School jobs that fit your kids' school hours
Updated 2026-09-29
A lot of parents look at school jobs for the schedule. You work while your kids are in class, and you're off when they are, summers and school breaks included. Most school staff jobs follow the school calendar, many are part-time, and some are only a few hours in the middle of the day. And most don't need a teaching credential (see which jobs don't).
These are the kinds of school jobs open in California right now, with their typical hours and pay:
| Job | Open now | Typical day | Part-time | Typical pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campus Supervisor & Yard Duty | 573 | 3 hrs | 89% | $18.55–$22.06/hr |
| School Food Service | 441 | 4 hrs | 77% | $19.51–$23.77/hr |
| Paraeducator & Aide | 2,869 | 6 hrs | 78% | $20.64–$25.65/hr |
| After-School Program | 571 | 4 hrs | 91% | $20.33–$25.11/hr |
| Preschool, TK & Child Care | 613 | 6 hrs | 44% | $21.12–$26.13/hr |
| School Bus Driver | 456 | 6 hrs | 50% | $24.11–$28.16/hr |
| School Office & Clerical | 610 | 8 hrs | 23% | $25.24–$31.23/hr |
| School Custodian & Maintenance | 450 | 8 hrs | 18% | $23.19–$27.82/hr |
Typical day is the middle value among postings that list their hours. Part-time is the share of postings marked part-time. Typical pay is the middle of the pay ranges posted in the last 12 months. Substitute jobs aren't counted.
Short shifts of a few hours
Campus supervisor (yard duty, noon duty)
You keep an eye on students at lunch and recess, and sometimes at drop-off or pick-up. The typical posting is 3 hours a day, and 80% are 4 hours or less. It's the shortest school job, often right in the middle of the day. It usually asks for a high school diploma and some experience with kids, not a college degree.
Cafeteria (food service)
You help make and serve breakfast and lunch. Postings typically list 4 hours a day. Kitchen shifts often start before the first bell, so check the start time if you do morning drop-off.
Close to a full school day
Classroom aide (paraeducator)
You work in a classroom alongside a teacher, often with a small group or a single student. A typical aide job is 6 hours a day, and 78% are listed as part-time. These jobs often ask for 48 college units, an associate's degree or a passing score on the district's test (how to become a paraeducator).
Preschool and TK aide
It's similar work with younger kids, in preschool or transitional kindergarten (TK), usually about 6 hours a day.
Jobs that are harder to fit around school hours
After-school programs start when the last bell rings, which is exactly when your own kids get out. Shifts typically run 4 hours. These jobs can work if someone else handles pick-up.
Bus drivers work at drop-off and pick-up time, often as a split shift, with one part in the morning and one in the afternoon. A typical posting adds up to 6 hours a day. The pay is good, but those are the same hours your own kids need a ride.
Office and custodial jobs are usually full days (8 hours in the typical office posting), and many custodian jobs are evening shifts.
Summers and school breaks
Most of these jobs follow the school year. If a posting says "10 months" or "school year," you'll generally be off in the summer and over winter and spring break, same as your kids. Jobs listed as "12 months" are year-round. Ask whether your pay is spread over 12 months or only comes during the school year, so you can plan for summer.
Where to look and what to ask
Start with your kids' own school, or one nearby. Same calendar, same breaks, short drive.
Subbing (working as a substitute) is worth a try. Districts keep sub lists for yard duty, cafeteria and aide jobs, and on-call subs can usually turn down days that don't work for them. A lot of permanent hires start out that way.
When you read a posting, check the start and end times, not just the number of hours. A 3-hour noon duty shift and a 3-hour morning kitchen shift fit very different days.
It's also worth asking about benefits. Whether a job comes with health insurance usually depends on how many hours it is, and the cutoff varies by district.
Hours and pay come from current job postings and update daily. The hours are what each posting lists, so check the posting itself for the exact schedule.