The 8 Best Part-Time Jobs for People Who Live in a Small Town

There’s nothing like being part of a tight-knit community. Finding a great part-time job in your home town is an even better feeling.

Explore flexible jobs in your own backyard

If you’re job hunting in a rural area, you might be wondering: What are some of the best part-time jobs for people who live in a small town?

To kickstart your search, here's a list of flexible jobs that are in constantly demand in rural areas and small towns across the country.

Searching for a part-time job opportunity in your small town? Consider working as a companion caregiver.
These flexible jobs are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to part-town job opportunities in small towns and cities alike.

Explore eight great part-time jobs in your small town:

1. Barber or Hairstylist

Love helping people look their best? Consider a career as a barber or hairstylist. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment of barbers and hairstylists is projected to grow 19% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all jobs. No matter where people live, they’ll always appreciate a great haircut.

2. Cook

Are you a wizard in the kitchen? Working as a cook is a great option. Cooks are employed anywhere that food is served. Besides restaurants, cooks can find jobs in hospitals, schools, truck stops, and factories. Part-time and shift work is plentiful for cooks, especially if you work nights or weekends.

3. Companion Caregiver with Papa

Want to give back to your community? You’re needed as a companion caregiver. It’s a flexible, part-time job that you can start right away.

Caregivers provide companionship and support to older adults, seniors and families in their homes.

You’ll enjoy a lot of variety when you work as a caregiver for an organization like Papa. One day you’ll help someone with grocery shopping and cooking. Next, you’ll teach someone to use basic technology and help them stay connected with family on FaceTime. You will use your life experience and knowhow to help others.

Papa companion caregivers – called Papa Pals – don’t provide medical support or personal care. No healthcare experience is needed to start working as a Papa Pal.

If the idea of helping others and giving back to your community inspires you, consider becoming a companion caregiver with Papa.
If the idea of helping others and giving back to your community inspires you, consider becoming a companion caregiver with Papa.

4. Dental Assistant

Enjoy making people smile? With good earning potential and a short training period, becoming a dental assistant could be the answer.  Plus, every small town has at least one or two dentists.

5. Skilled Tradesperson

Have a specialized skill? Think locksmith, HVAC technician, landscaper, agricultural equipment technician, roofer or stone mason. These are just a handful of skilled trades that are in demand in small towns and rural areas, not to mention large cities. There’s also a constant need for custodians, painters, plumbers and electricians.

6. Pet Groomer

Would you like to combine your love of animals with your flair for style? Wherever people love their pets, they’ll need pet groomers. When you work as a pet groomer, you can do a lot more than make a pup or kitty look fabulous. You can promote healthy pet care. Best of all, being a pet groomer is highly flexible. You can work for yourself, as part of a mobile team, or at a pet store or veterinary clinic.

7. Photographer

Do you have untapped creativity? A career in photography could be an ideal outlet. You can choose your area of specialization, from commercial to family photography, and decide when and where you want to work. Do people come to your town to get married? You could also be the local go-to expert for destination weddings.

8. Cleaner

Do you have a passion for sparkling countertops? You’ll find no shortage of opportunities to work as a cleaner. It can offer flexibility and stability. Besides homes, you can work in offices and facilities such as schools and hospitals. 

These jobs are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to job opportunities.

Ask anyone who lives in a small town and they’ll tell you they love where they live. There’s nothing like being part of a tight-knit community. Finding a great part-time job in your hometown is an even better feeling.

If the idea of helping others and giving back to your community inspires you, consider becoming a companion caregiver with Papa. As a Papa Pal, you can take your love of small town life to a new level by helping neighbors in a meaningful way, and do it all close to home. 

Interested in working as a part-time companion caregiver? We’d love to hear from you!

Click here to apply to become Papa Pal.