Part-Time Jobs for Students in USA

Rohini Pandey Image Rohini Pandey

Mar 4, 2024 | 6 min read

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The USA offers various on-campus and off-campus part-time jobs like campus ambassador, library assistant, barista, tour guide, and store associate, among others. Students should be well versed with the regulations followed in the country.

Part-Time Jobs for Students in USA

The USA attracts many students every year when it comes to pursuing higher studies or seeking job opportunities. There are various part time jobs for students in USA pursuing their higher education in the country. A part-time job will help you pay your bills or student loans and help in honing your interpersonal and technical skills. 

While searching for part-time jobs for students in the USA, you need to be aware of the regulations followed in the country. In addition, you should find a job that does not hamper your lifestyle and education. The most common part-time job options for students in the USA involve on-campus and off-campus jobs. Let us explore the options available under each of these jobs in detail.

Table of Contents

On-Campus Part-Time Jobs for International Students in the USA

On-Campus jobs are one of the easiest options available for an international student in the US who is seeking part-time job opportunities. It is the only way for a student to work part-time during their first academic year. Students can work in different university departments, including college libraries, cafeterias, bookstores, gyms, computer labs, and laboratories. The most popular on-campus part-time jobs for students in USA are listed below:

  • Campus Ambassador
  • Teaching Assistant
  • Research Study Assistant
  • Library Assistant
  • Peer Tutor or Mentor
  • Barista

Campus Ambassador

Campus ambassadors are responsible for the promotion of the university and help students understand why they should apply to a particular university. This job is suitable for someone who possesses excellent communication skills and loves interacting with new people. Under this role, you will also be asked to give guided tours of the campus and share interesting facts and details about the university. 

Teaching Assistant

A teaching assistant has to supervise classroom activities and tasks and give special attention to students who struggle with studies. Having prior experience in this field will allow you to work directly as a higher-level teaching assistant.

Research Study Assistant

It is regarded as one of the most well-paid on-campus part jobs for international students. Almost every university in the US has an opening for a research study assistant. 

For this job, the student should be good with his interpersonal and organizational skills. Some of the responsibilities under this role involve working on multiple projects, understanding and explaining the purpose of the research, interacting with new participants, managing lab equipment, etc.

Library Assistant

The responsibilities of library assistant involve shelving books, assisting customers in finding books and providing recommendations for books. In addition, you will be required to provide administrative assistance to the librarians and help in planning library-related activities/events during term time.

Peer Tutor or Mentor

Rather than a teacher, a peer tutor is more like a friend. They help a fellow student by creating a mentee schedule, maintaining confidentiality with the mentee, providing study materials, etc. A peer tutor may also have to make student referrals to universities whenever required.

Barista

Students can work as baristas in the university cafe. The duties of a barista are making coffee and serving customers, maintaining proper sanitization in the cafeteria, and working as a cashier. It is an excellent opportunity for someone who likes meeting new people.

Off-Campus Part-Time Jobs for International Students in the USA

After completion of the first academic year, a student can opt to work off-campus as well. Most international students in the USA prefer on-campus jobs over off-campus jobs. However, some of them find off-campus jobs to be more beneficial and convenient. 

The most popular off-campus part-time jobs for students in USA are listed below:

  • Tour Guide
  • Customer Support Representative
  • Translator
  • Store Associate
  • Babysitter

Tour Guide

Travel agencies hire tour guides responsible for guiding the travellers by being fully informed about the tour and the place of travel. In this role, your interpersonal and communication skills will come into the picture. In addition, you will be required to work under a senior tour guide who would guide you regarding work-related tasks.

Customer Support Representative

A customer support representative has to help people by providing them information related to the products or services of the company that they are working with. He is also responsible for solving issues related to the product/service that the customer has already purchased and helping them in understanding what better products can be purchased.

Translator

The main job of a translator is to translate one language into another. He should translate so that the original ideas, facts and tone remain the same as the original text.

Store Associate

Some of the duties of a store associate involve cleaning the store, carrying out administrative tasks and upselling products by giving recommendations to customers if required. A store associate can also be asked to work in shifts by their store manager.

Babysitter

Babysitters generally work under a short-term verbal contract. The main job of babysitters is to take care of children while they are away from their home or parents.

Part-Time Job Regulations for International Students in the USA

There are some regulations that students need to understand before taking up a part-time job. An international student at a US university is issued with an F1 visa. Given below are the regulations for on-campus and off-campus part-time jobs in detail:

On-Campus Part-Time Job Regulations

  • Students should have a valid F-1 status.
  • Students would be permitted to work only for 20 hours per week during the ongoing term of the school.
  • Students would be allowed to work for up to 40 hours a week during the university breaks and holidays.

Off-Campus Part-Time Job Regulations

There are three options under off-campus jobs that a student can explore:

  • Optional Practical Training (OPT)

 A student can go for this option if he/she wants to work in their area of study. OPT can either be a job or an internship.

  • Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Optional Practical Training (OPT) Extension

 This option is quite helpful for students who have completed their graduation from STEM fields. They get an opportunity to extend their OPT for an additional period of 24 months.

  • Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

 Under this option, an international student can work off-campus only when the course/degree that they have enrolled in demands it. There are two types of OPT. One of them is pre-completion OPT, which is for students who are yet to graduate, and the other is post-completion OPT for students who are immediate graduates. The post-completion OPT allows students to work in the US for a duration of 12 months post their graduation.

How to find Part-Time Jobs for International Students in the USA? 

Finding a part-time job in the US might seem to be a complex task, especially if you are an international student and do not have a professional network. However, there are a plethora of resources available to aid you in finding a suitable job. Some of these resources include:

  • University offices/ Student unions/ Career Services
  • Online portals
  • Career assistance teams in universities

Pay-Scale for International Students in the USA 

In the US, part-time jobs are primarily offered in the service and sales industries. Such jobs are entry-level, and a student can expect approximately $7 to $9 per hour. However, a highly skilled job would pay around $10 or more per hour. An international student in the US usually earns an average salary of $34,737/Year, depending on their profile, organization, and other factors. The nature of the job that a student is offered in the US depends not just on their prior work experience but also on their academic background, language proficiency, skills, etc. 

Taxes for International Students in the USA

It is a requirement for all international students to file a tax return in the U.S. as part of their visa requirements, regardless of whether they work while studying. There are, however, certain exemptions and benefits available to them as well. In addition to this, unless international students file a proper tax in the US, their income will not be taxed from the home country.
An international student needs either an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or a Social Security Number (SSN) to prepare a tax return. This allows them to fill out a W-7 form and file their tax return.

Top 10 Highest Paying Part-Time Jobs for Students in USA

The following table outlines the top 10 highest paying jobs for international students in the USA, along with their average wages:

Highest Paying Part-Time Jobs

Average Wages per Hour

Campus ambassador

$10.94

Barista

$11.59

Teaching Assistant

$11.85

Library Assistant

$13.24

Receptionist

$13.31

Research Study Assistant

$15.48

Department Assistant

$16.44

Catering Assistant

$16.81

Sales Assistant

$20.00

Peer-mentor or Tutor

$21.31

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