Top Summer Job Ideas for Undergraduate Students
Summer break offers college students a prime opportunity to earn money, gain valuable experience, and explore potential career paths. With a wide variety of options available, finding the perfect summer job can be an exciting and rewarding endeavor. This article explores numerous summer job ideas tailored for undergraduate students, encompassing diverse interests and skill sets.
Traditional Part-Time Jobs
Traditional part-time jobs remain popular among college students due to their flexibility and accessibility. These jobs don't typically require specific degrees and can provide valuable life skills.
Barista
Being a barista can be a fun and engaging summer job. Working at Starbucks or a local coffee shop allows you to earn extra money while learning to make your favorite drinks and connect with coworkers. Usual shifts often start early, around 5:00 am, allowing you to finish work by 1:00 pm and enjoy the rest of the day.
Movie Theater Employee
Working at a movie theater offers cool perks like free movies and discounts. The job involves various roles, such as ushering, working at concessions, or selling tickets, providing opportunities to excel in different areas. The presence of many teenage coworkers makes it easy to make new friends. During the summer, theaters often have special programs for kids and release big summer blockbusters.
Camp Counselor
Being a camp counselor is a rewarding experience that allows you to make new friends, create lasting memories, and positively influence children's lives. Camp counselors are always in demand during the summer. In most cases, you'll get to journey outside of your hometown, so you’ll get your travel on and lead fun outdoor activities, so you’ll get your dose of sunshine. Some sleepaway camps also offer housing for counselors-a plus if you're looking for a far-away experience without having to pay extra for a place to stay. But day camps are an option too if you'd rather be close to home.
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Trampoline Park Employee
Working at a trampoline park involves monitoring courts, working in concessions, being a party associate, and selling wristbands. The variety of tasks keeps the job interesting, and the benefits can include free jumping sessions, discounted food, and tips. It's also a great place to make friends and have a fun summer.
Ice Cream Shop Employee
As summer hits, ice cream shops become a popular destination. Working at an ice cream shop can make time fly, with constant traffic of locals and tourists.
Lifeguard
Being a lifeguard is an enjoyable summer job for college students who enjoy being outdoors. You can earn money while getting a tan. Public pools are typically open only during the summer, creating a high demand for lifeguards. Ditch the zinc oxide for full-on SPF coverage, get yourself certified in CPR and first aid, and enjoy your summer break in the sun! If you live near the beach or in an area with local watering holes, inquire about a position working for the city.
Swim Instructor
Being a swim instructor is a very rewarding experience as you teach children how to swim, which has a substantial impact on that kid’s life. This is making a difference as you get to have fun swimming most of the day.
Theme Park Employee
If you live near a theme park, consider applying for a summer job. You can have fun selling tickets, serving concession items, running rides, or working in the arcade area.
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National Park Employee
If you live near a National Park, the summertime is the perfect time to apply. National Parks get super busy over the summer due to tourists popping up for vacation. This is an amazing job if you love the outdoors and nature. Depending on the National Park there is so much wildlife and beauty to see.
Restaurant Worker
As many restaurants are opening back up and restaurant patios and street-side seating become available, there’s going to be a huge need for restaurant workers in the summer. As a restaurant server (waiter or waitress), you’ll be able to have a regular job you can carry over even after the summer ends.
Bartender
Working as a bartender can be the ideal summer job for a student. If you’re 18 - 21+ (in the USA), apply at some of your favorite local watering holes - you can make extra money in tips if you already know the patrons. Whether you’re at a club or a bar/restaurant, you’re sure to rake in some cash - just remember at restaurants, you’ll often have to tip out the kitchen staff.
Stadium Vendor
If there's no place you'd rather be than in your favorite team's stadium, get paid to be there by selling ballgame food and drinks.
Landscaping
What better way to stay fit, soak up the sun, and stack away cash for school than landscaping? Look around for companies hiring in your local area - you can check Indeed or HomeAdvisor, Craigslist, or even ask family and friends.
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Farmworker
Want to work up a sweat, get an enviable tan, and help out a local business. As a farmworker, you can help out with any of a number of tasks, from picking ripe fruits to maintaining crops to helping out with deliveries.
Golf Caddy
Golf courses are a hole-in-one during the summer. As a golf caddy, you can make connections and carry around a golf bag. This is an easy job with not long hours. The environment is nice to be in and when talking to the golfers you caddy for you get great life advice. Sometimes scholarships can be given out for being a golf caddy which can be an amazing benefit for a fellow college student. Hard to pull you off the course? Golf caddy at a local club is a common summer job for teens and usually doesn't require much previous work experience. Caddies could make a lot of money off tips, so this summer gig could prove more lucrative as you establish relationships with clients on the course over multiple summers.
