As a teenager, you probably need extra cash to save for college or go out with friends.
There are a plethora of jobs for teens available. Fortunately, we’ve gathered a list of the 11 best-paying jobs for teenagers and how to find places near you that are hiring, so you won’t have to search the web endlessly for a job.
If you’re thinking about what job to do after high school, there are plenty of interesting and high-paying jobs without a degree needed—perfect for those interested in vocational school and other alternatives to college.
11 high-paying jobs for teens
Here are 11 good, high-paying jobs you can find as a teenager:
1. Golf caddy
Average hourly pay: $15 according to Zippia
Age restrictions: at least 14 years old
If you’re passionate about golf, caddies can make upward of $50 an hour on tips, which is great money for teenagers. Additionally, because of the relatively low age restriction (only 14 years old), you can enter the industry at an early age.
Your two primary responsibilities will be carrying your golfer’s equipment (clubs, etc.) and cleaning them after each use. But to be a good golf caddy, a solid understanding of the sport is needed because you’ll be expected to:
- Provide advice on which golf clubs to use, according to weather, terrain, etc.
- Understand the topography of the golf course (for example, where the potential traps and bodies of water are)
- Calculate the distance between markers and holes
- Know where the ball is at all times (even after it’s been hit)
- Be familiar with golf terminology and jargon
- Thoroughly understand the rules of the game
- Tidy up the course after each use
If you’re interested in golf, being a caddy is a promising career for a teenager. You’ll find the job interesting, enjoyable, and a fun way to earn money.
2. Barista
Average hourly pay: $12 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Age restrictions: at least 16 years old
Love coffee? Then a job as a barista is a great way to turn your interest into money.
As a barista, you’ll be responsible for pouring coffee and making espresso-based drinks for customers, such as lattes and macchiatos. Depending on the type of coffee shop you work in, you might also be trained to master (or at least know the basics) of making latte art.
If you have an interest in the art of making coffee and love chatting with regular customers, being a barista will be an easy, high-paying job for you as a teenager.
Most coffee shops accept tips, meaning you’ll usually make your hourly wage plus have extra cash to take home each day.
3. Tutor
Average hourly pay: $17 according to Zippia
Age restrictions: None
If you’re a teenager that’s spent many years studying a particular subject, pay yourself back for your hard work by getting a tutor position.
Being a tutor doesn’t necessarily require you to be hired by a company. However, it does require you to be knowledgeable about a certain subject, to the extent that people would pay you to teach them about it.
If you’re in high school, you can be hired as a tutor by your school. Alternatively, there are plenty of online tutoring websites where you can find clients from the comfort of your house.
4. Landscaping
Average hourly pay: $16 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Age restrictions: Depends on your state
As long as people own homes and start businesses, they’ll need people to tend to their lawns, bushes, and trees.
Landscaping can be an ideal type of job for a teenager. You’ll stay active, be outside, and have an avenue to make regular customers and grow your business. Additionally, it pays very well compared to most minimum wage jobs.
The only issue is that landscaping can require machinery and pesticides, which (depending on your state) might have regulations on teens handling them.
It’s best first to check the laws within your state regarding landscaping if you’re still under 18. You’ll also need to invest in the necessary tools, such as a lawnmower and weed wacker (unless you’re working for a company that provides them).
5. Pet sitting & dog walking
Average hourly pay: $14 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Age restrictions: None
Do you enjoy being around pets? If so, pet sitting could be ideal for you as a teenager. Plus, because it’s not an officially regulated business in the U.S., there are no age restrictions imposed on earning money through walking dogs or looking after other people’s animals.
However, because pet sitting isn’t regulated, it’s also harder to establish an “official” pay range or hourly agreed-upon rate. Make sure you negotiate your pay before looking after someone’s dog or cat.
As a pet sitter, you’ll be expected to walk, feed, and play with someone’s pet for an agreed-upon time. The best part is that pet sitting requires no formal experience. You’re likely more than qualified if you’re responsible and already have a dog or cat.
