honestly think it takes her no time to do this, a few hours at the most. 

If you decide to do this and would like to help my nonprofit by giving us a deeper discount, I am totally open. LOL!

How much can I make? Of course, it depends on if you are working for someone or a freelancer. 

You can range from $15+ to $20+ an hour according to most reports, however, as a freelancer or contractor, you can actually earn a higher hourly rate while working fewer hours. 

How do I start? If you feel bookkeeping is for you, learn more about it by reading How To Become A Bookkeeper. 

PROOFREADER WITH A TWIST   

Hello English teachers!! And of course, any other teacher who likes to read and is good at catching those grammar mistakes. 

In other words, calling all words nerds. 🙂

So, I’ll share another little secret with you, teacher friend. That’s right, we are really friends now if I tell you this.

I am Dyslexic.

Spelling is my enemy. I don’t spell very well. Don’t be surprised if you see a mistake or two here.

I need people to proofread for me because I will totally spell one word thinking I spelled another. 

Since I am still building my business, I can’t hire someone for every single post yet, but as soon as I can I totally will.

In fact, I did pay someone to do my website copy. 

Just because I can’t afford it, that doesn’t mean that there are not people out there who can.

Have you ever heard of a scopist? 

Right, neither had I before researching for this article. The truth is there are so many places where the skill of proofing reading is needed.

Stick with me! Join my email list to not miss details on how you can turn this and other teacher side hustles into a potential full-time income. 

Trust me, becoming a proofreader (full or part-time) isn’t for everyone. 

With every job I present to you, I remind you to not force it. 

Don’t force yourself to do something you don’t like to get out of something that you don’t like.

But if you have a natural knack for spotting spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors and typos then this might be for you. 

Consider this especially if you naturally spot errors and you have that irresistible urge to correct them…you grammar police! LOL!

How much can I make? Your potential is endless just depending on how you work it, and how much you invest in becoming better and getting yourself out there. 

However, what I can promise is that this and every other job that is found on my blog can transform your life if you are willing to invest your time and effort.

Remember, these are NOT microwave jobs.

How do I start? To learn how to turn this into a teacher side hustle and maybe even a full-time income, read How To Become A Proofreader. 

Passive Income For Teachers

TEACHER SIDE HUSTLES: CONTENT CREATOR 

Hear me out! This isn’t hoop dreams. Trust me, this happens to be my favorite and one way I supplement my income. 

I like content creation because it can provide passive income for teachers and anyone else that creates it for that matter.

I truly own my time and I still get to help people. That is what we teachers like to do!

I also think introverted teachers could find this a great option and experience success if done the right way.  

There are several different things that you can do. You can use one or all of them.

Although I categorized these all under a content creator, this could actually be 4 different side hustle jobs for teachers.

However, people (like me) often do a combination of more than one at the same time.

By doing more than one of the following, you create multiple income streams:

• Blog
• Youtube
• Podcast
• Affiliate Marketing 

Now this will take some time (for most of us anyway). However, with strategy and a plan it doesn’t have to take forever before you start making money.

Also, once you start making it, you will be making it in your sleep. That’s right!

Anytime anyone watches one of my Youtube videos, I make money. 

One other thing, you don’t need a million followers. There are plenty of small content creators doing well. 

I count myself among them, although I still have goals that I would like to meet.

I am hoping in a few more months this blog will help me meet those goals. I’ll be sure to keep you updated.

Join our email list and be the first to know when I write a more detailed article about how to increase your likelihood of success if you are interested in one of these.

TEACHER SIDE HUSTLE: TRANSLATOR 

Can you speak a second language? 

According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for translators is projected to grow 20 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Guess what? With a little different take, this will make a GREAT niche for a Youtube channel. 

Teach English, Spanish, German or some other language people are interested in learning. (That was free because you are my friend.) 

Even if you don’t want to make videos, working as a translator is a great side job for teachers.

TEACHER SIDE HUSTLE: TRAVEL NANNY 

This will work more for someone who doesn’t have a family, but I had to add it because there is BIG bucks to be made with the right family.

I couldn’t believe how much some nannies make. Considering, teacher breaks and summers, this may work.

You could find yourself with a family who wishes to hire you full-time to not only take care of their children but teach them as well.

Many nannies have backgrounds in teaching. What parent wouldn’t want to hire you?

The question becomes can they afford you?

How much can I make? According to ZipRecruiter, in Atlanta, a travel nanny makes $43.56 an hour.

Don’t get caught up with the fact that it’s not in your city or state. Remember, it’s a travel nanny!

This is worth your summer break! And it beats teaching summer school. 

