20+ High-Paying Jobs for Teens

As a teenager, you may be eager to start earning your own money. While typical teen jobs like fast food or retail can give you some income, those gigs usually pay minimum wage. If you’re looking to earn more as a teen, there are better options out there that pay $15 or more per hour.

In this blog post, we’ll highlight over 20 high-paying jobs that hire teens and don’t require a college degree. With a mix of part-time, seasonal, and flexible opportunities, you can find a great high-paying job that works for your schedule.

Animal Lover Jobs

Dog Walker

Combine exercise and puppy love as a dog walker earning $15-$25 per hour. Market your services in your neighborhood and on sites like Wag and Rover. Dog walking is the perfect after-school or weekend side hustle for teens who don’t mind spending time outdoors.

Pet Sitter

Watch over pets while their owners are away and earn $15-$20 per hour. Make sure to highlight your pet care experience when applying for pet sitting jobs. Create flyers and spread the word on Nextdoor and Facebook to find local pet sitting clients.

Flexible Gigs

Tutor

Help others ace their classes by tutoring in academic subjects like math, science, languages, music, and more. Tutors can make $20-$50 per hour depending on expertise level. Set your own schedule tutoring classmates, neighbors, and students found through tutor matching sites.

Content Creator

Earn cash creating social media content for brands and businesses right from your phone. Compensation for sponsored social media posts averages $20-$50 per post. Reach out to local businesses with your follower counts, engagement metrics, and content ideas.

Proofreader

Leverage your top-notch spelling, grammar, and writing skills by working as a proofreader. This remote gig pays teens $15-$25 per hour with the ability to set your own hours. Find clients by applying for proofreading jobs on sites like fiverr and Flexjobs.

Athletic Jobs

Referee

Referee youth league sports like soccer, basketball, football, volleyball, and more to earn $15-$20 per hour. Look for openings and training programs through leagues like the YMCA, local recreation centers, and youth sports associations.

Swim Instructor

Leverage your swimming abilities to teach others by becoming a swim instructor. Instructors earn $18-$25 per hour depending on certifications and experience. Check summer job postings at community pools, high schools, fitness centers, and summer camps.

Sports Coach

Share your sports passion and skills by coaching youth teams and summer camps. Compensation averages $15-$30 per hour based on the sport and program. Check with your former coaches, schools, and community centers about openings.

Lifeguard

Lifeguarding at pools, beaches, and water parks pays around $15 per hour on average. To get hired, you’ll need current certification in CPR, first aid, and lifeguard training. Summertime lifeguard positions are plentiful at facilities like:

• City of Austin pools
• Volente Beach Waterpark
• Schlitterbahn Waterpark

Jobs for Outgoing Teens

Tour Guide

Show off your hometown pride and knowledge by giving tours to tourists and locals. Tour guide jobs typically pay $15-$25 per hour over the summer. Look for opportunities at:

• Local museums and galleries
• Zoos and aquariums
• Tourism bureaus
• Historic sites

Actor

Earn cash by acting in local theater productions, student films, commercials, and more. Pay averages $20-$50 per hour depending on the production. Build up your resume by participating in school plays before applying for paid gigs on casting sites.

Server

Waiting tables at restaurants is a classic teen job. With tips, servers average $15-$25 per hour. Seek server jobs at busy restaurants like diners, bars, banquet halls, and catering companies. Weekend and evening shifts are most abundant.

Jobs with Flexible Schedules

Babysitter

Watch over kids while parents are out for the evening. Babysitting pays around $15-$20 per hour. Let family, friends, and neighbors know you’re looking for childcare gigs in your free time.

House Cleaner

Offer professional home cleaning services to earn $15-$25 per hour. Market yourself by creating flyers, posting on community boards, and promoting through word-of-mouth. Set your schedule cleaning houses when it’s convenient.

Barista

Work at coffee shops or cafes serving up lattes, cappuccinos, and more. Barista shifts tend to be early mornings and afternoons. With tips, baristas average $14-$16 per hour. Highlight your customer service skills when applying.

Jobs with Higher Base Pay

Receptionist

Doctor’s offices, hair salons, car dealerships and more hire teens to manage the front desk, phone calls, and client check-ins. Receptionist pay averages $16 per hour. Highlight your customer service skills when applying.

Landscape Laborer

Spending summer days mowing, planting, weeding? Consider getting paid for it as a landscape laborer, earning $16-$18 per hour. Look for openings with local landscaping companies and gardens. No prior experience required.

Theme Park Employee

Nearby amusement parks and water parks hire teens seasonally for jobs like ride operator, food service, and cashier earning around $15 per hour. Perks include free park admission and a fun atmosphere.

Translator

Get paid to practice another language! Translators earn $15-$20 per hour. Leverage foreign language abilities by providing translation services for schools, businesses, websites, and more.

Photographer’s Assistant

Freelance photographers hire assistants to help carry equipment, style shoots, and edit photos. Assistants earn $15-$25 per hour with an eye for aesthetics and some photography experience.

Searching for your first job as a teen can be daunting. But with determination and creativity, you can discover rewarding and high-paying work this summer!

Additional Tips for Finding Best Jobs for Teens

• Speak with family, friends, coaches, teachers to find local leads
• Check online job boards, community boards, local papers
• Inquire in-person at businesses about openings
• Highlight volunteer work, school activities, skills on applications
• Get working papers from your school if required
• Ask for letters of recommendation from teachers, coaches
• Research companies beforehand, practice interviewing
• Show professionalism on applications, at interviews, and on the job

Instead of sticking with the same old minimum wage job this summer, give one of these high-paying gigs a try! With options ranging from pet sitter and swim instructor to actor and translator, you can find the perfect job matching your skills and interests.

Combine a few flexible roles to maximize your earnings. And don’t forget to spend some of that hard-earned cash enjoying your summer too!