Are you looking for ways for teens to earn money? If you’re a parent of a teen who wants to start earning their own cash, or a teenager yourself looking to make money, this list of money-making ideas for teens is sure to get you thinking outside the box!
There are various ways to make money as a teenager, especially during school breaks.
Teenagers aren’t just limited to short-term roles as a summer job! Their skills and passion can help them land a job or start their own side hustle that takes them well beyond the school years.
Practical Ways For Teens To Earn Money
When considering how to make money as a teenager, most people straight away think of a part-time job. And absolutely, this is the fastest way to get a steady income as a teen.
But that’s not the only option!
There are plenty of creative ways to make money fast as a teenager if you’re not looking for a long-term commitment.
There are also side hustles that take longer to build up but can help your teen learn valuable skills in entrepreneurship and business too.
In this guide, we are coming both of these options, from earning a few extra pennies here and there to building their own ongoing income source.
You might also find some inspiration from these work from home ideas and ways for kids to earn money.
The Benefits Of Earning Money As A Teen
Earning money as a teen offers financial independence, real-world skills, and a strong work ethic. It teaches responsibility, builds a resume, and reduces the financial burden on parents. It’s a pathway to self-discovery and personal growth.
Here are the reasons why it’s a great idea for your teenager to start earning their own money:
- Enhanced Work Ethic – Teenagers gain important skills in responsibility through work. They learn teamwork, how to follow directions in a timely manner and how to be considerate of those they work with.
- Financial Management – Earning their own money will help your teen to learn important money-management skills that can help them make better financial decisions into adulthood. This gives them a chance to start building savings and investments earlier in life.
- Preparation for The Real World – Earning an income exposes teens to the real world, offering opportunities to learn essential life skills such as time management, budgeting, communication, customer service and problem-solving skills.
- Builds Confidence – Successfully earning money and accomplishing work tasks can boost self-esteem and confidence, giving a sense of achievement.
- Discover Passions – Part-time work is a great way to discover what you like and don’t like, to discover passions and interests and help make future career decisions by helping determine what path you want to pursue.
- Resume Building – Future employers look positively on previous work experience, even if this is in an unrelated field, as these skills can be transferable and they show a level of responsibility and accountability.
- Reduced Financial Burden on Parents – By earning money as a teen, you can contribute to your own expenses and reduce the financial burden on your parents, showing them that you are responsible and capable.
How To Make Money As A Teenager
Part-time work is often the easiest way option on ways to make money as a teenager. There are many different employment options for teenagers that can be casual or set hours each week.
It is important to know the minimum age requirements for employment in your state to know if your teen is old enough to seek formal employment.
If not, many of these ways to make money as a teenager are also perfect for younger teens (or tweens) who want to start making a few extra dollars each week but aren’t yet at the legal age to apply for a part-time job.
- Get A Part-Time Job
If over the minimum working age, there are many different part-time job opportunities that like to hire teenagers, due to the minimum wage employment rates. Establishments such as restaurants, fast-food chains, grocery stores, or specialty stores often have positions available.
Check online employment websites for local positions or be proactive and hand in your resume in person. Some of these positions may require parental consent to get started.
- Dog Walking
Spend time with a bunch of dogs and get paid! Sounds great for animal lovers! Teenagers who are comfortable with dogs can start their own dog-walking service. Ask neighbours if they would be interested or put up flyers in the neighbourhood.
- Tutor Younger Kids
If you have above-average academic skills in one or all areas, you can offer to tutor younger students who are struggling. This is a great after-school job that can pay quite well, depending on the rates you charge.
This can work via business cards or word of mouth. This is a good option for college student who excel in a particular subject.
- Yard Work & Lawn Mowing
Gain extra money through mowing lawns and yard maintenance for your neighbourhood. Do yard maintenance services for those who can’t squeeze it into their busy schedules.
There are a lot of people who are happy to hire these jobs out and your rates will likely be more affordable than the established businesses offering these services.
- Pet Sitting
Pet sitting is a great way to earn money part-time for teenagers who also have fur babies at home. You can create flyers for a local letterbox drop within walking distance of your home or have your parents help get word out to friends and family that you can take care of their pets while they are away.
There are two options for this – taking care of them in your own home if you have the facilities to do so, or visiting their home to feed and clean up after their pets.
- Give Music Lessons To Kids
Share musical expertise and talent with the aspiring younger generation. Teens who are competent with an instrument can teach others how to play a particular instrument while also fueling their passion.
