✅ Why This Question Comes Up So Often
If you’re a teacher in the UK, you already know that salaries haven’t kept up with the cost of living — and many good teachers are asking:
“Is there anything else I can do to boost my income without burning out?”
So let’s break down two parts:
1️⃣ How teachers often earn extra money.
2️⃣ Whether having a side hustle is allowed (and what to watch out for).
✅ 1️⃣ Practical Ways Teachers Boost Their Income
Many teachers look for ideas like:
- 📌 Tutoring: 1-to-1 sessions after school or on weekends.
- 📌 Exam marking: Seasonal work marking GCSEs, A-levels, or SATs.
- 📌 Supply teaching: Picking up extra days at other schools.
- 📌 Selling resources: Uploading lesson plans or printables to platforms like TES or Teachers Pay Teachers.
- 📌 Freelance writing or editing: Using your subject knowledge to write for publishers.
These are all tried-and-tested ways — but they rely on your time.
If you need cash now or you want income that can be used to apply for a mortgage, then these are more predictable than something like affiliate marketing.
✅ 2️⃣ What About Affiliate Marketing?
You may have heard about affiliate marketing — where you earn a small commission when someone buys a product you recommend online.
For teachers like Sam (our UK geography teacher), it can be a fascinating side project because:
✔️ You’re already an expert in your subject.
✔️ You know what gear or resources work well.
✔️ Other teachers trust your recommendations.
But here’s the honest part:
📌 Affiliate marketing is not a quick win.
You won’t earn overnight. It takes time to:
- Write helpful posts.
- Build trust.
- Get visitors.
- Start seeing small commissions.
In the early days, it’s much more like a hobby than a “second job”.
✅ 3️⃣ Can UK Teachers Have a Side Hustle?
This is the important bit.
Most teachers can do things on the side — but it depends on:
- 📄 Your contract: Some schools have a clear policy about second jobs.
- 📌 Your union: They can help interpret your rights.
- 👥 Your school culture: Some headteachers are supportive; others prefer you keep things separate.
👉 If you’re writing about real school trips or your day-to-day lessons, remember:
- Don’t name pupils or include photos of them.
- Be mindful about details that could identify your school.
- Always work on your blog in your own time, on your own equipment.
We wrote more about this in our Ethical Issues for UK Teachers Starting an Affiliate Blog — it’s worth a read if you’re thinking about putting your ideas online.
✅ 4️⃣ One Thing to Be Realistic About
If you’re trying to prove extra income for a mortgage, affiliate marketing is not the best choice — at least not at the start.
It’s unpredictable. It grows slowly. You might go months before you see a commission.
✅ So think of it as a long-term bonus — not a replacement for tutoring or exam marking if you need guaranteed extra cash right now.
✅ 5️⃣ Final Thought: It’s Legitimate — Just Be Smart
Teachers are brilliant communicators and naturally trustworthy — so if you’re interested, affiliate marketing can be a good side project.
✔️ Check your contract.
✔️ Ask your union if you’re unsure.
✔️ Talk to your headteacher if needed.
✔️ Stay ethical and transparent.
And above all — only share what you genuinely use or believe in.
✅ Want to See a Real Example?
If you’d like to see how Sam turned a soggy clipboard fiasco into his first affiliate post (and how we mapped out content ideas step by step), check out our other posts — or explore Wealthy Affiliate, the same tool we used to plan it all.