Abby B. Looking for best side hustles for medical students when in medical school? Unsure how to use your knowledge and make money? Here are 15 ideas!
I know, it can be confusing to decide if you should take up a side hustle. My partner & I were studious and never thought of making extra income while studying.
Our parents advised against trying to make money while in university but it’s something we kind-of regretted not going into earlier. If we knew of these opportunities before, we might have done things differently (and made a lot of money!).
Today, we pursue different side hustles and continue trying a ton to find one that resonates to us most.
In this article, I’ll be sharing 15 side hustle ideas for medical students and recommendations of what you’ll need to start. At the end of the post, you can find more tailored options for making money on the side as a student in medical school.
*This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission (at no cost to you) if you sign up for a program or make a purchase using my link!
15 Best Side Hustles For Medical Students
1. Become a part-time tour guide in your area
If you only have weekends to do something, consider becoming a local guide for the area of your school. It requires some basic knowledge of the neighborhood and surrounding areas but it’s highly doable even as a beginner.
Leverage on the knowledge you have and think of what new medical students and/or parents would like to explore when visiting the school. Depending on the frequency of tours you would like to offer, this side job needs at least 2-4 hours per session on the weekends. That’s enough time to show others around – they would want to explore some things on their own anyway.
| What do I need to start? | – Tour package details – Social media or basic website to promote your service – Join event sales platform or list on Airbnb experiences |
Most youngsters today have great skills at using social media – and I’m sure you do too. Work on monetizing your content by promoting affiliate links of products or services that you use or is related to your personal brand. Get paid when someone makes a purchase via your link!
Some affiliate marketplaces to check out are Amazon Associates, CJ affiliate, Clickbank, Share-a-sale and Rakuten Advertising. Sign up for an account, get a link for a suitable product/service based on your audience and start promoting!
I personally find Twitter, TikTok and Pinterest to be easy platforms to promote affiliate links on even with small number of followers, compared to Instagram or YouTube.
| What do I need to start? | – Affiliate products or services you can promote – Social media account with growing followers |
3. Create a YouTube channel for topics you have experience in
If you’re into long-form content and have some basic video editing skills, you should become a vlogger or YouTube influencer. Not looking to share personal aspects of your life? Share useful information or entertaining videos instead.
It’s free to start as long as you are able to record your videos – I record my vlogs on an iPhone. Reduce fatigue by setting up a nice desk as your studio and place cameras in fixed positions to start recording videos easily.
It takes great consistency and quite a long time to make a good income with YouTube, but it’s highly rewarding if done right. Reframe your mind – a side hustle doesn’t always need to be making you a TON of money.
Interesting YouTube channels in the student learning & medical student niche:
| What do I need to start? | – A camera to record – Portable microphone for better sound – A video editing software |
Read: What I spent for my vlogging gear in first 6 months
4. Build a podcast on a niche you love
Love content creating and sharing helpful information but don’t want to show your face? You can create a podcast by recording your conversations instead – either on your own or with a guest. All you need is an audio editing software and a good microphone to speak into.
I personally find podcasts easier to listen to compared to radio or music, especially when I’m doing another task like driving or cleaning the house. Podcasts are great for multitaskers!
However, getting a podcast to be popular would need you to promote it on other social media platforms and/or have a considerable following.
| What do I need to start? | – Good desk microphone – Set of quality earphones – An audio editing software |
Check out: 40 best student podcasts in numerous fields
If you’re hesitant on making videos for YouTube and unsure if anyone wants to hear you talk, try writing instead with by blogging on your own website. Choose a niche you’re interested in, one where you can help others with useful information.
Just like vlogging on YouTube or creating your own podcast, you’ll have to blog for awhile (at least a year) before making any income. You don’t have to show your face and can blog anonymously.
It’s one of the best side hustles to start today if you’re interested in long term passive income – start with this course right here.
