Looking for ideas for summer jobs for teens? I’ve compiled some of my favorite ideas to help you get your creative wheels turning!
You might also be interested in 5 Work-at-Home Jobs for Beginners and Over 40 Different Income-Earning Ideas.
Summer Jobs for Teens
Recently, a follower asked me if I had any ideas for some good summer jobs for teens. I asked my Facebook followers for their suggestions and they did not disappoint.
You can read the entire post with over 200+ comments here. I’ve picked some of what I felt like were some of the best summer jobs for teens submitted.
Hopefully this list will at least give you some ideas if you’re looking for some great summer jobs for your teen (or jobs they can do year-round!)
1. Tutor
Of all the suggestions submitted, this one was the top one suggested! Michelle said: “Tutor!!! Summer us great time to offer reading tutoring. There are lesson plans out there and it is a great way to make $$$.”
2. Teach Music Lessons
Andrea says: “My friend’s teenage daughter was an accomplished piano player by the time she was in high school and gave lessons as her ‘after school job’ to young kids/beginners. She taught my daughter for over a year. She did her lessons at the children’s homes and it was perfect – she didn’t have to have a ‘studio’ of her own and none of us parents had to worry about shuttling our kids somewhere for lessons!!”
By the way, this was something I did as a teen. I taught violin to a number of different students and it was such a good learning and growing experience for me! Oh and parents especially love if you’re willing to drive to their house and teach the lessons!
3. Pet Sit/Walk Dogs
Geri said: “My daughters both did pet sitting in their teens. They sat for everything from boa constrictors and hissing cockroaches to dogs and cats. They even took care of goats, chickens, cows, horses and other livestock. Not a skill set every teen has, but they grew up on our farm caring for our animals.”
If you love animals, you could also consider working for your local vet. Shannon said, “As a teen, I worked for my local vet clinic cleaning cages, walking dogs, washing laundry, mopping floors, etc. That turned into occasional and then part-time admin work plus assisting vets on house calls as I was just available and willing to learn. Got to interact with so many people and their pets!”
4. Referee Sports Games
This is one that we’re looking into having Kathrynne possibly do. Camille said: “My kids referee soccer. They could take the class once they turned 12. It’s been a great experience for all 3 of mine. They are responsible for submitting their availability online, accepting games, and communicating with their assignor.”
Andrea said: “My 14-year-old and 12-year-old referee soccer games! They don’t have time to earn as much as a regular job, but my 14-year-old bought himself his own computer after just a couple months of work last summer.”
Tracy also posted and said: “My 15-year-old has been doing this for 2 years. It is pretty decent income for that age. Having thick skin to ignore the fans helps.”
5. Babysit (& clean a little, too!)
Of course you knew this one had to be on the list! But take note of Melissa’s tip: “Babysitting will absolutely pay the most. If she interacts with the children, does the dishes and tidies up the house she’ll be in more demand and will earn more.”
And Celena said: “I have a hard time finding sitters who do more than the bare minimum. When I babysat in college, I always got massive tips and had people calling me all the time. I never understood why until I hired my first babysitter and came home after a late night out to a super messy house, dinner dishes still in the sink, and the sitter on the couch on her phone. Argh.”
I 100% agree! Go above and beyond and leave the house cleaner than you found it and you will likely have more jobs than you can take!
6. Wash Windows
Danna commented: “I’m a merit badge counselor for Boy Scouts in Entrepreneurship. I recently taught a merit badge clinic and one of the boys in the clinic runs a very successful business. He’s 14 and he washes windows. He started on his own house and his neighbors’ houses when he was 11. He advertises using referrals and NextDoor.com to keep jobs close to his home. At 14 he has 2 employees and makes about $400 a weekend that he works.
7. Teach Classes
Have a skill you are good at or passionate about? Consider teaching a class for younger kids!
Hollie suggested this and said: “My daughter and her friend started a cooking class for kids ages 7-12. They did the class 3 times a week for 45 min to 1 hour. Kids could do a week or all 6 weeks. Each day was a different recipe/technique. All recipes were mom approved. They had a good turnout and really enjoyed themselves.”
A Few Bonus Ideas
Sell things you get for free: “My brother, last summer when he was 14, collected free things off of Facebook groups and Craigslist. He needed help from my mom to go collect the items, but when he got them home he cleaned them up and did his own yard sale/sold some things online. With the money he made, he was able to pay for a summer trip. He and my mom also like to do that by going to the thrift store. It’s amazing what you can find to resell. -Jaclyn”
Sell photos: “Also, if she has access to a smart phone, she can take and upload her photos to an app called “foap.” People who want digital images (like for blogs or small businesses, etc.) can buy a license to use her photos she uploads. Foap splits the purchase 50/50 and generally each license is $10 so she’d earn $5 per license sold. If one photo sells 20 licenses, that’s $100 in her pocket. -Crystal”
Become a Lifeguard: “My son got certified at the local YMCA and is a Life Guard. He is able to have a flexible schedule with school and the swim team. Works well for him. -Julie”
What other ideas for good summer jobs for teens would you add to my list?
