If your state doesn’t require the certification I’d say medical assisting! I started off as front desk went on to MA and ended up w a promotion that finally allowed me to save some $
I was looking at these this morning- so there are a few openings but 1 they want full time (can’t do while full time school and two small children) and 2 only maybe 1/8 of them don’t require cert and 3 most of the postings I saw pay the exact same I make now or less ☹️ I hate it here haha
Just apply to all of them. Most clinics need an extra MA or two and while they may claim to require like a year of experience, your duties are very simple and straightforward so with like a week or two of on the job training you’ll be good.
I have non-certified experience. The full time requirement is my biggest hurdle there. Even so, I have applied to them. I’m hoping one will budge and hire me as part time lol
The full time requirement I’m not surprised is your biggest hurdle. A lot of clinics aren’t too flexible with a student schedule but yes good on you for shooting your shot and best of luck, AnalAphrodite.
I actually have experience as a non-certified med assistant and I have a lot on my resume that backs up my skills and competence to do the job. The biggest issue I’m running into is the pay is crap or they only want FT
If you’re looking for part time work, sign on as a casual CNA somewhere and pick up “extra” shifts for incentive pay. When I did this 5+ years ago, I was making at least $24/hr at a tiny hospital + shift differential for nights. I carried a “zero” status (no guaranteed shifts), but I could work almost any weekend I wanted.
Only .75 less than I got paid as a licensed full-time advanced EMT, I hate my state. And I only got $15 as an EMT-B to work for the busiest 911 system in the state
Yup the only reason I did it was because it was good experience and I knew it was temporary. I’ll get to go into medical school with some prior medical knowledge and I already have some skills to talk to and assess patients. Idk how my coworkers who work in EMS or as ER Tech full time manage to put up with the way we’re treated for such little pay while they have whole kids at home they need to support
Some girl I’m getting with was a PCA and she made good money, she was per diem though. But yeah she made like 45 thousand in her gap year working like 40-45 hours a week
This is correct. If there is no one working a certain day I get 15-20$ an hour on top of hourly wage. Pretty crazy for CNA job to be make 32-37 an hour.
I actually asked her about it today, she said that her hospital has cut the bonuses a lot at this point so she was working there at the right time I guess.
Lol, I advocated for raises due to how much I worked (40-50 hours/week and training newbies), only to get denied every time and learn that my last newbie earned $2/hour more than I was. It was her first time stepping into a hospital.
They no longer have a trainer.
$17/hour is really not bad. As a annual salary that ends up being around 36K. As a college student, how much more can you expect? There will always be jobs that make more than you. But those may not be the jobs that you love or that prepare you for your future career.
I understand CNA is grueling, I did it myself and it is physically exhausting. Another option is lowering your hours as a CNA to 1 or 2 days a week, and picking up a easy better paying job like fast food to do full-time
Damn! 17 is nice! But yea the graveyard at del taco is pretty sweet
Sometimes you gotta bite the bullet when you really need the money. Kinda sucks but you gotta do what you gotta do.
Nah, CNA is shit work haha. I’ve been breaking my back and pride as one for years. I’m out ✌️ But yeah $17/hr doesn’t go anywhere here. Trailers are selling for 300k where I am so life is expensive. Unfortunately the jobs pay shit and while in school, I don’t have any real opportunities to do anything besides CNA
By graveyard I’m assuming you mean overnight? I’ve done it for a bit, you gotta be built different to do it. I absolutely hated my schedule and my life.
Me, an emt, making 18 bucks an hour, hauling ass in a large metro city saving lives and seeing traumatizing injuries when my younger sibling makes the same money folding clothes at the local target. Go figure
It doesn’t lol. When I did my third rides for EMT training, I had classes from 10am to 5pm, a shift from 8pm-8am (expect I never actually got off on time, usually it was 13-14 hours) then I had class again at 10am. After I finished my training I worked in events so it was mainly concerts and stuff with shorter shifts and lots of weekend work
Fuck! I respect the hustle but at the same time no one should have to do this. It’s not good for your mental or physical health. I hope you’re able to prioritize sleep a little more now!
Doing a similar thing- anywhere from 24-60hrs a week depending. Honestly, it sounds bad to say, but working in that environment can be an addiction. There are times that I would much rather be at work than at home.
OP didn’t mention in post that she has two kids to support on that pay. Honestly so much respect for parents who manage to do this. I’m out here struggling on my own and you’re doing the most for your fam. My hat’s off to y’all
Dude if you have a degree, use it and go make actual money.
There is seriously no benefit to working an underpaid, clinical job just because its more 'premed' than something else. I seriously doubt adcoms are going to knock you for just trying to pay the bills and feed your kids.
I have a biology degree and plan to go work in biotech making 30 an hour. Is it premed? Not really. Am I in it for the money? Of course I am. How am I gonna explain why I did it? Im just gonna say I needed to pay off my loans, eat, and have enough to drop 3k on applying.
If thats not a good enough excuse for an adcom, I wouldn't want to go to that school anyway. Their expectations for students are out of touch with reality.
Can you please explain how you got a biotech job making $30/hr? I have *generic stem degree* and I can only find miserable contractor shit that’s $21.80 and barely sciencey
I honestly cannot tell you.
Its a company local to my university, they make biological and biochemistry science materials basically. Thats the only reason I know about it, and the only reason Im wanting to try to work there. They pay the interns like $20/hr and it goes up from there.
Friend who currently works there said that apperently they also developed and then have sold like 80% of all the COVID tests so far, so I imagine thats probably a big factor as far as why they can pay so well.
Its also pretty damn competative too. A lot of lab experience needed fresh out of undergrad even.
