15 Best High-Paying Jobs for Teens (and How to Get Started)

In 2026, hundreds of thousands of teens are already working across industries from food service to automotive repair, earning anywhere from under $15 to nearly $24 an hour.

To identify the best-paying jobs for teens, our High-Paying Jobs for Teens Report analyzed U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and youth employment figures to find jobs with high numbers of teenage employees earning good wages. We ranked the jobs primarily by median hourly wage.

1. Car technician & mechanic

• Median hourly wage: $23.88
• Teens employed: ~44,000

Auto service technicians and mechanics diagnose and repair cars and light trucks. Entry-level roles often involve more simple tasks such as oil changes and other basic maintenance, making them accessible for teens who enjoy working with machines.

Key skills

• Mechanical aptitude and hands-on problem solving
• Attention to detail when diagnosing faults
• Basic knowledge of vehicle systems
• Ability to use hand tools and diagnostic equipment

2. Babysitter

• Median hourly wage: $23.08
• Teens employed: Informal market — no official count

Babysitting is one of the most accessible jobs for teens and pays surprisingly well. Because it operates largely as an informal, private arrangement between families, there’s no official employment count, but it remains one of the most common ways teens earn money.

Key skills

• Patience and calm under pressure
• Responsibility and reliability
• Basic first aid awareness
• Communication with parents and children alike

3. Retail supervisor

• Median hourly wage: $22.75
• Teens employed: ~37,000

Retail supervisors oversee the day-to-day running of a store or department by managing a small team of sales associates and making sure the floor is staffed, stocked, and running smoothly.

For teens who have put in some time at a retail job and shown reliability, a supervisory step-up is a realistic path that comes with a meaningful pay bump.

Key skills

• Leadership and team coordination
• Customer service
• Conflict resolution
• Organization

4. Coach & scout

• Median hourly wage: $22.08
• Teens employed: ~60,000

Coaches and scouts work in sports and athletic development. For teens, this most often means assistant coaching roles at youth sports programmes or community leagues — roles that are widely available for those with sports experience or certifications in a particular discipline.

Key skills

• Knowledge of a specific sport or athletic discipline
• Communication
• Planning and running structured practice sessions
• Patience when working with younger athletes

5. Food service supervisor

• Median hourly wage: $20.20
• Teens employed: ~25,000

Food service supervisors manage the flow of service in restaurants — coordinating staff, monitoring food quality, handling customer issues, and making sure health and safety standards are met during a shift.

Like retail supervision, this role is a natural progression for teens who have worked in food service and demonstrated reliability and leadership potential.

Key skills

• Team coordination in a fast-paced environment
• Customer service
• Basic food safety and hygiene knowledge
• Shift schedule management

6. Tutor

• Median hourly wage: $19.27
• Teens employed: ~19,000

For teens, tutoring typically means working with younger students in subjects they excel at. It can be done informally or through platforms and tutoring agencies, and it’s one of the few jobs that directly rewards academic ability.

Key skills

• Strong subject knowledge
• Clear communication
• Patience and adaptability to different learning styles
• Session preparation

7. Shelf stocker

• Median hourly wage: $18.72
• Teens employed: ~188,000

Stocking shelves is one of the most common jobs for teens in the country, with nearly 190,000 teens employed across retail stores, warehouses, and distribution centres.

Core responsibilities involve unloading deliveries, stocking shelves, and keeping storage areas tidy. It’s physically demanding but widely available and requires minimal prior experience, making it a realistic first job for many teens.

Key skills

• Physical stamina and ability to lift and carry heavy boxes
• Attention to detail
• Reliability and punctuality
• Inventory management

8. Gardener

• Median hourly wage: $18.31
• Teens employed: ~74,000

Landscapers and groundskeepers maintain outdoor spaces by mowing lawns, planting, trimming, clearing, and generally keeping properties and public spaces looking well-kept.

It’s seasonal work in many parts of the country, which makes it especially well suited to teens looking for summer or after-school work. The role is physically active and largely outdoors, with no formal qualifications required for entry-level positions.

Key skills

• Physical fitness and comfort working outdoors
• Use of basic landscaping tools and equipment
• Attention to detail
• Ability to follow instructions and work independently

9. Waiter & waitress

• Median hourly wage: $16.23 (boosted by tips in practice)
• Teens employed: ~360,000

Waiting tables is the single most common job category for teens in this list. The listed median hourly wage of $16.23 per hour also understates real earnings in many cases, as tips can push take-home pay considerably higher in busy restaurants.

