Part-time jobs in Singapore
It’s the semester break, which means uni students are now swapping lecture halls for job boards in search of part-time gigs. Whether you’re working to gain experience, make some extra cash or do something productive during your free time, finding a part-time job in Singapore that fits your needs isn’t always easy.
So if you’re looking for a job with decent pay and plenty of hands-on experience, we’ve got just the list for you. Pair that with smart money-saving habits like using promo codes and taking full advantage of student discounts, you might just escape that broke uni student stereotype.
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What comes to mind when you mention “part-time jobs” are usually roles in retail or F&B where you’ll be compensated on an hourly basis. While those 2 are the most common, there are more unique ones out there, like pet sitters or tuition teachers. These jobs usually pay more as they require specialised skills, though not quite as much commitment as a full-time role.
According to various sources like Glassdoor, the average salary range for part-time jobs in Singapore in 2025 is $9 to $12/hour. But if the nature of the job is more complicated, you may earn as high as $20/hour.
For F&B jobs, you may need to take and pass a basic food hygiene course and exam. Before starting work, you’ll probably have to undergo some basic training on duties like cashiering or waitressing, especially if you have no previous experience. The same goes for jobs in retail and events.
However, in many cases, the training will be provided on the job, so no prior experience is required. There are some part-time jobs, however, that have prerequisites, such as tutoring. It goes without saying that if you’re going to teach a subject, you’ll need to know your stuff and be familiar with the course syllabus you’re covering.
Most of the time, jobs with shorter commitment periods don’t require an interview; just fill up the application form and you’re good to go. But for customer-facing roles, there’s a higher possibility of having to sit through a simple interview process. Sometimes, walk-in interviews are accepted.
If you’re applying for a part-time job which requires prior training or knowledge, such as tutoring or pet sitting, you will need to submit a resume to the employer.
Some job-hunting sites might link you up with an agent or a recruiter who acts as a middleman between you and the part-time job you’re applying for. If you land the job, they’ll earn a small commission, but fret not, it doesn’t come out of your pay. Rather, the company hiring has to fork out a fee for the help in finding manpower.
| Job | Rates | Pros | Cons |
| Retail associate | From $10/hour | Might get staff discounts | Long working hours |
| F&B server | Up to $16/hour | Free meals are usually provided | Long working hours |
| Delivery riders | From $12/hour | Flexible schedule | Physically demanding |
| Tutor | From $20/hour | Flexible schedule | Very competitive job market |
| Babysitter | From $17/hour | Enjoyable if you love kids | Heavy responsibility |
| Event ushers | From $10.50/hour | Simple job scope | Must stand for very long hours |
| Pet sitter | From $15/hour | Enjoyable if you love animals | Job comes on an ad-hoc basis |
| Warehouse packer | From $10/hour | Simple job scope | Physically demanding and can cause backaches |
| Freelance caregiver | From $17/hour | Flexible schedule | Heavy responsibility |
| Logistics assistant | From $10/hour | No experience required | Physically demanding |
| Translator | Up to $50/hour | High pay & flexible schedule | Job comes on an ad-hoc basis |
| Admin assistant | From $12/hour | Simple job scope | Repetitive tasks |
As a retail associate, your role will mainly involve managing inventory on the sales floor, cashiering, and basic housekeeping duties. Of course, you’ll interact a lot with customers, so product knowledge is key. Some places even offer a 1.5x rate per hour if you work during public holidays and festive seasons like Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
Don’t fret, you’ll get weekdays off since those aren’t busy periods. It’s not just all work though, there are rewards for you to enjoy too, like staff discounts on products or exclusive access to new items.
Companies to look at:
Image credit: NTUC LearningHub
In the F&B sector, you’ll usually be a server and heavily involved in the behind-the-scenes of the kitchen. You’ll be moving food quickly from the kitchen to the tables before flashing your pearly whites to diners. Besides that, cashiering and housekeeping duties will likely also be involved.
It can be an intense environment, especially during peak dining hours or the holiday season. Is it like a scene from Hell’s Kitchen? Maybe, but as a part-timer, just think of it as a crash course for staying calm under pressure. Besides, you’re getting paid more than retail jobs, with rates going as high as $16/hour.
Companies to look at:
Another common part-time gig: delivery riders. You would have most likely called upon their services before, and can now get a taste of what it’s like on the other side. If you’re someone who can’t keep still, this job’s for you. There’s a sense of “freedom” being able to roam around the city instead of being indoors for a change, albeit under tight time constraints from customers.
The total amount you earn is up to you, so you can choose to chiong and rake it in, or just do it as and when you feel like it. Being a delivery rider for GrabFood or other companies comes with its own set of challenges, like issues with collecting orders and difficult customers, but it also comes with perks like flexible hours, tips from generous tippers, and getting to know the latest makan spots around town.
You can even deliver by foot or bicycle if you haven’t gotten your driving or motorbike license yet.
Companies to look at:
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Sometimes, jobs where you serve people’s materialistic needs can be a bit sian after a while. If you’re looking for something more rewarding, like sharing knowledge with others, try your hand at being a tutor. Seeing that Singaporeans stress a lot on education, it’s no surprise that there’s a high demand for tutors out there.
Do note that you must have the proper know-how and be a good student yourself before trying to impart wisdom to others, duh.
Companies to look at:
Image for illustrative purposes only.
Those who love kids, but more importantly, have lots of patience, can consider being a babysitter. First, you would need to be at least 16 years old and complete a babysitting course recognised by the Ministry of Social and Family Development.
The course would cover various essential skills a babysitter must have, including first aid, child development, and safety. You’ll need to take an exam at the end of it all.
