What is a student worker and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Expert
Dr. Tommy Casarez Ph.D.

A student worker works part-time while attending school. These workers are typically employed by their university or college, and their responsibilities vary depending on the position. Student workers may assist with administrative tasks, work in a library or computer lab, provide customer service, or perform other duties. They often receive training and support to balance their academic and work commitments successfully. Student workers gain valuable skills and experience that prepare them for future careers.

What general advice would you give to a Student Worker?

Dr. Tommy Casarez Ph.D.Dr. Tommy Casarez Ph.D. LinkedIn Profile

Dr., Assistant Professor of Historical and Systematic Theology, Vanguard University

Opportunities come in many different shapes and sizes, but they are still out there. Whether you are seeking to land a job in education or the non-profit sector, you will need to familiarize yourself and get used to all things digital, for the sake of communicating effectively. The younger your student or service partner's mindset, the more digitally savvy you will need to be, especially in the classroom and in the non-profit world.
ScoreStudent WorkerUS Average
Salary
2.0

Avg. Salary $25,735

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
10.0

Growth Rate 9%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
9.3
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.51%

Asian 2.67%

Black or African American 13.37%

Hispanic or Latino 15.12%

Unknown 4.19%

White 63.14%

Gender

female 61.27%

male 38.73%

Age - 42
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42
Stress Level
10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
8.5

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
6.2

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Student Worker?

Pros

  • Opportunity to earn extra income

  • Flexible work schedule

  • Convenient on-campus location

  • Opportunity to have a positive impact on campus community

  • Build resume and improve career prospects

Cons

  • Limited hours available during academic breaks

  • May interfere with ability to participate in extracurricular activities

  • Limited job opportunities in certain areas of campus

  • May require working weekends or evenings

  • May not earn a competitive wage compared to non-student workers in similar positions

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Student Worker career paths

Key steps to become a student worker

  1. Explore student worker education requirements

    Most common student worker degrees

    Bachelor's

    65.3 %

    Associate

    15.2 %

    High School Diploma

    11.5 %
  2. Start to develop specific student worker skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Customer Service15.55%
    Front Desk10.63%
    Twitter8.33%
    Financial Aid6.38%
    PowerPoint4.71%
  3. Complete relevant student worker training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New student workers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a student worker based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real student worker resumes.
  4. Research student worker duties and responsibilities

    • Manage club documents and advertise several events through Facebook.
    • Exhibit patient care CPR experience in CNA
    • Maintain neat appearance and cleanliness of the library.
    • Assist with maintaining the cleanliness of the dining room
  5. Prepare your student worker resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your student worker resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a student worker resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Student Worker Resume templates

    Build a professional Student Worker resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Student Worker resume.
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  6. Apply for student worker jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a student worker job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Student Worker Job

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Average student worker salary

The average Student Worker salary in the United States is $25,735 per year or $12 per hour. Student worker salaries range between $19,000 and $34,000 per year.

Average Student Worker Salary
$25,735 Yearly
$12.37 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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