It’s not always easy to find a job as a teenager. Many jobs have age or experience requirements that you might not meet.
In addition, you need to manage schoolwork, extracurriculars, and your social life. Finding a position that fits your schedule and pays decently can be challenging.
Fortunately, there are still plenty of opportunities for teens to make some extra money and gain valuable experience, both in-person and online.
Jobs for teenagers: best overall
We scoured the internet for the best teen jobs that offer decent pay, are willing to hire young workers without experience, and just might be enjoyable.
Here are 14 good first jobs for teenagers to start gaining working experience:
1. Babysitter
Babysitting is one of the easiest jobs to get as a teenager because there’s no age requirement, you can set your own rate, and it fits well into a busy schedule.
And if you don’t have much experience working with kids, try starting with older kids as they tend to be easier to care for and can communicate their needs and routine to you better.
One way to get even more work as a babysitter is to add a CPR certification to your babysitter resume so parents feel even more at ease leaving their children in your care.
Average pay: The average pay for a babysitter is $22.68 per hour for one child. However, your pay rate will differ depending on where you live, the number of children, and how much experience you have.
Ask around among family members and neighbors. There’s a good chance someone you know needs a reliable babysitter, or can recommend you to someone who does.
2. Ice cream shop worker
Working at a local ice cream shop is a fun and easy job for teens. You may have to deal with the occasional cranky toddler, but generally it’s an enjoyable job that teaches you valuable skills you can use later in your career. Plus, you get to serve something that makes people happy.
Average pay: At an average of about $12 per hour, ice cream shop worker salaries are at the lower end of this list, but it’s also one of the easiest jobs we’ve included.
Check if these ice cream shops that hire teens have open positions in your area:
3. Restaurant host or food runner
In the restaurant industry, hosts and food runners are some of the most entry-level positions, and very rarely require past work experience – which makes them ideal first jobs for teenagers.
As a host, you’ll be responsible for making sure the restaurant runs smoothly by keeping track of reservations, greeting guests, and getting them seated. Food runners assist servers and other restaurant staff by carrying plates and trays of food out to tables and bussing tables as needed.
As long as you’re responsible and have reliable transportation, most restaurants will be willing to train you in these roles without prior experience.
Include a personable introduction on your hostess resume to immediately show employers you’re a warm and friendly person.
Average pay: Typically bussers make a minimum hourly wage. However, you might get a percentage of servers’ tips on top of your hourly rate, so it’s possible to make more depending where you work.
Check if these restaurants that hire teens have open positions in your area:
4. Dog walker
Love dogs? Confident that you could handle more than one at a time? Then a position as a dog walker is the perfect fit for you.
Dog walking requires no work experience and has flexible hours, making it a good job for teens.
However, dog walking jobs are more common in urban areas, and you may need to do some shadowing or an interview before people trust you with their pets. This means that dog walking has a bigger barrier to entry than some other jobs on this list.
Average pay: The average salary for a dog walker is $17.79 per hour, making it one of the better paying jobs for teens.
5. Tutor
Straight-A student? Then a job as a tutor might be the best option for you.
Helping younger students with their homework is a great way to put what you’ve studied to good use and make some extra money. Additionally, tutoring is usually done after school, helping it fit nicely into any teenager’s schedule.
One of the easiest ways to show that you’re qualified to teach other students is by listing your GPA on your tutor resume.
Average pay: Tutors make an average amount of $19.40 per hour. However, this will vary depending on your experience and the minimum wage in your state.
Let friends, family, and neighbors know that you’re available for tutoring. You can also ask if you can post flyers at your local library or community center.
6. Grocery store cashier or stocker
Working in a supermarket or grocery store makes a great first job for teens because they offer good pay for the work you do, and usually have flexible shifts to suit your schedule.
Both of these positions require no experience and are commonly staffed by teenagers. If you’re younger (14 to 16 years old) you’re probably better off starting as a bagger or stocker.
But if you think you’re cut out to operate the cash register, then cashier positions typically pay slightly better. Just be sure to emphasize your math and customer service skills on your resume for a grocery store cashier position.
Average pay: The average wage for a supermarket cashier is about $10.75 per hour, but in states with higher minimum wages, you might make more.