It is inspiring to witness the student’s progress and determination to excel. And there’s no reason it needs to be limited to teaching kids either!
- House Sitting
This money-making job for teens is similar to pet sitting but suited to people who also don’t have pets but want someone to check in on their home while they area away. Duties can be watering plants, bringing in mail and rubbish bins, feeding pets and making sure everything is secure.
- Ironing/Washing Service
Another type of job that requires your household chore skills is offering ironing/washing services for others. If you have good attention to detail and don’t mind these particular chores, this can be a household chore that many busy working households are happy to outsource.
Do both ironing and washing or just the ironing, or offer the option to clients to choose.
- Coffee Shop
Working as a coffee shop attendant is a common way for teens to earn money. Although there’s a lack of experience initially, you will be trained up and get great skills for future employment.
- Fast Food Or Restaurant Work
Food establishments are always in need of extra hands to accommodate their customers. Young people are hired as waiters, cashiers, janitors, dishwashers, kitchen staff, and more.
- Grocery/Convenience Store Cashier
Watch out for hiring posts from grocery stores or convenience stores. Teenagers can often directly submit their resumes to the store for when a job vacancy is available too.
- Movie Theatre Staff
Working at the cinema was always one of the most popular jobs for teens when I was a teen, since you get a little inside info on the latest releases, some sneak peeks as you do your cinema checks and often discount movie tickets too.
You will be assigned as a ticket seller, ticket checker, cleaner or candy bar staff although usually a combination of all these roles.
- Event Singer Or Musician
Build your professional music career by gaining valuable experience as an event singer or performer if you have excellent musical talent. People can hire you to sing or play for weddings, funerals, birthday parties, launching events, and more.
- Catering Services
Catering companies hire part-time workers as servers, buffet attendants, dishwashers, kitchen workers, and event set-up crew.
- House Cleaning Services
If you don’t mind cleaning and you have an eye for detail, you can offer house cleaning services to your neighbours or family members. This is typically for an hourly rate or you can negotiate a set rate and tasks and do this on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis.
- DJ
Working as a DJ for events is the perfect gig for teens with an impeccable talent for remixing songs and hyping the crowd. This is the type of job where you will need your own equipment though, such as a laptop, MIDI controller, mixer, and turntables.
- Offer Coaching
Athletic teenagers can enhance their skills while earning money as a coach for kids. A group of friends might prefer training under an experienced student-athlete a week before tryouts.
Contribute to the growth of aspiring basketball, baseball, swimming, soccer, or tennis prodigies.
- Dance Instructor
Build your professional dancing career at a young age as a junior instructor. Most dance schools have junior instructors help out in classes, who are usually students of the dance school themselves.
If this isn’t something currently offered, why not talk to your dance teachers and ask if they would be willing to have you start? Teach children techniques and routines to enhance their dancing skills.
- Lifeguard
Older teens are often hired for lifeguard support roles at public pools or water parks. There is comprehensive training involved and the role also covers supervising behaviour and enforcing pool rules for visitors.
- Swimming Instructor
Just as there are options for teen lifeguard roles, many swimming schools will also hire junior swimming instructors to support their lessons and ensure younger children have full supervision in the pool.
Or if you are an exceptional swimmer and responsible person, you may like to offer your own swimming instruction classes to older kids who need a little extra support.
- Camp Counselor
School break means spending time at camp for many children in the Northern Hemisphere. We don’t have this so much here in Australia, but it is certainly a great option if you do.
For this reason, being a camp counsellor is a great summer job for teenagers. The camp will need people who can carry out fun, engaging, educational, and safe programs for kids.
- Food Delivery Rider
If you are already a licensed driver, then food delivery is the perfect job opportunity. Restaurants, fast-food chains, and most food delivery companies hire licensed drivers to deliver their food.
These days there are also many that have scooter or bike deliveries so this may mean you can start sooner.
- Concession Stand Worker
Work at concession stands at amusement parks, stadiums, expos, festivals, sports arenas, and food parks. These tend to be seasonal or short-term roles but they are great for school breaks or earning money fast as a teen.
- Pet Store Attendant
Serve customers at the cash register, help with customer service and with the care of animals at the pet store. This is a retail role that is perfect for teenagers who love working with animals.
- Farm Hand
If you live in a farming area, you can often get short or long-term farm hand work. Teens are required to be adaptable, responsible, and physically fit. Those characteristics are essential for tasks such as cleaning animal cages or helping with crops and fruit picking.
