15 Seasonal Side Hustles for the Summer Months

Potential earnings: $15–$30 per hour

What it is and how it works: Summer tutors provide individualized instruction on a subject or skill to students during their summer vacations (which typically last from early June to late August).

As a summer tutor, you may help students review material from the past school year, catch up with a subject they’ve been struggling with, prepare for courses in the coming semester, or learn a new skill they’re interested in.

Why it’s great for summer: It’s very common for students of all ages to receive tutoring in the summer. Many parents want to give their children a boost, and ambitious college students sometimes hire tutors for themselves.

If you’d prefer to tutor students in a non-academic subject, there are also plenty of opportunities to do that during the summer, which is when students have time to participate in more extracurricular activities and explore their other interests.

How to get started: Landing tutoring work is easy. Thanks to the internet, online tutoring is as prevalent as in-person tutoring these days.

First, pick the subject you want to tutor. You don’t need any formal qualifications to become a tutor, but having a bachelor’s or master’s degree in your chosen niche will make you a more competitive candidate. In some fields, it can also be worth pursuing a specialized tutoring certification, such as a TEFL or CELTA certification if you plan on teaching English as a second language.

You can find gigs on online tutoring platforms, such as:

• Tutor.com
• Varsity Tutors
• Wyzant
• PearDeck (formerly TutorMe)
• Study.com

Potential earnings: $10–$20 per hour

What it is and how it works: Summer camps hold educational and recreational group activities for children and teenagers. Camps can last anywhere from just one day to the whole summer break.

Some camps are general and have no particular focus, but there are also many specialty camps, such as:

• Art and performance camps (e.g., band camps)
• Boys’ or girls’ camps
• Fitness camps
• Religious camps
• Sports camps
• Special needs camps
• Science and technology camps

As a summer camp counselor, your responsibilities will revolve around keeping participants (i.e., campers) safe and happy. You’ll also have to communicate with parents before and during the camp sessions.

Why it’s great for summer: While not all camps are held during summer, it’s the most popular season, due to the warm weather and the long break from school. This isn’t the highest-paid side hustle on this list, but it’s a fun one, at least if you don’t mind supervising children or teenagers.

How to get started: The minimum requirements to qualify as a camp counselor usually include:

• A high school degree or equivalent
• First aid and CPR training
• Good interpersonal skills

It’s also helpful (although not necessarily required) to have previous experience working with children.

To find camp jobs, browse general online job boards, such as Indeed, or these sites:

• American Camp Association
• Camp Gig
• Camp Channel
• Camp Staff

Potential earnings: Varies depending on your location and property

What it is and how it works: If you have a spare bedroom, you can host your home on Airbnb during the summer. You’ll need to maintain a clean and safe space for your guests and reply to their inquiries during their stay.

You won’t be required to prepare meals for your guests, although if you do, you can get away with charging higher prices. Many Airbnb hosts also recommend local restaurants, shops, and tourist attractions to their guests.

Why it’s great for summer: Summer is a peak travel season, and more and more travelers these days are choosing to stay at Airbnbs.

Note that you don’t have to clear out of your house to list it as a short-term rental. As long as you make it clear in your listing, you can stay in the same house as your guests.

How to get started: First and foremost, you should check your local laws for any regulations you need to follow and licenses you need to obtain to pursue this side hustle. Some cities and homeowner’s associations have strict restrictions on short-term renting.

Next, go to Airbnb’s sign-up page and create an account. Follow the instructions and fill in your information. Remember to do market research when setting your rates. Of course, you can adjust your pricing as you deem appropriate later on.

Potential earnings: $15–30 per hour

What it is and how it works: Babysitters ensure the safety and well-being of children while their parents are away. Similarly, pet sitters and house sitters take care of pets and homes, respectively.

