Best-paid part-time jobs for students
We know which jobs pay the most for graduates, but how can you earn top dollar as a student? We've got the stats to help you choose where to work.
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There are plenty of ways to make money as a student, but there's no substitute for a good old-fashioned part-time job. In fact, in our most recent National Student Money Survey, 58% said they worked part-time alongside their degrees.
As well as being a steady source of income, the job will add some experience to your CV, helping you stand out in a crowded and competitive job market.
But what are the best-paying part-time jobs for students? Well, to answer that very question, CV-Library analysed listings for part-time jobs across the UK to find the highest average salaries – and here's what they found...
10 high-paying part-time jobs
These are the highest-paying part-time jobs for students in the UK:
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Telesales Executive
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Average hourly pay: £11.12 – £12.45
Ah, telesales. Though we all hate being on the receiving end of a telesales call, the fact is, if you're a student, a telesales role could be the perfect job to add to your Maintenance Loan.
Call centre hours can fit well around your studies, as shifts are often focused around evenings and weekends when people are home.
For the most part, your role will involve making or receiving calls and selling directly to customers. Who you are selling to and the kind of product or service you're selling will vary widely.
If you think you've got the gift of the gab, this role could be perfect. Often part of your salary is commission-based, meaning the more you sell, the more you earn. And of course, a good telephone manner is a must!
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Excel Administrator
Average hourly pay: £11.64 – £13.09
A role as an administrator is great for those seeking experience in an office environment.
Tasks in admin roles vary, but as an Excel Administrator, you'll usually be using Microsoft Excel to analyse data, create reports and maintain databases. As most of us get to learn these basic IT skills at school, you should be ready to go.
You'll also be able to add 'organisation', 'communication' and potentially 'office admin software' to the list of skills on your CV.
And there are always loads of different administrator roles available across different industries, so you'll likely have your pick of the litter.
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Cleaner
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Average hourly pay: £11.67 – £12.86
Being a cleaner speaks for itself – you'll be keeping offices, homes, hotels or other places spick and span. It involves sweeping, vacuuming, dusting, mopping and more.
There are usually quite a few temporary, flexible cleaner positions available, especially if you're only looking to work a few hours per week. And you'll often find there are early morning or evening hours available, making it easy to fit work around your studies.
You could even earn some extra brownie points (or preferably a bonus) for introducing some homemade cleaning products to the company you work for.
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Van Delivery Driver
Average hourly pay: £12.50 – £13.50
From online food orders to Amazon packages, van drivers are responsible for getting items from one place to another.
Grocery shopping needs to be delivered in a special, refrigerated van, but plenty of other goods bought online simply need a vehicle of any sort to get them from A to B.
We've got a whole guide on how to become an Uber driver if you've got your own wheels and you think this job's for you.
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Sales Advisor
Average hourly pay: £12.56 – £13.93
As a Sales Advisor, you'll be expected to provide support and information to customers looking to make a purchase. This could be in a retail or office environment.
Your hours will vary depending on the type of role you end up in, and you could be offering support over the phone, via email or even in person. But whatever medium you're working with, your role will be customer-focused, so having good communication skills is a must.
Good communication skills are important in many different job roles, which is why they're one of the top skills employers look for. -
Agency Kitchen Assistant
Average hourly pay: £12.60 – £12.80
You'll often see Kitchen Assistant jobs advertised through recruitment agencies. These temporary positions offer flexible work covering events or functions, meaning you can pick up shifts as and when needed.
A Kitchen Assistant's role will involve helping out wherever needed in the kitchen. This could include food prep, cleaning or washing up. No qualifications are needed, and you can observe and pick up some new cooking skills while you're on the job.
It's also a great role if you're looking to pick up some free food, as you'll usually get fed during your shift as a Kitchen Assistant.
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Home Care Assistant
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Average hourly pay: £12.60 – £18.90
As a Home Care Assistant, you'll be looking after and supporting vulnerable people in their own homes.
Key duties could include washing, cleaning, dressing and providing companionship to clients.
This can be a perfect role for a student, as you can find positions where no experience or qualifications are required, and shifts are usually flexible, based on the individual client. You will, however, need an enhanced DBS check to work with vulnerable people, but this should be arranged by your employer.
This could be a great role if you prefer to work independently. Hourly rates can vary, but you can find some well-paid positions if you look in the right places.
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Warehouse Operative
Average hourly pay: £12.70 – £12.81
Warehouse operatives spend most of their time on their feet, moving across the workplace.
This job involves a whole range of responsibilities, but most commonly you'll be picking and packing stock for delivery, keeping track of stock levels and loading goods onto vehicles.
We've all experienced the frustration of receiving a delivery, only to find half of the order isn't there. Unsurprisingly, being thorough and having a good eye for detail are high on the list of desirable qualities for warehouse operatives.
You may have to lift heavy objects, and you'll need good attention to detail. On top of that, you'll learn how to work in a fast-paced environment, which is a great skill to add to your CV.
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Support Worker
Average hourly pay: £12.85 – £14.47
Support Workers work with a range of people, helping them to live independently.
You could be providing guidance with anything from finances and budgeting to household chores and shopping. It can be an extremely varied role depending on the needs of the individual.
You'll need to have patience for this kind of work, along with some key skills in communication, problem-solving and adaptability.
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Tutor
Average hourly pay: £18.33 – £28.33
According to CV-Library, working as a tutor is the best-paid part-time job for students.
Not only that, it's also one of the most flexible, as you can pick and choose when you're available for tutoring sessions. It will also look great on your CV when it comes to graduating, and if you're tutoring in your specialist subject, it's a great way to get paid while you're revising!
Tutors will usually be self-employed, so you'll need to fill out a self-assessment tax return and pay your own taxes.
Tutoring sessions can be carried out face-to-face or online, so it's also a great remote job you can do from anywhere.
If you think tutoring is a good option for you (and really, with these benefits, who wouldn't?), we've got a full guide with all the ins and outs of how to become a tutor.
Keep in mind that this is a list of part-time job roles. There are other ways to earn money as a student, like selling your stuff, using paid survey sites or taking part in clinical trials – the options are almost endless!
Now you know which industries to look for jobs in, what's stopping you? Use our part-time job search.
