The long-awaited summer break is finally on the horizon. After a long year of teaching, you’re probably ready for a break.
You could use this time to relax and recharge – but with the cost of living currently skyrocketing, who isn’t after a little more spending money?
Many teachers take time off for a few weeks and then opt to find a seasonal job in the summer.
Whether you want to continue teaching, spend your days outside in the warm summer sun, or work from the comfort of your home, you’re bound to find a perfect fit.
In this article, we break down the best summer job options for teachers, including:
- Educational jobs
- Travel jobs
- Writing based jobs
- Childcare opportunities
- Community-based roles
- Remote and online work.
Let’s get into it!
The Best Summer Jobs for Teachers (Overview)
We’ve included an overview of our top picks below. For detailed information on each pick, scroll down.
Educational and Skill-Based Summer Jobs for Teachers
- Tutoring Or Teaching Summer School Programs
- ESL, Language Tutoring Or Translation Services
- Test Prep
- Community Courses
- Online Course Creator Or Instructor
- Art Or Craft Workshops For Kids Or Adults
- Photography Services For Events Or Portraits
Outdoor & Adventurous Summer Jobs for Teachers
- Travel Guide Leading Educational Tours Or Trips
- Working Abroad Summer Teaching Positions In International Schools Or Language Institutes
- Camp Counselor
- Sports Coach
- Childcare & Babysitting
- Lifeguard
- Pet Sitter
Summer Jobs for Teachers Working From Home
- Turn Your Hobby Into a Business
- Sell Your Stuff
- Freelance Writing Or Content Creation
- Transcription
- Remote Customer Support
- Try Data Entry
- Become a Proofreader
- Work as a Virtual Assistant (VA)
- Drive With Rideshare Services
- Deliver Food for Local Restaurants
Summer Jobs for Teachers With Local Community Involvement
- Library Assistant
- Museum Educator Or Guide
- Seasonal Work At A Local Amusement Park Or Entertainment Venue
The Best Summer Jobs for Teachers [Sorted by Category]
So, what can you do in the summer? The options are endless. Use this list to find your ideal summer job.
Educational and Skill-Based Summer Jobs for Teachers
If the thought of taking eight whole weeks off of teaching is too much, you can find a job that allows you to continue to teach.
There are plenty of teacher jobs available in the summer. Most of these allow you to use your own skill set and set your own schedule.
The best part about a teaching job is that you can try out different subjects, ages, and formats. To top it all off, most of these options are indoors.
Take a break from the summer heat and spend some time in the air conditioning.
Here are a few teaching opportunities to try out this summer:
1. Tutoring Or Teaching Summer School Programs
Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean school is out! Tutoring is a perfect option if you’re looking for something flexible.
Summer school is a great option that lets you earn extra cash while keeping your teaching skills honed. The smaller class sizes also mean it’s easier to connect with your students.
You can choose to work a few hours a week or full-time. This option truly allows you to create your own schedule.
For something one-on-one and a bit less structured, tutoring is also an excellent choice. You can make the schedule work for you, so you still have time to enjoy all your favorite summer activities.
Maybe you want to work with older kids who need extra help with math or you want to help out younger kids who are struggling with learning to read. Whatever your academic interests are, you can find a way to use them to help out kids and still earn money. It’s a win-win.
After the summer, you may even find that you would like to continue tutoring as a second job.
Resource: 12 online tutoring jobs that are always hiring
Companies Hiring Tutors:
2. ESL, Language Tutoring Or Translation Services
Why not spend your summer teaching English? This is a great choice for language teachers or teachers who are bilingual.
Helping kids who are learning English as a second language is a great option. Often times, these children can benefit from continuing their education throughout the summer.
There are plenty of opportunities to make an impact teaching ESL. There are tons of language tutoring opportunities available for both kids and adults; try looking for ads online or in your local newspaper.
Freelance translation opportunities are also plentiful, and you’ll see plenty of opportunities on sites like Upwork that can fit around your schedule.
Resource: Everything You Need to Know to Start Teaching English Online
Companies Hiring ESL Teachers:
3. Test Prep
It’s never too early to start preparing for standardized tests. These big exams tend to cause a lot of anxiety, so why not help ease some of that by helping students study?
There are a host of tests to choose from, like the SAT, ACT, IB, and AP.
Spending a few hours a week teaching students how to tackle standardized tests, manage anxiety, and prepare for the big day is invaluable. A lot of parents would love to hire an experienced teacher through Care.com to help their son or daughter prepare for standardized tests.
