Side gigs for students

Class comes first, so the gig has to bend. These let you start and stop without asking anyone. Each page says the real pay, the gear you need, and the parts that waste your time.

6 gigs.

• Take Paid Studies on Prolific

  $8-12 an hour

  $8 an hour is the floor Prolific makes researchers meet.

  Researchers pay you to answer questions and do short tasks online. Prolific makes them pay at least $8 an hour. You need a computer, an ID and patience, because there is a waitlist to join.

  • No car needed
  • No phone needed
  • Computer needed
  • Can sit

  First money in about Unknown. There is a waitlist to join..

• Sell Your Stuff on Mercari

  $0.90-1,800 a sale

  This is what you keep from one sale after the published 10% fee, at Mercari's own $1 and $2,000 price limits.

  You list things you own and post them when they sell. Mercari keeps 10% of the sale. Listing is free. You are not paid until the buyer rates you, which can take days after delivery.

  • No car needed
  • Phone needed
  • Computer helps
  • Can sit

  First money in about 1-2 weeks after your first sale.

• Teach English Online With Cambly

  $10.20-12 an hour

  $0.17 a minute works out to $10.20 an hour, and Cambly Kids pays $0.20 a minute, or $12.

  You talk to English learners by video. Cambly pays $0.17 a minute, but only for minutes you are actually in a call. No degree or teaching certificate is needed. Three US states are barred.

  • No car needed
  • No phone needed
  • Computer needed
  • Can sit

  First money in about 2-4 weeks.

• Type Audio for GoTranscript

  $0.20-2.38 an audio minute

  Per minute of audio, not per minute of your time.

  You type what you hear in recordings. GoTranscript's headline says up to $1.75 a minute. Its own rate table says English pays $0.65. You are paid per minute of audio, not per minute of your time.

  • No car needed
  • No phone needed
  • Computer needed
  • Can sit

  First money in about 1-2 weeks.

• Type Audio for Rev

  $0.40-1.10 an audio minute

  Paid for each minute of audio, not each minute you work.

  Rev pays you to type what you hear in a recording. You pick the files you want. Pay is $0.40-1.10 for each minute of audio, not each minute of your time. You need a computer and good headphones.

  • No car needed
  • No phone needed
  • Computer needed
  • Can sit

  First money in about 1-2 weeks.

• Work the Polls on Election Day

  $75-300 a day

  For one election day.

  You help run a polling place for one long day. Pay is set by your state or county, not by any national rule. In the places we checked it ran from $75 to $300 for the day.

  • Car helps
  • No phone needed
  • No computer needed
  • Some standing

  First money in about 4-6 weeks after the election.

All gigs and filters or how we check things.