Realistic income as a student

[virgilaug]

I want to hear people's thoughts on what a realistic weekly/monthly income as a student would be. Im considering part time work in the range 10-20$/hr. I know lots of people here have experience in this.

[Syne]

Through College, I waited tables at Swiss Chalet. I would work Friday, Saturday and Sunday and server min. wage at the time was $5.95hr + tips. This was 5-6 years ago.

I'd work maybe 15-20 hours a week and in that week, bring in maybe $250x4 = $1,000 a month, which attempted to cover rent, groceries, transportation and entertainment. OSAP paid for tuition and books, and topped up what my wage didn't cover.

[CavemanJ]

1k-1.5k a month seems reasonable.

[virgilaug]

1k-1.5k a month seems reasonable.

Oh dam. 1k-1.5k is a lot for a student, especially since I still live with the parents.

[shannn]

Oh dam. 1k-1.5k is a lot for a student, especially since I still live with the parents.

I think a good amount is $5K during the summer (with full time work), and $5K during the year.

So about $10K (give or take a $2K) is a very reasonable amount for a student.

That is about how much I was making through most of my undergrad years

[CatDog]

As much as you want.

[ragin_pyro]

Oh dam. 1k-1.5k is a lot for a student, especially since I still live with the parents.

Well, why do you want to work, to pitch in a bit for rent? Build some savings or to have some fun with friends? If you dont want to work and focus on school thats one thing. I worked 10-20 hours a week while in school, I'm happy I did, but alot of people I know didn't.

[OpportunityChaos]

As much as you want.


lets be realistic here :lol:



i think 5k during summer and 3k-5k during the school year (sept to april) is realistic for students.

[BryceS]

I make just over $500 bi-weekly working 15 hours a week with a full course load.

[ThoughtsOfAVisionary]

Through College, I waited tables at Swiss Chalet. I would work Friday, Saturday and Sunday and server min. wage at the time was $5.95hr + tips. This was 5-6 years ago.

I'd work maybe 15-20 hours a week and in that week, bring in maybe $250x4 = $1,000 a month, which attempted to cover rent, groceries, transportation and entertainment. OSAP paid for tuition and books, and topped up what my wage didn't cover.

i think theres something wrong here, unless you got a shitload of tips
250/~17average hours = ~$14.71 an hour = WAY above minimum wage, especially 6 years ago


1k-1.5k a month seems reasonable.

a minimum wage job at 40 hours a week does not pull in 1.5k... a student is supposed to work a full-time above-min-wage job and go to school full-time as well?

[zecs34]

about 1-1.2k. A lot of students here in ottawa work security on the weekend lol. You get plenty of time to do your hmk on the job and get paid.

[CavemanJ]

i think theres something wrong here, unless you got a shitload of tips
250/~17average hours = ~$14.71 an hour = WAY above minimum wage, especially 6 years ago



a minimum wage job at 40 hours a week does not pull in 1.5k... a student is supposed to work a full-time above-min-wage job and go to school full-time as well?

Ok, maybe I was being too generous there but at minimum you should be getting at least $500 a month working part time on minimum wage (assuming you work 15 hours a week). In fact, I do know someone who's working close to full time work (~35hr) and go to school full time. She also travels from Niagara region everyday to Toronto to attend school so it's not impossible.

[ThoughtsOfAVisionary]

Ok, maybe I was being too generous there but at minimum you should be getting at least $500 a month working part time on minimum wage (assuming you work 15 hours a week). In fact, I do know someone who's working close to full time work (~35hr) and go to school full time. She also travels from Niagara region everyday to Toronto to attend school so it's not impossible.

at minimum working 15-20 a week, $500/month is easy

120h(5 days) - 35h(work) - 35h(school/study) -35h(7h sleep) = 15/5days = 3 hours a day left to get ready, make food, commute, etc
or you could lose sleep.. or include weekends but that doesnt help much

i guess its not impossible but thats a REALLY hectic life lol

[AndrewShev]

10-12k working weekends as a security guard. Perfect quiet hours for students.

[ThoughtsOfAVisionary]

10-12k working weekends as a security guard. Perfect quiet hours for students.

if you dont mind, what company? most seem to look for full-time with rotating shifts

[AndrewShev]

if you dont mind, what company? most seem to look for full-time with rotating shifts

G4s. You need to apply before summer, work full time during summer, get in good relationship with management, and then in September you can ask them for p/t weekends since you are a student. For me, since I was working 60 hours a week during summer covering here and there, i was able to prove myself to be a reliable worker and before the school started i asked the management to give me a weekend position, and they offered me an office building in Downtown.

[Maedhros]

Currently im working full time coop closer to 20an hour.

Almost all of my friends @ waterloo are making 17-20

[virgilaug]

G4s. You need to apply before summer, work full time during summer, get in good relationship with management, and then in September you can ask them for p/t weekends since you are a student. For me, since I was working 60 hours a week during summer covering here and there, i was able to prove myself to be a reliable worker and before the school started i asked the management to give me a weekend position, and they offered me an office building in Downtown.

If you dont mind me asking, what does one have to do to get working in security?

[hobgoblins]

I work 11.5 hours a week during the school term at 15 an hour - law firm. I am entirely comfortable working this much as I'm able to have my evenings and weekends entirely free for study, but am still guaranteed my job for the summer with as increased hours am gaining long running experience in my position. I sell hair tools for a good profit during the term and will likely pick up an evening/weekend job hostessing at a restaurant to supplement my savings. I would peg my yearly income at at 11-16k, never working full time.

[Stinger]

Security Guard was a great gig as a student. Shifts are basically offered 365 24/7. If you get in with a larger company, you may have the opportunity to be selective about where you go if they have a lot of clients, so you can tailor it around your school schedule. Many of the companies I interviewed with were used to student workers so they were flexible and scheduled on a week by week basis. I suggest looking for access control or concierge jobs though. Mobile or standing/bank/casino/store security means you are always expected to be "alert" and will not be able to do homework. However, the former tend to have a more regular schedule and aren't always as flexible.

In some cases you can find 12hr shifts which are awesome. 3 working days = 36 hours worked and 42 hours payed (depending on prov)

40hrs/week of night shift = $2200/mo. I could have lived on about $1600 but didn't want to have school debt.
I got lucky and found a "high paying, low work" place though. I think the average wage is around $11-12?

Lots of time dead time on night shift to do papers and study - really screws up your body though. I needed 3 months to even get used to the switch. Only took me a week to come off it though and go back to normal :razz:

What wasn't fun was the 5 classes + 1 online course during the week and finding the proper time to sleep. Only managed to do it full bore for 2 semesters, but fortunately it was the final two before graduation.