The United States is a great country to study for international students, yet dealing with money can be a great cause of stress. Between living expenses, tuition, and all the bills to pay for, most international students seek part-time jobs to survive. However, since international students who live in the United States are on a student visa, there are some limitations to the number of jobs and hours for which they qualify to work. But the good news for international students is that there are numerous well-paying part-time job opportunities that do not demand previous work experience and are flexible.

In this article, we examine in great detail 14 of these job opportunities, particularly those that are visa-compliant, accommodate your study schedule, and offer really good pay.

Work Eligibility for Foreign Students

Before discussing the job opportunities, it’s important to understand the work restrictions that apply to International students. The majority of foreign students in the United States are on the F-1 visa, which has certain regulations concerning employment.

F-1 Student Visa Holders

The F-1 students have several employment options with specific restrictions which we’ll be talking about.

1. On-Campus Employment : F-1 students can begin working on campus during their first academic year as soon as they start classes. They are permitted to work on campus for up to 20 hours per week during the academic year (when school is in session) and full-time (40 hours per week) during semester/quarter breaks or during the annual vacation.
2. Off-Campus Employment : F-1 students are not permitted to work off-campus during their first academic year. After the first year, off-campus work will only be allowed through specific authorization programs.
3. Curricular Practical Training(CPT): CPT are work experience or practical training that are deemed integral to a F1 student’s major or coursework. F-1 students are permitted to take part in cooperative work programs, internships, or jobs that are directly related to their field of study. The work experience must be required by the course or the student will gain academic credit for the work. CPT typically requires authorization from the Designated School Official (DSO).CPT can be part-time or full-time, however, an F1 student will no longer be eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT) if they work full-time on CPT for 12 months or more.
4. Optional Practical Training(OPT) : OPT permits students to gain real-world experience that is related to their fields of study. It may include full time or part-time jobs and an individual can be self-employed while on OPT. The F1 OPT cannot last more than 12 months, and no F1 student can work less than 20 hours per week.

With these restrictions in mind, let’s take a look at high-paying job opportunities that are accessible to foreign students with limited experience.

On-Campus Employment Opportunities

On-campus jobs are the most reliable and accessible option for foreign students since they don’t require additional work authorization beyond your student visa. A lot of these job opportunities offer competitive pay and valuable experience that would help after school. They include :

1. Research Assistant

Average pay : $15-30 /hr

Being a Research assistant is one of the best well-paying on-campus jobs in the US, along with excellent experience and exposure available to foreign students. As a research assistant, you’ll help collect, organize data and assist professors or scientists in the university.

There are many research assistant opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students of all departments. The pay is higher in some STEM disciplines, but not only in STEM, jobs in social science, business and in humanities are also available. Research assistantships provide more than a paycheck. You will learn valuable skills, get to know professors carrying out research in your area of interest who can write you letters of recommendation, and you could possibly even have the opportunity to be a co-author on academic publications.

How to get the Job : Approach your professors or scientists in the department whose research interests you and express your interest and willingness to learn.

1. Tutor

Average pay : $20-30 / hr

Tutoring is a good job prospect for students with strong academic skills. If you’re really good at subjects like maths, science, economics or languages, tutoring can be a really rewarding choice. Universities usually have tutoring centers that hire students to help their peers in challenging courses, additionally, you can offer private or online tutoring services while staying within your work hour limits.

How to get the Job: Apply to your university’s tutoring center. For private and online tutoring, create flyers or online profiles that highlight your academic strengths.

1. Department Assistant

Average pay : $14-22 / hr

Working as a Department Assistant is one of the best on-campus jobs for international students, and you can earn anywhere between $14-22 per hour (depending on the department and tasks). As a department assistant, you will assist faculty and staff members in a academic department at your university in a wide range of administrative and organizational tasks. You may help manage office operations, coordinate events, correspond with and maintain department websites, and aid students and visitors.These positions not only provide steady income but also allow you to build relationships with faculty members and gain insight into the inner workings of academia.

How to get the job : Contact the administrative offices of the department related to your field of study. Highlight skills like organizational skills, problem solving skills, attention to detail and relevant software proficiencies.

1. Library Assistant

Average pay : $15 – 18 / hr

Library assistants are one of the most common on-campus employment. Their main responsibilities include checking books in and out, reshelving returned materials, helping visitors locate resources, answering reference questions, and assisting with digital archiving projects. Libraries often offer evening and weekend shifts, making these positions flexible for students with busy class schedules.

How to Get the Job : Apply directly through your university’s library website or student employment portal. Emphasize your organization skills and attention to details. Many Libraries hire at the beginning of each semester, so apply early for the best opportunities.

1. Brand Campus Ambassador

Average Pay : $15-25 / hr

This is a great opportunity for international students to meet international friends and locals who are fun, active and supportive. Lots of companies do this kind of thing, working with universities to conduct on-campus marketing, and are interested in recruiting diverse students as representatives who can work well with students from all backgrounds.

You will represent a variety of brands as a Campus Ambassador, from software firms and streaming services to clothing lines and food delivery apps. Typically, your duties involve planning promotional activities, disseminating marketing collateral, running social media campaigns, and promoting brand interaction among students. Depending on the employer, many jobs provide flexible schedules that may be adjusted to fit your class obligations. Weekly hours can range from 5 to 15. This is a great opportunity for those interested in marketing and content creation.