- Amusement Park Staff
Amusement parks have various roles for teens to earn money and most will hire mostly younger staff for these roles. Teenagers can work at food concession stands, souvenir shops, or be maintenance staff.
Other positions available are ride operator, entertainer, and game booth attendant.
- Golf Caddy
Teens who live near golf courses or clubhouses have the opportunity to apply as a golf caddy. It can be a part-time or summer job.
Ways To Make Money Online As A Teenager
Want to know how to earn money online as a teenager? In our technologically advanced generation, online jobs are more accessible than ever, no matter the age. Some of these are profitable business ideas while others are good for earning a few extra bucks here and there.
Listed below are the best side hustles for teens to earn money online:
- Start A Blog
Starting a blog can be a slow build that can take quite some time to gain traction, however, it’s a great way to practise writing skills and can open a lot of possibilities.
It’s one of the best side hustles for teens who have a goal of building a long-term content business beyond blogging for a hobby. Just for reference, I blog full-time and now earn more than I did as a psychologist.
But it certainly wasn’t an overnight success! Not even close. Thankfully there are many free resources available to help you learn the ropes.
- Start A YouTube Channel
Like blogging, YouTube can be a great form of creative expression that can also lead to a regular income. If you’re a teen who loves to create content or be in front of the camera, then Youtube may be the perfect platform for you.
It doesn’t pay great but when you’re doing something you love, getting paid is a nice bonus.
The key is finding the right niche that you are passionate about and that serves a purpose for others – solving problems or entertainment value.
Monetisation begins once the channel gains 500 subscribers and 4000 minutes of watch time.
- Sell Printables On Etsy
Utilise talent for graphic design by creating your own digital products to sell on Etsy. This is one of the best forms of passive income once you have set up a range of printable products that are selling well.
This is the perfect side hustle for teenagers to earn money online and you can use the free program Canva to create your printables.
Sell items such as stickers, journals, colouring pages, planners, calendars, bookmarks, greeting cards, party invitations, wall art, and more.
- Sell Physical Products On Etsy (Or Another Online Marketplace)
Teens can sell physical products such as handicrafts. A hobby can turn into a small business and a great source of income. Many people love handmade products like jewellery, personalised t-shirts, hair accessories, knitted items, and so forth.
Open a store on Etsy, Amazon Handmade, Facebook marketplace, or create a Shopify store account.
- Sell Unwanted Items On Facebook Marketplace Or eBay
Declutter your things and then sell the unwanted items on eCommerce platforms such as eBay or the Facebook Marketplace. Buyers will find value in those pre-loved items such as books, clothes, shoes, and more.
This is a great way to make money fast and is perfect for getting rid of the old toys and childhood items you no longer need.
- Online Survey Sites
Share your opinion and provide helpful information for research. There are online survey sites that are willing to pay individuals to answer their questionnaires.
Although they don’t pay well and you do need to do a lot of surveys to reach payout level, but it’s a good use of your spare time if you are committed to it.
Survey Junkie is one of the most popular survey sites.
- Graphic Design Services
Businesses and companies require graphic design services for marketing materials. Teenagers can offer to produce graphic work for them as a freelancer. Gaining clients is also possible via referrals or using social media as your online portfolio.
If you are 18, you can set up a seller profile on Fiverr or Upwork to find clients.
- Video Editing
If you are a pro with video editing, you can offer to turn raw video footage into engaging videos for family or friends or offer your service via Facebook or word of mouth until you are old enough to sign up for Upwork or Fiverr.
- Freelance Writer
Write articles, blog posts, academic materials, and sales copy to earn extra income. It’s the best side hustle for teens who have a way with written content. This works well if you already know someone who is a blogger or website owner who needs affordable help.
- Data Entry
Be a data entry clerk and work anywhere as long as a device is within reach. Assist clients with recording data in various cloud-based platforms, organising files, and accomplishing other administrative tasks.
You can often find data entry roles on online employment websites.
- Get Paid To Play Video Games
Sounds like a dream job, right? Sure, it’s fun and it is a legitimate way to earn money, but it’s not a get-rich-quick option. You can make money via streaming, testing video games, or coaching other gamers.
- Virtual Assistant
If you have a family member or family friend with an online business, you can potentially get work as a virtual assistant doing admin tasks.
Once you turn 18, teens can find VA work at Fiverr, Upwork, Remote.co, and through VA groups on Facebook.
