The 10 Best Summer Jobs for Teens in 2025

Looking to make the most out of your summer? Whether you’re saving up for your first car or just want some spending money, getting a summer job will help you gain independence and work experience at the same time.

We’ve created a list of the best summer jobs for teens to give you a better idea of what kind of work is available.

Why should you get a summer job?

There are many reasons why summer jobs for teens are so popular. You make your own money, meet new people, and learn something new.

If you’ve never had a teen job before, write a resume and start applying for summer jobs to gain some work experience. All this will make it easier for you to land a part-time gig in college or a full-time job after you graduate high school.

1. Tutor

• Median hourly wage: $19.27
• Number of jobs (2023): 19,000
• Estimated job growth (2023–2033): 1%
• Key skills: Subject matter expertise, lesson planning, communication, patience, adaptability

Good at math, writing, or another subject? Turn your skills into extra cash by tutoring younger students over the summer.

Whether you’re helping kids with homework, prepping them for the next grade, or just making learning fun, tutoring is a great way to build confidence and add to your resume. You can offer your services through local community centers, schools, or even post flyers in your neighborhood.

2. Landscaper

• Median hourly wage: $18.31
• Number of jobs (2023): 74,000
• Estimated job growth (2023–2033): 5%
• Key skills: Lawn maintenance, irrigation, edging and trimming, plant identification, fertilizer application

You don’t have to be an aspiring gardener to become a landscaper for a summer. If you don’t mind physical labor and working outside regardless of the weather, it’s a solid way to make the most of your summer.

Many landscaping businesses are willing to hire high school students to assist with trimming bushes and maintaining flower beds. Some companies only hire workers 16 and up to operate certain machines, so be sure to mention your age when applying.

3. Cook

• Median hourly wage: $17.19
• Number of jobs (2023): 279,000
• Estimated job growth (2023–2033): 6%
• Key skills: Time management, knife skills, food presentation, teamwork, interpersonal skills

Many restaurants hire cooks starting at age 16, but younger teens (14–15) can still help in the kitchen. You might prep food, make salads, or wash dishes. If you’re 16 or older, you can do more, like cook on grills or use fryers. Keep in mind that some equipment, like meat slicers, should only be used if you’re over 18.

Working in a kitchen is a fun way to stay busy, learn new skills, and maybe even cook your favorite meal. Check with local restaurants to see what jobs and age requirements they have.

4. Camp counselor

• Median hourly wage: $17.01
• Number of jobs (2023): 35,000
• Estimated job growth (2023–2033): 5%
• Key skills: Child care, CPR or emergency response skills, sports knowledge, high energy, conflict resolution

If you’re looking for a fun, rewarding job this summer and are good at arranging games and activities, consider applying for a position as a camp counselor.

For this job, you need to be able to think on your feet because you’ll be handling a wide range of tasks. You’ll be doing everything from organizing and overseeing events to comforting campers who are homesick.

If you’re considering a career in education or another field that involves working with children, adding “camp counselor” to your resume’s experience section could help you secure a job later on.

5. House cleaner

• Median hourly wage: $16.66
• Number of jobs (2023): 35,000
• Estimated job growth (2023–2033): 1%
• Key skills: Housekeeping, specialized cleaning (e.g., stain removal), cleaning, physical strength, organizational skills

One of the most comfortable ways to earn extra cash over the summer is to house sit. When people go on vacation, they often look for somebody to watch their home while they’re gone.

What you’ll do depends on each family’s needs, but here are a few common ones:

• Taking care of pets
• Watering plants
• Collecting mail
• Cleaning
• Doing yard work
• Taking out the trash
• Replacing broken light bulbs and dead batteries

6. Waiter / Waitress

• Median hourly wage: $16.23
• Number of jobs (2023): 360,000
• Estimated job growth (2023–2033): 1%
• Key skills: Multitasking, stress management, customer service skills, problem solving, teamwork

Although there are usually plenty of jobs available for teens in the food service industry year-round, summer is a hectic time for restaurants. If you’re living in an area popular with tourists, ask around at local establishments to find out if they need help waiting tables over the summer.

Even if your hometown isn’t a tourist hotspot, it’s likely that restaurants near you could use an extra hand while their permanent employees go on vacation.