Not looking to invest in anything yet? Check out my article for step-by-step guide on how to set up a blog.
| What do I need to start? | – A WordPress Website – Domain name & hosting – Passion to write for a specific niche |
Read: Why I invested in a blogging coach before doing anything else
6. Learn photography and sell photos online
Love taking photographs with your phone or known to be the pro photographer in your group of friends? Try taking up a course on photography and monetize the skill by selling photos online.
Alternatively, you can be a part-time photographer for events on the weekends and earn something on the side. However, given your busy schedule as a medical student, I would always encourage building passive side hustles instead.
Selling on stock websites is much more passive compared to doing photograph gigs for events and clients. It may not make a lot in the beginning but your photos can be sold any time even as you’re sleeping.
Big companies are always looking for trending photos hence depending on the niche you’re going, the demand for your photos can be seasonal. Some evergreen recommendations are generic street photography, landscapes and buildings with unique features.
Stock websites you can join to start:
| What do I need to start? | – A good camera – Photo editing skills – Consistency to upload photos frequently |
A freelance writer can earn up to $100 per article and even more if they’re specialized in a topic or niche. You can specialize in writing for medical topics or ones related to the industry.
It would need some skills to be able to write well for a blog post. However, as long as you have a good command of the language you intend to write for, you should be fine.
Blog owners are always on the lookout for new writers to scale their websites faster!
This beginner freelance writing course is the one I took myself to start my writing career. It’s basic but has everything you need to start tomorrow and earn from clients all over the world. Includes how to pitch to clients for topics they can’t resist!
| What do I need to start? | – Writing skills – Good command of English or the language you intend to write for – Promote your freelance writing service |
8. Tutor your juniors and/or offer online tutoring
Not everyone has the patience – I’ll admit, I don’t. But if I could, I would have ventured into tutoring. It pays well (by the hour) and you’re leveraging on knowledge you already have.
Customers are also more inclined to have a medical student as tutors as they perceive them to be knowledgeable and inspiring. This is true regardless who you’re teaching to – even if they’re seven year-olds.
Online tutoring is possible using applications like Zoom and is a much more economical option. You don’t have to spend to travel and you’re able to cater to a larger audience.
Some sites you can promote your online tutoring services on:
| What do I need to start? | – Patience to teach – Relevant module depending on subject you’re teaching – Platform to promote your tutoring service |
9. Pet sitting for friends and neighbors
Need a side hustle that allows you to stay home? Pet sitting for your friends and neighbors can make you real money. It’s a side hustle I highly recommend for those with a bigger home, love pets and have their own furry friends so you’re pretty much used to it.
Pet sitters typically make $15-20 per visit and usually take more than 10 visits in one day. That’s easily $400-600 in a single weekend!
Alternatively, consider baby-sitting or taking care of kids if you’re better at handling children than pets.
Services you can include with pet sitting:
- Walking
- Home boarding
- Sleepovers and night care
- Training
- Bring to vet
- Basic grooming & care
- Travel trips
| What do I need to start? | – Good skills with pets e.g. dogs, cats – Tools for the service you want to offer – Socializing to get clients |
10. Buy & sell second hand items
Buying and selling second hand items is a great way to make money on the side. Of course, it’s best to go through your own items first and try to sell anything you no longer use.
Once you have the skills to sell, consider making it a serious side hustle by buying others’ unwanted gems at a cheap price and selling for something higher. Try visiting your local flea market or checking out Facebook Marketplace to buy unique underpriced items where there’s actually demand for.
You’ll need a good eye to spot something worth buying. Best if the items are popular among students or if you want a higher sale price, look away from selling to students.
I personally made more than $2000 in a year reselling my old unused stuffs!
| What do I need to start? | – An eye to spot underpriced valued goods – Skills and platform to sell online or offline – A small budget to purchase your first second hand item |
Check out: How to start reselling things as a side hustle
11. Become a part-time research assistant
If you don’t have much time to travel and always find yourself at school, try finding part-time openings on campus. Seniors and professors may be looking for lab assistants or research assistants. There may not be any advertisement on but if you ask around, you might find something.