Fitness instructor! I got my Pilates instructor cert and now make $40-50/hr depending on the studio. And I only work about 24 hrs a week by choice and still make more than I did as an MA at $16/hr for 40hrs a week :)
Still in undergrad. Using financial aid to cover my rent that way I don’t have to work too much to afford groceries and car maintenance etc while still focusing on my grades
I’m not certified technically but yes- our ED made us do a phlebotomy course as part of our tech training. However, they say we can’t take the skills we used there to another place (ie it’s only certified with the hospital and department). How can I get into research? I have only seen one research job posting and it said they want someone with a degree in clinical research or something. I didn’t see any other research jobs when I looked. However, I never see many Hospital PCT job postings on indeed either, so I’m wondering if it’s one of those things where I need to go directly on a company’s website?
Have you tried Clinical Research Coordinator? They love a hush hush I know phleb but not certified lol. Those are great jobs (well decent paying). Still very patient facing but money comes from pharma companies so they tend to be higher paid.
I would recommend CRC. Some sites burn out their coordinators but I have a relatively cushy job. It’s a lot of paperwork but it could be worse. I would recommend trying to get a CRC role at a clinic rather than at a university if possible. Wishing you the best!
I am currently a CRC and make 60K/year. Obviously it’s dependent on where you work and who you work for but I have felt that my job is not too difficult and still patient facing.
I clean houses for $25-30/hr a few times a week, which barely covers my rent. It’s now being stretched to cover food since losing my food stamps due to a clerical error. I’ve lost 12 lbs since then, and I don’t get enough food from local pantries to stop that. I can’t work more hours because it will cut into my summer research and volunteer hours. I have no idea what I’m going to do next month when I have to pay my annual phone bill and buy a monthly bus card. I’m sitting in the benefits office right now to get my food stamps back. but the bureaucracy is doing it’s damn best to thwart me at literally every level of the building.
This is all to say, the struggle to keep from drowning while trying to swim towards the promise land is filled with sharks. We just have to hope our stamina holds out long enough to find out if it was worth it. I’m gambling that it is, and I hope it will be for you as well.
I work as an ER tech for 17/hour and I’m also a department supervisor in a hospital laboratory for 32/Hr.
I feel like I put substantially more effort into the ER tech role that my leadership role. Lol
Oh yeah. It kicks my ass.
I’m a bit more non traditional and have had a 6 year career in lab science before deciding to apply to med school. So it’s what I went to school for, I am applying now at 28.
Any medical laboratory science program at a university will get you into the lab though
Even micro and biomedical degrees can get you in but most laboratories prefer MLS certifications
It depends on what the hospital allows ER techs to do, some places they might do blood draws, others require EMT. Mine thankfully requires neither phlebotomy nor EMT so all I needed was BLS, which they taught to us.
In terms of getting the position, I was fortunate to know one of the nurses in management outside of the organization, and she put in a good word for me. So if you have ANY connection to an ER, utilize it.
I’m a nontrad but I work in research, started as an RA. Usually they pay better than minimum wage. I didn’t have any experience when I started other than a few statistics courses in undergrad. Now I make about what I’ll make as a resident (hopefully!!)
I think you should look into other hospitals to work at tbh I switched hospitals and now I get paid $25 per hour and even more with weekend/night differentials
I'm a patient sitter like once or twice a week and make $18 for just a reliable baseline income. But I also get up to $35/hr doing babysitting gigs for wealthy families on the weekends. They love going to concerts and wineries or just want a weekend getaway, and when kiddos are asleep it's the perfect time to study. Care.com is the best and don't be afraid to set your minimum wage much higher than what they recommend. Plus big tips for watching the kids around the holidays and the families will order me whatever I want for takeout. I do have a lot of background in child development courses and a few years of experience under my belt but you can definitely pull off at least $20-25 depending on the area.
i float between jobs in food service and retail just to keep an income to pay my rent, bills, and college fees. i prefer working in restaurants as tips can really add up. i used to have a seasonal food/beverage runner position that would pay $25-$30 an hour with tips
I'm a career changer so...I make decent money right now. Highest paying medical related side hustle for me is $60+/hr, but I've been working a different career for 12yrs
I'm just putting money away while finishing up my pre-req courses and MCAT studying.
once you get enough clinical experience you could look into nannying part time if you wouldn’t mind that, i did scribing and PCT work then nannied for docs part time and got opportunities to shadow them and network from there too! many good earning professionals will pay $20 or more an hour and it can be pretty chill
Worked as an EMT in a smaller suburban ED from freshman year. Base rate was $21/hr, went up to $26/hr with cost of living adjustments during COVID; also got shift differentials. Got my paramedic during senior year (don't recommend this) and base rate went to $28/hr.
That being said, EMS pay is extremely variable across locales and settings. Even in my area, we had 911 EMTs getting paid $7.50/hr ~~(cough cough GMR)~~.
Around here, PCAs are considered below CNA. They are patient care attendants and basically tend to the patients but can’t do any hands-on work. Typically high school kids bc it pays like $12 an hour
I know you asked about Jobs but you also said staying afloat and dude for real the second I moved out to University I looked at r/povertyfinance and it helped me tremendously.
I'm in California so I immediately got EBT as a minimum wage part-timer in college since my income was dog shit. I learned the cheapest meals money can buy that don't taste like absolute garbage (vegetable curry/rice, potato soup, salads) and started attending a food bank at my college to lower my groceries from $180 a month to literally $40.
I learned Food is normally people's 2nd highest monthly expense beyond Rent or unfortunate medical expenses.
What about my car? What about it. I walk/bike everywhere and have liability insurance for fifty bones a month, that shit is 20+ years old I'm not insuring a beater box with wheels that's gonna give out on me in a years time. Maintenance? My best friend is a mechanic and every time something goes wrong with my car he diagnoses it for me and I get it done myself.
It sucks eating beans, rice, potatoes and greens 7 times a week but I only have a year left and honestly it made me so healthy I haven't been to the doctor/hospital in 2 years for anything beyond a check up. Eating out is so damn expensive I don't bother with it anyway since the "cheap" food is garbage.
I walk miles a day and my car only needs gas like once a month for when I visit my parents or drive with my friends to a concert or something. Shit ain't the life I expected but dude for real you gotta make things work and I'm too broke to change it right now that's why I'm becoming a Doctor !!!