This side hustle is fairly straightforward, but each type of sitting comes with certain quirks:

• Babysitting: This is the most demanding type of sitting. As a babysitter, your duties will depend on the child’s age. Infants and toddlers generally need more attention and care than older children.
• Pet sitting: In addition to keeping the animals under your care safe, you may have to take on additional duties, such as grooming and dog walking. You can set your rates according to your workload.
• House sitting: This is usually an easy gig—often, you won’t have to actually do anything but stay in the house and keep it safe—but be aware that it’s quite common for homeowners to compensate house sitters with a free night’s stay instead of actual payment. Technically, you won’t be making money if that’s the arrangement, but it’s a good way to cut your living expenses while you’re traveling.

Why it’s great for summer: Many families travel during the summer and need reliable caretakers to look after their children, pets, or houses. Similarly, if you’re the one traveling, booking several house-sitting gigs during your trip can save you a lot of money.

How to get started: Again, babysitting and pet sitting are more challenging than housesitting, as you’ll be taking care of living beings. You’ll often need to obtain a pediatric or pet first aid/CPR certification to take on babysitting and pet sitting gigs. This isn’t a legal requirement, but it’s one many clients will insist on.

To look for sitting jobs during the summer, visit online platforms specifically designed to connect sitters with parents and owners, such as the sites listed in the table below:

Popular Platforms for Sitting Jobs

Don’t forget to let your family and friends know you’re up for sitting gigs as well. People are (understandably) more willing to hire a familiar face than a stranger for jobs like this.

Potential earnings: $15–$30 per hour

What it is and how it works: Both lawn care professionals and landscapers maintain their clients’ properties. That said, their duties aren’t the same. Lawn care pros usually perform smaller, more narrowly focused tasks, which may include:

• Mowing grass
• Fertilizing and watering plants
• Controlling pests and weeds
• Trimming trees and bushes
• Clearing leaves
• Aerating and overseeding lawns

Landscapers look at the bigger picture, designing and transforming outdoor spaces in a more sweeping manner. Their duties often include:

• Garden design
• Hardscaping
• Property cleanup
• Walkway construction
• Irrigation system design
• Sod installation

Of course, if you prefer, you can provide both sets of services instead of picking just one.

Why it’s great for summer: For obvious reasons, summer is the busiest season for yard workers. The warmer weather and longer daylight hours are a major boon for people who do outdoor jobs of all types.

How to get started: You’ll need a large vehicle to transport yourself and your equipment to your client’s place. The easiest places to find clients are gig apps for workers like:

• LawnGuru
• Lawn Love
• Handy
• TaskRabbit

Again, spread the word about your summer side hustle among your family, friends, and neighbors. More people in your circle may need your services than you think.

Potential earnings: $10–$25 per hour

What it is and how it works: A pressure washer cleans sturdy outdoor surfaces, like driveways or sidewalks, with a high-pressure stream of water. Pressure washing suits people who like to work outdoors. This is a fairly physically demanding job, although it can be surprisingly satisfying and fun (who doesn’t like to play with high-powered toys?)

Why it’s great for summer: Like most types of outdoor work, pressure washing is generally more in demand during summer. If you don’t mind manual labor, it’s a good way to earn extra cash during the warmer months of the year.

How to get started: In most cases, you’ll have to provide your own equipment, including a reliable pressure washer and protective gear. Once you’re ready to get started, try these methods to find gigs:

• Post your services on social media
• Put up flyers around your neighborhood
• Rely on word-of-mouth
• Apply for jobs on online job boards like Indeed
• Use gig apps for manual workers, such as Handy or TaskRabbit

Potential earnings: $15–$25 per hour

What it is and how it works: Movers help people transport their belongings, large and small, from one place to another. In addition to loading and unloading your clients’ things onto a truck, you may also have to assemble and reassemble furniture.

Why it’s great for summer: Due to the favorable weather, movers are usually busiest during summer. This is also prime moving season in college towns, since many people are moving in and out of dorm rooms or relocating for the next semester. This is a good seasonal job to take on as long as you have the physical strength for it.