Teacher Side Hustle: Meal Prep Service

I really hope you guys are appreciating this list and the fact that for many of these side jobs for teachers, I am actually doing or have done interviews with actual teachers.

Make sure you sign-up for my emails to hear from real teachers who are or have done these jobs. 

Meal prepping is hugely popular nowadays.

Between people trying to lose weight and those who simply don’t have enough hours in the day, there is potential here.

Do you love cooking?

Don’t take this skill for granted. There are so many people who would love to utilize this service.

One reason I know this to be true is that I’ve used a meal prep service before, actually two different ones. 

One I tried because I wanted healthier foods and the other because I was just burnt out. 

I needed a break from cooking. But I also didn’t want fast food. 

There is so much potential here and I would LOVE to help you explore your options.

Comment below if you have questions and don’t forget to sign up for my email list so you will be the first to know when I interview real teachers doing this.

SIDE HUSTLE FOR TEACHERS: HOUSE CLEANER

Don’t you dare say, “I didn’t go to school to clean nobody’s house.”

I didn’t either! But I also didn’t go to school to be trained in a job where I am overworked, underpaid, and unappreciated.

Not to mention the burnout and mental health problems some of us experience from it.

If I can really speak to you teacher to teacher, not enough people in general work in fields or jobs where we are naturally suited and flow with grace.

We have allowed society to dictate what’s desirable and what’s not. 

There are people owning and working blue-collar jobs leading much happier lives than people who have degrees.

Honestly, I want my children to attend college; however, I am encouraging them to start businesses at a young age in things that they are good at.

And if they decide not to go to college or if their teen side hustle looks promising, I will support them.

I told you guys before that you are my friends. My heartbeat is always to help my friends.

Apart of being a good friend is being transparent. I get my house cleaned twice a month at a rate of $140 each time.

My wonderful house cleaner with her hired help, takes about two hours to complete my house. I LOVE that she is in and out!

She does several houses in a day. Her calendar is full!!! You do the math.

Moving on…

TEACHER SIDE HUSTLE: AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM

Ok, so usually I don’t like to necessarily suggest side hustles that involve “school” however, again just depending on you and your resources this could work.

Here is where I feel like niching makes the world of difference. 

We are used to afterschool programs all pretty much looking the same. But, why not have something that stands out?

Many parents like the idea of getting their child involved in interest-related activities/classes or need base.

You can develop an afterschool program that specializes in reading, math, or science. 

You could do one that offers coding, photography, acting, or art classes. 

Your earring potential could be enormous with less effort if you hire other people to help teach your classes. 

If you would like for me to explore this more, showing you step-by-step how you can develop your own program join my email list so you will be the first to know. 

TUTORING AS A TEACHER SIDE HUSTLE 

Since we are on education-related side hustles, I can’t leave off tutoring.

I love this because you still can control your time and you have EVERYTHING you need to be successful at this.

The flexibility and ability to set your own rates is my favorite part. That’s if you start your own business.

I strongly, highly recommend that you do. It’s easier than you think.

Once you’ve worked with your first client and had great success, it’s easy to grow through word-of-mouth referrals. 

SUMMER CAMP SIDE HUSTLE FOR TEACHERS

Summer Camp is yet another teacher side hustle I consider related to school. Like Tutoring, I feel like the success is in the niche.

I know I talk about niche and niching a lot. If you don’t understand what I mean, I will tell you more about it later. So make sure you follow the blog.

Do the math: I pay $120 to $140 for my child’s camps. By the way, that is weekly.

All it takes is a good idea that people know about.

FREELANCING AS A TEACHER’S SIDE HUSTLE 

According to a study by Upwork and Freelancers Union, 57 million Americans freelanced in 2019 and 53% of workers aged 18-22 are freelancing.

More companies, small businesses, and influencers are looking for freelance workers.

Often freelancing is flexible with no long-term commitment although it could be.

I’ve hired someone to manage my Pinterest account and she only worked with a few clients at a time. I’ve also hired a graphic designer to help me create my school branding.

She was only looking to supplement her income while she worked on personal projects.

There are lots of things you could do that suit your skills and talents.

However, here are 4 I believe teachers, in general, could do and this is not taking into consideration your natural gifts and talents:

• Virtual Assistant
• Social Media Marketing
• Online Research
• Customer Service
• Graphic Designer

WRITER & EDITOR 

Hello teachers, especially English teachers and those with language backgrounds, you were born for this.

Whether it’s editing (one job) or writing (several focuses can also mean several jobs), this for sure fits the teacher side hustle with the potential to turn into your mean hustle. 