It is even more beneficial if the part-time job complements your career path. Research assistants are usually needed for 20-30 hours per week hence a part-time role is more doable for medical students.
| What do I need to start? | – Lab or research skills – Field that works with academic research |
12. Offer transcription services in your field
If you have good typing and listening skills, offering transcription services for medical audio recordings is a feasible option. It is a job you can do from anywhere as you’ll only need a laptop and good earphones.
The pay varies depending on the scope of work but your hourly rate should increase as you gain more experience.
Start small by transcribing shorter audio clips that are related to your medical field. You won’t know what the opportunity entails!
| What do I need to start? | – Great listening & typing skills – Good command of the language you wish to transcribe – Attention to details |
Check out: 21 Companies offering remote transcription jobs
13. Become a personal trainer or yoga instructor
Love working out at the gym when you’re not busy? You can help others start their gym journey too. Although it’s best to get the right certifications to become a personal trainer, you can start small among friends and just leverage the knowledge you already have – especially if it’s working out for you.
The same goes to becoming a yoga instructor. I personally love doing yoga instead of working out at the gym and believe in investing in good yoga classes.
Both of these roles are great as part-time side hustles and work well for yourself if you’re looking to unwind after a tiring week.
| What do I need to start? | – Yoga or personal trainer certification – Platform to promote your service to friends or acquaintances e.g. Instagram or Twitter – The right tools to use for teaching |
14. Host workshops to teach a skill you have or create paid online courses
Have a personal skill you have already mastered? You can teach others on how they can do the same via physical workshops. It’s even better if the skill helps them make extra income.
Contrary to what others say, you don’t always need to be making money from the skill to start teaching others. I have a few skills that are valuable but I’m not looking to monetize on its own. However, others may find it beneficial for their personal projects.
If you’re looking to make things more passive, consider selling paid online courses on learning platforms. The usual price points for a single payment short online course are $30, $47 and $67. This depends entirely on the course module and how much your clients can benefit from taking the course.
I love investing in knowledge that shortens my learning curve and find courses a worthwhile expense.
Some sites you can host online courses on:
| What do I need to start? | – A niched course idea – Well thought out module – Tools to record your lessons e.g. screen record, microphone |
Creating courses is too much work for you? Here’s a list of digital products you can make to sell on easy platforms like Etsy. I’ve made a quick guide on how to make these products too!
15. Start a print on demand business
Want to start an ecommerce business with minimal handling of day-to-day operations? Print on demand is a great dropshipping option that focuses primarily on merchandise such as t-shirts, phone cases, tote bags etc.
All you need to do is create designs on sites like Canva or Kittl, then upload them to products on sites like Printify or Printful. Once you’re ready to start selling, sync your products to your ecommerce store (Etsy or Shopify)!
Not sure how to create winning designs? Buy ready designs on creative marketplaces like Creative Fabrica or Envato Elements. You can start selling tomorrow!
| What do I need to start? | – Basic designing skills – A laptop to work with – An initial niche and product |
Can’t decide what product to design and sell? Check out my product guides before deciding!
- Tote bags for print on demand
- Tumblers for print on demand
- Phone cases for print on demand
- Posters for print on demand
- Leggings for print on demand
- Jewelry for print on demand
- Candles for print on demand
- Doormats for print on demand
- Hoodies for print on demand
- Pet products for print on demand
- Socks for print on demand
- Pajamas for print on demand
- Blankets for print on demand
- Baby clothes for print on demand
- Wrapping paper for print on demand
- Puzzles for print on demand
- Stickers for print on demand
- Athletic wear for print on demand
- Hats for print on demand
- Journals for print on demand
- Greeting cards for print on demand
- Mugs for print on demand
11 Best Jobs For Medical Students
Based on my findings, here are 11 suitable jobs for medical students:
- Tutor
- Care taker
- Health service manager
- Lecturer or teaching assistant
- Science writer
- Medical research assistant
- Academic researcher
- Emergency medical technician (EMT)
- Medical sales representative
- Newspaper journalist
- Phlebotomist
The list entails jobs that are related to a medical degree and suited for medical students. It is non-exhaustive and truly dependent on your interests & capabilities.
