As a teenager, you may be searching for ways to make money without falling behind on schoolwork and after-school activities. Luckily, there are part-time positions available for teens to gain valuable skills and work experience while making an income.
Many supervisors will work directly with teens to train them and prepare them for the duties of a part-time position. In this article, we highlight some of the best jobs for teens and identify what makes these roles good first jobs.
What types of jobs are well-suited for teens?
Since teenagers typically have school obligations for the majority of the week, part-time jobs that offer weekend and evening shifts can be a beneficial option. These jobs can be good for teens as many require little to no experience to pursue. These positions may also provide teens with the opportunity to work a flexible schedule that aligns with their schoolwork and extracurricular activities.
Pursuing these jobs as a teen can help you develop necessary soft skills as you prepare for college or full-time positions in the future. You may also gain relevant work experience to list on a resume or college application.
20 of the best jobs for teens
There is a range of positions teens can pursue based on their schedule, interests and skill sets. Some in-person positions can help you gain customer service skills, while other online positions can help teens gain technical or writing skills. Here are some of the best jobs for teens to pursue. For the most up-to-date information from Indeed Salaries, click on the salary link by each job title below:
National average salary: $9.29 per hour
Primary duties: Fast food attendants work in the fast food environment to prepare and serve food or beverages to customers. They may work behind the counter taking orders from customers in the store or at the drive-thru. Fast food attendants need to know the different ingredients of certain menu items to answer questions customers may have regarding the food. They may also clean parts of the lobby and bathroom areas, including the tables, floors, doors and windows.
National average salary: $10.17 per hour
Primary duties: A car wash attendant washes, buffs and shines cars. They will clean both the interior and exterior areas of cars in a timely and efficient manner. Other responsibilities include vacuuming inside of the car, throwing away trash, washing the exterior of cars with soap, as well as polishing and drying cars.
National average salary: $10.54 per hour
Primary duties: Kennel assistants work in animal shelters or veterinary clinics to provide care for dogs and cats. They will clean cages, groom animals, take them on walks, bathe them, give medication and feed them. They may also check-in guests who come to visit the animals or greet guests who are dropping off dogs and cats.
National average salary: $10.55 per hour
Primary duties: Grocery store cashiers will work behind a cash register to scan customer's items, bag their products, take payments and return change. Grocery store cashiers may also stock shelves, take inventory and assist customers in finding products.
National average salary: $11.19 per hour
Primary duties: A daycare assistant cares for children in daycare facilities. Daycare assistants will aid young children by changing their diapers, potty-training them, feeding them, participating in engaging activities and reading stories.
National average salary: $11.35 per hour
Primary duties: Concession stand workers serve at concession stands to provide food and drinks to people at different events. They will take beverage and food orders from guests, process payments and provide change. Concession stand workers are also in charge of keeping the concession stand area clean and presentable.
National average salary: $11.42 per hour
Primary duties: Restaurant servers write down customers' orders and then serve them their food. They are also responsible for making sure customers are enjoying their experience and will bring them food, beverages, condiments or other requests. Servers may also escort guests to their seats if hosts aren't available, clean and wipe down tables and prepare customers' checks.
National average salary: $11.55 per hour
Primary duties: Restaurant hosts and hostesses greet customers as they enter the restaurant and lead them to their tables. They are often responsible for seating guests at the table of their preference while also making sure servers receive a fair amount of customers in each of their sections. Other responsibilities can include answering any customer questions, taking phone calls and making reservations.
9. Barista
National average salary: $11.59 per hour
Primary duties: A barista works in a coffee shop to make coffee-related beverages for customers. They will follow and memorize specific recipes to create appetizing drinks. Other responsibilities of baristas include greeting customers, answering any questions they may have about the menu, taking inventory and maintaining a clean lobby area for customers.
10. Lifeguard
National average salary: $11.81 per hour
Primary duties: Lifeguards work at pools, beaches or aquatic centers to ensure the safety of guests swimming in the water. Other responsibilities include scanning the aquatic area to ensure swimmers are following safety guidelines and saving drowning or struggling swimmers. They are trained and certified in proper safety procedures, CPR and first aid. Lifeguards must also pass exams testing their swimming abilities.
National average salary: $11.94 per hour
Primary duties: Retail sales associates work in a store to greet customers, sell products and answer any questions. They are also responsible for assisting customers with any needs, exchanging or returning products, taking inventory and making sure the store is clean and presentable throughout the day.
12. Camp counselor
National average salary: $12.65 per hour
Primary duties: Camp counselors work with campers to ensure they are safe and have an enjoyable experience. They will often work at camps in the summer and coordinate with other counselors to plan activities and events to engage campers. Other responsibilities include making sure campers are following rules and guidelines, resolving any issues between campers and cleaning parts of the camp facilities.
13. House cleaner
National average salary: $13.20 per hour
Primary duties: House cleaners ensure a home or specific rooms in a house are properly cleaned. Common tasks can include sweeping, vacuuming, washing and drying clothes, dusting, cleaning bathtubs and toilets, wiping down counters and washing dishes.
National average salary: $13.24 per hour
Primary duties: Library assistants will work with visitors in libraries to help find books and check them out. They will also assist librarians in taking inventory, shelving books and digitizing printed files or older documents.
National average salary: $13.64 per hour
Primary duties: Landscape laborers work on outdoor properties to help enhance their features and make them more visually appealing. They will use tools to mow lawns, spread fertilizer, trim trees, water plants and clip bushes. Landscape laborers will perform any other maintenance tasks requested by property owners.
16. Dog walker
National average salary: $15.23 per hour
Primary duties: Dog walkers walk and care for dogs while their owners are away. They will ensure dogs receive enough exercise, are safely walked to and from their homes and get food and water. Dog walkers may need to walk dogs in every weather condition at designated times every day.
17. Babysitter
National average salary: $16.13 per hour
Primary duties: Babysitters watch and care for children while the child's parents are away. They may be responsible for tasks like feeding, transporting and bathing children. Babysitters and nannies may participate in courses to become certified in CPR or first aid practices to provide advanced care to children in case of emergency.
18. Delivery driver
National average salary: $16.81 per hour
Primary duties: Delivery drivers pick up various packages or food items and deliver them to specified locations. They are often responsible for safely delivering packages or food items without damaging the contents inside. Delivery drivers ensure items are delivered in a timely and efficient manner.
19. Tutor
National average salary: $21.31 per hour
Primary duties: Tutors work directly with students to help them enhance their knowledge in certain subjects. They will often work with a student struggling in a specific class to better explain complex subjects in simpler terms. Tutors also help students develop better learning methods by studying with them and simplifying their lessons.
20. Web designer
National average salary: $21.98 per hour
Primary duties: Web designers work to build, design and add improvements to websites. They will often work closely with clients to learn their overall vision and goal for their website. Web designers will use that to build a website with text and color to match the client or company's web design vision. There are several services that have site-building templates, though there may be a bit of a learning curve. This could prove a very powerful resume addition.