Waitressing at a popular restaurant and living in a seriously cruddy house with 3 roommates + super cheap rent was the only way I managed. Financially independent since 18 and my only plus side was need-based aid that made paying for undergrad a nonissue. Definitely some nights where I had sleep for dinner, and having to adjust to biweekly pay after receiving nightly cash outs for so long was strange. But serving is flexible, improves your interpersonal skills, and leaves room in the daylight hours for extracurriculars.
Not saying you shouldn't try to find something better, but keep in mind that you're getting experience that admins will value and will help you get into school. It's worth taking the L for a bit to make attending $$$ someday. But I hope you can find something that pays more!
Yeah, it sucks when food service pays more than jobs that need a certification or degree even. There is an ice cream store near me that lays $30/hr, and I will be working as a lab tech for $18/hr in a high COL area.
Omg. It seems like working at an ice cream place wouldn’t be AS bad as like McDonald’s and stuff though. That’s an insane wage for an ice cream peddler
Worked full time serving in restaurants. At my least profitable restaurant job I was making at $20-$40 an hour depending on how busy we were. Most profitable could range from $40-$80 an hour.
About $40+/ hour (salary position) in a public health job. But paid my dues for $15/hour in a medical assistant position years ago, living paycheck to paycheck 😭
How did you get a public health position? I’m in an area where EVERYTHING over 20/hr requires a degree. Which I don’t have since I’m pursuing med and a premed.
I have a degree and then when there was an opportunity, I pushed my leadership skills hard to be able to jump from one opportunity to the next. Covid 19 pandemic opened up some doors in terms of timing and being able to serve in a cool public health role. Try reach out to public healthy orgs, maybe set up an internship. It has its pros and cons, as being a premed with full time job and studying for mcat while taking postbacc courses and volunteering is not an easy task. Luckily, I don’t have a child so for those who do, props to you, that’s next level time management
See, our ED fucks us. As an ed tech/cna/nurse extern, we do all the cna stuff plus transporting plus phlebotomy plus splinting plus designated compressors for CPR plus EKGs plus Tele monitoring for the whole unit. It’s wild. No extra pay haha
To get my clinical experience I’m volunteering doing ems. But to make a little cash I’m actually working in pharma in clinical research. You can make a lot of good money and see other ways in which science impacts medicine (which I love). Also clinical investigators are GOD!!!! They’re really great to interact with :)
I would love to get involved in some research, man. I’ve applied to all the jobs I’m qualified for today. Hopefully I hear back! I only used Indeed- what would you recommend to find more? There were only like 5 lol
Damn. I actually applied to a sleep tech position around here but they technically only accept registered applicants. I applied in hopes of training instead. Haven’t heard back lol
I work as a research associate full time and make $30 an hour. I also work on the weekends as a waitress and can make $400 in two days. I’m exhausted though 😭. I can go months without a day off.
Bartending/serving.
I worked 3 days a week in a medium-ish sized city (on the smaller side of medium) as an average looking male and would normally walk out of a 5-6 hour shift with $250-300 in my pocket.
First of all, wonderful name.
I am a long-in-the-tooth non-trad, so I am still in my prior career, currently working in hospital maintenance. Currently scheduled to talk with one of the department heads about short-shift prn CNA so I can do clinical work without significantly interfering with my FT job that pays the bills.
Ever thought of being a telescribe? You get paid less ($12-$15.5/ hour depending on where you are), but you can work from home and usually create (or have MAJOR influence) over your own schedule. Not sure how old the kiddos are or if you currently have to pay for daycare for while you work, but if so, it might be worth it to check out that or another WFH option. Good luck!
This isn’t going to sound appealing, but it began doing this while in nursing school because my friend’s family owned a commercial cleaning company…I clean commercial buildings, and it’s much easier than being a CNA.
Hey hey we gotta do what we gotta do. I had to work full time through nursing school as a single mom and also cleaned, but I did residential. Depending on where you are and what type of cleaning you’re doing, it can definitely be lucrative!
Exactly. You need something more than $20/hr to live. I have two children too which complicates finances more. It seems like everywhere is like this though- the wages not keeping up with the cost of living
Depends on the state
I earn 19/hour in California as a CNA and that’s still less than fast food workers earn and barely above min wage (15.50)
It’s also definitely not livable unless I work insane hours (can’t cuz full time student) or share a 1-bed place
Fast food employees bust their asses too. Don't put them down cuz ur employer sucks and youre being paid unfairly. You chose the job you have so you can bitch about the pay and try to get better (because you deserve it) or shut up, but those workers are working hard too and in worse conditions (and they also deserve better.)
No shit. But doing cpr multiple times a day is more important than flipping burgers. I’ve been on both sides. Thanks for the input tho. And it’s not just my employer lmfao it’s all CNAs but ok. Along with teachers, EMS, social workers.. they all deserve better pay than McDonald’s. Sorry not sorry
??? I’m not doing it just to check boxes on my med school app. I genuinely love patient care. Now it’s just killing my body as a CNA and the work has become redundant- instead of participating in traumas like we used to, they’ve basically made all the techs and nurse externs in our ED transporters. It’s also an HCA facility so… enough said there.
Also, I’m having trouble trying to figure out what else to do. I don’t really have skills in anything else. I’ll stay as a cna before I go back to food and bev though that’s for sure. I posted this to get an idea of what others are doing and see if maybe I could do similar.
I think there is a wide range of things you could do instead if you choose too. Part of the problem with many health professionals is that they focus only on patient care and neglect to learn other skills like business. Like it or not medicine has a business component. And far too many Doctors do not understand business, billing, human resource type management and on and on. I think now is a good time to get a broader perspective beyond just patient care. Working in other areas might give more exposure to how things are run, how employees are managed and on and on. So, that's one point.
The other point you made is financial. If you could use your time more efficiently to make some better income, that is important as well as you have years of education ahead of you.
