Summer Side Hustles for College Students and Teens that Pay Well

Looking for the best summer side hustles for college students and teens that aren’t babysitting and lawn care?

Those are classics for a reason, but sometimes you want something that’s a little more fun, more flexible, and better aligned with your vibe.

The good news is there are plenty of ways to make money during your summer break.

Some of them don’t even require any experience at all.

You can earn cash doing things you already enjoy or pick up simple gigs that fit perfectly into your summer schedule.

Plus, some of these hustles can earn you more in a single day than most of your friends make in an entire week at their summer job!

So try something new this summer and turn your free time into serious cash with these fun side hustle ideas!

Summer Side Hustles for College Students and Teens

Here are some of the best side hustles for students to make money during summer break.

Review Amazon Products for Money

Imagine getting paid a few hundred dollars per month to post short review videos on Amazon of products you already own?

That’s exactly what an Amazon reviewer does, and it’s one of the easiest ways to turn your purchases into easy side hustle cash!

To do this side hustle, you first need to apply to become an Amazon Influencer. 

Once you get approved, you’ll be able to create an Amazon storefront (here’s my storefront where I post my review videos!).

Your videos can also appear on the actual product pages you review.

Every time someone watches your video and buys the item, Amazon pays you a small commission.

I make a few hundred dollars each month with this gig with only a handful of product review videos!

Make Money Selling Etsy Printables

If you love the idea of getting paid over and over for something you made once, then selling Etsy printables is a great side hustle to start.

Printables are digital files that buyers download and print at home. 

It’s one of the best summer side hustles for college students because they’re easy to sell and low-cost to make.

You don’t even have to design them from scratch. 

If you’re not into graphic design, just grab PLR (Private Label Rights) printables from sites like Purpose PLR and make them your own. 

It’s a fun way to make passive income online, even if you’re a complete beginner. 

Plus, once your printables are listed on Etsy, they can keep earning money all summer long and into the school year!

Here are 5 high-demand printables to sell on Etsy:

• Weekly Meal Planners

• Canva Pinterest Templates

• Self-care Journals

• Budget Trackers

You can also check sites like Creative Mama Designs for more PLR products.

Clean Residential Pools

Making money as a college student is easy when you tackle a common homeowner headache, cleaning pools! 

Busy homeowners aren’t looking to spend their summer days scooping leaves and scrubbing pool walls. 

They’d much rather relax while someone else handles the dirty work.

With just a telescoping pole, leaf rake, and a small vacuum (about $120 total investment), you can launch your pool cleaning side hustle! 

Using Google Earth, you can quickly spot houses with pools in your neighborhood and nearby areas.

Then drop off simple flyers offering your services. 

Most homeowners will happily pay $30-50 per visit to have someone fish out bugs, scoop up leaves, and keep their pool looking clean. 

This summer side hustle can reasonably earn you $200+ per day, while getting some sunshine and exercise!

Get Paid to Sell Your Class Notes

If you’re great at taking organized notes of the courses you take, you can sell your notes to make extra cash and help other students too. 

Summer break gives you the perfect chance to organize your best notes from past classes. 

You can turn them into study guides to sell to incoming students who will take those same courses next term.

With just a laptop and your existing notes, you can turn your material into helpful PDF guides and flashcards.

Then sell them to sites like Studocu that pay you for your notes. 

If you want to make more money, try selling your study guides directly to students through a beacons.ai link or through a student group chat.

Many professors stick to the same material year after year, which makes your well-organized notes a valuable resource for new students.

This clever side hustle lets you earn money from work you’ve already done while helping fellow students succeed in their classes!

Flip Walmart Hidden Clearance Deals

Here’s a fun side hustle I did for many years that brought in a few thousand dollars a month on top of my full-time job.

Walmart Hidden Clearance means finding items that are much cheaper than the price shown on the shelf.

Oftentimes, the hidden deals are 70-90% off regular prices! 

As a college student, you can join paid alert groups like Deal Soldier that send daily notifications when deals pop up at local Walmart stores. 

You can snag insane deals on electronics or items like the $109 Razor RipRider 360 kid’s bike I grabbed for just $33!

Then flip these bargains for a profit on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or at local flea markets.

Just make sure to charge more than your cost, but less than retail to make the sale quick and easy! 

The beauty of this offline side hustle is that you can start with just $50-100, work whenever you have free time, and scale it up as large as you want.

Junk Restoration 

Ever notice those random furniture pieces and items left outside people’s houses with signs that say “free stuff?”

Well, this so-called junk can easily become someone else’s treasure with a little restoration!

You can make serious money by picking up discarded furniture, cleaning it up, giving it a fresh coat of paint, or fixing minor damage. 

Then resell it for a profit. 

All it takes is some basic tools, and an eye for potential. 

Platforms like Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, and even local flea markets are great places to flip your finds. 

This side hustle not only pays more than most summer jobs, but it’s also flexible and rewarding, especially if you enjoy DIY projects or upcycling.

Power Wash Driveways and Decks

Why settle for a boring summer job when you can blast away dirt and cash in with your own power washing side hustle? 

All you need is a decent pressure washer, some basic supplies like a long hose and cleaning solution, and the motivation to transform grimy surfaces into sparkling clean spaces. 

Homeowners will happily pay $100–$200 for that kind of service.

Simply take impressive before-and-after photos of your work. 

Then post them on neighborhood Facebook groups, and watch as the requests start flooding in from people amazed at the dramatic difference. 

Summer is the perfect time for this side hustle since homeowners want their outdoor spaces looking fresh for barbecues and gatherings. 

You can easily make $500-1000 per week working just a few hours each day. 

Summer Side Hustles for 13 and 14 Year Olds

Here are other great ways younger teens can make money this summer.

Play Games Online for Free Gift Cards

Teens 13 years of age and older are earning gift cards and cash online with the popular money-making site, Swagbucks.

One of the easiest ways to earn is by playing games online through the Swagbucks platform. 

These games offer you points just for playing and reaching certain levels. Redeem points for free gift cards or PayPal cash.

Read more in my Swagbucks review to discover more ways to earn.

Make and Sell DIY Crafts

There are plenty of beginner-friendly teen crafts to make and sell for side hustle money this summer.

If you love crafting, then consider turning your hobby into a money-making venture by creating fun, trendy items people actually want to buy. 

From handmade jewelry to personalized keychains, there’s a market for creative one-of-a-kind pieces. 

You can sell your crafts at local markets, on Etsy, or even through social media.

More Ways for Students to Earn Money

If you’ve got downtime between side hustle gigs and want to keep the cash coming in, try these next quick ways to make extra money.

Make Money from Your Phone

Side hustle apps for students are an easy way to earn income whenever you have free time.

There are tons of ways to make money with apps, from small task apps like Field Agent to food delivery platforms like UberEats.

I love side hustle apps and have made over $5,000 with just Field Agent! Read more in my Field Agent App Review.

Work Remote Jobs in Your Spare Time

Online jobs for teens and college students are available all year-round, but sometimes you have to dig a little to find the good ones.

Many of these remote jobs require no experience to start, so that’s a big plus for anyone just getting started. 

They’re perfect for building work skills, earning extra cash, and doing it all on your own schedule.

Final Tips for Summer Side Hustle Ideas

Summer side hustles for college students and teens are a great way to earn extra cash, gain real-world experience, and explore new interests. 

You can flip furniture, create digital products, power wash patios, or try something totally unique that fits your style. 

Just pick one that feels doable and take that first step. Your summer hustle could turn into something bigger than you imagined!

Next you may be interested in reading about high-paying remote jobs, or getting paid to eat and shop as a mystery shopper.