Are you looking for ways to earn money as a teenager? Since you are a teenager, you may have trouble making ends meet. You will need money to buy food, clothing, fun, and transportation.
As living expenses rise, you may be looking for ways to fund those costs (Happy birthday!). Fortunately, there are numerous ways to make money as a teenager aside from gift cards and birthday and holiday cash or gifts.
Why you should make money as a teenager
Even if you do not earn a paycheck, it is still a good idea to save money. Even if you generally spend your income on enjoyable events or fashionable clothing, there is an opportunity to do so.
If you make an effort to keep a portion of your paycheck, it will grow over the years. Compounding interest will cause you to reach your financial goals sooner.
It seems like a rather small amount of money is not worth saving, but saving anything helps. These earnings might be the start of your retirement nest egg or help you fund your college tuition in the future.
If you start saving early, you could have millions of dollars in savings by the time you retire as long as you save only small amounts. Imagine how nice it would be to have so much money! Remember to keep a budget as a teen, too!
How to make money as a teenager: 25 Ideas
What are the best paying jobs for teenagers? Take a look at our list of suggestions and find something that piques your interest. Pick something that interests you and get started today. As you earn money, it’s vital to increase your financial literacy as a teenager as well!
1. Start a blog
Blogging is a fun way to make money as a teenager. You can write about any subject you like. Blogging is not an easy way to make money, but it can be fun. It’s a popular work-from-home job that can potentially earn you money online.
It may take some time before you start to turn a profit off your blog posts, but that can be a profitable income stream once you get going. You can use affiliate marketing and Google Ads to earn some income from your articles once they begin bringing in some money.
To get started, you need an internet connection and a list of domain names for your blog. However, you only need to buy one and have prior experience with online platforms for marketing purposes.
Be prepared to make frequent content for a growing audience. If you are interested in learning how to start a blog, please read our blog post about starting a blog.
2. Tutor younger kids
If you have excelled at a certain subject, then it is time to put your book smarts to the test. Many parents are searching high and low for a tutor to help their child pass a class. If you have expertise in a particular field, share that expertise with those around you.
Just ask nearby parents if their children would profit from a tutor. You can also post signs around the neighborhood to draw more attention to the tutoring program. As you begin hearing from prospective customers, be sure to talk to your parents before meeting up.
You can tutor in person or online. Whichever way works better for you and the families you are tutoring for is the correct way to go.
3. Work at a restaurant part-time
If you’re a young worker, eating establishments are always looking for help with their various tasks, such as cashiering or serving. You can earn extra money at fast-food restaurants or sit-down restaurants if you become a server or hostess. Other positions at include chef, busboy, waitress, and more.
Depending on the setup, you can make minimum wage or be able to earn tips. In any case, you will build your resume while earning a paycheck. Many employers offer free or discounted food to their employees as well.
4. Provide lawn and landscaping services
Landscaping is a great way to earn income as a teenager! Many people too busy or not wanting to maintain their yards care for it. It is hard work that you can turn into a lucrative business. Mowing the grass is just one example of an easy service to offer in your free time.
You might also plant garden beds, weed flower gardens, rake leaves, clean up after their dog, or water their landscaping. Be creative based upon the lawns in your local area. This is a good way to earn money as a teenager without a job, as it allows you to get working and earning income right away.
5. Provide snow services as one of your side gigs
If you live in a cold area, snow can be a huge business. Many individuals usually refrain from clearing the snow from their driveway. Some even want you to shovel snow in their driveway or parking spot.
You can use the need to shovel driveways, sidewalks, and so on to set up a daily rotation of clients so you never run out of snow to shovel. Set up a routine rotation so that you always have clients available to fulfill that need.
6. Offer babysitting services (A great way to make money as a teenager)
Babysitting is very easy to break into. A great place to start is with friends in the family. If you do a good job, they will pass the word around the neighborhood.
You will be surprised at how much you can earn as a dependable babysitter. A normal wage is $10 per hour plus $3 for each additional child.
Many parents provide a lunch to a babysitter. Another chance like babysitting is a parent helper, which is considered one of the best ideas for teens wondering how to make money over the summer with no job.
The host would be home when you are helping out around the apartment. That might include anything from entertaining the kids to folding laundry. It can be quite fun to bring a child around while you are not used to handling them. To find out the best places to start, you can use sites such as care.com and sittercity.com.