Resource:
Companies Hiring Teachers for Test Prep:
4. Community Courses
If you want to try something different, why not teach a class at the library? Planning a class or workshop at your local library is a great way to connect with your town this summer.
There are endless topics you can cover from teaching adults how to use computers to teaching a foreign language. Choose something you enjoy and meet new people in your local community.
Resource:
5. Online Course Creator Or Instructor
As a teacher, you have a huge wealth of knowledge. Why not transform that knowledge into online courses on a platform like Skillshare or Teachable? The hours are flexible and you can reach students all over the world.
6. Art Or Craft Workshops For Kids Or Adults
This is the perfect choice for art teachers, or any teachers with a crafty side. Pottery, painting, or fiber craft workshops are in hot demand over the summer months for both kids and adults.
Share your skills and meet new people – you’ll have a blast!
7. Photography Services For Events Or Portraits
Summer is when a lot of people plan big events – weddings, big parties, you name it! If you’re a budding photographer, offer your services; many people are on a budget and will be happy to hire an enthusiast rather than a professional.
Outdoor & Adventurous Summer Jobs for Teachers
Do you want to spend your summer outside, but you still want to work.? Take a break from lesson plans and soak up the sun with these outdoorsy jobs.
1. Travel Guide Leading Educational Tours Or Trips
There are plenty of educational tour opportunities available over the summer, both in your own city and abroad!
If you live in an area that has lots of tourists over the summer months, you could put together a tour that shares local history facts and hidden gems.
2. Working Abroad Summer Teaching Positions In International Schools Or Language Institutes
Different countries around the world have different school terms, so there can be plenty of teaching opportunities available during the American summer break.
Teaching English as a second language is also always in demand, particularly throughout Asia. You can spend your summer immersed in another culture, making memories, and having adventures!
3. Camp Counselor
This is a fun option if you want to feel like a kid again. Continue working with kids and spend some time outside as a camp counselor.
This is a popular option for teachers who want to break up their year by teaching kids to swim, play sports, and other do fun activities.
You can find opportunities online or in your local community.
4. Sports Coach
Did you play a sport when you were younger? Check your local town or school teams for opportunities to lead a camp session or coach a team.
Spend the summer coaching baseball, lacrosse, soccer, or any other sport that your town offers to kids.
Another bonus is that practice is typically only a few times a week, so you still have plenty of free time.
5. Childcare & Babysitting
Spend some time with younger kids this summer. Babysitting is a great way to make extra money.
During summer, a lot of parents struggle to find suitable childcare. Summer camps are expensive, and not all children are comfortable being away from home for long periods.
Fill this gap and make extra money by providing much-needed childcare support! You’ll get to know some great kids and do fun activities with them, without the pressure of teaching.
This is a great way to spend time with just one or two kids instead of a group. This job tends to be lower stress, but still fun. As a bonus, parents are more likely to trust teachers like you with their children.
Look for babysitting opportunities online through websites like Care.com, or ask around in your neighborhood or among friends.
Companies Hiring Babysitters:
6. Lifeguard
If you’re a certified lifeguard, why not spend the summer at the beach? Get paid to spend your days in the sun.
You can do this at a community pool, camp, or even the beach depending on your qualifications and experience. Alternatively, swim instructors are always in demand during the summer.
These are great summer jobs for anyone who loves to swim and teach. Check online job listings, local camps, and your community beaches or pools for opportunities.
7. Pet Sitter
Do you want to spend more time with animals this summer?
Plenty of busy people need others to help walk their furry friend for them. If you love dogs, cats, or other animals, pet sitting could be a joyful summer job.
As a dog walker you can control your hours and adjust your schedule as needed.
Resource:
Companies Hiring Pet Sitters
Summer Jobs for Teachers Working From Home
Do you just want to stay home this summer?
Sometimes you just need an excuse to spend a little time at home. Alternatively, maybe you’re traveling to visit relatives or taking a vacation this summer.
While there are tons of travel jobs available, we’ll leave that topic for another post. But just because you can’t commit to a traditional part-time job doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the chance to earn extra cash.
Most of these only require a computer and internet access. As long as you have those two things, you can take your work anywhere.
You can check job boards online for remote or freelance job listings. Here are a few ideas:
1. Turn Your Hobby Into a Business
What do you enjoy doing? If you like writing, painting, photography, or almost any other creative hobby you might be able to turn it into a business.
The great thing about the digital age is that you can create your own business or side hustle at home. You can start a blog to write about your hobbies or become a freelancer.
There are thousands of opportunities online for freelance writing, graphic design, web design, and other in-demand skills.