6. Hotel housekeeping
Average hourly pay: $14 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Age restrictions: at least 16 years old
Because of its relatively young age barrier (16 years old) and no formal educational requirements, hotel housekeeping can be an excellent way to earn extra income as a teenager when you’re still in high school.
As a hotel housekeeper, you’ll be expected to:
- Make beds
- Clean and disinfect rooms
- Change towels and toiletries
- Vacuum floors
You also might be tasked with ensuring the lobby area, meetings rooms, and conference areas are all clean and tidy.
Most housekeeping jobs also pay above minimum wage, making it a good option for teens looking for a higher-paying first job.
7. Babysitter
Average hourly pay: $15 according to Zippia
Age restrictions: None
Like pet sitting, babysitting is not a regulated industry (unless a daycare center employs you). Typically, all you need is a relationship with clients (people who have kids) in your local neighborhood.
What makes babysitting a good choice for a first job as a teenager is that once you’ve established yourself as a great babysitter with parents, you’ll likely be their first pick whenever they need someone to watch their children.
Additionally, the pay is high for babysitting, and hours typically fit in with an average teenager’s schedule. This makes it a good option for any teen that feels comfortable taking care of children.
8. Kennel attendant
Average hourly pay: $13 according to ZipRecruiter
Age restrictions: None (reference your state labor laws regarding minimum working age)
Kennel assistants provide basic care to animals in veterinary clinics, hospitals, and shelters. Your responsibilities would include feeding and bathing the animals and cleaning up the kennels.
It’s essential for you to like animals and have a caring, patient personality because you’ll encounter moments that will require you to show empathy and compassion. You’ll also need some physical strength as you’ll be walking dogs and cats, lifting boxes and crates, etc.
Kennel attendants also make above minimum wage, making it a good choice if you’re looking for a high-paying job as a teen.
9. Package handler
Average hourly pay: $16 according to ZipRecruiter
Age restrictions: 18 years of age
Being a package handler can be a great way to earn extra income when you’re in high school, and its barriers to entry are low. Typically you’ll just need a clean background check and be physically fit enough to pick up boxes (typically up to 75 pounds in weight).
Packing handling is usually a part-time position. You’ll be helping out loading or sorting packages during peak times (such as Christmas & New Year). This means it can be a great way to make some money during school breaks, and likely won’t interfere with your class schedule or exams.
If you’re hired as a package handler at UPS or FexEx, it can also put you on the path to work your way up to a package delivery driver position.
10. Web designer
Average hourly pay: $23.8 according to ZipRecruiter
Age restrictions: none
If you’re talented, web design is a well-paying career for anyone, let alone a teenager.
Many young adults start their careers in web design by taking online courses, such as those found on Coursera and Codeacademy. These courses are sometimes free, so be sure to search around if you’re just beginning and don’t want to spend a lot of money.
If you’re under 18 and confident in your designer skills, you just need to find clients willing to hire you for independent projects. Websites such as Upwork cater to freelancers.
Getting started might be a bit of a struggle, but once you’ve proven your skills, people will only be concerned that you can deliver a quality product and not that you’re still a teenager.
11. Video editing
Average hourly pay: $26.1 according to ZipRecruiter
Age restrictions: None
Video editing is another great first job you can have as a teenager. Similar to web design, there are no formal age requirements if you’re working from home and doing projects for clients.
There are also many online video editing courses available that you can use to develop your editing skills further.
As a professional video editor, you can make upward of $20 an hour for your services, making it one of the best paying jobs you can get as a teenager.
How to find high-paying jobs near me
Now that you know what the best high-paying jobs are for a teenager, you might be wondering how to find positions near you that are hiring.
There are plenty of online job boards that post openings, such as Monster (now Foundit), ZipRecruiter, and Google, to name a few. Try searching through them for your desired position.
For example, on Monster, the front page will give you an option to search by job title, occupation, or even company, followed by your location:
If you’re considering getting into landscaping, web design, or video editing, creating a LinkedIn account is a great way to start networking.
It will take time, but once you’ve gathered enough connections, LinkedIn can become another job source. You’ll be able to apply for jobs directly via the website with your profile and resume.
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