Part-time prospects
“We’re only hiring part-time employees” might seem like a poverty pronouncement to some. But jobs that allow you to work less than 34 hours a week (the definition of part-time employment, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics) are ideal for parents, students and retirees. Here are 10 part-time jobs from the U.S. News Best Jobs rankings that will help pay the bills — or even cover all your expenses.
Dental Hygienist
Average hourly wages: $34.39
Next time you’re getting your teeth cleaned, consider the fact that more than half of dental hygienists work part time. And despite their lean work weeks, dental hygienists earn nearly $72,000 a year, on average.
Massage Therapist
Average hourly wages: $19.42
A massage therapist’s average yearly salary of $40,400 might seem puny compared with the meaty paychecks of other health care professionals. But that figure is significant when you consider that 2 out of 3 masseuses worked part time in 2012.
Fitness Instructor
Average hourly wages: $18.17
The BLS reports that most fitness instructors teach classes in addition to their full-time jobs, so what better way to complement eight hours of sitting in the office than by teaching some downward dog? Fitness instructors rack up health benefits and nearly 20 bucks an hour with one extra gig.
Sports Coach
Average annual salary: $37, 610
“Sports coach” is a blanket job title that covers both full-time workers on the professional-sport level as well as those who manage a kiddie tee-ball league part time. Coaches who work in elementary, middle and high school systems earn a little less than the average of all coaches — roughly $32,000. This type of coaching is typically part time, seasonal work, meaning you may only think about the Springboro Lady Panthers during soccer season but lay low the rest of the year.
School Bus Driver
Average hourly wages: $14.12
Outside of field trips, a school bus driver might only make two runs a day: one to shuttle kids to class in the morning, and the other to return them home in the afternoon. Still, the average driver earned $29,380 in 2013.
Security Guard
Average hourly wages: $13.12
Working in surveillance is often a round-the-clock responsibility that’s split into eight-hour shifts. But some security guards choose to earn their living working less than five shifts a week.
Janitor
Average hourly wages: $12.09
Janitorial work can be pretty sweet — you can learn the ropes on the job, and can typically choose a flexible schedule to fit your lifestyle. Good news for you if that sounds enticing: The BLS predicts 280,000 new job openings for janitors by 2022.
Retail Salesperson
Average hourly wages: $12.20
The BLS estimates that retail salespeople pull in about $25,370 per year and that a third of them work part time. While schedules for these hourly positions may be flexible, they’re also often varied. Retail salespeople may be pulled in for an early shift one day and for closing shift the next. The BLS also points out that holidays are typically all-hands-on-deck situations for folks working the busy stores — meaning more hours (and money), but possibly less flexibility.
Taxi Driver and Chauffeur
Average hourly wages: $12.12
Know your way around the city? Take advantage of your know-how and make about $25,200 a year by becoming a taxi driver or chauffeur. The BLS reports that many drivers work part time and have little to no supervision. Location matters, too. Drivers in the Stamford, Connecticut, and Trenton, New Jersey, areas make the most, bringing in more than $16.50 per hour. And those famous New York City taxis? Drivers in the Big Apple averaged hourly wages of $16.06 in 2013.
Bartender
Hourly wages: $10.46
Sam Malone, manning the bar where everyone knows your name. Moe, dispensing Duff Beer to regulars on “The Simpsons.” The “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” crew, holding down the fort at Paddy’s Bar. If you want to be like one of these famous — albeit fictional — bartenders, you could work part or full time. The BLS says it’s about a 50-50 split and points out that these professionals will likely log hours during late-night and weekend shifts.
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10 Part-Time Jobs to Help Pay the Bills originally appeared on usnews.com