- Book Reviews
There are book review services to pay for reviews, which is great if you love reading! Check out Kirkus Media, BookBrowse, Women’s Review of Books, and Instaread, which are a few platforms willing to pay per book review.
- Transcribe Video and Audio Recordings
A quiet area or a well-working headset is essential for a transcriptionist. Part of the role is to transcribe video and audio recordings like interviews or course training videos. Check out websites like GoTranscript, Rev, Verbal Ink, and Speechpad.
- Test Websites
To produce a well-designed website, many businesses hire and pay testers to identify issues. Website testers are paid via PayPal, Payoneer, bank transfer, or gift cards.
- Test Apps
Similar to testing websites, developers also look for App testers to ensure they’ll release bug-free applications. Teens can get hired at UTest, TryMyUI, or UberTesters.
- Sell Stock Photos
Grab your cameras and capture images to sell as stock photos. The money comes from the commission whenever someone downloads a photo. For instance, Adobe Stock gives 33% of the commission to its contributors.
It doesn’t pay a huge amount, but if you’re skilled with a camera, it can be good passive income long after you’ve uploaded your images.
- Website Design
Teens knowledgeable in HTML codes and UX/UI design can offer their skills as web developers. While you’re unlikely to get formal employment in this type of role until you have some professional qualifications, you can offer your skills to family and friends with businesses that could use your support.
- Song Review
Earn extra income while listening to and reviewing songs. Learn more about this type of earnings opportunity on websites such as Play Push, RadioEarn, and Hit Predictor.
- Social Media Manager
With the rise of online business, a social media manager is a role that is essential for many local businesses and being so in touch with the different social media platforms makes this a great option for teens.
This role involves managing the social media accounts for businesses and brands and posting on-brand engaging content to help grow brand awareness.
Getting Their First Job: Balancing School & Work
The last thing you want is for your teenager’s grades to drop at school when they are trying to juggle work and education. This can sometimes be a risk if they are motivated to earn money over prioritising their education.
The instant gratification of extra cash for high school students might be more appealing than the idea of investing their time and effort into their schoolwork in preparation for further education.
Ensure that your teen is still doing well at school and not missing any classes. Teach them that although earning extra money is exciting, education should always be their priority.
While it isn’t fun to be strict, it is essential for them to manage their time between school and work and sometimes this means enforcing less work to focus on school.
It may also mean setting ground rules about a single shift or a limited number of hours during school term, but allowing them to work more shifts during school break.
If any sign of imbalance shows, it is important to talk openly with your teen and highlight the positives of their motivation to work, while also reminding them of the fact that school must come first.
How To Make Money Without A Job As A Teenager
If your teen is looking for a good way to make money quickly but is not so keen on starting an actual job, there are plenty of ways they can put in some hard work to top up their bank account.
- Pocket Money
Creating a pocket-money chore system is a fantastic way of teaching young kids responsibility and getting some extra help around the house. As your child gets older, the chores are likely to increase so the pocket money might increase also.
It’s up to you and your teen to negotiate this and they may offer to do extra chores for a period if they are saving for something special.
- Garage Sale
Got a lot of stuff to sell? A garage sale can be a great way to declutter the home and make quick cash. This can be something the whole family gets involved in or something your teen can organise on their own with their own unwanted items.
- Offer To Do Odd Jobs For Neighbours
Let your neighbours and family friends know that you are saving for something and looking to earn a little extra cash by helping them with odd jobs. It might be yard maintenance, cleaning tasks, errands, backing up files or whatever else they have a need for that you’re capable of helping with.
- Babysitting
Babysit siblings or the children of family friends, while the parents are away, can be a great way to earn a little extra cash now and again. It’s also a lovely way to bond with younger cousins, nephews, nieces, and siblings if helping our family members.
- Sell Items On Marketplace
If you have a lot of unwanted items, list them on the Facebook marketplace or similar sites, such as Craigslist, Gumtree (Australia) and eBay. If this is something you find enjoyable, you can start scouring thrift stores for bargains and sell them at a profit.
- Wash Cars
Finding time to wash the car is hard for many people so you can use your free time to wash cars for family and neighbours. A quick and easy job that doesn’t take up too much time.
Exploring the different ways to make money as a teenager is a great way for teens to develop independence, and financial responsibility and build their confidence as they get closer to navigating the adult world. This list of the best ways to make money as a teenager is sure to have a few ideas you might not have considered before to help save up for that goal!
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