7. Start a photography or video editing business
Do you have a knack for photography or video editing? You could be a good candidate for a job as a bagger if you deliver photographs of an event or edit photographs taken by a client. You can learn how to do this but aren’t sure how by starting with a Youtube video and watching photography tutorials.
Now is the time to brush up on your video-editing skills and earn some extra money. Photography and video editing are among the best-paying jobs for teenagers.
8. Become a DJ
Although this may be expensive to acquire the equipment, embarking on a musical career is quite easy. Think of the many events who need a DJ for their party. Your friends have similar meals to yours.
If you’re able to maintain a party going smoothly and want to learn how to earn money as a teenager, this could be a great opportunity to earn some extra cash. You can post flyers or tell your friends about your new gig.
9. Coach little league sports
Coaching little league sports can be a fun way to earn extra money. There are many leagues that hire seasoned players to coach the next generation. Not only will you earn some extra cash, but you will also become an inspiration to a whole group of lesser leaguers.
You might be as busy as you want to be. In addition, days can be unscheduled.
10. Become a golf caddy
Being a golf caddy allows you to enjoy the game more. If you drive around another caddy’s bag, you can learn a lot more about golfing. It can be fun to network with people in the neighborhood. Start by searching out golf clubs in your area and reaching out about getting a job.
11. Make money as a teenager working in retail
Although retail work is not typically glamorous, it is a great way to make an income. Many retail jobs require working the cash register, stocking shelves, and speaking with customers. When I was a cashier in retail as a teenager, my least favorite part of the job was dealing with customers.
However, I learned what I didn’t like about work in the retail sector after observing at a local supermarket. Many entry-level positions start at the minimum wage and feature considerable growth potential. Some companies offer financial assistance for full-time employees.
You could research larger businesses to find one that provides that benefit. You might transfer to a different store if you go to college. Retail is an excellent job if you want to learn to make money as a teenager quickly and straightforwardly.
12. Work at the gym
You can also work out at the gym if you already spend a lot of time there exercising. Many gyms will let you work out for free as an employee. In addition to the many generous benefits that include your gym membership, you can also earn a paycheck.
Don’t limit yourself to ordinary gyms. Also, check out other types of sports venues. In high school, I worked as a tennis instructor at the tennis club at which I had played for many years. I enjoyed the work with the people I already knew and got along with and got a buzz from helping people improve their game.
These facilities are often thought of as a soft introduction to work.
13. Offer pet sitting services as a fun way to make money as a teenager
Pet sitting is a fun way to make money as a teenager. Many people need pet sitting services for a variety of reasons.
Whether they need someone to walk their dog in the afternoon or watch their cat all week, pet sitting can be stimulating work, and it is short-term, so you don’t need to commit to a huge undertaking that will take up much of your time.
It’s an excellent way to make money as a teenager without a job, since you can pet sit even if you do not yet have a driver’s license.
This is a great way to meet new friends and be paid if you love animals. You can meet clients by talking to your neighbors, through word of mouth, local vet clinics, or on websites like rover.com.
Please make sure you get a copy of the book, The Side Hustle Guide!
14. Become a house sitter
Just like pet sitting, individuals need someone to watch them when they are out of town. This could include collecting the mail and watering plants. Some patients want you to remain at their home while they are out of town.
Other people just want you to stop by every now and then. The best place to begin the business is with relatives. As you become more experienced, spread the word via flyers and referrals.
If you perform well, you’ll receive good feedback that you can pass on to future clients. House sitting is one of the most lucrative jobs for teenagers that is easy to do.
15. Clean out garages
Many people need your help if you have a talent for organizing. With overflowing garages across the U.S., you can clean up their junk for cash.
So choose a flat fee for your labor. You may want to charge based on the square footage of the garage or the number of boxes you may have to go through.
16. Wash cars in your neighborhood
Cars can be expensive investments. Many people do not have time to properly maintain their vehicles. Washing cars is a great way to earn money quickly. You can charge more if you bring your services to the customers. It’s a great way of how to make money as a teenager without a job.
As long as the customer has a water spigot, you can take your services anywhere. Bring soap, rags, along with other cleaning materials with you!
17. Become a summer camp counselor
If you’re a summer-only worker, camp counselor is an excellent option. Your role will be to work with a wide variety of children all summer long. It can be fun to get a group of kids.
18. Become a lifeguard
Becoming a lifeguard requires specialized training. You will need to get certified, but it may be a terrific income source for a teenager. Most lifeguards receive above minimum wage because they handle a lot of responsibility. For that reason, it’s one of the best-paying jobs for teenagers.