How to land the job : Check your university’s job board or career services office for Brands campus ambassadors opening. When applying, highlight your communication skills, social media presence, campus involvement etc and demonstrate enthusiasm for the brand and knowledge of their products. You can also check out the brands website to apply and pitch yourself to the HR department.

1. Student Ambassador

Average pay : $15-20 / hr

A Student Ambassador represents the university to prospective students and visitors. They are required to provide information about their school to prospective or new students and their parents. As the name suggests, student ambassadors promote their school through guided tours, presentations to parents, visiting local high schools to speak to them about school, assisting students with their application process and answering questions regarding the school.

How to land the job : Reach out to your school student ambassador program.

1. Barista

Average pay : $12-17 / hr + tips

Being a barista is one of the favorable choices among foreign students who require part-time employment in the United States. Some of the roles played while being a barista include taking and processing orders from customers, making and serving various drinks, and ensuring equipment is in good working order. Being a barista is appealing due to flexible hours, tips in addition to hourly wages, and a productive atmosphere that supports you studying. Other than enjoying cheaper or free coffee, the environment is also ideal for individuals to socially engage with new acquaintances.

How to land the job: Look at your university job board or visit local restaurants or catering services and inquire if they have any available positions.

1. Food runner or catering assistant

Average pay : $12-18 / hr

Food runners work in the same way as servers do in a restaurant or café setting. They deliver food orders correctly from the kitchen to the respective tables and clear empty plates and glassware when required. A catering assistant, on the other hand, assists the chef by helping to prepare orders in the kitchen area. The job is one that has a high level of flexibility in terms of working hours.

How to apply : Check your university job boards or walk into a restaurant or catering company and ask if there are vacancies.

1. Dining room / Cafeteria server

Average pay : $13 -18 / hr ( with tips)

Dining hall servers in universities offer food service assistance across campus cafeterias, restaurants, and catering functions. Their roles include taking orders, serving food, maintaining a clean dining, and ensuring positive customer experiences. These positions offer flexible scheduling around classes, practice in developing English communication skills through daily customer contact, and a social environment for international students to build campus connections. Pay typically ranges between $13-18 an hour plus possible tips at certain locations, with free or discounted meals while working.

How to apply : Check your university job boards or walk in a dining/cafeteria and ask if there are vacancies.

1. Receptionist

Average pay : $14 – 18 / hr

Receptionists perform front-office clerical duties. Their main task is receiving calls and redirecting them to the appropriate persons or department, welcoming visitors and doing paperwork.

How to apply : Inform your career services office to find out potential opportunities for part-time receptionist jobs on campus, as large departments, student unions, and other major buildings can offer jobs for receptionists.

1. Sales assistant

Average pay : $15 – 20 / hr

If your institution has a mini supermarket or retail outlet in its premises, then this is a great opportunity. A sales assistant has a crucial role in boosting the sales of the store by helping customers find the products they are looking for, answering their queries, and making transactional processes easier.

How to apply : Check your university job boards or work into the supermarket/retail outlet and ask if there are vacancies.

1. Ushers

Average pay : $12 -18 / hr

Ushers work at performing arts centers on campus, stadiums or event venues. They are responsible for taking people to their seats at a sporting event, film or an event. They greet visitors, collect tickets, hand out programs and flyers and even direct visitors to the building’s restrooms.

How to apply : Check your university job board for events in school looking to hire ushers.

1. Call center Representative

Average pay : $13-15 / hr

University call center agents /representatives typically receive incoming calls, make outbound calls,answer admission questions, provide technical support, and contact alumni fundraising campaigns. These positions offer valuable communication skill development, consistent scheduling around class times, and exposure to the Us work culture.

How to apply : Check your university job board, prepare your resume and apply.

1. Internship

Average pay : $20-35 / hr

Internships offer international students practical work experience in their field of study and some of the best paying hourly rates of student employment. These short-duration, organized jobs are directly applicable to a student’s field of study and generally pay $20-35 per hour based on industry, with STEM, finance, and technology fields generally paying the most. For international students, internships need to be approved either through Curricular Practical Training (CPT) during academic enrollment or Optional Practical Training (OPT) after completion of studies, and most F-1 visa students are entitled to 12 months of OPT with STEM fields qualifying for an extra 24-month extension.

Aside from pay, internships are invaluable for business networks, hands-on skills practice, workplace culture immersion, and far greater post-graduation job opportunities, as many corporations utilize internship programs as recruitment pipelines for full-time employment, thereby making them a gateway that international students must use to enter the U.S. job market after graduation.

How to apply : Check for companies related to your field of study that are interested in hiring interns. Have a good Linkedin page, prepare your resume and contact their HR department to indicate interest in interning at their company.

Conclusion

Foreign students in the United States have a lot of opportunities to earn a good paying job without prior experience. By understanding your visa restrictions, actively looking for on-campus jobs and developing in-demand skills, you can financially support yourself while studying. Remember that your main goal in the US is to study, and hence you must prioritize academic success while balancing your work commitments.

Ensure this job’s complies with your university’s on-campus work policy or is part of CPT if off-campus.