So you're a student in Poland. Your budget is tight. Your rent is due. Your wallet is looking sad. And you're thinking: "Okay, I need to make some money. But how? I'm already drowning in assignments, and I don't even speak Polish that well yet."

Here's the thing: making money as a student in Poland is totally doable. There are opportunities everywhere, from flexible part-time jobs to online gigs you can do from your dorm room. The key is finding something that fits your schedule, your skills, and your sanity level. Because let's be honest – you're here to study, not work 40 hours a week.

This guide isn't here to promise you'll get rich (you won't, at least not immediately). It's here to give you real, practical options for making extra cash while you're studying. We'll talk about jobs that work around your schedule, skills you can monetize, and how to avoid the scams that prey on desperate students.

The Reality Check: What You Need to Know First

Before we dive into specific opportunities, let's get real about a few things:

Legal stuff:

  • EU students: Can work freely without restrictions
  • Non-EU students: Can work part-time during studies (usually up to 20 hours/week during semester, full-time during holidays). Check your visa conditions.
  • Taxes: If you earn money, you'll pay taxes. But students often get tax breaks. More on that later.

Time management:

  • Don't overcommit. Your studies come first.
  • Look for flexible jobs that work around your schedule.
  • Consider online work – you can do it on your own time.

Language:

  • Some jobs require Polish. Many don't.
  • English is often an asset, not a barrier.
  • You can improve your Polish while working.

What to avoid:

  • Scams promising easy money
  • Jobs that seem too good to be true
  • Anything that requires you to pay money upfront
  • Pyramid schemes or "multi-level marketing"

Part-Time Jobs: The Classic Options

Hospitality & Service Industry

Restaurants, Cafes, Bars

  • What you do: Wait tables, make coffee, serve customers
  • Why it works: Flexible hours, often evening/weekend shifts that fit student schedules
  • Pay: Usually minimum wage + tips (tips can be good, especially in tourist areas)
  • Language: Basic Polish helps, but many places in tourist areas are fine with English
  • Reality check: Can be tiring, but tips can make it worth it. Also, free food sometimes.

Food Delivery

  • What you do: Deliver food via apps like Uber Eats, Glovo, Pyszne.pl
  • Why it works: Super flexible – work when you want, for as long as you want
  • Pay: Usually per delivery + tips. Can make 20-40 PLN/hour during busy times
  • Requirements: Bike or scooter (sometimes provided), smartphone
  • Pro tip: Peak hours (lunch, dinner) pay best. Weather affects demand (rain = more orders).

Retail

  • What you do: Work in shops, help customers, stock shelves
  • Why it works: Regular hours, often student-friendly schedules
  • Pay: Usually minimum wage or slightly above
  • Language: Depends on the shop. Tourist shops often need English speakers
  • Reality check: Can be boring, but stable and predictable.

Tutoring & Teaching

English Tutoring

  • What you do: Teach English to kids, adults, or other students
  • Why it works: If English is your native language, you're already qualified
  • Pay: Usually 40-100 PLN/hour, depending on level and location
  • Where to find: Online platforms (Preply, italki), local language schools, Facebook groups
  • Pro tip: Online tutoring lets you work from anywhere. In-person pays more but requires travel.

Subject Tutoring

  • What you do: Tutor students in subjects you're good at (math, science, etc.)
  • Why it works: If you're studying it, you can probably teach it
  • Pay: Usually 30-80 PLN/hour
  • Where to find: University notice boards, Facebook groups, tutoring platforms
  • Reality check: High school students often need help. Parents pay well.

Language Exchange (Paid)

  • What you do: Help people practice your native language
  • Why it works: Casual, conversational, less formal than tutoring
  • Pay: Usually 30-60 PLN/hour
  • Where to find: Language exchange apps, Facebook groups, local meetups

University Jobs

Research Assistant

  • What you do: Help professors with research, data collection, analysis
  • Why it works: Related to your studies, looks great on CV, flexible hours
  • Pay: Usually 15-25 PLN/hour, sometimes more
  • How to find: Ask your professors, check university job boards
  • Pro tip: This is gold for your CV. Even if pay isn't amazing, the experience is valuable.