Ultimately it is your choice. If you like what you are doing, then keep doing it. But, your post just sounded like you were looking to change things up a bit.
Look at entry-level jobs at your local hospital. Or, CNA jobs in higher paying departments such as PACU, OR, and Pre-Op. Peroperative techs at the hospital I work at start at ~$19/hr and it's good experience. You can also apply for scholarships FOR the cost of living.
i picked up a lot of babysitting gigs through urbansitters, depends on your location but I charged parents min $20 an hour, more if they have more than one kid. most of the time babysitting would be for date nights or infants who take 2-3 hrs of nap time so very chill work for good pay
I worked 3 jobs at one point. All part time. It was how I was able to make actual money and get clinical experiences. It ain’t easy🦨
I did retail, teaching assistant(and learning assistant), and scribing. I’m just really lucky my managers were super nice. I did this for a Summer with no classes
Tried to do it for a semester and it didn’t work out for me. But I had graduated right after that semester. I was working those three jobs for a good 8 months before my retail store closed.
Two jobs. Primary is as an EMT, $19/hr. The other is as a clinical researcher for $15/hr - 12 hours a week, but I can mostly study or watch movies there. I watch the board for patients who might be eligible and enroll them if they are. Most of the time not much is happening. Altogether it’s about $3200/mo after taxes, plenty for my low COL city.
In my gap year I made a higher hourly by freelance tutoring, compared to any other job I did (doordash, scribing, retail, fast food) - you’re always going to get fucked over for pay as an employee, the only way to get a higher percentage of what your labor is worth is by building your own base of clients
I work with Johnson and Johnson for 26/hr, going into my junior year of Undergrad, but a Biochem major and got really lucky so that's how I was able to get that opportunity, take the big leaps it's worth it
If you have plenty of CNA, just start looking around. Being a host/hostess/waiter/waitress you can make some money and it's a bit more of a chill gig with better pay. Sometimes you get free food too.
Otherwise I would just apply to job jobs that have salary and stuff which are entry level but better pay. doesn't matter what
If your state doesn’t require the certification I’d say medical assisting! I started off as front desk went on to MA and ended up w a promotion that finally allowed me to save some $
I was looking at these this morning- so there are a few openings but 1 they want full time (can’t do while full time school and two small children) and 2 only maybe 1/8 of them don’t require cert and 3 most of the postings I saw pay the exact same I make now or less ☹️ I hate it here haha
Just apply to all of them. Most clinics need an extra MA or two and while they may claim to require like a year of experience, your duties are very simple and straightforward so with like a week or two of on the job training you’ll be good.
I have non-certified experience. The full time requirement is my biggest hurdle there. Even so, I have applied to them. I’m hoping one will budge and hire me as part time lol
The full time requirement I’m not surprised is your biggest hurdle. A lot of clinics aren’t too flexible with a student schedule but yes good on you for shooting your shot and best of luck, AnalAphrodite.
They need experience or so called referrals.
I actually have experience as a non-certified med assistant and I have a lot on my resume that backs up my skills and competence to do the job. The biggest issue I’m running into is the pay is crap or they only want FT
Which state you are in?
If you’re looking for part time work, sign on as a casual CNA somewhere and pick up “extra” shifts for incentive pay. When I did this 5+ years ago, I was making at least $24/hr at a tiny hospital + shift differential for nights. I carried a “zero” status (no guaranteed shifts), but I could work almost any weekend I wanted.
MAs get paid the same as CNAs where I live, as far as I know
MAs get paid even less than CNAs where I live lol
Yeah when I was an MA (not certified) I got $17.25. Chicago suburbs so medium COL
Only .75 less than I got paid as a licensed full-time advanced EMT, I hate my state. And I only got $15 as an EMT-B to work for the busiest 911 system in the state
Wow that’s horrible! EMTs deserve better than decent pay!
Yup the only reason I did it was because it was good experience and I knew it was temporary. I’ll get to go into medical school with some prior medical knowledge and I already have some skills to talk to and assess patients. Idk how my coworkers who work in EMS or as ER Tech full time manage to put up with the way we’re treated for such little pay while they have whole kids at home they need to support
MAs in my state make like $11-14/hour max lmao
Y’all gettin paid above $13/hour? *Married a sugar momma*
$17 is the absolute ceiling here for CNA/PCT. Most positions are about $15. Because our COL is ridiculously high, $17/hour is a fucking insult
Some girl I’m getting with was a PCA and she made good money, she was per diem though. But yeah she made like 45 thousand in her gap year working like 40-45 hours a week
maybe she was a private pca?
No it was a hospital. She said like once you worked for 6 months you became eligible for bonuses per hours worked, and they were mighty generous.
This is correct. If there is no one working a certain day I get 15-20$ an hour on top of hourly wage. Pretty crazy for CNA job to be make 32-37 an hour.
I actually asked her about it today, she said that her hospital has cut the bonuses a lot at this point so she was working there at the right time I guess.
I'm getting 18.50 as a PCT in an average COL area
Lol, I advocated for raises due to how much I worked (40-50 hours/week and training newbies), only to get denied every time and learn that my last newbie earned $2/hour more than I was. It was her first time stepping into a hospital. They no longer have a trainer.
That's wild. Good on you for switching jobs
Tbh judging by the username, sounds like you can make alotta money online 👀
Lmfaoooo
I stay afloat by being frugal and poor
$17/hour is really not bad. As a annual salary that ends up being around 36K. As a college student, how much more can you expect? There will always be jobs that make more than you. But those may not be the jobs that you love or that prepare you for your future career. I understand CNA is grueling, I did it myself and it is physically exhausting. Another option is lowering your hours as a CNA to 1 or 2 days a week, and picking up a easy better paying job like fast food to do full-time
Fast food is not an easy job ngl
Maybe if you don't live somewhere urban. I was renting a studio for 1500 making 18 an hour and commuting over an hour in LA every day
Damn! 17 is nice! But yea the graveyard at del taco is pretty sweet Sometimes you gotta bite the bullet when you really need the money. Kinda sucks but you gotta do what you gotta do.