Pro tip: having someone to vouch for you goes a long way, so remember to collect testimonials once you get started to build that rep.
The job scope of a babysitter typically involves keeping the children entertained, supervising homework, and preparing basic meals and snacks. Do note that a babysitter is different from a nanny, with the latter’s job scope covering a wider range of duties like housekeeping.
Companies to look at:
Image credit: Singapore Sports Hub
Part-time job placements for event ushers come and go based on the availability of events or live performances in Singapore. The job scope is simple; just direct and lend a helping hand to people attending the event, ensuring that no one strays off course or gets lost. Of course, this means you’ll also have to stand for very long hours, check the validity of each visitor’s ticket, and know exactly where the restrooms are.
Companies to look at:
Image for illustrative purposes only.
Handling kids may be too much for some of us, but what about handling animals instead? Pet sitters are another evergreen job for animal lovers. The job scope depends on what the pet owner needs on a particular day, so it’s mostly on an ad-hoc basis. Oftentimes, you’ll have to walk their pet; other times, you may have to take them to the vet and ensure they take their meds.
Even a simple task of walking their dog for 30 minutes can fetch you some money. On the flip side, if the owners are going overseas, you’ll find yourself taking care of the doggo for a few days, during which you’ll be paid on a per-night basis. Similar to babysitters, having a few people who can vouch for you would greatly boost your chances.
Companies to look at:
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Prepare to get your body moving if you sign up as a warehouse packer. The job is simple – just unload, arrange, and sort out parcels accordingly. This is good for those who have a month of free time to kill and would rather spend it farming money than lazing at home.
There’s no doubt the job is physically demanding, so it’s best you head down to your nearest fitness corner and start exercising. Job availability comes and goes, but most of these job openings peak during periods like 12.12 sales and Black Friday.
Just a heads up – working in a warehouse can be a bit risky since you’ll be surrounded by heavy equipment and moving stock. Most roles will require you to gear up with safety boots and other protective wear.
Companies to look at:
Image credit: NTUC Health
Show love and spread kindness by applying for a freelance caregiver role at elderly centres or one of the many telemedicine services in Singapore offering house calls. You don’t have to be a licensed doctor; just passionate enough to provide care with graciousness and patience.
Of course, if you have basic medical skills like CPR or first aid, it’ll make you stand out against other applicants. These care centres will provide in-house training to help you learn on the job.
Companies to look at:
Image credit: Hasse
Becoming a logistics assistant is ideal for someone thorough and detail-oriented. While it may seem similar to warehouse packing, this role means you’ll be more involved in processes like inventory management, shipping coordination and record keeping.
Other tasks may include restocking and quality control. Some logistics assistant positions require 1-2 years of experience in the field, but certain companies allow you to learn on the job, without prior experience. You’ll be working with a team, and training is usually provided, so don’t be intimidated by the job scope.
Companies to look at:
All those years of begrudgingly learning a second language might actually pay off – you could land a gig as a translator. These ad-hoc jobs aren’t limited to the usual mother tongue languages like Chinese or Malay, some companies even look for Singhalese, Hindi or Tagalog translators.
This job may require you to translate important documents, certificates or contracts. This means you may need to go through a more rigorous hiring process, and some prior experience is usually expected. But the high pay and flexible work hours make it a pretty sweet gig. Plus, if you’ve got certification in translation, it’ll make landing this role way easier.
Companies to look at:
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As an admin assistant, you’ll be in charge of planning, coordinating, and scheduling meetings, as well as anything else that the company requires. If you’re meticulous, resourceful and organised, this is the job for you. Bonus points if you’re great at building rapport and thrive in social interaction since you’ll need to liaise with third-party stakeholders like customers, clients or vendors.
Having a background in HR would help, but it isn’t a requirement. As long as you’re prepared and willing to adapt to any situation, this job teaches you necessary workplace skills and rakes in the dough.
Companies to look at:
According to the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) employment practices, you can start working from as young as 13 years old, but only if it’s in non-industrial settings, like F&B restaurants. So any kind of warehouse packing job is out of the question. Once you hit 16, you can engage in more physically demanding work.
You can find all the laws and regulations on MOM’s website, but here’s a summary: you won’t have to work longer than 6 straight hours without any form of a break, unless the nature of the job demands it, like warehouse packing during peak periods. But if it goes up to 8 hours, the company must give you a break for at least 45 minutes for you to makan and take some rest.
You also shouldn’t be subjected to more than 12 hours of work a day unless urgently required.
The commitment period differs for each job. It can be as short as a week, to as long as 3 months. Whatever the period, it will be reflected in your contract, so read carefully before signing on the dotted line to ensure you won’t be forced to commit any longer than what you’ve agreed to. Please check through the terms and conditions closely.
Anything related to job lobangs can be found on Telegram channels and WhatsApp channels. They may also pop up on Instagram as advertisements from time to time.
There are also plenty of dedicated job-hunting websites out there, some notable ones include:
Do be mindful of job scams, which are becoming more prominent by the day. Some telltale signs to look out for:
Instead of bed-rotting or doom-scrolling every day on your semester break, take this chance to hone hard skills or gain experience in the working world. Plus, you get to earn money on the side, which is a win-win in our books.
With any of these part-time jobs, you can go shopping in Singapore without worrying about burning a hole in your wallet. Regardless, be careful of overworking yourself to the point of suffering from work burnout.
For other career-related articles, check out:
Cover image adapted from: NTUC Health, The Smart Local
Originally published on 24th August 2024. Last updated by Khalisah Zulkarnain on 10th April 2025.
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