Unlike most side hustles, teaching is actually an established profession that a lot of people do as their main hustle. The profession mostly requires degree qualification and in some cases, some level of experience in the subject you want to teach. Teaching as a side hustle however, has more lenient requirements. A degree will still likely be necessary and a hiring committee may consider alternative qualifications such as high school teaching experience or industry certification. Teaching as a side hustle also gives you the flexibility to take a position with an online college or institution so you can teach from the comfort of wherever you’ve got an internet connection.

If you’re passionate about teaching and don’t mind doing a lot of work for not-a-lot of money, you can explore teaching as a side hustle. Since a degree is a requirement, you’ll have to have one (or several) in order to qualify for adjunct professor positions.

Teaching requires patience and dedication, plus time to plan lessons, grade papers, interact with students and be available when required by an institution. If your schedule isn’t flexible enough to accommodate this, then it can get a little overwhelming to take on teaching as a side hustle.

The process of how to become an adjunct professor as a side hustle can be broken down into a few easy steps outlined below:

Hustle for a tassel
Since you’ll be looking to teach in a college, getting a degree should probably be at the top of your to-do list. The level of the degree you need will vary with the subject you want to teach and the type of educational institution you’ll work for. The common requirement for post-secondary teachers is a PhD, but sometimes a Master’s degree is enough, especially at community colleges. The more advanced your degree, the better your chances to stand out against the crowd and get hired.

Work, work, work, work, work, work (and no, we don’t mean the Rihanna lyrics)
Some previous work experience in the field you want to teach will be an advantage when you’re job-hunting. In some fields like health specialties, art, and education; some hands-on work experience may be required and this can be obtained by working in an occupation that’s related to the field of expertise. When it comes to fields like biological science, physics, and chemistry; you’ll need postdoctoral research experience which you can get from short-term jobs working 2 to 3 years as a research associate at a college or university.

Volunteer as tribute…oops, as a teaching assistant
You can find jobs as a teaching assistant by applying to colleges or searching online for any advertised positions. This will prepare you for work as an adjunct professor.

What We Like?
In some cases, the courses you sign up to teach are already developed so all you need to do is follow the guideline which means less work since you won’t need to do any scheming or planning. There’s a chance you can work with the same institution for years on a contract by contract basis. Another great thing about being an adjunct professor as a side hustle is that you can find work online which makes it easier to fit your side hustle into your schedule.

What We Don’t Like?
The pay for adjunct professors is pretty low so sometimes it can feel like a little more trouble than it’s worth. Add to that the fact that the position doesn’t come with employee benefits like health insurance and it starts to sound less like an ideal side hustle and more like a nightmarish hassle.

How Much Can You Make
The pay varies by institution and is significantly lower than salaries of tenured professors. The pay can range from as little as a thousand to about five thousand. The pay may be calculated by hours or courses taught so the more work you do, the more money you’ll earn.

Conclusion:
If you’re passionate about teaching, being an adjunct professor can be a good way to explore the field before you commit to the field. The low pay can be a little discouraging but you can have some flexibility to explore and pursue other interests in your spare time.

Pros:
More free time to do other stuff.
The chance to follow your passion if teaching is something you love.

Cons:
Requirements to get a job can be steep
Low pay
No job security