7 Best Realistic Side Hustles for Full-Time Teachers

You've got a teacher contract, but you're tired.

And also, broke.

You don't have extra bandwidth for much.

You might have looked at side hustles and had mixed feelings, which I totally understand.

There's a lot to unpack, as they say.

That's where realistic side hustles for full-time teachers come in.

TL;DR

Realistic side hustles are seasonal or scheduled blocks of time that work WITH your contract, not against it.

These are:

In-person tutoring after school or weekends
Summer camps and enrichment programs
Weekend tutoring or test prep
Test proctoring or standardized testing admin
After-school enrichment clubs or programs
Substitute teaching for online programs
Grant writing or curriculum development

Less flashy than flexible work, but they have an end date and your nervous system gets to rest.

Best if you value predictability over scrambling to manage constant availability.

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And what full-time teacher has energy for that?

You need something more concrete with specific start and end dates.

These aren't flashy. They aren't going to get you rich this month.

But they're sustainable because they work with your contracted yearly schedule, not against it.

These gigs happen in seasons (summer, test prep windows, holiday breaks) or in predictable blocks.

(Like, Tuesday and Thursday evenings, or Saturday mornings).

That way you know when you're working and when you're not.

I've not done all of these myself, but I wanted to share what I've found with you.

Because we all know having enough money is important, especially when you're a teacher.

Why Realistic Side Hustles for Full-Time Teachers

When you're a full-time teacher, your time is already taken.

Am I preaching to the choir?

Your school day is rigid.

So trying to juggle ‘flexible' work on top of that can actually create more stress.

Realistic side hustles respect that boundary. They happen in blocks you can plan around.

Of course, only you can know what is realistic for you.

But these ideas might have seasons.

Summer could be for camps, fall is for test prep, holidays are for planning sessions.

Which means they're not year-round. They end. (Hooray!)

And here's another good thing.

You can still make good money.

You're not managing dozens of small payments or constantly searching for work.

You do the season, then you rest.

That rhythm can be more sustainable.

The Types of Realistic Side Hustles

In-person tutoring after school or weekends

You meet a student (or two) at a library, you help them with homework or a subject.

60 minutes or so, and you get paid.

(Either on the spot or in monthly packages, depending how you do this.)

I taught private oboe lessons before, so this would be my version of ‘tutoring' music performance.

It happens the same time every week, families know the schedule, and you have a finite end time.

Of course you might end up more fatigued or spend extra money on gas.

But if you can manage it, this is a pretty simple way to earn more money as a teacher.

Summer camps and enrichment programs (One season, one focus)

Schools, libraries, community centers, and independent camps all need teachers in the summer.

You might teach a week-long class, run a two-week immersion program, or facilitate daily field trips.

So these are more intense blocks of time and planning.

But here's why it can feel positive.

You work four to six weeks, then it's over.

You can rest knowing you helped people and you earned some extra cash.

Again, sometimes knowing there's an end date makes it easier.

Especially if you're neurodivergent.

You likely appreciate concrete start and end dates, kind of like deadlines.

Weekend tutoring or test prep (Predictable blocks)

Some teachers do all their tutoring on Saturday mornings.

But that might not work for you.

I taught lessons on Wednesday's afterschool.

You pick your window, and families reserve times.

This works because it doesn't reach into your regular work week.

Then on Saturday you do tutoring in a dedicated block, and the rest of the weekend is open.

(For all your other responsibilities! Yay!)

Test proctoring or standardized testing admin (Seasonal, structured)

Sometimes schools hire people to proctor exams, score assessments, or administer standardized tests.

The work is straightforward. You follow the protocol, you watch the clock, and you're done.

No extra planning needed.

Just clear instructions and a schedule.

After-school enrichment clubs or programs (Community Centers)

STEM clubs, art programs, homework help, anyone?

Schools and community centers can pay a stipend for teachers to run short programs.

Usually once or twice a week for a set number of weeks.

This can feel easier because you're already at school (or at a familiar place).

But be honest with yourself about your energy.

If you're already running on vapors, adding a club might not be the best match.

You and the students might enjoy this time to work on special projects.

The stipend, however, tends to be pretty low.

(If you are lucky enough to receive one in the first place.)

I led an afterschool music club for a while which was a lot of fun.

So again it really just depends on what is enjoyable for you, and worth your time.

Online ESL Tutoring (Structured, part-time)

There are some companies who will pay you to teach English, often to students in Asia.

Depending on where you live, you would need to bend your schedule.

The different time zones can make it so that you're teaching late at night.

Or early morning.

My friend and fellow blogger, Catherine of the Online English Teachers, has a wonderful beginner's guide to help you get started.

Grant writing or curriculum development (Can be seasonal)

Nonprofits, schools, and education companies sometimes hire teachers for projects.

These can be to write grants, develop curriculum, or create professional development.

It can be contract work with a deadline.

You may get to work solo.

But, those deadlines can pile up, so be cautious taking on new projects.

Curriculum writing is also rather intense work, so look into it before you sign up.

The Calendar Question (And Why It Matters)

Let's say you do one of these jobs in the summer and you make good money.

Then school starts and you stop. (No judgment!)

If we go with this plan, you're not juggling a side hustle during the school year.

You're not checking in with clients while you're trying to plan lessons.

You ‘only' teach. (Don't hate; we all know it's not ‘just' teaching.)

And when summer comes again, you can look at repeating your extra work assignment.

This is different from flexible work where you're more likely to need to be available all the time.

This has a structure with rest periods built in.

But also, don't add anything during grading season just because it's there.

If you're already on overload during November and February, don't take on a weekend tutoring gig.

You'll burn out and probably not be super prepared.

So start thinking about what your energy looks like in different academic seasons.

And try to plan your side hustle around that.

Learn more about flexible side hustles for teachers.

Who This Actually Works For

These hustles are best if you value predictability.

If knowing exactly when you're working helps you to manage everything else?

Then, this is a good place to start.

Something that tells you when you have to work, and not, is helpful.

At least compared to managing a business.

Test-prep season or one-on-one tutoring can help pay the bills.

And still give you some time to rest and recover from the social components.

Read more about the best side hustles for teachers.

The Real Talk About Boundaries

Just like you probably are, families are overwhelmed.

You might be a teacher and a parent, like me, so you know.

That means families will forget things, miss texts, and sometimes cancel last minute.

You can't control that, but you can protect yourself with clear boundaries.

You'll need to decide some things ahead of time.

Can they reschedule if they cancel within 24 hours?

Do you still charge for same-day cancellations?

How do you want them to be able to reach you?

Write it down. Send it when you start with a new client.

A lot of us struggle with this. But side hustles that have a season or set schedule make it easier.

If you only tutor Saturday mornings, families can't ask for Tuesday evenings.

Your boundary is built into the structure.

And also, charging for four sessions up front can help take some of the stress off you.

And make it simpler for families to pay you.

Getting Started

These ideas are starting places for you. Only you know what sounds like it might work.

Pick one idea that matches your energy and your actual calendar.

Don't pick the highest-paying option if it means working during your most fragile time.

Give it a season. Summer is perfect for testing this.

Work part of the summer, see how it feels, decide if you want to do it again next year.

And remember, you've got serious skills as a teacher.

You deserve to be able to pay your rent without taking from the electric bill.

While we can't change society overnight, you do have talents that translate outside of the classroom.

Good luck, and let me know how it goes. I'll be rooting for you!