Key skills

• Customer service
• Memory and multitasking under pressure
• Speed and efficiency during service rushes
• Basic math and payment handling

10. Childcare worker

• Median hourly wage: $15.41
• Teens employed: ~101,000

Childcare workers look after young children in daycare centers, after-school programmes, or private homes. For teens who enjoy working with young children and have some maturity, this is a stable and meaningful entry-level role.

Key skills

• Patience and warmth with young children
• Attentiveness and safety awareness
• Ability to plan and lead simple activities
• Calm and responsible approach in caregiving situations

Top 5 part-time friendly jobs for teens

Not every teen job fits neatly around school, sports, or other commitments. The roles below stand out for their flexibility — whether because they’re commonly shift-based, are easy to pick up seasonally, or can even be arranged on a self-employed basis.

1. Babysitter — $23.08/hr

Babysitting sits at the top of the part-time list too. Because it’s arranged privately and on-demand, teens have full control over when and how often they work, making it the most flexible option on this list.

2. Coach & scout — $22.08/hr

Coaching and scouting roles are often structured around practices or match days rather than fixed weekly hours, which makes them naturally compatible with a teen’s schedule. Youth sports programs in particular frequently need part-time assistant coaches on evenings and weekends.

3. Tutor — $19.27/hr

Tutoring is one of the most flexible jobs available, as sessions can be arranged around a teen’s own timetable. Many teens build a small roster of regular clients that fits comfortably around school.

4. Stocker — $18.72/hr

There are plenty of warehouse and stocking roles available on a casual or shift basis, including evenings and weekends. The large number of positions nationally means it’s rarely hard to find an opening, and hours can often be adjusted around other commitments.

5. Gardener — $18.31/hr

Landscaping is inherently seasonal and often project-based, which suits teens looking for work that ramps up in spring and summer without demanding year-round commitment. Many small landscaping businesses are actively looking for reliable part-time help during their busy season.

How to get a job as a teen

Entering the workforce as a teenager is an exciting milestone, but it can also be intimidating. Follow these tips to help make your first job search easier:

1. Check to see if local businesses are hiring

When you’re looking for your first job, sometimes the best place to start is in your own backyard. Take a walk around your neighborhood and look for “Help Wanted” signs in shop windows.

Don’t be afraid to ask about job openings even if you don’t see a sign. Fill out a simple entry-level resume template and visit local cafes, retail stores, supermarkets, and restaurants. Introduce yourself to the manager and ask if they have any positions available.

Many businesses appreciate young job seekers who show enthusiasm and a willingness to learn, so your boldness might just set you apart from other candidates.

2. Go to local job fairs or career events for teens

At a job fair, you can speak directly with company representatives, learn about different industries, and even participate in on-the-spot interviews.

Check with your school guidance office, local community centers, or Chamber of Commerce to find out about upcoming job fairs in your area. Come prepared with copies of your resume and dress appropriately.

3. Leverage your school connections

Your teachers, counselors, and even school administrators often know local business owners and might hear about jobs perfect for students like you. Plus, they can vouch for you with a recommendation or reference, which is helpful when you’re just starting out.

It’s worth popping into your school’s career office or chatting with your guidance counselor to see what’s out there. Some schools even offer work-study programs or internships, which are great for getting experience and earning some cash at the same time. So don’t be shy — tap into these resources and see what doors they might open for you!

4. Start building your professional online presence early

Having a professional online presence can give you an edge in your job search, even as a teen. While you may not have extensive work experience yet, you can still create a basic LinkedIn profile highlighting your skills, academic achievements, and extracurricular activities.

You can also follow companies you’re interested in working for to keep tabs on their job postings.

Methodology

To identify the best-paying jobs for teens in 2026, we analyzed occupational data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, focusing on median hourly wage and the estimated number of teens (ages 16–19) employed in each role.

We limited the list to occupations where teens are employed in meaningful numbers and where entry-level positions are realistically accessible without a college degree. Jobs were ranked by median hourly wage. The part-time friendly list was compiled separately, using the same dataset filtered for roles commonly available in casual, shift-based, or self-arranged formats.

Sources

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey
• ZipRecruiter, Teenage Babysitter Salaries

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