I absolutely love working in education, but let’s be real—teaching and making money don’t always go hand-in-hand. So, I’ve got three side hustles for you that have worked wonders for me. Stick around because my favorite one is number three!
1. Teach Summer School
Okay, I know what you’re thinking—summer school? No way! But hear me out. Summer school can be a fantastic way to make some serious cash. Many school districts have a hard time finding teachers to work over the summer, so they offer pretty good pay. For example, my school pays $40 an hour! Plus, summer school is usually more relaxed. Class sizes are smaller, and the overall atmosphere is more laid-back. Tired teachers: don’t be so quick to rule out the idea of working summer school.
If the thought of teaching summer school still doesn’t appeal to you, there’s another option: being a test administrator. This gig is great because it’s straightforward and pays well. At my school, test administrators earn around $30-$35 an hour. All you need to do is show up, read the directions, monitor the test, and you’re done by noon. No grading, no dealing with parents—just easy money. Check with the testing coordinator or an administrator at your school to see what opportunities are available.
2. Tutoring
Tutoring is another fantastic way to make extra money. The best part? You set your own rates and hours. You’re essentially getting paid for your knowledge and expertise. Pro tip: from my experience, anything related to SAT or ACT prep is a goldmine. Parents and students are willing to pay good money for college readiness help.
Think about it—scholarships and college admissions are often tied to these test scores, so the demand for quality tutoring is high. Whether you offer one-on-one sessions or small group tutoring, you can make a nice chunk of change. It’s flexible, rewarding, and you get to help students achieve their academic goals.
3. Selling Digital Resources on Teachers Pay Teachers
Now, for my favorite side hustle—selling digital resources on Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT). Imagine making money from the resources you’ve already created for your classroom. Tests, quizzes, presentations, sub plans, rubrics, group activities—you name it. This side hustle is perfect for the summer because you have the time to set up your store and get it rolling before school starts back up in the fall.
I started my TpT store in the summer of 2022. It wasn’t easy at first; I spent a lot of time in June and July setting up my store, uploading resources, and finding my footing. But it paid off. From August 1, 2022, to June 1, 2023, I made $587.57. Not bad, right? The best part is that I didn’t have to trade my time for money continuously. My store kept earning even while I was busy teaching full-time during the school year.
In the summer of 2023, I got back to work on my TpT store, and over the course of my second year, I made $1,696.35. Again, most of this was from the work I did during the summer. The resources I created in July 2022 are still making me money today. That’s the beauty of selling digital resources—it’s not entirely passive, but it’s front-loaded. Once you’ve put in the initial effort, your products can continue to generate income.
Getting Started
If this sounds like something you’d love to do, there are tons of tutorials online. Check out to my YouTube channel for more tips and tricks, or click here to set up a one-on-one coaching session with me. I’m passionate about helping teachers like you earn what you deserve.
Overcoming Obstacles
I know that starting something new can be daunting. If you’re thinking about opening a TpT store but haven’t pulled the trigger yet, leave a comment and let me know what’s holding you back. Is it figuring out what kinds of resources to sell? Is it the process of uploading, creating thumbnails, and writing descriptions that feels overwhelming? Let me know so I can create more videos to help you get started.