If you’re a college student looking to make some money over the summer, you might be thinking about what kind of job you want. After all, the goal is to stash some cash for the upcoming school year — all while having fun, right?

Whether you’re working on your bachelor’s degree, gearing up as a grad student, or just browsing for fun, these job opportunities are a great place to start.

19 fun summer job ideas for college students

  1. Summer camp counselor
  2. Summer internship
  3. Work as a mover
  4. Caddy at your local golf club
  5. Give music lessons
  6. Sports camp instructor
  7. Work as a general laborer
  8. Teach English abroad
  9. Become a barista
  10. Crank up the heat in the kitchen
  11. Wait tables
  12. Pour drinks as a bartender
  13. Gadget repair
  14. Landscaping
  15. Childcare provider
  16. Lifeguard
  17. Dog walker
  18. Studio assistant
  19. Front desk receptionist

1. Summer camp counselor

Average salary: $12.32/hr

Summer camp season coincides perfectly with the collegiate summer, making you a great candidate to work as a camp counselor. Whether you find a day camp or an on-site, sleepaway camp, this job is ideal for college students who love kids and being outside.

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2. Summer internship

Average salary: Varies by field and geographic area

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. It can be a great way to learn about your field, and it offers a chance to live and work in a new place!

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3. Work as a mover

Average salary: $15.96/hr

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. Movers are paid a daily rate and are often tipped out, as well — it can be pretty lucrative if you work for the right company!

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4. Caddy at your local golf club

Average salary: $17.71/hr, plus tips

While your experience will differ substantially from the 1980 cult classic Caddy Shack, you can still get a great workout and make a salary plus tips working as a caddy at your local golf course or country club. Even if you don’t enjoy golf, it’s a great way to get outside, stay in shape, and make some money.

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5. Give music lessons

Average salary: $20-40/hr

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. You can apply at a local music school or offer your services as an individual — the latter involves building a client list and marketing yourself on sites like Thumbtack, Facebook, or Instagram.

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6. Sports camp instructor

Average salary: $24/hr

Student-athletes can find work at summer sports camps with ease. Check in with your coach to see if your university runs a summer camp or clinic during the off-season and inquire about instructor positions. If your college doesn’t offer a camp at their facilities, you can check in with local high schools, AAU organizations, and other amateur sports clubs (like junior hockey or soccer development organizations).

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7. Work as a general laborer

Average salary: $15-20/hr

Build character and break a sweat working as a general laborer — every job site needs a few! Whether you find your place on a construction site, working in a warehouse, or spending your summer cutting scrap metal with an oxy-acetylene torch for an excavating equipment servicer, you can find plenty of full-time options and gain some interesting work experience.

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8. Teach English abroad

Average salary: Varies by country and contract

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. Your certification can be done online, and there are plenty of summer-length contracts available throughout the world.

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9. Become a barista

Average salary: $14.98/hr, plus tips

If you’re a morning person who loves the sound of espresso machines, consider applying for work as a barista. Usual shifts start around 5:00 am, which gets you out of work at 1:00 pm after an 8-hour shift — giving you plenty of time to enjoy the long days of sun in the summer! Plus, collecting tips is a great way to pad your income on top of your salary.

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10. Crank up the heat in the kitchen

Average salary: $17.38/hr, plus tips

For those who’ve read Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential, you’ll know that the back-of-house team at a restaurant can be an interesting place to spend a summer. The author got his start working as a dishwasher at a summer gig in Provincetown — which still remains a great option for summer work. Full-time or part-time, you can gain some real-world experience working as a member of a kitchen staff. Good restaurants often tip out the kitchen staff, as well!

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11. Wait tables

Average salary: $16.23/hr, plus tips

If the high-stress environment and breakneck tempo of the kitchen aren’t for you, consider leveraging your people skills and working as a server. While the base salary is under minimum wage, you can make a lot of money in tips — especially if you’re working in a busy restaurant. The laid-back atmosphere and culture of the position make serving an especially fun work environment.

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12. Pour drinks as a bartender

Average salary: $16.14/hr, plus tips

Working as a bartender can be the ideal summer job for a student. If you’re 21+, 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. You’ll also work late nights and won’t make it home to sleep until the wee hours of the morning (especially on a busy weekend), but working as a bartender can definitely be one of the best summer jobs.

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13. Gadget repair

Average salary: Varies based on service

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. If you have any technical proclivity, you can work for Best Buy’s Geek Squad, or even start your own business!

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14. Landscaping

Average salary: $17.65/hr

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. Mowing lawns, tree trimming, pruning shrubs, and mitigating weeds is the name of the game — mastering these can pay you money in the present and save you money when you own a home in the future!

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15. Childcare provider

Average salary: $16/hr

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. Looking after a few kids can be less stressful than a rowdy pack of campers, and the pace and tempo of the job can be quite leisurely (depending, of course, on the kids).

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16. Lifeguard

Average salary: $17/hr

Is there a more quintessential summer job than working as lifeguard? 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. Otherwise, you can check in with private pools around town or your local YMCA.

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17. Dog walker

Average salary: $18.30/hr

Do you like dealing with dogs more than humans? 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. You can also advertise your services on social media, Nextdoor, or Google.

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18. Studio assistant

Average salary: Varies based on location and 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. If you’re interested in any kind of production work, reach out to local studios to see if they need help. 

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19. Front desk receptionist

Average salary: $16.22/hr

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. If you like the job and your schedule allows, you could even work year-round between classes.

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