Remote jobs for college students can pay well, be lucrative, and help you get started on the career you have always dreamed of. We live in a time where you can do a lot from within the four walls of your home.
You can shop from home. You can study. And guess what? After the pandemic, it’s even normal to make a living from your kitchen table. Finding an online job can give you enough flexibility to focus on school without ending up broke. But most importantly, it can help you fill up your bank account, help you save money, and pay debts.
So, if you are up for the challenge, let’s explore some remote jobs that do not require any experience!
The Best Remote Jobs For College Students To Explore
1. Freelance Writing
If you know how to weave sentences together and research, there are various opportunities you can explore to earn income online. You could write material for webpages, scripts, advertisements, and videos.
With the increase in digital businesses, companies need written content to improve their marketing and increase their online authority. And, who knows? You could also end up writing an article much like this one.
What pay can you expect?
As a beginner, you can charge $50 for a 1,500-word article. As you become experienced, your rates can go as high as $150.
How to start?
- Create your blog and start writing articles for it.
- Put together a portfolio with the articles you have written.
- Start pitching your samples to clients on websites like Freelance Writer’s Den to start doing projects.
Skills Required
- Communication skills
- Proof-reading and editing
- Content Management
Websites to get started?
- WritingCreek
- MediaBistro
2. Freelance Editing
Freelance editing is one of the most diverse and well-paying online jobs for college students. It includes editing everything, from full-length books to short articles. You can also choose to specialize in a particular genre or topic related to your course of studies.
What pay can you expect?
You can charge $350 to $500 to edit a short book.
How to start?
- Start by editing assignments and research papers for your friends.
- Try to join the campus literary magazine or newspaper.
- Build a portfolio and apply for opportunities on various websites.
Skills Required
- Grammar
- Proof-reading
Websites to get started?
- JobsforEditors
- Contena
3. Freelance Web Development
The development field has continued to grow in the past couple of decades and shows no signs of slowing down. So, if you are a computer whizz with the skills to build websites, you can start charging for them today.
What pay can you expect?
The average hourly pay for a web developer is about $36.
How to start?
- Learn web development using Wix or WordPress to get you started.
- Build a couple of websites for friends to add to your portfolio.
- Apply to web development gigs online through Turing.com and other websites.
Skills Required
- Coding
- Responsive design
- Testing and debugging
Websites to get started?
- Toptal
- PeoplePerHour
4. Virtual Assistant
There are a lot of busy people out there who need help with various tasks. However, they do not want to hire a personal assistant in real life. This is where the position of a virtual assistant comes in.
As a virtual assistant, you will be required to do tasks such as booking appointments and answering emails.
What pay can you expect?
Remote jobs for college students of this kind in the US pay up to $16 per hour.
How to start?
- Write your CV highlighting skills and interests
- Specify the services you can offer
- Set an hourly price
- Increase your online presence
- Start pitching in the field you would like to work in the future
Skills Required
- Communication
- Time management
- resourcefulness
Websites to get started?
- Nuance
- Direct Interactions
5. Audio Transcription
If you are searching for online jobs for college students, you are bound to come across audio transcription. YouTubers and podcasters regularly pay for this service to repurpose their content. Most medical students work as transcribers to get experience in their field. What you need are typing skills.
Usually, a company requires 60-70 words per minute with an accuracy rate of 98%.
What pay can you expect?
Most freelancing gigs pay up to $0.36 per minute for any audio you transcribe.
How to start?
- Choose your focus and field (technical legal transcription or educational podcast)
- Get the virtual tools for transcriptions
- Share your portfolio on remote job platforms
Skills Required
- Speed and accuracy
- Multi-tasking skills
- Excellent listening skills
Websites to get started?
- Speechpad
- SoundHound
6. Video Captioning
As a video captioner, you will be required to transcribe the audio from a video and add captions to them. You may also be required to sync the audio and video and use text to convey sounds too. Since this is more complex than audio transcription, the pay is also higher.
What pay can you expect?
Captioners usually get paid $0.45 for every minute of video they caption.
How to start?
- Sign up on websites, such as Rev.
- Take the captioning assessment. If you pass, you can start applying for gigs on the website.
Skills Required
- Excellent listening skills
- Speed and accuracy
- Efficient time management
Websites to get started?
- CSOFT International
- Cielo24
7. Voiceover Work
Have people told you that you are pretty good at imitating voices? Then a job that includes voiceover work, such as narrating instructional videos and stories, will be perfect for you.
What pay can you expect?
On average, you can make $25 for every voiceover work you submit.
How to start?
- Get your voiceover toolkit
- Get training with a certification
- Build your portfolio
- Share your online profiles
Skills Required
- Voice modulation
- Enunciation
- Natural timing
Websites to get started?
- SuchAVoice
- Edge Studio
8. Video Editing
Video is one of the largest and most profitable forms of content on the internet, which means that the profession is in high demand right now. As a video editor, you will be responsible for managing the footage, sound effects, dialogue, and special effects to captivate the watcher.
What pay can you expect?
Beginner video editors usually charge up to $45 an hour.
How to start?
- Learn the basic skills of video editing.