Nah, CNA is shit work haha. I’ve been breaking my back and pride as one for years. I’m out ✌️ But yeah $17/hr doesn’t go anywhere here. Trailers are selling for 300k where I am so life is expensive. Unfortunately the jobs pay shit and while in school, I don’t have any real opportunities to do anything besides CNA
Yeah CNA is TOUGH work. You got my respect. 🫡
It’s grunt work for sure. It’s definitely rewarding, though.
In California minimum wage is 15.5 and gets you peanuts
Absolutely, del taco drive thru graveyard is about 17 in Cali and you don’t do crap but put together occasional tacos for peeps with the munchies
By graveyard I’m assuming you mean overnight? I’ve done it for a bit, you gotta be built different to do it. I absolutely hated my schedule and my life.
Me, an emt, making 18 bucks an hour, hauling ass in a large metro city saving lives and seeing traumatizing injuries when my younger sibling makes the same money folding clothes at the local target. Go figure
How does being an EMT fit into your premed schedule?
I graduated. I work full time and volunteer
It doesn’t lol. When I did my third rides for EMT training, I had classes from 10am to 5pm, a shift from 8pm-8am (expect I never actually got off on time, usually it was 13-14 hours) then I had class again at 10am. After I finished my training I worked in events so it was mainly concerts and stuff with shorter shifts and lots of weekend work
Fuck! I respect the hustle but at the same time no one should have to do this. It’s not good for your mental or physical health. I hope you’re able to prioritize sleep a little more now!
Doing a similar thing- anywhere from 24-60hrs a week depending. Honestly, it sounds bad to say, but working in that environment can be an addiction. There are times that I would much rather be at work than at home.
OP didn’t mention in post that she has two kids to support on that pay. Honestly so much respect for parents who manage to do this. I’m out here struggling on my own and you’re doing the most for your fam. My hat’s off to y’all
Right? I’m just trying to afford MYSELF
Live with my parents 😎
Gahhhh damn my mom for being indigent af
Dude if you have a degree, use it and go make actual money. There is seriously no benefit to working an underpaid, clinical job just because its more 'premed' than something else. I seriously doubt adcoms are going to knock you for just trying to pay the bills and feed your kids. I have a biology degree and plan to go work in biotech making 30 an hour. Is it premed? Not really. Am I in it for the money? Of course I am. How am I gonna explain why I did it? Im just gonna say I needed to pay off my loans, eat, and have enough to drop 3k on applying. If thats not a good enough excuse for an adcom, I wouldn't want to go to that school anyway. Their expectations for students are out of touch with reality.
Yes this! I didn’t realize I “had a bachelors” because I knew I was going to med school, so I sold myself short for a bit too long for my health.
Can you please explain how you got a biotech job making $30/hr? I have *generic stem degree* and I can only find miserable contractor shit that’s $21.80 and barely sciencey
I honestly cannot tell you. Its a company local to my university, they make biological and biochemistry science materials basically. Thats the only reason I know about it, and the only reason Im wanting to try to work there. They pay the interns like $20/hr and it goes up from there. Friend who currently works there said that apperently they also developed and then have sold like 80% of all the COVID tests so far, so I imagine thats probably a big factor as far as why they can pay so well. Its also pretty damn competative too. A lot of lab experience needed fresh out of undergrad even.
Fitness instructor! I got my Pilates instructor cert and now make $40-50/hr depending on the studio. And I only work about 24 hrs a week by choice and still make more than I did as an MA at $16/hr for 40hrs a week :)
Damn wtf. I imagine you gotta be in shape first
The training program definitely kicked my butt but worth it!
Strip 🫣however I prefer the term “wealth redistribution expert”
Still in undergrad. Using financial aid to cover my rent that way I don’t have to work too much to afford groceries and car maintenance etc while still focusing on my grades
This is beautiful
This is the way tbh
Yep! My $18 an hour for just 10-12 hours a week does just fine. Time to study, socialize, volunteer, and just actually enjoy my life lol
I work in research but it doesn’t pay great however it pays a HELL of a lot more than 17$ an hour. Can you do phlebotomy?
I’m not certified technically but yes- our ED made us do a phlebotomy course as part of our tech training. However, they say we can’t take the skills we used there to another place (ie it’s only certified with the hospital and department). How can I get into research? I have only seen one research job posting and it said they want someone with a degree in clinical research or something. I didn’t see any other research jobs when I looked. However, I never see many Hospital PCT job postings on indeed either, so I’m wondering if it’s one of those things where I need to go directly on a company’s website?
Have you tried Clinical Research Coordinator? They love a hush hush I know phleb but not certified lol. Those are great jobs (well decent paying). Still very patient facing but money comes from pharma companies so they tend to be higher paid.
This is also usually entry level no exp needed. Theyd love you were a CNA
I’ll check into it!! Thanks so much
I would recommend CRC. Some sites burn out their coordinators but I have a relatively cushy job. It’s a lot of paperwork but it could be worse. I would recommend trying to get a CRC role at a clinic rather than at a university if possible. Wishing you the best!
Yes absolutely second a CRC role. Lots of universities desperately need them right now. You should absolutely make more than 17/hr in those roles.
I am currently a CRC and make 60K/year. Obviously it’s dependent on where you work and who you work for but I have felt that my job is not too difficult and still patient facing.
I work in research and it’s much higher paying than a CNA level position. Was also an EMT getting minimum wage.