Freelance Work and Gig Economy
Freelancing and gig work offer flexibility and the ability to set your own hours, making them ideal for college students.
Freelance Writer
Do you get rave reviews for your writing skills? You can earn a decent income as a freelance writer. Your earnings as a freelancer will depend on your experience and availability. The best part is you will be able to set your own schedule and take on as much or as little work as you want. Even better, there aren't geographical restrictions when it comes to online work.
Pet Sitting and Dog Walking
Doing freelance work can be super helpful to college students. From pet sitting, dog walking, yard work, or babysitting. You can do gigs at your own pace and not have to worry about when you go back to college. You’d be a great fit for a job as a professional dog walker. Sign up as a walker or sitter on Rover or Wag!, which can link you with people in your area who need someone to walk or watch their dog. As a dog walker or pet sitter, you’ll have one of the funnest jobs for summer in your peer group. As you help out an elderly dog owner or a family on holiday, you get to walk around your neighborhood and enjoy the warm weather with a cute little buddy beside you, while earning some money.
Babysitting and Nannying
Summertime is a great season to stop sitting, but babysitting doesn’t count. Nannies and babysitters are in much higher demand during the warmer months, as many parents don’t have the benefit of preschools open. And, you don’t have to sit inside all day, either. If you’re good with children but don’t feel like working at a summer camp, working as a childcare provider might be perfect for you. You can work as an au pair during the summer months, which can afford you the opportunity to travel, or find work as a nanny in your hometown.
Food Delivery Service
Providing food delivery service with companies such as Uber Eats, Grub Hub, and Door Dash is schedule friendly. You can deliver at your own pace and choose which jobs you would like to pursue. Although it can be time-consuming as you drive around the city, it helps you make the extra cash without having to stay stuck to a specific job. With the explosion of food delivery and grocery services, summer delivery drivers are in high demand. Companies like DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, and Amazon Flex let you set your own hours and work as much or as little as you want. If you have access to a car, bike, or even a scooter, this gig offers immediate income with minimal barriers to entry.
Ride-Sharing
Consider driving for Uber or Lyft.
Microtasks
Amazon Mechanical Turk offers online part-time jobs like completing surveys or performing short-term tasks.
Local Gig Listings
Sites like Craigslist feature a 'Gigs' section where you can find temporary jobs that usually last a day or two.
Gadget Repair
Whether you’re an engineering student with a knack for fixing electronics or a tinkerer who can build computers, know that gadget repair is in high demand. In our digital age, someone somewhere will always need a cracked iPhone screen replaced, a new PCB installed in their smart refrigerator, or help installing a new SIM card.
General Laborer
Build character and break a sweat working as a general laborer - every job site needs a few!
Tutor
Who better to teach students than other students? You’ve been through the material, and you understand it. Not every student knows the subject as well as you do, and many could use additional help outside the classroom. Chances are, the knowledge is still fresh in your mind, and you can actually earn some money by passing that knowledge on to people who need it to succeed. Look for tutoring opportunities on campus and online as well. Decide which works better for you. If the scope on campus is limited, consider online tutoring. Your studies might be on a hiatus during your summer break, but not everyone pauses learning. For one of the most rewarding summer jobs available, consider tutoring. Many younger students in high school and middle school may have struggled to end this school year and could be quite unprepared for the upcoming semester.
Selling Handmade Crafts
If you have a creative flair, selling handmade crafts can be both fulfilling and profitable. Whether you knit, draw, sew, or create unique jewelry, there’s a market for your talents.
Digital Assistant
As a digital native, you likely have skills that many small businesses desperately need. This job can often be done remotely with flexible hours, making it perfect for balancing summer fun with income.
House Sitting
House sitting is one of the best summer jobs. It’s easy, low-stress, and you can feel good about allowing someone else to feel comfortable while they’re out on their summer vacation.
Lawn Mowing
If you love flowers and plants, gardening or landscaping could be the ideal summer jobs for you. For you high school students and college-goers without a green thumb, consider lawn mowing. That summer sun can grow grass quickly. As people enjoy their yards more, they're likely to dish out some green to green their lawns and tidy outdoor spaces.
Party Helper
Summers can be a party-literally. And as any host will tell you, that fun takes a lot of work to create. Raise your hand-while also asking for a fee up front to help out at any shindigs.
Mover
Get some exercise and work as a mover for the summer. The months between April and September tend to be a busy season for moving, so there are plenty of options available.
