7 online and flexible jobs for college students that pay $15 per hour

It can be really difficult to hold down a job and go to school full-time all at the same time. To make it work, you often need a job with a bit more flexibility. That’s where online jobs come in handy—they’re versatile and the hours can usually fit in around your schoolwork schedule. Also, if you need some solitude after days of classes and socializing, most of these are done all by your lonesome—the perfect gig for introverts! And bonus: plenty of them pay more than $15 per hour. Pretty good setup for something you can do in your pajamas, right? Here are a few great examples of online jobs for college students.

1. Social Media Manager

Think Facebook and Twitter are just for sociability and fun? Why not use the skills you were given as a member of your generation to make some cash as a rep for a company looking to gain some online traction? You can connect with businesses you love, help them gain a social media following, and make anywhere between $15 and $40 per hour. The trick is to focus your pitch and strategy on the platforms you know and love best. You’ll have the best ideas and be more attractive as a hire.

2. Online Tutor

Why bother meeting your tutees in person? Start your own online tutoring gig, charging $20+ per hour working with fellow college students, or high school or home schooled students. Consider tutoring in non-academic areas as well—any of your hobbies and extracurriculars are fair game! Violin or sewing by Skype, anyone? Try marketing your services on sites like Wyzant or Tutor.com. Share an online course you create through Skillshare or Udemy.

3. Data Entry

Data entry doesn’t have to be done in an office setting from 9-5; it can easily be done online. For gigs, try sites like VirtualBee, Clickworker, DionData, SolutionsoDesk, Elance, Amazon Mechanical Turk, iFreelance, Craigslist (search for your city > jobs > web / info design or jobs>admin/office). The pay isn’t all that great, but you also don’t need much experience to get a bunch of gigs to string together.

4. Virtual Assistant

Be somebody’s secretary, but never have to hand them a cup of coffee! You can easily organize schedules, plan meetings, and arrange for food delivery without having to physically be in someone's office. Check these sites for opportunities: oDesk, Elance, Guru, iFreelance, and Craigslist. This will feel more like a traditional 9-5 job, but you can be at home while you do it, and you can usually work in your own hours.

5. Filling Out Surveys

You can actually make money by taking surveys online. You’ll have to do a lot of them, but it’s totally possible. Try Pinecone Research, Survey Spot, iPoll, or My Points as a start. And remember you’ll have to fit the appropriate demographic for each survey and there’ll be many different types.

6. Genealogist

Get paid to research other people’s family trees and charge a ton—anywhere between $70 and $700, and take on as little or as much work as you can handle. If you like to research, this gig is for you.

7. Transcription

Get paid up to $25 per hour or more to transcribe audio. It’s repetitive work, and often very onerous, and requires a meticulous attention to detail—but it fits great around your academic schedule. And what's more, you'll probably learn a bunch about the random topics you're transcribing. It's like getting paid to eavesdrop!