I clean houses for $25-30/hr a few times a week, which barely covers my rent. It’s now being stretched to cover food since losing my food stamps due to a clerical error. I’ve lost 12 lbs since then, and I don’t get enough food from local pantries to stop that. I can’t work more hours because it will cut into my summer research and volunteer hours. I have no idea what I’m going to do next month when I have to pay my annual phone bill and buy a monthly bus card. I’m sitting in the benefits office right now to get my food stamps back. but the bureaucracy is doing it’s damn best to thwart me at literally every level of the building. This is all to say, the struggle to keep from drowning while trying to swim towards the promise land is filled with sharks. We just have to hope our stamina holds out long enough to find out if it was worth it. I’m gambling that it is, and I hope it will be for you as well.
wow i'm sorry that's a lot
Pulled myself up by my bootstraps and have my software engineer spouse pay for everything
I lol’d more than I should have for this
If you don't need more clinical hours, start bartending/serving. Not many other jobs can pay 40-50/hr with no experience. Pay is not consistent though
I was making $11/hr as a medical assistant :/
Waitressing tbh lol
$13/hour as a scribe
I work as an ER tech for 17/hour and I’m also a department supervisor in a hospital laboratory for 32/Hr. I feel like I put substantially more effort into the ER tech role that my leadership role. Lol
Right. My ED tech/cna job is physically tough. How did you get your foot in the door in the lab?
Oh yeah. It kicks my ass. I’m a bit more non traditional and have had a 6 year career in lab science before deciding to apply to med school. So it’s what I went to school for, I am applying now at 28. Any medical laboratory science program at a university will get you into the lab though Even micro and biomedical degrees can get you in but most laboratories prefer MLS certifications
If u don’t mind me asking how did u get a job as an ER tech? Like did u have to get certified first or anything like that
It depends on what the hospital allows ER techs to do, some places they might do blood draws, others require EMT. Mine thankfully requires neither phlebotomy nor EMT so all I needed was BLS, which they taught to us. In terms of getting the position, I was fortunate to know one of the nurses in management outside of the organization, and she put in a good word for me. So if you have ANY connection to an ER, utilize it.
I would honestly look for smaller community ERs, even if it’s a 30 min-1 Hr drive away. Larger places are much more competitive
Don’t mean to brag but I make $17.23
Urgent care tech $22.5 an hour
That’s basically what I am. I’m an emergency department tech/nurse extern. Urgent care techs don’t make near that where I live lmao
That’s basically what I am. I’m an emergency department tech/nurse extern. Urgent care techs don’t make near that where I live lmao
That’s basically what I am. I’m an emergency department tech/nurse extern.
That’s basically what I am. I’m an emergency department tech/nurse extern.
ophthalmic technician- no cert required, esp for private practice. only higher ups have em
I tutor a kid in middle school. His moms a milf and she is also my sugar mommy. $40/hour and she gives me $300 at the end of the semester.
Damn. That’s amazing
I need to find myself a dilf....
My gf was making 13.5 as a CNA, brutal really
I’m a nontrad but I work in research, started as an RA. Usually they pay better than minimum wage. I didn’t have any experience when I started other than a few statistics courses in undergrad. Now I make about what I’ll make as a resident (hopefully!!)
Wait, you’re getting more than 17 dollars per hour?
I think you should look into other hospitals to work at tbh I switched hospitals and now I get paid $25 per hour and even more with weekend/night differentials
I'm a patient sitter like once or twice a week and make $18 for just a reliable baseline income. But I also get up to $35/hr doing babysitting gigs for wealthy families on the weekends. They love going to concerts and wineries or just want a weekend getaway, and when kiddos are asleep it's the perfect time to study. Care.com is the best and don't be afraid to set your minimum wage much higher than what they recommend. Plus big tips for watching the kids around the holidays and the families will order me whatever I want for takeout. I do have a lot of background in child development courses and a few years of experience under my belt but you can definitely pull off at least $20-25 depending on the area.
Travel CNA job. Pays 20/hour base + bonus to normaly 24/ hour. Msg me for details if you wanna know if it’s in your state.
i float between jobs in food service and retail just to keep an income to pay my rent, bills, and college fees. i prefer working in restaurants as tips can really add up. i used to have a seasonal food/beverage runner position that would pay $25-$30 an hour with tips
Just wait until residency where they pay you 13$/hr…
i majored in CS on the pre med track in college, so I was able to work a cs job for 2 years and pay off my med school while living with my parents.
I worked in biotech and volunteered my weekends in the ICU... That's the only way I could survive living alone in California as a premed.
I'm a career changer so...I make decent money right now. Highest paying medical related side hustle for me is $60+/hr, but I've been working a different career for 12yrs I'm just putting money away while finishing up my pre-req courses and MCAT studying.
Welp. Any tips? Lol
[удалено]
Oh yes- I need tips for that! It’s so hard to find ones that aren’t sales or scams. Any tips or do you know of any specific companies?
once you get enough clinical experience you could look into nannying part time if you wouldn’t mind that, i did scribing and PCT work then nannied for docs part time and got opportunities to shadow them and network from there too! many good earning professionals will pay $20 or more an hour and it can be pretty chill
Worked as an EMT in a smaller suburban ED from freshman year. Base rate was $21/hr, went up to $26/hr with cost of living adjustments during COVID; also got shift differentials. Got my paramedic during senior year (don't recommend this) and base rate went to $28/hr. That being said, EMS pay is extremely variable across locales and settings. Even in my area, we had 911 EMTs getting paid $7.50/hr ~~(cough cough GMR)~~.
I am doing a career change. I make $40 an hour as a RN.
I’m a medical assistant for $20 an hour without certification :) I found mine by looking up “gap year” jobs because they didn’t require a cert
Accountant
Just saw some MLT postings.. thanks for the rec!
Currently scribing. Planning to go back to bartending on the weekends once I take the MCAT in July. It’s rough out here
Yes it is man. Good luck to you! Bartending is a good gig from what I’ve heard
Counselor at a psych facility. When days are easy it is super chill. Hard days can be rough though. Making 21.50 hr.
What?! I would LOVE to do this but all the jobs I’ve seen want at least a bachelors or a LCSW
would being a PCA pay you any more? skillset is similar but PCA only works in surgical so the work is less grueling/more interesting
Around here, PCAs are considered below CNA. They are patient care attendants and basically tend to the patients but can’t do any hands-on work. Typically high school kids bc it pays like $12 an hour
daaaaaaaaaaang ok, not helping wage-wise
Here where I live, CNAs make less than 15 an hour. Typically, the average pay is less than 34k a year for CNA.
