While some teachers plan on being work-free during their hard-earned summer break, others might enjoy – or need – to find a short-term job. So, I’ve written a piece on (remote) summer gigs for teachers.
Is this something that would be of interest to your readers? Just let me know!
Making More Money as a Teacher: The Survival Side Gig Guide
Being a teacher can be a thankless job in America. They are severely underpaid, reports CNBC – many make 20 percent less than other professionals with similar education and often live below the family living wage. The work can be stressful, thanks to parents’ impossible expectations and harassment from students. The pandemic made matters worse, piling on the stress and pushing many to the breaking point.
If you’re a struggling teacher yourself, we have good news and bad news. The bad news is that this poor treatment of teachers is likely to continue. No one will come to save you. The good news is you don’t need to be saved. You can support yourself by making more money with a side gig – and gain some extra fulfillment and security while you’re at it.
Here, TCHR888 walks you through the ins and outs of making more money with side gigs when you’re a professional educator:
Find an appropriate side gig that uses your current teaching skills
You could put your teaching skills to good use with an appropriate side gig:
1. Tutoring one-on-one
Tutoring is a no-brainer. Did we mention it’s pretty lucrative? The median hourly salary for a private tutor is $17.53, says CHRON. It’s not unusual for teachers to charge significantly more, though, depending on their nature of specialization. You can tutor people online – it’s something you can conveniently do from home in your spare time.
2. Selling educational content
As a teacher, you probably create all kinds of educational content. Some examples are curriculums, lesson plans, textbooks, and papers. You could make a significant amount of money selling your content online, either directly to students or other teachers via sites like Teachers Pay Teachers. One main benefit of this approach is that you only prepare the content once to potentially have a recurring income.
3. Teaching English abroad
Although this doesn’t qualify as a side gig, it’s worth mentioning, especially if you’re feeling a little adventurous – taking an English-teaching job abroad. These jobs are not all that hard to come by. Although the pay can be low, the experience of living in an exotic destination like Asia or Africa can be priceless.
4. Teaching groups online
Why not consider tutoring an entire class online, instead of one-on-one tutoring? Tutoring many people at once gives you the chance to make significantly more money per hour. For instance, you could sell classes to kids on an online teaching platform like Outschool. One of the most successful teachers there makes a staggering $10,000 per month!
5. Grading papers
Grading papers isn’t something every teacher enjoys. It’s often viewed as a time sink. If you don’t mind the work, though, you could offer your grading services on a platform like Measurement Inc. for an hourly payment. It’s typically not as lucrative as the other options we mentioned above but it does pay the bills.
Choose side gigs that allow you to do something else
You could do something else if you need a change from teaching. Some suggestions below:
- Offering pet sitting services.
- Becoming a delivery driver.
- Becoming a photographer.
Become an entrepreneur cum teacher
As a teacher, you are educated and intelligent. You could put all that knowledge to good use by starting your own business:
1. Brainstorm an idea
First, come up with a handful of appropriate ideas. The best ones are those that utilize your existing skill set, are in demand, and are something you see yourself doing. Some teaching-related ideas are starting your own school or test preparation business.
2. Have a (business) plan
A business plan will allow you to determine the viability of your business idea. A good business plan should outline your goals, financial projections, your operations, marketing details, and other critical details. You can use the plan to get started and stay on track.
3. Handle the legalities
There are legalities to take care of such as registering your business, getting an EIN, acquiring a license (if applicable), and getting a permit (if applicable). Forming an LLC is recommended because of the advantages it brings, such as tax benefits, more flexibility, and less paperwork. There’s also limited liability, meaning your personal assets are safe if you ever get sued. You could file the paperwork yourself to avoid hefty lawyer fees. LLC registration via a formation service is also an option. States have their own regulations around LLC formation. Check the rules in your state before moving forward.
4. Market and launch
Now you’re ready to market and launch. Marketing is essential to be discoverable to students. Some ways to raise your profile are creating a website, joining social media, advertising, listing your business, and contributing to educational forums.
Conclusion
Making money with a side gig or a full-fledged business isn’t as hard as you think! Who knows, you could even replace your primary job with your new gig. Remember to give yourself rest to avoid burnout. A good self-care plan is essential if you’re serious about having two jobs without it having a detrimental impact on your health.
Image via Unsplash
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