Home » Career Resources » Careers » Best Weekend Jobs

Best Weekend Jobs

best weekend jobs

TGIF! If the weekend only means party time to you, I guess you’re luckier than most. For the rest of us, whether full-time workers who need to supplement our income or college students who need to pay tuition, the weekend means work.

So what are the best weekend jobs to get your hands on? More than anything, a great weekend job should pay well enough to be worth your time. It would be great if the hours are flexible in case you need to work more or less some weeks. And if it doesn’t completely wear you out for the week ahead, that’s a bonus, too!

best weekend jobs

The Best Jobs for Students and Weekend Workers

There are many reasons why you might want to work a weekend job. It could be that you’re a student who only really has weekends free to make money. You could be in debt from student loans and find that your Monday to Friday job isn’t allowing you to pay your debts fast enough. You might have kids or other dependents and need to work two or even three jobs to hold things together. Or you might just want to keep busy.

Whatever your reason, here are some of the best weekend jobs to get into, with wages and statistics from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook:

Animal Care Worker

Median Hourly Rate: $12.68

Requirements: high school diploma and on-the-job training

Being an animal care worker can be one of the most rewarding weekend jobs out there. Of course, you have to love animals and be prepared to get your hands a bit dirty. Animal Care workers do a wide range of jobs like grooming pets, feeding and caring for animals at shelters or kennels, grooming horses, walking dogs, and even training animals.

These different jobs all have a few things in common; most have flexible hours and can even be done as a personal business or side job. They require you to be caring and attentive to animals, and this also means a lot of cleaning up after them. But for many animal lovers, this work can seem more like fun than a weekend job.

best weekend job

Bartender

Median Hourly Rate: $12.00

Requirements: On-the-job training

While your friends may be out to party on the weekend, you have to work to support yourself. Well, why not take advantage of the fact that Friday and Saturday nights are the biggest bars nights of the week? As a bartender, you can still enjoy some of what the bar scene has to offer while making a decent working wage.

Bartenders don’t normally need any formal education or training, though there are bartending courses that you can attend. Either that or pick up a copy of Bartending for Dummies to learn the trade!

There is a lot to know about mixing drinks, but a good bartender requires attentiveness, patience (for dealing with drunk people), and the ability to work on their feet for long hours. But remember, while hourly wages may not be that high, you can get tips too, so brush up on your pouring and bar tenderly advice. Or at least re-watch Cocktail.

Server (Waiter/Waitress)

Median Hourly Rate: $11.42

Requirements: On-the-job training

For most people, this is the go-to job for part time or weekend employment. Many people think it’s easy to be a server – you just collect orders and bring people food and drink – but it’s a much more demanding job than that. You’re on your feet for long hours. You have to handle orders, serve, interact with the kitchen, and table clean-up in most cases. You’re also the face of the restaurant, which means you’re the first person who will handle complaints.

Wages can also be tricky. While the median (mid-level) wage is $11.42 for servers, some only earn the minimum wage of $7.25/hour. If you’re in a serving position that is tipped, which is most of them, your employer can legally pay you as little as $2.13/hour as long as your tips bring you up to the minimum wage. This means that, unlike almost most jobs, your pay is performance based on an hourly basis.

On the other hand, serving can be very flexible, making it an easy job for people with complicated schedules. If you’re both highly attentive and good at socializing with customers, you can also make a whole lot more in tips and bring in some decent money for your weekend work.

Delivery Driver

Median Hourly Rate: $16.51

Requirements: On-the-job training, valid driver’s license, and a clean driving record

If working directly with people or animals isn’t your thing, driving a delivery truck might be a good alternative. Delivery drivers obviously handle deliveries of packages, documents, and even food. They have to drive a lot, of course and are also responsible for picking up and handing over packages, tracking and paperwork, as well as keeping their tucks clean and in working order.

Most delivery driving work is based on shifts, and these days with more and more online shopping and other services, delivery drivers are in greater demand than ever. This field is expected to grow by 12% by 2030, meaning there will be more delivery jobs out there every year.

Fitness Trainer or Instructor

Median Hourly Rate: $19.48

Requirements: On-the-job training, CPR certification, personal trainer certification, instructor certification

One really healthy job for a weekend warrior is working as a fitness trainer or instructor. This can include personal trainers at gyms as well as instructors or trainers in martial arts, yoga, aerobics, spin, and other specific exercise classes. This gives you an amazing opportunity to get paid to help other people get fit and healthy while you get fit yourself.

the weekend jobs

For most trainers and instructors, weekends are a great time to work because most people are free to take classes or hit the gym. Hours are also generally flexible if you’re a trainer, but a bit more rigid if you have to keep to a class schedule.

You will likely need certification as a trainer or instructor to be considered for employment in these areas, so there is an investment of time and money to consider. However, once certified, you can make good money and stay fit while you do it.

Childcare Worker

Median Hourly Rate: $12.24

Requirements: On-the-job training, childcare certification, background check

Just like an animal care worker can have a ball working with animals on the weekend, people who love kids can greatly enjoy their time working with little ones. Childcare workers aren’t nearly as busy on the weekends as they are mid-week, but you’d be surprised how many people still need childcare on Saturdays and Sundays. Childcare workers will be able to find work in daycares, private homes, or even in their own homes.