Music Instructor
Whether you’re studying classical guitar at a conservatory or you’re an English major who moonlights as a drummer in a punk band, remember that people will pay good money for music lessons.
Assistant in Studio
Calling all music, photography, and video production nerds - want to get into the studio scene? Every music session needs an assistant to help mic drum sets, wrap cables, run to grab coffee for artists and engineers, and generally help clients record in a comfortable environment. And guess what? Photography and video studios need assistants too.
Receptionist
Whether it’s in a law office, newsroom, or your local gym, companies that interface with visiting clients need a person to sit at the reception desk. The responsibilities are generally not too grueling (compared to your Dostoevsky research paper from ENG-325), and they generally offer options for part-time and full-time work.
Tour Guide
If you’re spending summer in a tourist destination or historic city, becoming a tour guide combines income with the opportunity to share your knowledge and passion for your location. Whether leading walking tours, bike tours, or even food tours, this job lets you meet people from around the world while staying active.
Event Staff
Summer is prime time for music festivals, outdoor concerts, farmer’s markets, and community events. These venues need temporary staff for everything from ticket taking and security to merchandise sales and VIP hosting. The atmosphere is fun, the hours can be flexible, and you might even score free admission to events when you’re not working.
Pool Technician
If chemistry was your favorite subject, a pool technician is a mix between a chemist and a custodian in maintaining a clean pool. You can learn the trade from established pool cleaning companies, or learn on your own, eventually amassing a list of clients. Depending on where you live, the seasonality of this job could fit around your school schedule, giving you a job to go back to every summer.
Career-Related Opportunities
Internships and other career-related positions provide valuable experience and can help students explore their field of interest.
Internships
Internships can be a lot of fun while also gaining work experience that may help you in the field you might be interested in. Specific internships can open your eyes to changing your career path or ensure that you want to be in the field of the specific internship. If you’d like to get more experience in your field of study, you can opt for a summer internship. If you’re studying oceanography, see what organizations like NOAA offer and start applying. If you study finance, take a look at positions available with banks around the country. Internships are one of the best ways for students and young professionals to get valuable experience and their foot in the doors of top companies. With a summer internship, you’ll build crucial skills, add impressive experience to your resume, and make important connections with peers and mentors. Internships have almost become a rite of passage. There's no single way to land a summer internship. Many are found through connections, while others are posted online. Students who intern can pick up valuable skills and experience related to their field of choice. They can also make important connections with employers, future coworkers, and others. Your advisor can help you find paid internship opportunities if this is something you’re interested in.
Apprentice
Looking to learn a trade? A summer apprenticeship can give you hands-on experience, even if you have no prior experience. If you're interested in trades such as plumbing, carpentry, welding, and the like, reach out to local businesses and ask if you may apprentice.
Customer Service Roles
In business speak, customer service roles are often described as client-facing, and the interpersonal skills you build could be invaluable for the rest of your career. This kind of role could also serve as a "foot in the door" for landing another position at the same company in the future.
English Teacher Abroad
Become an English teacher and give into that burning desire to travel abroad - and get paid while doing it! Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) has long been a viable avenue for gap-year adults, college students, and recent grads to travel the world and make money.
Referee or Umpire
Referees are an often overlooked part of summer sports, even though park- and travel-league games usually need one if not multiple referees or umpires. If you're so into ball that watching kids play is fun for you, becoming a referee or umpire could be an entertaining summer gig. What better way to learn more about a sport you love?
Coach
Many summer coaching positions are volunteer, but if you're particularly skilled at a sport, you might be able to score a paid gig. Coaching can be a nice way to share what you love with the next generation. A smart place to start: Ask your current or past coaches. If you can't land a job with a team, consider giving private lessons.
Animal Shelter Volunteer
Any animal lover who would love to help make a difference in rescuing or treating animals might want to search for positions at their local animal shelter. If you like animals but can’t manage to get your foot in the door of the cut-throat dog walking game, help out at the local animal shelter.
Additional Options
Federal Work-Study Program
The federal work-study program is a great option if you qualify and prefer working on campus. These jobs are part of your financial aid package, so you won’t pay federal income taxes on earnings up to your maximum award.
Summer Employment
Summer employment may not technically be its own type of employment but is still worth mentioning. Some college students are unable or unwilling to work during the school year so summer jobs are the only way to make extra money. The summer season also brings more job opportunities.
Skills and Experience
As a high school or college student, don’t hesitate to explore part-time jobs outside your field of study. Even if the job isn’t directly related to your intended degree, it can still teach valuable life skills like communication, customer service, teamwork, and attention to detail. Plus, it never hurts to be able to showcase more experience on your resume!
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