Guys, let’s be real for a moment. As a medical student, you must have encountered several instances where people are quite impressed by the qualification you are pursuing. But here’s the actual deal.
Studying medicine can break our bank so we are always on the hunt for some easy gigs for medical students that can make us some serious cash. Being a medical student is no joke. Trying to keep up with your studies and clinical rotations, your schedule is jam-packed, and you hardly find time for yourself. And then, there’s the financial side of things that most people don’t know about. So, if you are also looking for side jobs for medical students, keep reading, as we are about to discuss 10 gigs for medical students.
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Medical school requires a lot of money, and many students face the challenge of paying off their student debt. They are always on the hunt to find ways to make some extra money without exhausting themselves or ruining their study routine. If you’re thinking about how to make money as a medical student, then this article is all you need.
In this article, I will share the top 10 gigs for medical students that you can start asap to earn some extra money, alongside the platforms where you can find the work.
Best Side Hustle Gigs for Medical Students
1. Tutoring
This is one of the best gigs for medical students if they are looking to start as soon as possible and make some cash weekly. If you are a medical student, then it is generally perceived that you must be good at your studies and have a knack for teaching others.
Parents around the globe are always on the hunt to find someone who does not charge them an arm and leg but can still help their children with their homework.
If you are great in even one subject, tutoring can be a great way to earn money as a medical student. You can tutor your younger college fellows or even the student’s in your neighborhood.
Teaching younger students is a lot easier to start with and you can charge anywhere between $20-$30 an hour for subjects like Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
Platforms like Chegg, Course Hero, or Preply are great ways to teach online and earn some money in medical school.
2. Freelance Writing related to Medicine
Now this is very interesting and not as saturated as other side hustles are. This is amongst the best side jobs for medical students. Medical students can offer their services for writing content for blog posts or academic papers in the field of health and medicine.
It is not everyone’s cup of tea to write such content and even AI tools can only write information that is already being fed to them. So, anything new in the industry will only be known by the experts hence blog owners and reputable journal sites are always on the hunt for some new talent.
Platforms like Upwork, and Fiverr can be your best friends here. Specifically, advertise your services as a medical expert and you will get many opportunities. This is one of the online jobs for medical students that offers flexibility and good income. It is also amongst the best gigs for medical students as you can work remotely.
Here, is a detailed guide on side hustles that actaully work well in 2024.
3. Medical Transcription
This is one of the best gigs for medical students. It involves converting audio recordings from doctors and nurses into written text. This job can be done remotely and also offers flexibility.
It involves medical terminology and can not be done by anyone. It requires someone with a deep knowledge about medicine so medical students have great leverage because of that.
Transcription can be a good option if you are looking for an easy way to make some money in medical school. Platforms like Rev or TranscribeMe are some great options to start looking for jobs in this gig.
4. Online Surveys (Health Focused)
If you are looking for some side jobs for medical students and want something that can be done easily because you don’t have enough time on your hands than consider participating in online surveys. This is one of the easiest gigs for medical students that can be be done from anywhere.
Some companies require medical students specifically to take part in their market research and perform surveys for them.
There are many platforms like Survey Junkie, Swagbucks, or healthcare sites like M3 Global Research that pay a good amount to medical students. Online surveys are one of the best side hustles for medical students.
5. Telehealth Services
Ever since the pandemic hit the world, there has been a rise in virtual work opportunities.
With the rise in telemedicine, medical students have multiple opportunities to participate in telehealth services. This is an excellent side gig for medical students. Students can take part in remote healthcare tasks, and administrative duties, and even provide patient support.
Students can call and inquire about jobs at any health institution that is offering Telehealth services. It’s a great option if you are wondering how med students make money while gaining experience.
6. Research Assistant
As a student, you must be aware of sites that publish journal articles and well-researched work. Researchers are always looking for assistants related to their fields that can ease their workload.
There are many healthcare institutions and hospitals around the world that are actively involved in research work. You can assist the seniors as a research assistant and take part in the research work by collecting and analyzing data.
This is one of the most creative gigs for medical students as it can also help you in your studies and helps you explore different career options in medicine.
You might also get an opportunity to co-author papers with the senior authors which can be a plus point in your resume. This job will not only pay you well as it is centered around medicine and healthcare but also improve your knowledge and help you with your studies.
It’s one of the greatest and most creative business ideas for medical students who want to explore different options related to their careers. You can start by reaching out to professors in your university and dropping your resume at your research departments.
7. Work as a Virtual Medical Scribe
This is one of the most interesting side gigs for medical students. You can sign up to work as a remote Medical Scribe by joining any medical scribe program.
Your job will be to assist the doctor remotely when they interact with any patient. The duties usually involve documenting the details of the encounter between the doctor and patient, making graphs and charts, and also updating the medical records.