- Get subscriptions to good quality video editing software, like Adobe Premiere.
- Put together a video editing portfolio.
- Start pitching your services.
Skills Required
- Attention to detail
- Familiarity with video editing software
- Problem-solving skills
Websites to get started?
- GoEverWork
- Wyzant
9. Photography
Photography is one of the most popular remote jobs for college students and otherwise. You also do not need any equipment to get started since phones nowadays have excellent-quality cameras, and editing software is easily accessible online. Unless you are working a well-paid photography gig, you do not need expensive cameras or heavy equipment at all.
What pay can you expect?
A typical photographer in the US charges $25 per hour.
How to start?
- Take courses to polish your photography skills.
- Create your website to market your brand. You can also set up accounts on TikTok and Instagram to gain recognition.
- Put together a portfolio of your best photos.
Skills Required
- Creativity
- Patience
- Technical photography skills
Websites to get started?
- Snappr
- Magnum Photos
10. Foreign Language Tutor
Offline and online jobs for college students also include teaching foreign languages to others. Mandarin, Spanish, and Arabic are quite popular these days, but if you know any other language, too, you can start earning today.
What pay can you expect?
Foreign language tutors tend to make $10 to $35 an hour, depending on the demand for the language.
How to start?
- Take assessments to verify your fluency in the language you will be teaching.
- Sign up on websites that specialize in gigs like these.
- Look for people in your community who may want to learn this foreign language.
Skills Required
- Fluency in the language you will be teaching
- Organizational skills
- Patience and communication
Websites to get started?
- Learn Teach World
- Amazing Talker
11. Social Media Marketer
All businesses these days want to maintain a social media presence to market their brand. But most of them are not aware of how to use social media platforms to their advantage. This is where you come in.
Social media marketing is one of the top remote jobs for college students, who use their knowledge of marketing best practices and social media to get desirable results.
What pay can you expect?
The standard rate for social media marketing pays between $20 to $25 per hour.
How to start?
- Learn your way around social media platforms and check out the pro and business features too.
- Take online courses or read books and news to learn about past and current trends.
- Post services on freelance platforms like Fiverr or Upwork or send out your resume to digital marketing or relevant companies and agencies.
Skills Required
- Project management skills
- Story harvesting
- Post scheduling
Websites to get started?
- OnCampusAdvertising
- WayBetterMarketing
12. Data Entry
Despite technological advances, computers can´t do everything, especially when it comes to turning handwritten work into digital documents. This is because not all handwriting or formats are easy to understand. For this reason, data entry positions are one of the best well-paid online jobs for college students. It includes taking data from one format or source and transcribing it to another system.
What pay can you expect?
The average hourly pay for entering data is $12.
How to start?
- Get a course with a certification
- Improve your resume with relevant experiences
- Apply for positions in your field
Skills Required
- Understanding of database software
- Excellent typing skills
- Transcription skills
Websites to get started?
- Uni Buddy
- Use Brain Trust
13. Virtual Recruiter
The job of a virtual recruiter involves posting online jobs and searching for potential candidates. Part of the job requires you to go through LinkedIn profiles and find relevant resumes for various positions if you choose to opt for this profession.
What pay can you expect?
The average pay for this job is around $20 or $30 per hour.
How to start?
- Learn how to interact with different kinds of people.
- Apply for training in relevant companies willing to hire.
- Look for available positions on various websites, such as CareerBuilder and SimplyHired.
- Apply for open positions on LinkedIn.
- You can also set up your own website to become an independent contractor.
Skills Required
- Communication skills
- Collaboration
Websites to get started?
- Manatal
- Handshake
14. PPC Marketing
When you scroll on Facebook or search for something on Google, you often come across ads. These are a part of PPC or Pay-Per-Click marketing, which is one of the most well-paid remote jobs for college students.
What pay can you expect?
The average hourly pay for these jobs is $25.
How to start?
- Take a couple of online courses to learn everything there is about PPC marketing.
- Learn copywriting skills.
- Get Google Ads certification and other relevant ones.
- Start by applying to local businesses and companies
- Start applying on Upwork and LinkedIn for higher-paying projects or permanent positions.
Skills Required
- Analytical skills
- Mathematical ability
- Attention to detail
Websites to get started?
- Webfx
- Unitaskr
15. Course Creator
If there is a topic or a course that you are quite passionate about, you can always take up a job to teach it to people. All you have to do is be a course creator and start giving online tutorials or making how-to videos for teaching purposes.
What pay can you expect?
Most courses can be sold for $45 online, but the pricing will vary based on the demand for the course and how technical it is.
How to start?
- Set up a website and then create courses on it.
- Get the word out about your venture.
- Use a hosting platform, such as Kajabi, Teachable, or Thinkific, to help students retrieve course-related information with ease.
Skills Required
- Marketing basics
- Technical skills
Websites to get started?
- Thinkific
- Easelearning
Start Making Money While You Are In College
By the time you make it here, you will have seen the many remote jobs for college students. There must be at least one or two jobs on this list that appeals to you. So, without wasting another minute, sit at your kitchen table or in the library, and start to apply to find the perfect job for you!