I hired a fellow teacher to edit my self-published book. 

Did I mention that the following are awesomely suited for introverted teachers? 

• Technical Writer
• Copy Writer
• Content Writer 

BUSINESS/LIFE COACH SIDE HUSTLE FOR TEACHERS

Again, this can be two different side hustles or two in one. 

I know the life coaching industry is over-saturated and unregulated. But, that doesn’t mean they are not needed because they are.

One of the general statements I make about teachers is that we often have low confidence. Think about it!

I feel like our relationship with the districts we work for is like that of being in a bad relationship and being codependent. 

Often you want to go, but for whatever reason, you can’t and you feel like we need each other.

Sometimes people do confuse the two (business/life coach) and they can be vastly different.

A Life Coach works on a personal level whereas a Business Coach works with the client on a professional level.

I was blessed to work with Sara Torpey who is a coach that helps to uncomplicate business for teachers, helpers, and givers.

The work she did with me was a little of both. I had so much fear, low confidence, and imposter syndrome. 

However, we worked through or with those things. This blog is wholeheartedly the result of my work with her.

To be honest, I made back half my investment in her coaching program within only 4 months of working with her.

I can’t wait to share more about how you can become a coach if you feel suited for this. We can get all the details from Sara, who is a former teacher herself. 

Get on my email list, so you will not miss her interview. 

TEACHER SIDE HUSTLES: TAX PREPARER 

Tax preparation! Man, it’s the seasonal part and flexibility for me. 

I partnered with a family member in another state to open a tax business. Man! It was a fun journey.

Times are a little different now; however, there are still people who rely on others for this and get charged way too much. 

Fill the gap!

Here’s a secret: All you need for a successful business is to meet a need, and become trusted and known.

Final Side Businesses for Teachers

PHOTOGRAPHY 

I’ve added this one as a tribute more than anything to my dear friend Janis Richards, Widget as she referred to herself on social media.

Of course, this is a legit teacher side hustle. However, in my heart, it’s more about preserving her memory in the teacher world.

She was so talented. Richards, as I called her, used her photography superpowers for her students, friends, and family.

Inner city Atlanta is where she worked and served kids with severe and profound disabilities.

She would dress them in a Santa hat and send them home with the most beautiful Christmas portraits. 

Richards did my first video for my school for FREE, I might add; however, the next one I was supposed to pay for it. 

I did get to pay for the maternity and newborn sessions she did for my second child.

Richards enjoyed photography and was good at it; she was also a teacher. She was GREAT at it. Rest my dear friend! 

PET CARE & SERVICES 

Where are my pet-lover teacher friends? Pet sitting and dog walking has become a thing.

People LOVE their animals like family.

I would not consider myself the biggest animal lover, but Jazz was my baby. Every year and often several times a year, we paid for a dog sitter.

Not a boarding place, but an actual sitter. I also know someone who pays for dog walking services.

Here is my point, no days you can really make money in anything. It’s really less about the “thing” and more about your confidence to package and sell it. 

Pet care and services can provide you with one teacher side hustle or 3 rolled into one.

What do you think about these:

• Pet Sit
• Dog Walking
• Dog Treats

START A SCHOOL 

Out of all of these, this is my favorite and I know this really isn’t one that you can do as a side hustle.

However, I had to include this for several reasons. First, you can use a related side hustle (tutoring/after-school program) to eventually get to the point where you start your own:

• Micro School (accredited or no-accredited)
• Learning Pod
• Homeschool
• Early Learning Centers

Secondly, not every teacher wants to leave teaching- I was one of them. It wasn’t that I wanted to leave teaching at all.

I wanted to leave teaching in a system of education that stressed me and my students and didn’t value me and the time and effort I put into my craft.

Writing a lot about quitting teaching, and teacher side hustles, you might think that is what I advocate. The truth, however, is that my intention is not to convince you to quit or stay.

My true passion is to help teachers like you thrive in and outside the classroom with options. 

I firmly believe you should have the option to stay in education if you so desire. 

This is why I am so open about my journey. I want to be an example of the teacher who continued to teach her way.

How much can I make? Really, that all depends on you. Of course, to start you may make a little less… that is true of starting any business.

But it depends on how much support and students you have.

One year I received a 100K grant! Although I haven’t won one that big since that time, I have been awarded grants yearly. I also receive some state funding. 

This really depends on you, your business, and your strategy. 

How do I start? All you need to know can be found here. 

Before I go, I would like to invite you to join my mailing list. 

My goal is to provide real teacher interviews of this and all these jobs so that teachers can tell you how they did it and you can make an informed decision as to whether or not you would like to do it too.