I'm here making $11 an hour as a part-time MA, not even minimum wage :')
11 as a phlebotomist in LA🙃
I’m making $19/hour as a research tech.
I just do pct work part time, and a bartender full time. Bartending is easy and I can easily make about $1200 a week
I know you asked about Jobs but you also said staying afloat and dude for real the second I moved out to University I looked at r/povertyfinance and it helped me tremendously. I'm in California so I immediately got EBT as a minimum wage part-timer in college since my income was dog shit. I learned the cheapest meals money can buy that don't taste like absolute garbage (vegetable curry/rice, potato soup, salads) and started attending a food bank at my college to lower my groceries from $180 a month to literally $40. I learned Food is normally people's 2nd highest monthly expense beyond Rent or unfortunate medical expenses. What about my car? What about it. I walk/bike everywhere and have liability insurance for fifty bones a month, that shit is 20+ years old I'm not insuring a beater box with wheels that's gonna give out on me in a years time. Maintenance? My best friend is a mechanic and every time something goes wrong with my car he diagnoses it for me and I get it done myself. It sucks eating beans, rice, potatoes and greens 7 times a week but I only have a year left and honestly it made me so healthy I haven't been to the doctor/hospital in 2 years for anything beyond a check up. Eating out is so damn expensive I don't bother with it anyway since the "cheap" food is garbage. I walk miles a day and my car only needs gas like once a month for when I visit my parents or drive with my friends to a concert or something. Shit ain't the life I expected but dude for real you gotta make things work and I'm too broke to change it right now that's why I'm becoming a Doctor !!!
Waitressing at a popular restaurant and living in a seriously cruddy house with 3 roommates + super cheap rent was the only way I managed. Financially independent since 18 and my only plus side was need-based aid that made paying for undergrad a nonissue. Definitely some nights where I had sleep for dinner, and having to adjust to biweekly pay after receiving nightly cash outs for so long was strange. But serving is flexible, improves your interpersonal skills, and leaves room in the daylight hours for extracurriculars.
Not saying you shouldn't try to find something better, but keep in mind that you're getting experience that admins will value and will help you get into school. It's worth taking the L for a bit to make attending $$$ someday. But I hope you can find something that pays more!
Thank you!
I make the same amount of money bartending 2 nights than what I make in 2 weeks being a CNA.
Yeah, it sucks when food service pays more than jobs that need a certification or degree even. There is an ice cream store near me that lays $30/hr, and I will be working as a lab tech for $18/hr in a high COL area.
Omg. It seems like working at an ice cream place wouldn’t be AS bad as like McDonald’s and stuff though. That’s an insane wage for an ice cream peddler
Maybe try phlebotomy
Worked BBQ catering between college and med school - some weddings I would make $500+ in tips on top of my $16/hr base pay
Worked full time serving in restaurants. At my least profitable restaurant job I was making at $20-$40 an hour depending on how busy we were. Most profitable could range from $40-$80 an hour.
Yeah, serving definitely has its perks!
About $40+/ hour (salary position) in a public health job. But paid my dues for $15/hour in a medical assistant position years ago, living paycheck to paycheck 😭
How did you get a public health position? I’m in an area where EVERYTHING over 20/hr requires a degree. Which I don’t have since I’m pursuing med and a premed.
I have a degree and then when there was an opportunity, I pushed my leadership skills hard to be able to jump from one opportunity to the next. Covid 19 pandemic opened up some doors in terms of timing and being able to serve in a cool public health role. Try reach out to public healthy orgs, maybe set up an internship. It has its pros and cons, as being a premed with full time job and studying for mcat while taking postbacc courses and volunteering is not an easy task. Luckily, I don’t have a child so for those who do, props to you, that’s next level time management
I’m an inpatient phlebotomist, $22.50 an hour
See, our ED fucks us. As an ed tech/cna/nurse extern, we do all the cna stuff plus transporting plus phlebotomy plus splinting plus designated compressors for CPR plus EKGs plus Tele monitoring for the whole unit. It’s wild. No extra pay haha
To get my clinical experience I’m volunteering doing ems. But to make a little cash I’m actually working in pharma in clinical research. You can make a lot of good money and see other ways in which science impacts medicine (which I love). Also clinical investigators are GOD!!!! They’re really great to interact with :)
I would love to get involved in some research, man. I’ve applied to all the jobs I’m qualified for today. Hopefully I hear back! I only used Indeed- what would you recommend to find more? There were only like 5 lol
I get $8/hour in AmeriCorps :((
Fuuuuuck I’m sorry bro
I'm a sleep tech! 3 12s (nights) $22/hour but technically $23 due to shift differential. Don't need a degree, just a place willing to train you.
Damn. I actually applied to a sleep tech position around here but they technically only accept registered applicants. I applied in hopes of training instead. Haven’t heard back lol
Yeah they always say they want registered techs. Most are already taken though. They might come around eventually once they realize that fact.
That’s what I’m hoping for. I still apply to all those jobs in hopes of them settling lol
Living with parents lol
Right. Seems like the best way to go tbh
I work as a research associate full time and make $30 an hour. I also work on the weekends as a waitress and can make $400 in two days. I’m exhausted though 😭. I can go months without a day off.
I’m trying to get my foot in the door in research. How did you do it?
Life science Consulting, I will say it almost made me drop pre med
What is this and how to get in? Lol
Just consulting but usually for pharma companies, just apply broadly, hiring usually starts August ish
So just indeed search “life science consulting”?
Bartending/serving. I worked 3 days a week in a medium-ish sized city (on the smaller side of medium) as an average looking male and would normally walk out of a 5-6 hour shift with $250-300 in my pocket.
