Do Part Time Jobs In USA Pay Minimum Wages To International Students?

Do Part Time Jobs In USA Pay Minimum Wages To International Students?

Edited By Prabhjyot Kaur | Updated on Mar 04, 2025 09:58 AM IST

Before starting studies in USA, students often encounter thoughts such as do part time jobs in US pay minimum wages to students. Part time jobs are considered to be a gateway for international students in US to gain work experience and extra money to cover their living expenses in the country. While most of the part time jobs in US pays at least minimum wage to students according to the law, there are some circumstances where students find themselves underpaid.

This Story also Contains
  1. Minimum Wage in USA For International Students
  2. Do Part Time Jobs In US Pay Minimum Wages To Students?
  3. Top 10 Highest Paying Part Time Jobs in USA For Indian Students
  4. How to Find Part-Time Jobs in the USA for International Students?
  5. Conclusion: Do Part Time Jobs In US Pay Minimum Wages To Students
Do Part Time Jobs In USA Pay Minimum Wages To International Students?
Do Part Time Jobs In USA Pay Minimum Wages To International Students?

Also, the average USA part-time jobs for students salary is as per the legal standards. However, it can be the other way around as per the employer practices, location, and candidate’s experience. Students must ensure that they are getting fair pay for part-time jobs in US for financial and professional stability. We have mentioned the the answer to this question ‘do part time jobs in US pay minimum wages to students’ in the article. Give it a read to understand different aspects to consider while navigating through USA part-time jobs for students salaries.

Latest News: Trump's Deportation Forces Indian Students in US To Quit Part time jobs

Minimum Wage in USA For International Students

According to the US Department of Labour, the federal minimum wage is USD 7.25 per hour. However, many states and cities in USA offer higher minimum wage rates for international students. Every state has the authority to set the minimum pay, and many choose to set rates higher than the federal minimum wage.

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This is because the cost of living in states such as New York, San Francisco, or Los Angeles is much higher than in other areas. Also, economic conditions play an important role in setting the state level minimum wage in USA for international students.

Do Part Time Jobs In US Pay Minimum Wages To Students?

Most of the part time jobs in USA do pay minimum wages to international students; however, they are not always paid according to the federal minimum wage standards. This gap in USA part-time jobs for students salary still exists sometimes. International students might face challenges in the US job market where they are entitled to earn at least the federal minimum wage; however, they are exploited and underpaid. Here is the ground reality on few of the such cases for part-time job in USA for international students:

Part Time Job in USA for International Students and its Impact:

Jobs

Description

Impact on International Students

Unpaid Internships

Employers from competitive fields such as marketing, media, tech, business offers unpaid internships to international students as opportunities. The work is often not fairly compensated to the

Many international students often take such offers with no monetary USA part-time jobs for students salary to gain experience required to build their resume for future career opportunities

Hospitality Jobs (Restaurants, bars, cafes)

Many employer do not pay salaries according to the minimum federal wages to international students. They believe that customer tipping can make for it.

Students often find it difficult to work under such part time jobs in USA.

Freelance

Some employers may offer freelance jobs in writing, coding, designing, etc with salaries below the legal standards. Compensation might not be upto the hours of work.

International students in US who are freelancing may find it challengin to negotiate in terms of salaries due to inexperience. Sometimes, clients may offer ‘exposure opportunities’ for students without paying.

Delivery Jobs

Part time jobs in US for international students including Uber, Lyft, DoorDash often fail to provide labour protection i.e fair pay and other benefits.

International students find themselves working long hours part time shifts in US with low earnings.

Top 10 Highest Paying Part Time Jobs in USA For Indian Students

As we have already discussed, there may be some cases where international students are not fairly paid for their part time jobs in US. However, there are some part time jobs that not only pay the minimum wages to students, but also the best in the field. Here are the average USA part-time jobs for students salary per hour:

Part time Jobs in USA for Indian Students Salary

Part Time Job

Average Salaries per Hour

Library Assistant

USD 13.24

Campus guide

USD 10.94

Receptionist

USD 13.31

Barista or restaurant staff

USD 11.59

Department Assistant

USD 16.44

Study Assistant

USD 15.48

Catering Assistant

USD 16.81

Tutor

USD 21.31

Sales Assistant

USD 20.00

Retail Sales Associate

USD 17.23

Also Read: Highest Paying Jobs In The World

How to Find Part-Time Jobs in the USA for International Students?

It might be a little challenging for international students to find part time jobs in USA, especially those that pay at least the minimum wage as per the federal labour laws in US. Check how to find well paid internships in US for detailed sources. Here are some of the sources to find part time jobs in US for international students:

  • University Office

  • Students communities and groups

  • Local Networking

  • Online platforms such as LinkedIn, Indeed

Conclusion: Do Part Time Jobs In US Pay Minimum Wages To Students

Some employers in US genuinely pay minimum wages to international students according to the federal government standards. However, there are few employers who try to exploit students by not paying the right compensation for the work they have done. So, do part time jobs in US pay the minimum wage to international students? It can depend on the employer’s practices, the student’s experiences, and location of the company.