Check if these grocery stores that hire teens have open positions in your area:
7. Fast food worker
While working at McDonald’s or Subway isn’t glamorous, a position as a fast-food worker comes with a reliable paycheck and flexible shifts. Additionally, fast food restaurants frequently hire teenagers who are still in school, so you don’t need previous experience to apply.
Fast food restaurants are also notoriously fast-paced environments, which is sure to give you some good time management skills for your future career.
If you’ve got your eye on a more senior-level position at a fast food restaurant, you’ll need a fast food resume that highlights your experience and skills.
Average pay: The average pay for an entry-level fast food worker is $15.07 per hour, and will vary depending on your state’s minimum wage.
Check if these fast food restaurants that hire teens have open positions in your area:
8. Landscaper
If you don’t mind physical labor, landscaping is a great summer job for teens because it requires no former work experience and pays relatively well.
Work as a landscaper can include anything from mowing your neighbor’s lawn to working with a professional landscaping company. However, the more professional landscaping jobs typically require prior experience or some kind of connection with the hiring manager.
When filling out an entry-level resume template for a landscaping job you should focus on any relevant skills you’ve picked up, whether through volunteer work or odd jobs.
Average pay: The average hourly rate for a landscaper is $17.6.
The most common way for teenagers to find landscaping jobs is by offering their services to nearby households. You can also ask local landscaping companies if they hire teenagers to do yard work.
9. Golf caddy
Live near a country club and interested in golf? Then a position as a caddy might be a good starting job for you.
While caddies are less common now at public golf courses, country clubs still frequently hire teens as caddies. This job involves helping club members carry their bag, cleaning their clubs, and calculating their yardage to the pin.
Although caddy jobs are hard to come by, they can pay very well, and are a good first job for a teenager, especially one who’s passionate about golf.
Average pay: The majority of a caddy’s pay comes from tips, which adds up to an average rate of $30 per hour. This makes a position as a caddy one of the highest paying jobs for teens.
Go to your nearest country club and ask if they have any job openings for teenagers. Showing up in person is better than calling because it creates a memorable first impression.
10. Movie theater worker
Working at a movie theater can be a fun job for teens, especially if you enjoy seeing movies in your free time.
While you’ll probably make minimum wage, movie theater workers get perks like free snacks, soda, and movie tickets. Plus, the work itself is pretty easy.
Average pay: The average rate for movie theater workers is roughly $12 per hour.
Check if these movie theaters that hire teens have open positions in your area:
11. Personal shopper
Shopping for other people requires no prior experience and typically is done on a freelance schedule. This makes personal shopping an ideal side hustle for teenagers.
As a personal shopper, you’ll be assisting clients by giving product recommendations, offering advice, and making purchases.
There are many different types of personal shoppers. While the more professional personal shoppers help clients buy clothing, you can also help people buy groceries, furniture, or other types of items.
Average pay: Personal shoppers make about $16 per hour. However, if you’re working through an app, you’ll make closer to $7-$10 for each order you complete.
Check if these stores that hire teens have open positions in your area:
You can also offer your services to neighbors and family members, or through apps like Instacart.
12. Barista
If you’re a coffee lover or just want to learn a new skill, then a job as a barista might be a great first job for you.
Aside from some on-the-job training, working as a barista at most coffee shops requires no prior experience, making it a good job for teenagers.
Average pay: The average pay for baristas is about $14 per hour.
Check if these coffee shops that hire teens have open positions in your area:
13. Retail sales associate
Retail businesses are often happy to hire hard-working teenagers in need of some extra cash.
Additionally, retail experience is a great addition to your resume because working as a sales associate helps you develop great customer service skills.
If you want a job in retail, you should highlight your people skills on your retail sales associate resume.
Average pay: Retail sales associates make about $14.06 per hour on average — relatively high pay for a teenage job.
Next time you’re at the mall, visit your favorite store and ask if they’re looking for sales associates, or apply to these stores that hire teens:
14. Library assistant
If you love to read, working as a library assistant is a great opportunity to discover new authors while practicing your customer service skills.
Depending on the specific needs of the library, you’ll get to help with anything from checking in and out materials to giving your best book recommendations.
Average pay: The average pay for a library assistant in the US is $14.49 per hour.
Check with your local library to see if they have any open positions for library assistants.
Best online jobs for teens
Can’t fit a part time job into your schedule or just want to avoid having to interact with other people? There are plenty of jobs online that teenagers can do.