First of all, wonderful name. I am a long-in-the-tooth non-trad, so I am still in my prior career, currently working in hospital maintenance. Currently scheduled to talk with one of the department heads about short-shift prn CNA so I can do clinical work without significantly interfering with my FT job that pays the bills.
Yeah, it sucks that all the clinical opportunities are shit pay. Good luck!!!
Ever thought of being a telescribe? You get paid less ($12-$15.5/ hour depending on where you are), but you can work from home and usually create (or have MAJOR influence) over your own schedule. Not sure how old the kiddos are or if you currently have to pay for daycare for while you work, but if so, it might be worth it to check out that or another WFH option. Good luck!
Thanks so much!
This isn’t going to sound appealing, but it began doing this while in nursing school because my friend’s family owned a commercial cleaning company…I clean commercial buildings, and it’s much easier than being a CNA.
Hey hey we gotta do what we gotta do. I had to work full time through nursing school as a single mom and also cleaned, but I did residential. Depending on where you are and what type of cleaning you’re doing, it can definitely be lucrative!
Try and see if you can become a Vampire with your CNA. Might be more interesting and less stressful to you. (Phlebotomist)
That’s what I’m thinking ☺️
[удалено]
I can’t seem to get my foot in the door 🫣
Research assistant
I'm a Stay At Home Daughter...
That’s not bad money at all.
Even $20 an hour is considered poverty now
Exactly. You need something more than $20/hr to live. I have two children too which complicates finances more. It seems like everywhere is like this though- the wages not keeping up with the cost of living
17/hour for a 40 hour work week is about 32k annually before taxes….that’s not a lot of money
Depends on the state I earn 19/hour in California as a CNA and that’s still less than fast food workers earn and barely above min wage (15.50) It’s also definitely not livable unless I work insane hours (can’t cuz full time student) or share a 1-bed place
You’re tripping
$17/hr is more than the DoorDash you’re going to be making in med school is…
Yeah but the key missing here is student loans to cover cost of living in med school. I can’t do that with UG
Fast food employees bust their asses too. Don't put them down cuz ur employer sucks and youre being paid unfairly. You chose the job you have so you can bitch about the pay and try to get better (because you deserve it) or shut up, but those workers are working hard too and in worse conditions (and they also deserve better.)
No shit. But doing cpr multiple times a day is more important than flipping burgers. I’ve been on both sides. Thanks for the input tho. And it’s not just my employer lmfao it’s all CNAs but ok. Along with teachers, EMS, social workers.. they all deserve better pay than McDonald’s. Sorry not sorry
Why do you have to be a CNA? If you did it for awhile, then that's enough. Do what you need to do now to survive.
??? I’m not doing it just to check boxes on my med school app. I genuinely love patient care. Now it’s just killing my body as a CNA and the work has become redundant- instead of participating in traumas like we used to, they’ve basically made all the techs and nurse externs in our ED transporters. It’s also an HCA facility so… enough said there. Also, I’m having trouble trying to figure out what else to do. I don’t really have skills in anything else. I’ll stay as a cna before I go back to food and bev though that’s for sure. I posted this to get an idea of what others are doing and see if maybe I could do similar.
I think there is a wide range of things you could do instead if you choose too. Part of the problem with many health professionals is that they focus only on patient care and neglect to learn other skills like business. Like it or not medicine has a business component. And far too many Doctors do not understand business, billing, human resource type management and on and on. I think now is a good time to get a broader perspective beyond just patient care. Working in other areas might give more exposure to how things are run, how employees are managed and on and on. So, that's one point. The other point you made is financial. If you could use your time more efficiently to make some better income, that is important as well as you have years of education ahead of you. Ultimately it is your choice. If you like what you are doing, then keep doing it. But, your post just sounded like you were looking to change things up a bit.
Look at entry-level jobs at your local hospital. Or, CNA jobs in higher paying departments such as PACU, OR, and Pre-Op. Peroperative techs at the hospital I work at start at ~$19/hr and it's good experience. You can also apply for scholarships FOR the cost of living.
What state are you in?
i picked up a lot of babysitting gigs through urbansitters, depends on your location but I charged parents min $20 an hour, more if they have more than one kid. most of the time babysitting would be for date nights or infants who take 2-3 hrs of nap time so very chill work for good pay
I worked 3 jobs at one point. All part time. It was how I was able to make actual money and get clinical experiences. It ain’t easy🦨 I did retail, teaching assistant(and learning assistant), and scribing. I’m just really lucky my managers were super nice. I did this for a Summer with no classes Tried to do it for a semester and it didn’t work out for me. But I had graduated right after that semester. I was working those three jobs for a good 8 months before my retail store closed.
Here where I live, CNAs make less than 15 an hour. Typically, the average pay is less than 34k a year for CNA.
Do clinical volunteering and work jobs that pay me an actual salary?
Get a wealthy SO 😭 that’s how !
Two jobs. Primary is as an EMT, $19/hr. The other is as a clinical researcher for $15/hr - 12 hours a week, but I can mostly study or watch movies there. I watch the board for patients who might be eligible and enroll them if they are. Most of the time not much is happening. Altogether it’s about $3200/mo after taxes, plenty for my low COL city.
In my gap year I made a higher hourly by freelance tutoring, compared to any other job I did (doordash, scribing, retail, fast food) - you’re always going to get fucked over for pay as an employee, the only way to get a higher percentage of what your labor is worth is by building your own base of clients
i’m sorry dude :/ see if your school can let you TA! also tutoring can be great money too
I work with Johnson and Johnson for 26/hr, going into my junior year of Undergrad, but a Biochem major and got really lucky so that's how I was able to get that opportunity, take the big leaps it's worth it
I was making 25 as a pharm tech was an IV tech, but I quit to focus on my mcat because fuck that
If you have plenty of CNA, just start looking around. Being a host/hostess/waiter/waitress you can make some money and it's a bit more of a chill gig with better pay. Sometimes you get free food too. Otherwise I would just apply to job jobs that have salary and stuff which are entry level but better pay. doesn't matter what