19. Get a job at a theme park
Theme parks can be a lot of fun, even as an employee. Although it is work, it may be more enjoyable in a theme park setting. Plus, many theme parks offer free tickets for their employees. So not only is it a nice way to earn money as a teenager, but it also has great benefits as well!
20. Teach kids how to code
Coding is a valuable skill. If you specialize in coding, you can make a lot of money while teaching younger children how to code. Many parents are eager to pay top dollar for their children to learn this skill.
21. Sell food at the farmers’ market
Are you an excellent baker? Consider setting up a shop at the farmers’ market. You can learn the art of baking and earn money as an adolescent while teaching others your craft.
You’ll also be responsible for your incomes by working as a baker instead of a wage earner. Instead of receiving a regular paycheck, you’ll be able to run your own bakery based on your baking expertise.
22. Flip items to make money as a teenager quickly
Flipping items is a great way to earn income as a teenager. It is highly lucrative. You can ask your parents if there are any items they would like to sell and offer you a commission from.
Then use that extra money and buy even more products to sell for more cash. Products such as electronics, books, game systems, and DVDs can be sold at low prices to start. You can work on this schedule and sell items on Facebook and Instagram’s Marketplace or eBay.
23. Make stuff and sell it on Etsy
If you enjoy crafts and are crafty, you can make some extra money selling them. For example, you can make customized stationery, bath and beauty products, jewelry, and other goods. You can easily earn money and have fun, making this one of the highest-paid jobs for teenagers.
24. Start vlogging
If you’re camera-shy, then you can make a great amount of money by vlogging. You can set up a vlog on YouTube and earn money by making videos.
Do you know how to apply makeup? You can make video tutorials and train others to look good. You could even coach people how to play soccer or guitar.
There are a lot of opportunities for vlogging on YouTube, so start earning from your talent and advertise them on social media.
25. Sell clothes on Poshmark (A simple way to make money as a teenager!)
Selling clothes on Poshmark is a way to earn money as a teenager quickly! Do you have a pile of clothes you don’t wear? Then sell them for a quick profit. You can start selling clothes as a side-hustle to make extra money each month.
26. Become a social media manager for businesses
If you love social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok and you know how to use these platforms well, why not get paid for your skills?
Now you know how to make money as a teenager, here’s what to do with it!
So, now you know how to make money as a teenager. However, it is best not to spend it all in one place. Yes, it is fine to enjoy a portion of it and spend money on fun luxuries while in high school.
But a small savings can go a long way. Your future self will thank you if you make an effort to save a portion of every paycheck.
Save up money to pay for college
Student aid programs are available to assist with the expense of higher education. However, a student loan can have a negative effect on your future finances. Those loans can take a long time to pay off.
Save as much of your money as possible so that you can at least partially fund your college education. If you can avoid paying student loans, that is even better. Even if you do not reduce your student loans, it is still worthwhile.
Buy a car in cash
A car payment can be a substantial investment, especially for your teenager. You don’t know where your life will take you, but a car payment will hold you back in unexpected ways. Consider saving up to buy a car solely in cash.
Shop for used vehicles to get a good deal. You don’t need the latest model, just four wheels, and a good engine. When looking for the best vehicle, be sure to research ways to save on your other car expenses, such as insurance and repairs.
Create an emergency fund
Part of learning how to get money is learning how to save some of it. An emergency fund can help you get through hard times and make more space in your bank account for unexpected expenses.
Sadly, we do not know when these times of hardship will occur, but we want to make sure that we will be ready when they do. Build an emergency fund so that you can have peace of mind during difficult times.
Invest for the long term
You can start investing with your 20s, and your money has decades to grow into a massive fortune. You may become a millionaire sooner than you might think if you invest in your teens. Now is the time to start investing.
If you are new to investing, consider signing up for our free income training course package. Our ideas for investing with very little money are also worth checking.
Why you should start building passive income side hustles as a teen
Passive income helps you to make money, even possibly as a full-time occupation, but without having to work all the time. The sooner you start building passive income sources, the better off you will be.
You may be able to save and prepare for your future by preparing and saving now. As you get older, it will be even more important to dedicate more time to your education.
How to make money as a teenager and jumpstart your future financial success!
It’s a great idea to start working as a teenager. When you receive your very first paycheck, you’ll have a smile on your face. You can make smart money moves with your income, which will subsequently lead to greater financial security in future years.
