Some students choose to work during the academic year to supplement their income beyond that received in the stipend. Before proceeding further, it is important to acknowledge that when funding by the university a student's primary obligation is to the department. This means that coursework, dissertation work, TA and RA work should be prioritized over outside work. Work beyond the stipend may not be an option for some international students, so check your visa and your stipend for restrictions. The work opportunities outlined below may not apply to all students.
SGA Overload: Domestic students can apply for SGA Overload to work beyond the allowed hours in the stipend in Northeastern based jobs during the academic year. SGA Overload allows Ph.D. students to be paid to work up to 6 additional hours beyond the 20 specified in the SGA. Faculty may have funds, often in departments outside of economics (D'Amore-McKim School of Business, etc.) to pay for research assistant during the academic year. The rate for this work is about $25 per hour.
Teaching as Adjunct Faculty: As Boston is a city with many universities within reasonable commuting distance, there are universities which look to hire adjunct faculty to teach one or two classes during a fall or spring semester. Standard rates for these courses range from $3000 to $7000 or more per course. These positions are competitive and can be tough to come by. Recent students who have taught courses as adjunct faculty include Rick Paulsen at Bentley University, Rachel Sederberg at Massasoit Community College, Stonehill College, and Bridgewater State University, and Rob Bradley at Boston College. You will need to have teaching ratings from Northeastern to have any chance at these positions.
Freelance Worker: Educational content companies often seek to hire economists to do freelance content work. This contract work can often be done remotely. Recent students who have done work of this sort include Robert Bradley for McGraw Hill, Shawn Kilpatrick for Knewton, Rachel Sederberg for Freedom Learning Group, and Rick Paulsen for Knewton and McGraw Hill.