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Last Updated on August 17, 2022 by coffeepo
Doctors have a reputation as high-income earners, but medical students? Not quite. Between student loans and school expenses, you’re frequently strapped for cash. Any extra income goes a long way to pay for textbooks, subscriptions, applications, or just a good cup of coffee.
Not all schedules are equal, of course, and some side hustles are more feasible than others. Finding one that suits you may take some trial and error, but once you find one that fits—stick with it.
So if you’re a med student in need of a side gig, here are 9 of the best side hustles for students.
Best Side Hustles for Med Students
We all know the standard gigs such as babysitting, bartering, and dog walking, but we won’t go over those. Instead, here are side hustles for students suited to your skills or schedules and can pay enough to help you out:
- Tutoring
This is particularly attractive if you scored high on the MCAT. You can start by tutoring prospective med students who are preparing for the exam. See if you can apply as a tutor at a reputable prep company, or advertise your services independently through platforms like Facebook or even UpWork.
Besides the MCAT, you can also tutor high schoolers and undergrads who are on STEM tracks. Or you can make study guides for your classmates and students in the years below you.
The biggest advantage of tutoring is the flexibility of your schedule. You can work around your classes or internships, and set your own hours.
- Medical scribe work
This is a less flexible option but gives you the opportunity to learn from your seniors while working. You can apply to work as a medical scribe for an attending physician and take notes for them which you will later enter into their EMRs.
The key here is to find an attending whose hours align with your schedule so that you can commit to visiting patients with them. You can even check with your school’s partner hospital to see if they have any openings or designated work-study roles.
- EMT work
If you already have EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) certification, then working EMT shifts can boost both your income and knowledge. You’ll experience a different perspective in the medical field when working with first responders while engaging directly with patients.
This isn’t for everyone, of course. And you’ll need both a strong disposition and the actual certification to do it. If not, you’ll have to get certified first and that will take more time and resources. But it could well be worth the extra income, knowledge, and experience you’ll gain.
- CPR training
Many med students will already have certification for CPR and first-aid training, so why not put that to good use? Teach first-aid courses at high schools, colleges, community groups, or even volunteer at local government programs.
If you don’t have certification, speak to your school or partner hospital and see how you can acquire it. The process is fairly straightforward and it’s a useful addition to your med student resume.
- Research assistant
Senior med students may be able to apply as research assistants with their professors or with teaching hospitals. Check if your school has programs for med students to work with research groups and laboratories.
Depending on the project, your hours could be fixed or flexible, so make sure you coordinate with the project leaders. This is a more demanding side hustle for students, but it will look great on your CV when you’re looking for jobs.
- Research trials and focus groups
If you can’t get into a research trial as an assistant, maybe you can become a participant. Some medical research groups offer compensation for participating in their medical or clinical trials.
You’ll need to make sure that you’re working with your comfort level, however. Acting as a guinea pig for a research group can be nerve-wracking, so only work with reputable groups who act with transparency and reliability. Read any waivers and forms thoroughly before signing.
- Online surveys
Sometimes your side hustle is right at your fingertips—literally. Some of the best legit money-making apps are survey apps which are easy to use and flexible with a student’s schedule. You just download the app and register, then wait for an available survey to answer. Finishing a survey earns you points that you can use to redeem rewards.
Some of the top survey apps for earning cash or gift cards are Survey Junkie, Inbox Dollars, Swagbucks, and Google Surveys.
- Flipping
Flipping is simple and straightforward: Buy low, sell high. Depending on what you flip, you may not even need to buy at all. Declutter your closet and sell the nicer pieces, like dresses and blouses. Clear out your book and jewellery collections.
If you have more time and a keen eye, shop at thrift stores and moving sales for items you can flip for profit. Clothes, bags, small appliances, accessories—if you can find quality pieces, you can clean them up and resell them to make extra cash.
- Freelance work
Do you have marketable skills such as content writing, graphic design, or photography? Then you could work freelance in your spare time. Websites such as Upwork and Fiverr are fantastic places to pick up one-time gigs, and you can advertise for commissions on Twitter and Tumblr.
Plus since you have medical knowledge you can apply to higher-paying freelance jobs in your niche. If you’re looking for online jobs for medical students, you can monetize your knowledge for some extra cash on sites such as:
- General websites: Upwork, Fiverr, PeoplePerHour
- Social media: Twitter, Facebook Groups, Reddit Communities
- Writing and Editing: WriterAccess, ServiceScape
- Graphic Design: 99Designs, dribbble
Land a Side Hustle while Studying
It might not be easy to fit a side hustle into your busy schedule as a med student, but it could be well worth the effort. Any extra cash is extremely helpful for academic and personal expenses. You can even build connections or pad your resume through some of these jobs—a massive benefit when you start your internships.
Now you’re armed with the tools, go out and do it! See you in the winner’s circle.
