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Side hustles for teachers in Australia: 7 realistic options
Teaching gives you a skill set people pay real money for — explaining things clearly, managing groups, building curriculum — plus school holidays that most side hustles can’t use. It also comes with constraints most side hustle articles ignore: secondary employment policies, conflict-of-interest rules, and an energy budget that’s usually empty by Thursday. This guide covers seven options that respect both.
Before you start: two checks
- Secondary employment rules. Most state education departments require you to declare or get approval for outside work — for example, the NSW Department of Education’s private and secondary employment policy. Victoria, Queensland and other states have equivalents, and private school contracts usually include a clause too. Check yours first; approval is routine for most low-conflict work.
- Conflict of interest. The common tripwire is tutoring students from your own school for private payment. Most policies restrict or prohibit it. Tutoring students from other schools is generally fine.
1. Private tutoring
The obvious one, because it’s the best-paid per hour. Private tutors in Australia commonly advertise between $50 and $90 per hour for one-on-one work, with VCE/HSC-specialist and experienced teachers at the top of that range — well above what agencies or platforms pay once they take their cut.
Fits teaching because: it’s your exact skill set, demand peaks outside school hours, and two students a week is a meaningful income bump without wrecking your load.
Watch for: the own-school conflict rule above; travel time eating your hourly rate (online tutoring solves this); and the ABN/tax side — regular paid tutoring is a business, not a hobby (see our ABN guide).
2. Exam marking and assessment work
State curriculum authorities (VCAA, NESA, QCAA and equivalents) hire practising teachers to mark external exams, and universities hire sessional markers. It’s seasonal, concentrated work — a few intense weeks, usually paid per script or per hour.
Fits teaching because: it strengthens your own assessment practice, looks good professionally, and is generally uncontroversial under secondary employment policies (some departments treat official marking roles favourably).
Watch for: the workload lands in term time (usually right after exams), and positions open on application windows — get on your curriculum authority’s marker register early.
3. Selling teaching resources online
Marketplaces like Teachers Pay Teachers let you sell units, worksheets and assessments you’ve already made. This is the classic “make it once, sell it many times” option — and the one with the widest gap between the dream and the median result. Most sellers earn pocket money; the ones who earn real income treat it like a catalogue business: dozens of quality resources, consistent niche, good previews.
Fits teaching because: you’re monetising work you’ve already done, and it’s fully asynchronous — holidays are your production window.
Watch for: intellectual property. Resources you created in the course of your employment may belong to your employer — check your contract and department policy before uploading anything you made for work. Recreate from scratch on your own time and equipment if in doubt. Income is assessable and, done seriously, it’s a business.
4. Online English (ESL) teaching
Teaching English online to overseas students, either through platforms or privately. Rates vary widely by platform and qualification — typically modest per hour compared with private tutoring, but the work is bookable in small slots and the market is deep.
Fits teaching because: zero preparation compared with classroom teaching, do it from home, and your qualification puts you at the top of the applicant pool.
Watch for: peak demand hours are evenings in student time zones, which can mean early mornings or late nights in Australia; platform pay and conditions vary a lot, so read the current terms before committing.
5. Coaching and school-adjacent paid roles
Sport coaching, instrumental music, holiday programs, homework clubs and study camps. Often organised through schools, councils or private providers, and concentrated in exactly the windows teachers have available.
Fits teaching because: working-with-children checks and behaviour management skills make you the easiest possible hire, and holiday programs use the weeks you’re not teaching.
Watch for: rates are usually more modest than tutoring; if it’s at your own school, run it through the secondary employment/conflict process.
6. Freelance writing and editing
Curriculum writing for education publishers, textbook review, education blogging, and general copy editing. Education publishers actively want practising teachers, and curriculum writing in particular pays professional rates.
Fits teaching because: it’s asynchronous, holiday-friendly, and builds a portfolio that can outgrow the side hustle — several education consultants started here.
Watch for: finding the first clients is the hard part. Publisher websites list contributor callouts; education-sector Facebook groups and LinkedIn are where most first gigs come from.
7. Micro-credential and adult teaching
TAFEs, RTOs and community education providers hire industry-experienced teachers for evening and weekend classes; universities hire sessional tutors for education subjects. Adult teaching pays significantly better per contact hour than most casual work, though preparation time is real.
Fits teaching because: your teaching qualification is the entry ticket, and sessional work is contracted in predictable blocks you can decline in heavy terms.
Watch for: TAFE teaching may require a TAE qualification (Certificate IV in Training and Assessment) depending on the role — check before assuming.
The honest comparison
| Option | Typical rate | Time to first dollar | Holiday-friendly? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private tutoring | $50–90/hr | 1–2 weeks | Partly (exam prep peaks in term) |
| Exam marking | Varies by authority, per script/hour | Seasonal (apply early) | No — lands in term |
| Selling resources | Long tail; slow build | Months | Very |
| Online ESL | Modest, platform-dependent | 2–4 weeks | Yes |
| Coaching/holiday programs | Modest–moderate | Weeks | Very |
| Freelance writing | Professional rates once established | 1–3 months | Very |
| Adult/sessional teaching | Good per contact hour | 1–2 months (hiring cycles) | Partly |
Getting the admin right
Whichever option you pick: check your secondary employment policy first, then sort the tax basics. Regular, profit-seeking work means an ABN and declaring the income; keep records from the first dollar; and remember your side hustle income stacks on top of your teaching salary for tax, so put a percentage aside rather than getting a bill surprise at tax time. GST isn’t a concern until $75,000 of side income — a threshold most teaching side hustles will never trouble.
Frequently asked questions
Do teachers need permission for a side hustle in Australia?
Often, yes. Most state education departments require employees to declare or seek approval for secondary employment, particularly where it could conflict with their role — and private schools commonly have similar contract clauses. Check your department's policy and your contract before starting.
Do I need an ABN to tutor privately?
If you tutor regularly, advertise and charge with the intention of making a profit, you're likely carrying on an enterprise and should hold an ABN. One-off help for a family friend generally isn't. See our full ABN guide for how the line is drawn.
Is selling teaching resources online worth it?
For most sellers it's a slow build: the median seller earns little, but teachers with a large catalogue of quality, differentiated resources can build meaningful recurring income over a year or more. Treat it as a long game, not quick cash.
Sources
This article is general information only, not tax, legal or financial advice. It doesn't consider your personal circumstances. For advice on your situation, speak to a registered tax agent or licensed adviser, and always check current requirements with the official source linked above.