How to get started: You can apply for a part-time job with a moving company in your area, or use moving gig apps to find work. These include:

• Bellhops
• Dolly
• Lugg

Some apps will require you to provide your own vehicle to transport the items. Be sure you have a working truck or van you can use before accepting those gigs (or sign up for a role that doesn’t require one—some apps let you pick between being a “driver” and a “helper”).

Potential earnings: $25–$40 per hour

What it is and how it works: As a personal trainer, your job is to assist your clients with setting and reaching their health and fitness goals. You can offer one-on-one or group sessions, depending on your preferences and what the market demands.

Your responsibilities will include creating customized workout plans for your clients, ensuring they exercise safely, keeping them motivated, and potentially giving them nutrition advice.

Why it’s great for summer: Due to the weather, people are generally more active during summer than in winter, and many people are particularly motivated to get in shape for beach season.

How to get started: You have two options when starting a personal training side hustle: teaching privately or working part-time at a gym.

Either way, you’ll need to be certified or your job options will be limited. You can obtain a standard certification or a specialized certification in your chosen niche.

If you’re only teaching during the summer, working at a gym may make more sense than starting your own business. Drop by local gyms (or check their websites if they have one) to see if they’re hiring. You can also find work on all the usual job boards, like Indeed and LinkedIn.

Potential earnings: $10–$20 per hour

What it is and how it works: Lifeguards work at various locations where people swim, such as beaches, swimming pools, and water parks. They ensure swimmers aren’t engaging in dangerous activities and rescue them in emergencies.

Why it’s great for summer: More people swim and take part in water sports during the summer, which increases the demand for lifeguard services. This is also one of the most enjoyable side hustles on this list—you can get paid to enjoy the summer breeze and work on your tan. What’s not to love about this gig?

How to get started: To become a lifeguard, you must be fit and have strong swimming skills, undergo water safety and first aid training, and meet the minimum age requirement (which is often as low as 16 years, which makes this a good side hustle for teenagers).

Your employer may request that you complete a certain lifeguard training program, even if you already have a certification from another institution.

In addition to general-purpose job boards, you can check your local government’s website for opportunities, as many lifeguards work on public beaches.

Potential earnings: $15–$30 per hour

What it is and how it works: There’s a lot of work that goes into pool cleaning and maintenance. Common responsibilities include:

• Removing debris from the pool
• Balancing chemicals
• Ensuring proper filtration
• Brushing the sides and bottom of the pool
• Cleaning the skimmer baskets

Why it’s great for summer: Many pools are left unused and without maintenance during winter and need cleaning as summer approaches, putting pool cleaning services in high demand.

How to get started: This job doesn’t require any formal qualifications, but you should be familiar with using different pool maintenance equipment (something that you can probably learn on the job). You also need to have a certain amount of physical stamina for this line of work.

Ask residents of your neighborhood who have pools if they need help cleaning them. Of course, you can always work for a pool cleaning company, so you don’t need to find clients on your own.

Potential earnings: Varies depending on the type of equipment and its quality

What it is and how it works: If you happen to live near a beach—especially if your property has direct access to it—consider renting beach equipment, such as chairs, umbrellas, life jackets, and boogie boards, to beachgoers.

Many people would rather rent equipment than bring their own. Just make sure your equipment is in good condition and your prices are reasonable.

Why it’s great for summer: People usually visit the beach during summer, and most of them don’t go often enough to have their own set of beach equipment. If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere that gives you near-constant access to the ocean, why not take advantage of that during the summer to earn a little extra cash?

How to get started: Do some research on what types of beach equipment are in demand in your area and how your competitors set their prices.

You’ll need to create a marketing plan to promote your business. For instance, you can create a website and social media accounts for it. You can also invest in physical signs, banners, and flyers, and you may be able to drum up a few customers by posting on local community forums, like Craigslist and Nextdoor.