Some popular companies include ProScribe and Scribe America which offer remote positions. Training is also provided beforehand so this is great for students figuring out how to earn money as a medical student.
8. Medical Coding and Billing
This is again very interesting and less heard of. The job involves translating healthcare diagnoses and different services into codes which are usually standardized.
These codes are used for billing. This requires some training beforehand but this skill is very flexible and allows you to work remotely from anywhere.
Many institutes like AAPC and AHIMA offer the certification for this gig. You can take the certification and apply on job boards like Flex jobs or Indeed or even list your services on platforms like Fiverr or Upwork and get started. Freelance writing can be done from anywhere making it one of the best side gigs for medical students.
9. Health and Wellness Coaching
You might have come across some social media posts or gigs where a person has a deep understanding of lifestyle medicine and offers their services to help you achieve your health goals.
If you are also such a person who has an interest in fitness and nutrition, consider starting with this gig.
Obtain a certification from some institute like NASM, then hunt clients through social media, discussion forums, or even within your gym. This is also a lucrative side hustle for medical students and you can also scale into something bigger with time.
10. Medical Illustrations
This is not everyone’s cup of tea so, if you have got a bit of a creative side, this side job for medical students is certainly for you. The average salary of a medical illustrator in the United States ranges between $83000 to $170,000 per annum.
Being a medical student, you must know the importance of illustrations in your textbooks and research papers. If you don’t get a good representation of what you are learning visually, it feels bland and sometimes you are unable to understand the concept.
If you’ve got some creative skills then start creating visual representations of anatomy and other surgical concepts. With technology evolving almost every day, medical illustrators will highly be in demand, so if you start working as an illustrator, it can pay you extremely well and will be one of the best gigs for medical students in the upcoming years,
You can start by creating a portfolio and looking for opportunities on freelance marketplaces. Another way can be to build your brand on social media by starting a page or even approaching authors and researchers who need illustrations for their research papers, textbooks, or articles within your university or hospital.
Where to Find These Gigs
Although I have already mentioned platforms and ways alongside every gig, here are some generic ways through which you can find work.
Freelance Platforms: Sign up for platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, Indeed, LinkedIn, Flex Jobs, etc. to look for opportunities.
Specifically, advertise yourself as a medical student if you are looking to work in any of the side gigs mentioned above. This will make your profile more prominent and easy to find as clients are usually looking for an expert when their niche is complicated or knowledge-based.
Network within your University and Hospital: Now this might sound crazy to you if you are an introvert but this holds more power than you can think of. Talk about the services that you offer to your classmates, professors, and any alumni you get a chance to interact with.
Drop your resume in specific departments and keep an eye out for emerging opportunities. There is often a lot of work in places we study and can be a great way to start making some money.
If you are considering starting a side hustle as a business, reselling can be a great option as it can be done from the comfort of your home without compromising your study time. Here, is a list of the best items to resell for profit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do med students make money?
Med students can make money through part-time jobs like tutoring, and freelance writing services (medical transcription, content, etc.,) and, working as research assistants. They can also work in telehealth services.
What are some of the easy side gigs for medical students?
Medical students can work part-time jobs with flexible hours at different cafes or grocery stores. If they prefer to work online, they can provide services like freelancing, online coaching, and various medical-related jobs discussed in this article. Besides that, there are several other side hustles that students can pursue in their free time to earn a decent amount each month.
How much do med students make?
The earnings vary widely depending on their job or side hustle. On average, they can easily make between $15-$50 per hour through part-time jobs, tutoring, or freelance work
What are the best side gigs for medical students to balance with their studies?
Some of the best side gigs for medical students include online tutoring, freelance writing, or working as a medical scribe. These side jobs for medical students offer flexibility that allows students to earn extra income while maintaining their focus on academics.
Are there side gigs for medical students related to their field?
Yes, there are side gigs for medical students like assisting in research projects, offering peer tutoring in medical subjects, or working part-time in healthcare facilities. These side gigs for medical students not only provide income but also enhance their professional experience.
Conclusion
Working as a full-time student is not easy especially when you have such a tough routine. So, you should try to look for ways that are flexible and worth your time to earn some cash to pay off those student debts. These are some of the best gigs for medical students that can be started as a side hustle and later on, you can turn them into a full-time career.
The key is to find gigs that you have an interest in so that it does not cause burnout. Working as a research assistant, medical scribe or even a freelance writer are flexible ways and can easily fit into your demanding schedule.
Explore these side gigs for medical students and go all in. You will be able to find something of your interest. Now these are some gigs for medical students only. If you don’t want to work in the field of medicine in your free time for now, there are tons of other side hustles that you can look into.