Resource:
Our Favorite Hobbies Turned Side Hustle:
2. Sell Your Stuff
If you have clothes, books, or really any items that are in good condition, you can try selling them online.
Sell your clothes on apps like Poshmark. Post your used books on Amazon or have a yard sale. You can even sell old furniture on Facebook Marketplace.
Why leave unused items sitting around your house if you can use them to make extra money?
Our Favorite Ways to Sell Stuff:
3. Freelance Writing Or Content Creation
Blogs, website copy, articles – they all need someone to write them, and as a teacher, you have the necessary skills! Freelancing is great for flexibility; look on Upwork for opportunities and you can write from your local Starbucks, your bed, or even the beach!
4. Transcription
For teachers with a good typing speed, transcription is the perfect summer job! Turn spoken words into text, and learn while you’re doing it; transcription tasks range from podcasts to meetings and interviews, so you’ll never be bored.
Freelance sites like Upwork have plenty of opportunities for transcription services, or you can try advertising locally in your community.
5. Remote Customer Support
Did we mention how great it is to work from home? As a remote customer support person, you can solve queries and help customers from the comfort of your couch – or even your bed!
As a teacher, you’ll have great problem-solving skills – after all, it’s part of the job – so this is a natural choice!
6. Try Data Entry
Data entry is a great option if you want to make money without starting a business. If you have an eye for accuracy and love doing detail-oriented work, check out online job boards for data entry gigs.
Most of these opportunities allow you to put in as many hours as you want. Keep your schedule flexible while still earning money.
Resource:
7. Become a Proofreader
Do you find great joy in taking a fresh red pen to an essay? As a teacher, you are more than qualified to work as a proofreader. You can proofread and edit college admissions essays, find work on Craigslist or Upwork, or work with authors who self-publish their work.
Resource:
8. Work as a Virtual Assistant (VA)
Teaching can be a very socially draining job, so remote and digital work is the perfect option for recharging your social battery.
Virtual assistant opportunities are a great choice for anyone highly organized; you’ll need to manage schedules, reply to emails, and organize meetings. And the best part? There’s no reason you can’t do it all in your pajamas!
You can find these opportunities on job boards or even Craigslist.
Resource:
Companies Hiring Virtual Assistants:
8. Drive With Rideshare Services
Do you love to drive? Why not work for Uber or Lyft?
All you need to get started is a car that meets the criteria set by the company and a license. Depending on where you live, you can earn a decent amount of money while setting your own hours.
Companies Hiring Rideshare Drivers:
9. Deliver Food for Local Restaurants
Just like the last option, delivering for on-demand delivery services is a great way to create your own schedule and spend some time out of the house. Online food delivery services are in huge demand right now, and the demand should only get stronger as time goes on.
Companies Hiring Delivery Drivers:
Summer Jobs for Teachers With Local Community Involvement
If you’d like to give back to your community, consider these top opportunities to do so:
1. Library Assistant
Libraries often get busier over the summer and need to take on short-term staff. What better place to spend your summer than in a cool, air-conditioned space, surrounded by books?
With tasks ranging from organizing shelves to putting on events, a library assistant’s job never gets boring – and you don’t even need any special qualifications!
2. Museum Educator Or Guide
Your local museum will likely also see an influx of visitors over the summer months, particularly if you live in a tourist town.
If you’re passionate about local history, a museum guide is your ideal summer job! Share fun facts, teach, and connect with museum patrons from all around the world.
3. Seasonal Work At A Local Amusement Park Or Entertainment Venue
Looking for something totally different from teaching? Working at a local amusement park might just fit the bill!
Experience happy crowds, bright lights, and fun at an amusement park or other local entertainment venue.
Find Fun Summer Jobs That Fit Your Personality
Summer is a great opportunity for teachers to not only earn extra money but experience new things and take on new challenges!
With summer jobs ranging from tutoring to working at a theme park, there really is something out there for every skill set.
If you’re craving adventure, teaching abroad is the perfect option. However, if you’re feeling a little burnt out from the school year, a work-from-home job where you don’t have to get out of your PJs can be ideal!
Make the most of your break and add a little more cash to your wallet – but don’t forget to relax from time to time!
Sources
- https://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2008/03/art4full.pdf
- https://www.wgu.edu/.
- https://www.skillshare.com/en/
- https://teachable.com/
- https://www.upwork.com/
- https://www.internationalteflacademy.com/blog/teach-english-abroad-in-the-summer
- https://www.worklife.news/dei/working-parents-summer/
- https://www.ala.org/educationcareers/careers/paths/assistant