Library Assistant

  • What you do: Help in the library, organize books, assist students
  • Why it works: Quiet environment, can sometimes study during downtime
  • Pay: Usually minimum wage
  • How to find: Check university job boards, ask at the library

Student Ambassador / Guide

  • What you do: Show prospective students around, help with events
  • Why it works: Flexible, social, looks good on CV
  • Pay: Usually hourly or per event
  • How to find: Check with student services, international office

Online Work: Work From Your Dorm Room

Freelancing

Writing & Content Creation

  • What you do: Write articles, blog posts, copy, social media content
  • Why it works: Flexible, can do it anytime, anywhere
  • Pay: Varies widely. 50-200 PLN per article, depending on length and complexity
  • Where to find: Upwork, Fiverr, ProBlogger, content agencies
  • Pro tip: Start with smaller projects to build a portfolio. Native English is a huge advantage.

Graphic Design

  • What you do: Create logos, social media graphics, marketing materials
  • Why it works: If you have design skills, there's demand
  • Pay: Usually 100-500 PLN per project, depending on complexity
  • Where to find: Upwork, Fiverr, 99designs, local businesses
  • Reality check: You need actual design skills. But if you have them, this pays well.

Translation

  • What you do: Translate documents, websites, content
  • Why it works: If you're bilingual, you can monetize it
  • Pay: Usually 0.10-0.30 PLN per word, depending on language pair
  • Where to find: Translation agencies, Upwork, ProZ
  • Pro tip: English-Polish or Polish-English is in high demand. Other language pairs too.

Virtual Assistant

  • What you do: Administrative tasks, email management, scheduling, research
  • Why it works: Flexible, can work around your schedule
  • Pay: Usually 20-50 PLN/hour
  • Where to find: Upwork, Remote.co, virtual assistant agencies
  • Reality check: Can be repetitive, but steady work if you find good clients.

Online Platforms

Survey Sites & Micro-Tasks

  • What you do: Complete surveys, small tasks online
  • Why it works: Super flexible, can do it in spare moments
  • Pay: Usually very low – 5-20 PLN per survey/task
  • Where to find: Survey sites, Amazon Mechanical Turk, Clickworker
  • Reality check: Don't expect to get rich. But it's easy money for minimal effort. Good for filling time between classes.

Online Teaching

  • What you do: Teach English or other subjects online
  • Why it works: Work from home, set your own schedule
  • Pay: Usually 30-80 PLN/hour
  • Where to find: Cambly, italki, Preply, VIPKid
  • Pro tip: Peak hours (evenings in your home country) often pay more.

Skills You Can Monetize

If You're Good at...

Photography

  • What you can do: Event photography, portraits, product photos
  • How to find work: Facebook groups, local businesses, wedding planners
  • Pay: Usually 200-1000+ PLN per event, depending on type
  • Reality check: You need good equipment and skills. But if you have both, this pays well.

Video Editing

  • What you can do: Edit videos for YouTubers, businesses, events
  • How to find work: Upwork, Fiverr, local video production companies
  • Pay: Usually 100-500 PLN per video, depending on length and complexity
  • Pro tip: Learn popular editing software (Premiere Pro, Final Cut). High demand.

Social Media Management

  • What you can do: Manage social media accounts for businesses
  • How to find work: Local businesses, agencies, Upwork
  • Pay: Usually 500-2000 PLN/month per client, depending on scope
  • Reality check: Requires understanding of social media strategy, not just posting.

Web Development

  • What you can do: Build websites, fix bugs, maintain sites
  • How to find work: Upwork, local businesses, agencies
  • Pay: Usually 50-150 PLN/hour, or per project
  • Reality check: You need actual coding skills. But if you have them, demand is high.

