How to Make Money as a Teen (Legally)

There are more ways to make money as a teen than there used to be — and a lot of bad advice on the internet about it. This article sticks to the real, legal options. None of these will make you rich. All of them are honest. Pick one or two that fit your time, your skills, and the rules in your state.

A quick reality check: most teen jobs pay between minimum wage and about $20 an hour. If something promises way more for very little work, see our scams targeting students article — that's a scam.

Know the rules first

The U.S. Department of Labor sets rules about how many hours and what kinds of jobs people under 18 can do. The basics:

• Under 14: very limited — mostly babysitting, paper routes, family businesses, and entertainment
• 14 to 15: can work in many non-hazardous jobs, with hour limits during school
• 16 to 17: can work most non-hazardous jobs with fewer hour limits
• 18+: most rules go away

Hazardous jobs (like operating heavy machinery, roofing, or driving for work) have stricter age rules. The DOL Youth & Labor page has the full details for your age and state.

Your state may have extra rules — for example, requiring a work permit. Check with your school counselor.

Real teen job options

1. Local W-2 jobs

These are jobs where a real business hires you and gives you a paycheck. The most common ones for teens:

• Fast food and restaurants (host, busser, dishwasher, line cook at older ages)
• Grocery stores (cashier, bagger, stocker)
• Movie theaters
• Coffee shops
• Retail stores (clothing, big-box stores, bookstores)
• Lifeguarding (you'll need a certification first)
• Camp counselor (summer)

These come with W-2 income — a regular paycheck with taxes taken out. For more on what to expect, see your first job.

2. Gig and side work

These are jobs you do for individual people, not a big company. Usually paid in cash or through a payment app:

• Babysitting — still one of the best-paying teen options in many areas
• Pet sitting and dog walking — apps and word of mouth
• Yard work — mowing, leaf raking, snow shoveling
• Tutoring — younger kids in subjects you're strong in
• Helping older neighbors — groceries, tech help, basic cleaning

Tip: post on local community groups your parents know about, not random websites with strangers.

3. Selling stuff

If you make things or have stuff to sell, you can:

• Sell at school art fairs or local craft markets
• Sell extra video games or sports gear at a resale shop
• Mow lawns, shovel snow, or wash cars in your neighborhood
• Help your parents flip household items at a garage sale

4. Online work — be careful

Some online options are real, but the space is full of scams. Realistic legal options for teens:

• Selling crafts on a parent-supervised account
• Tutoring through a real platform (parents on the account)
• Streaming or content creation — slow, hard, and almost no one earns much, but real

If anyone online asks you for personal info, payment "to start," or a "referral fee," walk away. Real jobs never charge you to start.

Things to skip

• Pyramid or "MLM" schemes. "Be your own boss, sell makeup/leggings/oils." These usually make you spend more than you earn.
• Anything paying you to deposit checks and forward money. Always a scam.
• Crypto trading "internships." Always a scam.
• Survey sites that promise hundreds of dollars. They almost never pay out.

What to do with the money

Once you start earning, you don't need a complex plan. A simple one works:

1. Save part of every payment — see how teens can save.
2. Pay the bills you have — phone, gas money, anything you owe.
3. Spend the rest on things you actually want.

If you want a real plan, see our budget guide or set up a goal on our saving goals page.

Taxes — the boring but important part

If you earn over a certain amount in a year (the IRS sets the limit and updates it), you may need to file a tax return. Babysitting and yard work are usually too small to worry about, but a steady part-time job at a business is not. The IRS guide for students with summer jobs walks through this in plain English.

Words to know

• Income — money coming in
• W-2 — the paycheck-with-taxes-withheld kind of job
• Gig — a one-off paid task you do for someone
• Hourly wage — how much you earn per hour worked
• Tax — money the government collects from your income

For more like this, see the Learn hub or the glossary.

If you're not sure about anything in this article, ask a trusted adult — that's what they're there for.