Working with children is, of course, a sensitive area, and you’ll definitely need a background check to get employed. As well, rules vary state by state as to what kind of childcare system you can set up, and you will very likely need an inspection and certification if you plan to care for children in your own home.

This job is also intense. Children need constant attention both for their well-being and for their safety. They’re full of energy and will run you off your feet. Successful childcare workers know when to let children play on their own and when to interact with them. They also need to have a lot of patience and compassion to care for little ones.

Retail Sales Workers

Median Hourly Rate: $13.13

Requirements: On-the-job training

Retail sales staff or sales assistants are the people who assist customers and help to sell products in stores of all kinds. Hours are usually flexible and based on shifts that can be swapped and traded with your colleagues.

the best weekend jobs

You need to have good people skills and be able to learn on the job about the products or services that you’re selling. You’ll have to learn to answer questions and even make demonstrations of products.

You’ll also need to handle payments in many cases because while larger shops and superstores have cashiers, most medium and smaller stores have the sales staff work the till as well. Some stores offer commissions as incentives to salespeople, and this can be a great way to work hard and earn more money if you need it.

Freelance Writer

Median Hourly Rate: $32.27

Requirements: Good writing skills, English or Journalism degree

Next on my rundown of the Best Weekend Jobs, here’s a job close to my own heart! Freelance writing is probably one of the most flexible jobs available these days, and it’s one that you can do on your own time, at your own pace. Freelance writers need to write (copy, content, fiction, etc.) as well as spend time looking for work and managing deadlines. You need to have strong communication skills, not only to write effectively but also to successfully bid on work that will keep you employed.

Freelance writing allows people anywhere to work remotely and produce texts based on their skills and knowledge. However, deadlines can be difficult to meet if you can only work weekends, and some evening or weekday work may need to be put in as well.

But if you can explain things well in writing, weave wonderful narratives, or can condense subjects into concise articles, freelance writing might be right for you.

Graphic Designer

Median Hourly Rate: $25.66

Requirements: Graphic design skills

Much like a freelance writer, these days, a graphic designer can normally work anytime and anywhere there’s a computer. They can collect jobs and complete work online, making this a great job for people with busy schedules that need lots of flexibility. However, it can be hard to meet deadlines working only on the weekends, and like freelance writing, you may need to put in some extra work during the week.

the best weekend job

However, if you have strong design skills, you can really make them pay off. Graphic design includes creating layouts, illustrations, original images, logos, and more. You need to have an eye for this work but also the technical skills to use design programs like Illustrator and InDesign.

You also need to have communication skills that enable you to discuss commissions with clients and interpret their needs from words into art.

Construction Worker

Median Hourly Rate: $17.83

Requirements: On-the-job training, fitness

It may surprise you that construction work can be a perfectly workable weekend job. However, most construction projects start to build up huge financial problems if they run over time. It’s in the best interest of both contractors and contractees to get work done fast, and that can mean seven days a week.

That’s great for you if you only have your weekends free to work!

Construction laborers and helpers don’t need and special skills or training in trades. They usually perform physical work like moving loads and heavy components, digging, operating equipment, and cleaning work sites. If you’re interested in construction work and considering a trade, working as a construction helper is a great way to learn more about the ins and outs of the industry.

However, construction can be extremely physically demanding and require you to work long hours outside in all types of weather. But if you’re fit and strong and hardworking, almost any employer will take you on right away.

Looking for More Best Job Options?

Then check out my in-depth look at the Best Jobs for College Students, the Best Remote Jobs that Pay Well, 20 Part Time Jobs that Pay more than 20 per Hour, the Best 6 Figure Jobs, the Best Paying Jobs in Energy, a well as 15 Part Time Jobs that Pay more than 40 per Hour you can get in 2023.

And if you happen to have a criminal record, you may want to check out the Best Medical Jobs for Felons, the Best Jobs for Felons, or the Best Part Time Jobs for Felons.

Or, if your next interview is around the corner, you can’t go wrong by getting yourself a good book; I recommend Answering Tough Interview Questions For Dummies or the superb, Interview Like A Pro. It’s also worth checking out our comprehensive guides to answering common interview questions such as Why We Should Hire You?, Answering Tell Me About Yourself in Interview, how to respond to Why Do You Want to Work Here? or How to Answer What is Your Greatest Strength!

Back to today’s topic…

Working Away The Weekend Blues

Whether you have to work weekends to support yourself or just want to keep yourself busy, there are a lot of great employment options available to you. Some let you work anytime and anywhere, like freelance writing and graphic design. Others are more intense, like animal and childcare, but can also be fun and rewarding.

There are jobs for people persons, animal people, non-people people, and everyone in between. And most of these jobs require little to no previous experience, training, or certification. So if you need a weekend job, I’ve given you my top ten ideas. Now there’s no reason why you can’t get out and get started bringing in money instead of wasting your weekends away.

All the best with your search for the best jobs for the weekend!

5/5 - (74 votes)
Share:

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top