Also Read:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How much do student part-time jobs pay in the US?

Students currently studying in USA can find part time jobs for USD 10 to USD 15 per hour on average for jobs like bartending, waitressing, freelancing, assistantships, and others.

2. What is the minimum part-time wage in USA?

The minimum part time wage in USA is USD 7.25 per hour as per federal government standards. However, the average wage for students can vary depending on the state and city. 

3. What is the minimum working hours for students in US?

International students on F1 student visas can work for up to 20 hours per week on campus when classes are in session.

4. How much do Indian students earn in the USA?

Indian students can earn for up to USD 10 to USD 15 per hour while working part time jobs in USA. The exact part time job salary for students depends on the work, expertise, and location. 

5. What is the highest paid part-time job in the USA?

The highest paid part time job in USA depends on the job role and student’s skills and experience. However, some of the part time jobs with high salaries include tutoring, freelancing, research assistantship, and more. 

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Questions related to

Get answers from students and experts

Hi there

Yes you can try to learn various courses that are for approximately 3 months to 6 months in duration.

Yes you can learn before going to us. Learning skills definitively adds some value to the life of a candidate and also improves in getting good recognition in life..

Below i have mentioned some courses  that you can try before visiting us:

  • Social media marketing
  • Content writer
  • Content creation
  • Video editing
  • Photography skills
  • Digital marketing
  • Stiching
  • Makeup artist course
  • Hairstyling course.

So these are some courses you can try.

Hope this answer will help you. Revert incase of any query.

Thank you and good luck:)

Hello Samarasimha,

YES, you can MS in UA after completing Bsc in Statistics. . All you have to do is score good marks in your PG and prepare for GRE. You should also decide upon the country and the university in which you are going to study.

Furthermore, the requirements to pursue MS in USA are as follows :

  • 3 to 4 years bachelors degree in relevant field.
  • 3.5 or higher GPA, equivalent to 87% in bachelors.
  • GRE score of 330 or above.
  • Statement of Purpose.
  • Research Internships/ Published Research Papers.
  • Project work/Seminars.
  • 2-3 Letter of Recommendation.
  • Social & Leadership Activities.

Further, requirements for Software jobs in USA are as follows :

  • Enroll in a software development program. The first step to becoming a software engineer is to enroll in a software development degree program. ...
  • Gain internship experience. ...
  • Choose your specialty. ...
  • Pursue industry certifications. ...
  • Continue your education.

I hope that this will help.

Dear aspirant hope you are doing well..

To study at foreign universities/abroad in U. S , the admission process will require the candidate to give one language exam and one standardized exam. However, depending on the country, course, college, or university you are applying for you may be exempted from standardized exams. The language test will showcase your English proficiency skills. These exams are required for pursuing almost all courses abroad. Different countries have different language exams such as

  • TOEFL exam for getting admission to the universities in the US and Canada. The score of this exam is valid for two years after the declaration of results
  • There are plenty of universities abroad where you can apply to do master-level course, MSc in statistics, MSc in Operation Research, and Applied Mathematics, MSc in Mathematical Modeling, etc are some of the Master level Course in Mathematics that are available abroad. Students who have completed their graduation or bachelor's degree in Mathematics can apply for these courses. Foreign universities like Uppsala University, Dublin City University, Oxford Brookes University, University of York, University of Liverpool, etc offer all the above-mentioned courses in mathematics.

Top university of The USA for master degree courses

  • John Carroll University
  • Missouri University of Science and Technology
  • Michigan State University
  • West Virginia University
  • Rhode Island College
  • University of Arkansas
  • Vanderbilt University
  • DePaul University
  • Delaware State University
  • Texas A&M University-Commerce
  • University of South Florida
  • California State University Northridge

You can get the detailed information about the process how to apply for MS in USA. read the given article. Link is given below

https://studyabroad.careers360.com/articles/how-apply-for-ms-in-usa/amp

Hope it's helpful for you..

Thank you

There are many ways to choose your university such as fees, the ranking of the university, which state it is located and scholarships. My suggestion is to choose your research focus and write academic papers. In the US, PhD in Commerce admission into the university depends on what you want to study (your area of research) and your already completed research papers. You can begin your research by searching online for US universities offering PhD in Business Administration. One example is University of California Los Angeles (https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/degrees/phd-program/admissions#app-req) .


Hello  Student

You are aBHM means Bachelor in Hotel Management so after doing BHM,to gain a bright future  inthis trade you have to do MSc in Hotel Management,post graduation in Hospitality Management,Master degree in travel and tourism management,or MBA in hotel management,AFter doing post graduation in Hotel management or travel and tourism management will give you the best return in employment opportunity.

Hope this will help.


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