Side Hustles for Teachers: 10 Ways to Earn Extra Income in 2026

Side hustles for teachers can help a classroom salary go further. The average U.S. teacher salary was $74,495 in 2024-25, and the average starting salary was $48,112, according to the National Education Association.

You're not alone if you're weighing extra work. About 1 in 6 full-time public school teachers held a nonschool job in 2020-21, according to federal data analyzed by Pew Research Center. RAND's 2026 survey, a different measure, found 30% of teachers reported an outside job.

Below, we compare 10 side jobs for teachers on pay, startup cost and best season. We also cover the district rules and taxes to check before you start. For app-based gigs, see our ranking of side hustle apps.

These 10 side hustles for teachers differ in how much they use your classroom skills, what they cost to start and when demand peaks. BestMoney compared 10 side hustles for teachers on pay, startup cost, time and season.

Pay benchmarks are May 2025 median wages for employed workers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). They exclude self-employed workers, so treat them as context, not a forecast of your side income. For TPT and Outschool, we list each platform's fee split only.

Startup cost and best season are BestMoney editorial estimates, not survey data.

Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook (May 2025 medians for employees; excludes self-employed workers), TPT seller terms and Outschool's teacher earnings policy. Startup cost and best season columns are BestMoney editorial estimates.

We grouped these 10 side hustles for teachers by how they fit your schedule and energy. Each entry covers what stands out and what to check first.

Which Side Hustles Use Your Teaching Skills?

Tutoring, selling lesson plans, teaching online classes and working summer programs draw directly on your classroom skills.

Tutoring. Tutoring is a natural fit if you already explain concepts all day. The BLS median for employed tutors is $20.84 an hour, and the middle 80% earn $29,430 to $75,990 a year (May 2025). Those figures exclude self-employed tutors, so private rates may differ.

Demand tends to rise during the school year and before standardized test dates, according to BLS. One caution: many districts bar paid tutoring of your own students, so check your district's rules first.

Selling lesson plans on TPT. If you already build classroom materials, TPT lets you sell them to other teachers. Under TPT's seller terms, Basic sellers keep 55% of each sale and pay a $0.30 fee per resource, plus a $29 one-time fee. Exclusive sellers keep a standard 77.5% for $59.95 a year but can sell eligible digital products only on TPT.

TPT also lists a limited-time 80% introductory rate for Exclusive sellers through Jan. 1. TPT says earnings vary. Who owns materials you made on school time can depend on your contract and district policy, so check before you list them.

Teaching online classes on Outschool. Outschool lets you design and teach live online classes for kids. Under Outschool's earnings policy, teachers keep 70% of the class price they set. The platform also notes that you're responsible for reporting that income for taxes.

Summer school and camps. Summer programs let you keep teaching on a different schedule. BLS notes that some teachers are paid to teach summer school. For camp roles, the BLS median for employed recreation workers is $36,560 a year (May 2025).

To spot camp and summer program openings, job search apps can help you set alerts and apply quickly.

Which Side Hustles Work Online During the School Year?

Freelance writing, editing, translation and bookkeeping can fit around a school schedule because you can often do the work remotely on evenings or weekends.

Freelance writing. Lesson plans, parent emails and report card comments all build writing skills. The BLS median for writers is $76,910 a year (May 2025, employees only). Freelance rates aren't captured in that figure, so use it as a benchmark.

Editing and proofreading. If you spend weekends marking essays, editing may feel familiar. The BLS median for editors is $77,920 a year (May 2025, employees only). Like the writer figure, it excludes self-employed workers.

Translation. Bilingual teachers can turn a second language into side income. BLS reports a median of $60,170 a year for interpreters and translators (May 2025). These figures exclude self-employed workers.

Bookkeeping and tax-season work. If you're comfortable with numbers, part-time bookkeeping or seasonal tax-season work is another option. The BLS median for bookkeeping clerks is $50,670 a year (May 2025, employees only). Some roles may require training before you start.

Which Side Hustles Give You a Break From Teaching?

Gig and delivery apps and pet or house sitting give you a break because they use different skills and you set your own hours.

Gig and delivery apps. App-based gigs let you work when you choose, with no lesson planning. We compare these options in our side hustle apps ranking, linked in the introduction, so we won't repeat it here. Check each app's requirements before you sign up.

Pet sitting and house sitting. Pet sitting and house sitting can fit around summer and holiday breaks. They're flexible, need little training and happen in person. We didn't find a reliable pay source, so we haven't listed a figure.

Choose a side hustle based on four factors: your time and energy, your district's rules, the taxes you'll owe and your goal for the money.

How Much Time and Energy Do You Have Left?

Start with the time and energy you have after school. Teachers worked an average of 49 hours a week in 2025, 10 more than they're contracted for, according to RAND.

RAND's 2026 survey found teachers report worse well-being than similar working adults on every indicator it measured. Adding work may add strain, so match the hustle to your energy as well as the pay.

Does Your District Allow It?

It depends on your district, and many limit paid tutoring. Boulder Valley School District's policy bars teachers from taking pay to tutor students currently in their class, and bars paid tutoring in school buildings.

The Florida Commission on Ethics says teachers may tutor for pay only children who aren't in their classes or on their teams. Rules vary, so read your district policy and contract, and talk with HR.

What Will You Owe in Taxes?

You'll owe income tax on side hustle income, plus self-employment tax once net earnings reach $400. The IRS sets the self-employment tax rate at 15.3%, covering Social Security and Medicare.

The IRS fact sheet on Form 1099-K says all income is taxable, even without a form. Payment apps and marketplaces send a 1099-K only above $20,000 and more than 200 transactions, and states may set lower thresholds.

Clients who pay you $2,000 or more in 2026 file a Form 1099-NEC, according to the IRS. That's their filing threshold; you still report all your income.

If you expect to owe $1,000 or more, you'll generally need to make estimated tax payments. The educator expense deduction is $350 for tax year 2026.

For more, see what to know about side hustle taxes. This is not tax or legal advice; talk with a tax pro about your situation.

What Will You Do With the Extra Money?

Give the extra money a job before it arrives. An emergency fund is a common first goal, and our steps to building an emergency fund show you how to start.

If your district pays you over 10 months, side income can also smooth summer cash flow. Set up automated savings so deposits move before you spend them, and create a budget you'll stick to around irregular pay.

Can teachers have a side job during the school year?

Yes, if your district policy allows it. RAND's 2026 survey found 30% of teachers reported an outside job, averaging 13 hours a week, so weigh that time against your workload.

Do I have to pay taxes on side hustle income?

Yes. The IRS says all income is taxable even without a tax form, and self-employment tax applies once net earnings reach $400.

Can I tutor my own students for pay?

Often not. Many districts and some states bar paid tutoring of your current students, so check your policy and talk with HR.

What can teachers do over summer break to earn money?

Summer school, camps, tutoring and online classes can fit a summer schedule. See the comparison table above for each option's best season.

The right side hustle for you fits your schedule, your energy and your district's rules. Tutoring, TPT and Outschool use your classroom skills, while freelance writing, editing and translation can fit around the school year.

Before you start, check your district policy and set money aside for taxes. Then point the income at a goal, such as an emergency fund or smoother summer cash flow. Side hustles for teachers tend to work well when they support your life outside the classroom.