9 Online Jobs For Medical Students To Earn Money At Home
These are 9 online jobs for medical students to earn money at home:
- Blogger
- Course seller
- Online tutor
- Transcriptionist
- Affiliate marketer
- Proofreader
- Online writer
- Life coach
- Survey taker
9 Passive Income Ideas For Medical Students
Here are 9 best ways to make online passive income for medical students:
- Blog about useful topics
- Affiliate marketing via social media
- Sell stock photography
- Build a YouTube channel
- Start a podcast on topics of interest
- Sell pre-recorded online courses
- Create useful printables for sales
- Sell social media templates on Etsy
- Sell low content books on Amazon KDP
Which Side Hustle Should I Choose?
Unsure which side hustle for medical students you should go for? Here are the top 6 things to consider when deciding which side hustle is best for you.
- How much time can you commit to it?
- Consider how much time you can set aside for your side hustle for weekdays and weekends
- What type of income are you looking for?
- Do you want to make income actively or passively while you sleep?
- What sparks interest & passion in you?
- Choose a side hustle that aligns to your personal goals and interests as it keeps you motivated
- Are you an extrovert or an introvert?
- Different side hustles requires different level of communication with the outside world, are you comfortable meeting new people every day?
- What is your current partner or friend up to that you can leverage on?
- Doing something with a friend or partner makes things easier and more manageable
- How soon do you need to make extra money?
- Not all side hustles make the same amount of money in the same pace, do you need money today or in a year’s time?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Medical students do not make money during medical school. Any services that are a part of the curriculum would not pay the students as it is part of their learning. They will need to take up part-time jobs on the side to make money during medical school.
A medical student can earn while studying by taking up side jobs. Although it is not recommended as it takes additional time, look for part-time roles where you can apply what you have studied as a medical student. It is possible to earn from home with online medical transcription jobs.
The type of jobs medical students can do while studying depends on time available on hand and skills they personally have. They can go for jobs that are related to medical school or ones that explores different interests. This includes becoming an online tutor or a pet-sitter.
Bottom Line
I know, it’s hard to start anything when you hardly have any time on hand. However, if you don’t try doing anything, you will never get out of the difficult situation you are in and will still be Googling what side hustle to start in a year’s time.
The best way is to just allocate an hour or two either tomorrow or next week to allow yourself to explore at least one or two things I’ve shared above. You’ll eventually find something that works for you!
I will always recommend building passive income streams to no longer trade time for money.
Here are 15 best side hustles for medical students:
- Become a part-time tour guide in your area
- Promote affiliate links on your social accounts
- Create a YouTube channel for topics you have experience in
- Build a podcast on a topic you love
- Share your knowledge with an informational blog
- Learn photography and sell photos online
- Become a freelance writer for science-related topics
- Tutor your juniors and/or offer online tutoring
- Pet sitting for friends and neighbors
- Buy & sell second hand items
- Become a part-time research assistant
- Offer transcription services in your field
- Become a personal trainer or yoga instructor
- Host workshops to teach a skill you have or create paid online courses
- Start a print on demand business
I’m not one to brag, but blogging has changed my life. I’ve been able to earn an income passively while on a coffee date and traveling with my family. With everything, it takes time to learn and not an overnight success – to speed things up, get yourself a blogging coach before starting.
These are my blogging resources to help you out:
- Step-by-step guide how to start blogging in your free time
- Why you need a blogging coach right from the start
- Worried of exposing yourself? You can blog anonymously
Photo by Karolina Grabowska