In addition to giving you valuable experience to add when you write your resume, working as a waiter or waitress teaches you important skills like teamwork and problem-solving.

7. Lifeguard

• Median hourly wage: $16.21
• Number of jobs (2023): 112,000
• Estimated job growth (2023–2033): 2%
• Key skills: Lifeguard certification, first aid, Red Cross, tread water, evening shift availability, communication skills

If you’re a strong swimmer and like spending time at the pool or beach, working as a lifeguard for a few months is a great way to enjoy the outdoors while getting some work experience.

To become a lifeguard, you need to know First Aid, and you’ll need to take a course and pass a test to earn your lifeguard certification. The Red Cross offers lifeguard courses across the country.

8. Barista

• Median hourly wage: $15.13
• Number of jobs (2023): 175,000
• Estimated job growth (2023–2033): 5%
• Key skills: Espresso machine operation, POS systems, customer service, attention to detail, teamwork

Working as a barista over the summer is a smart choice. If you want a part-time job in college, you’ll already have experience, which can help you stand out from other applicants.

A lot of coffee chains require employees to be over 16 years old, but some locations are open to hiring 15-year-olds as well.

9. Usher

• Median hourly wage: $14.98
• Number of jobs (2023): 6000
• Estimated job growth (2023–2033): 2%
• Key skills: Customer service, problem solving, communication, time management, organizational skills

For movie lovers, working as an usher at a movie theater is the ideal summer job. Not only do you get discounts on snacks, but you also get to watch the latest films for free.

Besides the obvious benefits, you’ll also get the chance to work on your people skills. Interpersonal skills are needed across all industries, not just service or retail, so being able to add people skills to your high school resume could help you get a full-time job in the future.

10. Theme park attendant

• Median hourly wage: $14.66
• Number of jobs (2023): 59,000
• Estimated job growth (2023–2033): 1%
• Key skills: Customer service, safety knowledge, cash handling, teamwork, physical stamina, communication

As schools close for the summer, all the local kids will be looking for something to do, meaning amusement parks will be busier than usual. If you’ve got a theme park in your town or in a neighboring city, apply to work as a theme park attendant.

Many amusement parks require you to be at least 16 years old to apply, but some hire younger teens to assist with cleaning, bag checks, and greeting guests. Check the park’s website for open positions and age requirements or contact them directly.

How to find teen summer jobs

If you’re looking for a summer job as a teen, it’s probably your first time in the job search process. Here are some tips that can help you in the process:

1. Start close to home

If you’re 16 or younger, the best way to find a job is by working for family, friends, or neighbors. It’ll be easier to get babysitting or dog walking jobs when prior trust has already been established. To find a job or customers, you can even ask your parents or older family members to help spread the word.

2. Know the rules

Every state has its own laws about how old you have to be to work and what kind of jobs you can do. Some jobs, like working in restaurants or retail, may require you to be at least 14 or 16. Ask a parent or an adult you trust to help you double-check your state’s labor laws before you apply.

3. Use your school’s resources

Your school might be your best bet for expert advice if you have a career counsellor whom you can talk to. They might have a list of summer jobs that will be helpful, especially when it comes to gaining university application experience. A lot of university-related summer jobs or internships will also approach high schools with open positions. Keep a lookout at the school bulletin for open positions!

4. Use online and social media tools

If you’re an older teen (15–19), you can check job boards like Indeed, Snagajob, or your city’s official website for seasonal job openings. You can also find opportunities through local Facebook groups, Nextdoor, or by following local businesses on Instagram and TikTok, as some post “We’re hiring” notices there first.

Methodology

The data presented comes from surveys done by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), with information drawn from the Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey, and the National Employment and Wage Data from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Survey by Occupation, May 2024. Our research focused on occupations that teenagers can find during the summer and are eligible to work in.

The selection was based on three criteria: the employed were aged 16–19, the jobs were suitable for short-term or seasonal employment, and the roles were reported to have steady to strong growth. From there, we sorted the jobs in descending order of their median hourly income and selected the final top 10.

Occupations that didn’t have available income data or included words in the job title such as “general” or “other” were filtered out.

Sources

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey” & “National Employment and Wage Data From the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Survey by Occupation, May 2023”

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