Here are 5 good online jobs for teens:
1. Online tutor
If you prefer to work from the comfort of your room, online tutoring can be a great option for making some extra money.
Many online tutoring websites require tutors to be at least 18 years old, so you’ll need to get creative with marketing your tutoring services if you’re not a legal adult.
Try creating a social media account dedicated to your tutoring services and give some fun examples of what types of lessons and activities your students can expect. You can also check out sites like Care.com to get connected with families looking for an online tutor.
2. Proofreader
If you have excellent grammar and an eye for detail, proofreading can be a great way to make some extra money online.
Companies and individuals need people with strong writing skills to review their work, especially if they’re not native English speakers.
Consider signing up for freelancing sites like Freelancer and start by offering a slightly lower rate than competitors so you can build your profile. As you gain more experience, you can raise your rates accordingly.
3. Data entry clerk
Many companies need freelancers to do simple data entry tasks for them. These tasks could be anything from organizing spreadsheets to transcribing documents.
As long as you understand the software needed for the job, there’s no experience or degree requirements, making freelance data entry a good position for teenagers. Typically, you can expect to earn $10 to $15 per hour as a freelance data entry specialist.
Make sure to read the job description carefully before taking a position. Sometimes data entry requires you to be experienced with programs such as Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets.
You can often find freelance data entry jobs on freelancer sites like Upwork. Just search for “data entry” and you’ll get a list of available jobs.
4. Freelance designer or digital asset creator
If you enjoy basic graphic design, you can use your skills to sell digital assets. In-demand digital assets include:
- Custom digital art (think pet portraits)
- Printable planners, calendars, to-do lists, coloring books, and more
- Logos
- Graphics for social media posts
It’s a good idea to research the competition to figure out a good starting price for your designs. You should also try to think of a unique angle or feature that you can offer to stand out.
Many freelance designers get started on Fiverr. It’s a good way to practice your design skills and start building your client base.
5. Streamer or vlogger
If you have a niche topic you’re interested in (anything from crafting to gaming to music), streaming or vlogging your hobbies can be a fun way to make some extra money.
The amount of money you make on streaming services is directly impacted by ad revenue, so you need to be seen first to make money. To grow your audience when you’re just starting out, consistency is key — make sure you’re able to set aside enough time each week to regularly produce content.
How to get a good job as a teenager
The biggest obstacle to getting work as a teen is finding a position you’re qualified for and convincing the hiring manager that you’re the right person for the job (even though your resume has no experience).
Fortunately, these obstacles are easily overcome with a little effort. Here are three tips for job hunting as a teenager:
Use job boards
To find employers in your area looking for entry level employees, use an online job board like Indeed, Monster, or Glassdoor. On Indeed, simply type “teen” into the search bar, select your city, and click the “Find jobs” button:
This search will pull up a list of any job that hires teenagers, from fast food positions to dishwashers:
You can also adjust the distance on Indeed to find something even closer to where you live. Or you’re able to cast a wider net if you’re struggling to find anything within your area.
Small businesses are less likely to post job openings online, so try visiting in person to ask if they need an extra pair of hands.
Perfect your resume
Most jobs require a resume to apply, even if they’re hiring for an entry level position.
If you’re like most teenagers, you probably don’t have any professional experience yet, so writing a resume can seem impossible. Luckily, writing a good teen resume doesn’t have to be hard.
Instead of focusing on work experience, fill out your resume with your:
Here’s an example of a resume for a high school student that’s good enough to get them a job:
Include a cover letter with your application
A cover letter is an important part of your job application if you’re applying for work directly with a company. Not all companies require you to write a cover letter, but it’s recommended that you submit one regardless.
As a teenager, it’s your opportunity to show employers that you have qualities that will make you a great employee, despite lacking work experience.
Some topics you can cover in your letter include:
- Relevant non-work related experience
- Why you’re enthusiastic about the job or company
- Relevant skills you have
- Academic achievements that prove your work ethic
Here’s an example of a well-written body paragraph on a high school student cover letter:
“Through my volunteer work at a local animal shelter, I developed my customer service skills by helping and talking with visitors. I also worked with other volunteers on a project to clean up a park by planting flowers and picking up trash. These experiences taught me the importance of teamwork, staying on task, and helping the community.”
This paragraph highlights skills that will help this teen land a job that requires them to work on a team and deal with customers on a daily basis, for example in retail.
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