Creative & Unconventional Options

Sell Your Skills Locally

Handmade Products

  • What you can do: Make and sell jewelry, art, crafts, clothing
  • Where to sell: Etsy, local markets, Facebook groups, Instagram
  • Pay: Depends on what you make and how you price it
  • Reality check: Takes time to build a customer base. But if you're creative, this can work.

Pet Sitting / Dog Walking

  • What you do: Take care of pets while owners are away
  • Why it works: Flexible, fun (if you like animals), good pay
  • Pay: Usually 50-150 PLN/day for pet sitting, 20-40 PLN per walk
  • Where to find: Facebook groups, local pet services, word of mouth
  • Pro tip: Popular in bigger cities. Many expats and busy professionals need this.

House Sitting

  • What you do: Stay in someone's house while they're away
  • Why it works: Free accommodation + sometimes pay
  • Pay: Usually free accommodation, sometimes small payment
  • Where to find: Facebook groups, house sitting websites
  • Reality check: More common in some areas than others. Can be a great deal if you find it.

Event Work

Event Staff

  • What you do: Work at concerts, festivals, conferences, trade shows
  • Why it works: Usually weekend/evening work, one-off events
  • Pay: Usually 80-150 PLN per event, sometimes more
  • Where to find: Event companies, Facebook groups, university job boards
  • Pro tip: Can be fun if you like events. Also, sometimes free entry to events.

Promotional Work

  • What you do: Hand out flyers, promote products, work at promotional events
  • Why it works: Flexible, usually short shifts
  • Pay: Usually 50-100 PLN per shift
  • Where to find: Promotional agencies, Facebook groups
  • Reality check: Can be boring, but easy money for minimal effort.

Tips for Finding Work

Where to Look

  1. University Job Boards: Check your university's career center, job boards, student services
  2. Facebook Groups: Search for "[Your City] Jobs," "[Your City] Expats," "[Your City] Students"
  3. Online Platforms: Upwork, Fiverr, local job sites (Pracuj.pl, OLX)
  4. Networking: Talk to other students, professors, locals. Word of mouth is powerful.
  5. Walk Around: Sometimes the best way is to walk into cafes, shops, and ask if they're hiring

How to Stand Out

  • Polish your CV: Even for part-time jobs, a good CV helps
  • Learn basic Polish: Even a little Polish opens doors
  • Be reliable: Show up on time, do good work. Reputation matters.
  • Start small: Build experience, then move to better-paying opportunities
  • Network: Talk to people. Most jobs come through connections.

Red Flags to Avoid

  • Jobs that require payment upfront: Legitimate jobs don't make you pay
  • Too good to be true: If it sounds too easy or pays too much, it's probably a scam
  • Vague job descriptions: Real jobs have clear descriptions
  • Pressure to decide quickly: Scammers pressure you. Real employers give you time.
  • Payment in advance: Be wary of jobs that pay before you work

Managing Your Money

Taxes

  • If you work part-time: You'll likely pay taxes, but students often get breaks
  • Tax-free allowance: Students often have higher tax-free allowances
  • Keep receipts: For expenses related to work (transport, equipment, etc.)
  • Consider a tax advisor: If you're earning significant amounts, professional help is worth it

Budgeting

  • Track your income: Know how much you're making
  • Set aside for taxes: Don't spend everything – save some for tax time
  • Prioritize: Cover essentials first (rent, food, studies), then extras
  • Save when you can: Even small amounts add up

The Bottom Line

Making money as a student in Poland is totally possible. The key is finding something that works for you – your schedule, your skills, your goals. Don't be afraid to try different things. What works for one person might not work for you, and that's okay.

Remember: you're here to study. Don't let work take over your life. But a little extra cash can make your experience much better – whether it's for that weekend trip, those concert tickets, or just not stressing about every złoty.

Start small. Build experience. Network. And don't be afraid to ask for help – other students, career services, professors. Most people want to help.

Powodzenia! (Good luck!) You've got this. Now go make some money (responsibly, of course).