Summer is the season to head to the beach, fire up the grill or go camping. But it’s also a terrific time to earn a little extra cash.
You can make money year-round, of course. But summer offers some unique opportunities to cash in on long days, warm weather and flexible schedules.
Here are some great gigs for padding your bank account as the temperature rises:
1. House and pet sitter
People often travel throughout the summer, and many need someone to look after their homes or pets. The work is relatively easy and can be fun, especially if you love animals.
Websites like Rover connect potential pet and house sitters with people in need of pet or house sitting — or simply a dog walker. Care.com also connects pet sitters with pet owners, although the website doesn’t specialize in pet services like Rover does.
To get an idea of how much money you could earn through Rover, visit its website and search for sitters in your area.
To learn more about Rover.com or working as a pet sitter or dog walker in general, check out “How to Make Extra Money Pet Sitting or Dog Walking.”
2. Host
Summertime travelers don’t just need pet or house sitters while away. They also need a place to stay at their destination.
Not everyone wants to book the standard hotel, though. Plenty of travelers prefer vacation rentals, which often offer a more comfortable or more authentic travel experience for less money.
To book such lodging — whether they need a couch to crash on or an entire home to rent out — travelers use vacation rental websites such as:
If opening your doors or renting out your home to travelers sounds like an intriguing way to bank some serious extra cash, join those same sites as a host. They will connect you with travelers looking to book a vacation rental in your area.
A survey by Credit Loan found that folks who rent out their property effectively earn a median pay of $81 an hour.
Meanwhile, an analysis by Homes.com found that by hosting travelers for as few as four or five nights a month, you can make enough extra money to cover your mortgage payment, depending on where you live.
3. House painter
Summer’s great weather makes the season prime time for house painting.
Consider a volunteer stint with a nonprofit organization like Habitat for Humanity if you feel you need to brush up on your skills. However, most painters learn the trade on the job, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Painters earn a median pay of $18.72 an hour. Not a bad gig if you can get it.
4. Lawn and yard care servicer
During the dead of winter, people don’t typically worry much about their yards aside from the occasional need to shovel. But by summer, lawns, weeds and bushes are growing every day.
Some folks are simply too busy to keep up with the trimming. Others may be too old or ill. Regardless of the reason, you can help out and pad your pockets at the same time.
Grounds maintenance workers, who provide lawn care and landscaping services, earn a median pay of $14.13 an hour, according to the Department of Labor. Plus, it can be a great — and free — workout.
5. Tutor
Kids who struggle in the classroom often use the summer to sharpen their skills in time for the next school year. That means a plethora of parents may be searching for a private tutor.
If tutoring sounds interesting, you can find work through Care.com. The site specializes in connecting folks who offer various types of care with potential clients in need of anything from senior care to child care, including tutoring.
Care.com says high school students who tutor can expect to earn $30 to $40 an hour. Certified teachers can earn as much as $85 an hour — that’s big bank during teachers’ usual off-season.
6. Lifeguard
You probably won’t get rich doing this job. The median pay for a lifeguard is $11.74 an hour, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. However, you will soak up some rays and have fun, and you may even save somebody’s life.
The American Red Cross offers lifeguard training and certification.
7. Ice cream truck driver
Who doesn’t have fond childhood memories of hearing the familiar chimes of the ice cream truck on a summer day? Now, you can create those idyllic moments for a new generation of kiddos.
Ice cream truck drivers almost always earn their money on a commission basis but can expect to bring in about $400 to $600 weekly during the summer, according to JobMonkey, a website devoted to jobs with opportunities for travel. JobMonkey notes:
“If it’s rainy and nasty out, you may not make much money, but if the sun is blazing and it’s the Fourth of July you may pull in big bucks.”
8. Bottled water seller
When investing legend Warren Buffett was a kid, he would buy chewing gum from his grandfather’s store, then turn around and sell it door-to-door at a markup.
You can follow in the footsteps of the Oracle of Omaha by selling bottled water on hot summer days at parks and outdoor events. Buy it in bulk at a warehouse club like Costco or Sam’s Club.
Just check with local ordinances to make sure you are not running afoul of the law.
Do you know of other great ways to make money during the summer? Share them below or on our Facebook page.
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