Potential earnings: $20–$40 per hour

What it is and how it works: Event planners help individuals and businesses execute various types of events. Specifically, they often handle the following tasks:

• Discussing expectations with clients
• Creating a schedule for the event
• Developing a budget and handling payments
• Obtaining any required permits and licenses
• Choosing and booking a venue
• Promoting the event
• Supervising the event itself and making sure everything runs smoothly

As an outdoor event planner, you may want to pick a particular type of event to specialize in, such as weddings or birthday parties.

Why it’s great for summer: Plenty of people prefer to hold events outdoors in the summer to take advantage of the warm weather. In fact, many events (e.g., music festivals) are exclusively held during summer, and overall, late spring to early fall is the peak party planning season.

How to get started: You don’t need to obtain a degree or a certification to become an event planner, but it’s important to network with other professionals in the industry and promote yourself online.

Sign up with EventWork.com to find event planning jobs. You can also hunt for jobs on freelancing platforms when you’re just starting out. Consider creating an account on:

• Upwork
• Fiverr
• PeoplePerHour
• Freelancer
• Guru

Note that if you use those websites, you’ll have to filter for jobs in your area, since as an event planner, you’ll generally be expected to visit the venue at least a few times.

Potential earnings: Varies depending on the products you sell

What it is and how it works: If you have a product or service to sell, you can set up a stall at a local festival, fair, or market. You can hawk handmade crafts or artwork, run a face painting booth, or do anything else you have a knack for.

Why it’s great for summer: Summer is the season for festivals and fairs all over the country. After being cooped up indoors for several months, people are excited to get out of the house and have fun—which presents a great opportunity for prospective side hustlers.

How to get started: Consider what you want to sell and how to provide enough of it to make your small business viable. Once you’ve sorted that out, search for festivals and events near you that are accepting vendor applications.

Depending on the location and your product, you may have to obtain certain permits or licenses to begin selling. You’ll also need to figure out the logistics of operating your stall, including how to price your products and handle payments.

Potential earnings: Varies, often $25+ per hour

What it is and how it works: If you’re a photographer, you can attend events and create lasting memories by taking candid or posed pictures of the guests. You’ll usually meet up with your clients beforehand to discuss their goals and requirements.

Although it’s possible to be a generalist, most photographers specialize in a niche, such as:

• Weddings
• Concerts
• Sporting events
• Parties
• Fashion events
• Art exhibitions

Why it’s great for summer: Again, summer is the peak season for holding events, which means it’s easier for event photographers to find clients. This is a competitive side hustle regardless of what time of year it is, but your most lucrative months will probably be May through September.

How to get started: It probably goes without saying, but to be an event photographer, you need the necessary photography equipment and skills. You should also be good at networking to land jobs.

Tell your friends, family, and colleagues about your services online and in person. Chances are that at least one of them knows someone who’s in need of an event photographer. In the meantime, browse online job boards to find work opportunities.

Potential earnings: Varies depending on your position

What it is and how it works: This job is what it sounds like: working in any capacity (such as retail position) on a cruise ship.

Doing this is by no means a vacation; the work can be tiring, like any other job. However, you can spend time on the shore and explore different parts of the world when you’re not on shift.

There are plenty of cruise ship positions in a wide range of fields, including service and hospitality, entertainment, healthcare, and engineering and mechanics. Virtually any job you can do on shore, you can also probably find on a cruise ship.

Why it’s great for summer: Summer is the busiest time of year for cruise ships due to school breaks and weather conditions. If you’re looking for seasonal work in the tourism industry, this is a great employment opportunity, as long as you’re comfortable with living on a ship for weeks or months at a time.

How to get started: Apply for positions that align with your skills, interests, and experience.

Many positions on cruise ships have minimum age requirements. Additionally, you may need a doctor’s note indicating you’re fit for sea services.

You can search for jobs on the websites of specific cruise companies, general job boards, or specialized job boards for cruise lines, such as Seamax International and All Cruise Jobs.