Many U.S. states saw an increase in minimum wage at the start of 2023, but the federal minimum wage hasn’t gone up since 2009. And let’s be honest, who can live off $7.25 per hour, even for a part-time side gig? That’s why I’ve been on the hunt for good part-time jobs. You know, those that pay better than most.
I found a number of jobs that can be part-time and will earn you, on average, $20 per hour (sometimes more). Some of these jobs don’t require heavy lifting at all. You just need a passion to get started and drum up clients. Others require either some interest, natural ability, or credentials. Think: a months-long certification program, not a college degree.
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1. Dog Walker
If you have some experience with pups, becoming a dog walker can be a lucrative way to stay in shape while earning $15 – $30 per hour. When you enjoy something, it makes good part-time jobs great ones.
Your best bet for getting up to that higher end of the per hour rate is to take on more than one dog at a time. This will take a bit of hustle as you’ll need to advertise your services and depend on word-of-mouth recommendations too.
Consider leaving your business card with local groomers and pet stores. Perhaps they’ll also let you post your flier nearby!
2. Personal Assistant
According to ZipRecruiter, personal assistants average about $22 per hour nationwide. Specifically, various cities in California offer rates like this and higher.
Personal assistants offer a range of services, typically having to do with helping keep someone’s business or home organized. This can mean managing, scheduling, and responding to social media comments, as well as emails and more.
You’ll be able to pull higher rates as a personal assistant the longer you do it, and the more recommendations you get from existing clients.
3. Amazon Delivery Driver
You can drive for Amazon either through Amazon Flex, where you’ll earn $18 – $25 per hour, or through an Amazon Delivery Service Partner. If you go with the latter, you can pull a bit more hourly, but it depends on open job postings in your area. For example, I saw a job posting for an Amazon Delivery Driver through GT Elite Logistics, where drivers could earn $20 – $30 per hour. However it was only available if you live in San Diego County.
If there aren’t any job postings like this near you, check out Amazon Flex, where you set your own hours and deliver packages for Amazon in your own city.
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4. Landscaping
You can make $20 per hour starting out in landscaping. If you’re someone who hopes to someday run your own business, this can be a very lucrative option in the long run.
Even if you’re looking for good part-time jobs doing landscaping work, options abound. Like with walking dogs and being a personal assistant, you’ll rely pretty heavily on word-of-mouth recommendations from existing clients. To get clients, look on Craigslist and Taskrabbit for people who want help with their lawns. Use caution when dealing with people you don’t know, of course.
Another idea for starting up is to contact a local landscaping company and see if they’re hiring for any mowing jobs in the area.
5. Customer Service Representative
Loads of companies hire customer service representatives, many of whom start out at $20 per hour. This is a job that can be difficult and requires a dedication to patience and making customers happy. It’s not for everyone. But if you enjoy problem solving and taking phone calls or answering questions over chat, it could be for you. One good thing is that it’s pretty easy to find one of these gigs and work remote.
According to Indeed, there are lots of entry-level customer service jobs available. While most of them are for e-commerce companies, it’s a great way to get your foot in the door at a company you want to work for.
Also, most customer service jobs only require a high school diploma or equivalent.
6. Independent Delivery Driver (UberEats, DoorDash)
The only thing you need to succeed as a food delivery driver for UberEats or DoorDash, is a vehicle that meets company requirements and a valid license. You don’t need a degree, you don’t need any experience. And depending on your location, you may be able to make deliveries on your bike or scooter instead of driving a car.
Is DoorDash worth it? DoorDash “dashers” make an average of $25 per hour. You get 100% of tips on top of your base pay. Ditto for UberEats.
7. Personal Shopper
In the same vein as food delivery drivers, companies like Instacart hire shoppers to fulfill grocery orders at local supermarkets.
If you want to be a delivery driver or a full-service shopper, you’ll need a vehicle, and you’ll have to pass a background check when you apply.
Just doing the shopping probably won’t get you up to that $20 per hour mark. If you’re only in-store fulfilling orders, expect to make $15 per hour. To earn $20 or more per hour, plan on delivering the orders as well. According to GlassDoor, you can earn more like $25 per hour doing this.
8. Yoga Instructor
If you want to become a part-time yoga instructor, you’ll need to take classes and put in the (unpaid) hours. Plan to log 200 hours in yoga teacher training in order to get certified. That said, if this is a passion of yours, it’s an excellent way to make money doing what you love in the long-term.
The average hourly wage for a yoga instructor is $25 – $30 per hour.
9. Massage Therapy
Just like yoga instruction, massage therapy is an excellent way to work part-time while earning as much as $60 per hour! If you run your own business, you’ll be able to have as much flexibility as you want, taking your massage table to client’s homes. But, you can also work part time at a spa, gym, or massage studio.
Also like yoga instruction, expect to take some classes, coursework, and hands-on training in order to get certified. This will likely be 500 hours, and can take up to 10 months to complete the coursework.
10. Catering
If you love to cook for events, catering could be one of those good part-time jobs you’re dreaming about. This is particularly true if you’re hoping to someday run your own catering business. Anything involving food prep is going to involve getting licensing and certifications from the state you live in. Check with your local Chamber of Commerce.
According to ZipRecruiter, catering jobs pay between $16 – $24 per hour. Plan to work on holidays, weekends, and evenings, as this is when most special events are held.
11. Math Tutoring
If you love math, and you already have the expertise to teach it to kids and teens, becoming a math tutor could be an excellent way to supplement your income. According to ZipRecruiter, math tutors can make $24 – $50 on average, depending on your knowledge base.
This is one high-paying part-time job that will require you to have a college degree because most parents want to know that the person they’re hiring as a tutor has the know-how to teach it to their kids. But if you’ve already got a math degree, or you have experience specializing in algebra, calculus, or the like, this could be a great option for you!
12. Test Prep Instruction
You can make a cool $23 per hour just by helping high school students prep for tests like the SAT or ACT.
If you’re someone who had no trouble scoring high on these tests, you might be the perfect person to teach kids how to take them. You’ll just need to prove you can get in the 90th percentile taking the test.
You may also consider getting certified as an SAT tutor in order to appeal to clients and charge a higher rate, but it’s not required.
13. Makeup Artist
If you’ve got a natural talent for applying makeup, add this to your list of good part-time jobs? People who do makeup for weddings, special events, and theater performances can earn $20 per hour doing what they love.
Word-of-mouth recommendations will be your bread and butter. Consider starting out doing makeup for events for free until you have enough client recommendations to charge.
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