6 Great Part-Time Jobs for International Students Studying in the US

An illustration of two female students at a desk with the US flag, grad hat, and books graphic behind them.

When studying abroad, many international students rely on part-time jobs to offset the cost of their studies. If you plan to study in the United States and need a little part-time job inspiration, look no further. This blog post explores six part-time jobs international students studying in the United States should keep on their radar. Check back in the weeks ahead as we take a look at more exciting and engaging part-time jobs for international students studying in the United Kingdom and Australia, and be sure to give our blog outlining top Canadian gigs a read. 

*The information in this blog post is sourced from Indeed, is provided for informational purposes only, and is in US dollars.

A photo of Columbia College library.

1. Library Page (US$12.49/hour)

Does the thought of being surrounded by books in a quiet environment excite you? If so, you should consider a job as a library page at your school’s library. In this role, you would be responsible for:

  • Providing administrative support to technicians, assistants, and librarians
  • Organizing events at the library
  • Making recommendations to students
  • Helping students locate books

A part-time job as a library page is the perfect opportunity for all of you book lovers to earn a living while on campus.

A photo of Lancaster University's lecture hall.

2. Teacher’s Assistant (US$12.63/hour)

There are many advantages to becoming a teacher’s assistant. A few of the top benefits include building your resume with the skills you acquire on the job, developing a more in-depth understanding of the subject matter, and directly impacting other students’ course experience. As a teacher’s assistant, you would be in charge of:

  • Overseeing laboratory sessions to supplement lectures
  • Running discussion groups
  • Conducting seminars 
  • Organizing visual aids, reference materials, and other documents as requested by your instructor

Students who become teacher’s assistants have the chance to work closely with a faculty member. If you carry out your responsibilities satisfactorily and professionally, your instructor will likely write you a letter of recommendation to aid you in finding future employment.

A photo of The Grove

Courtesy of The Grove.

3. Retail Sales Associate (US$13.06/hour)

Are you an outgoing person who is capable of delivering exceptional customer service? Retail sales associates assist customers by providing them with the knowledge to make an informed purchase. Some stores even offer their employees a commission—meaning the more you sell, the more money you’ll make. As a retail sales associate, you would be responsible for:

  • Assisting customers as needed
  • Performing various transactions like returns, exchanges, and sales
  • Ensuring the store is tidy and adequately stocked with merchandise

Another perk of this job is that most retail stores provide their associates with an employee discount. This means you would save as you shop, which is a major perk when you’re a student living on a budget.

A photo of a New York tour bus.

Courtesy of New York Highly Rated Tours.

4. Tour Guide (US$18.45/hour + Tips)

What better way to discover your new city than to become a tour guide. In this role, students would not only make an excellent hourly wage, but they can also earn up to US$75.00 a day in tips. As a tour guide, you’ll perform the following tasks:

  • Meeting and greeting tourists
  • Providing tourists with information about the place(s) they’re visiting
  • Answering tourists’ questions
  • Explaining emergency procedures 
  • Handing out promotional materials
  • Describing points of interest during the tour

If you possess outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, check out hotels, wildlife parks, resorts, historical sites, and museums for open tour guide positions in your new city.

A photo of an event at Washington State University.

 5. Production Assistant (US$14.94/hour)

Are you interested in meeting new people and getting involved in your school’s events and community? If so, then you should consider a job as a production assistant. This part-time position allows students to network with different school members while directly and positively impacting student life on campus. In this role, you would: 

  • Manage technical services
  • Organize and run campus events
  • Collaborate and work with other production assistants

 Production assistants are the people in charge of making fun things happen! 

A photo of a peer tutor and tutees at the University of Waterloo.

6. Peer Tutor (US$25.06/hour)

One of the best perks of working as a peer tutor is the gratitude you receive from students like yourself who are trying their best to thrive in their studies. Knowing that you have played a role in their academic success is a highly satisfying experience. As a peer tutor, you would be in charge of:

  • Providing individualized content
  • Ensuring confidentiality with the tutee
  • Creating and maintaining a tutoring schedule
  • Supplying study material
  • Making suitable student referrals to college or university offices whenever required

If you’ve got expertise in a specific subject and are friendly, organized, and dependable, you should consider a part-time job as a peer tutor.

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