10 skill-building first-time jobs for teens: How to start earning

The best part of having your own job is making your own money, but you can also learn skills that will help you succeed in the future. First-time jobs for teens should have both earning potential and the opportunity to gain long-term career skills like punctuality, communication, and teamwork. Even better, jobs like babysitting and house cleaning apply real-world skills that you probably already have.

Pairing these job opportunities with Greenlight’s direct deposit for teens helps you learn more about managing your paychecks, helping you make the most of your hard-earned money! Here are some of the best first-time jobs for teens.

10 best entry-level jobs for teens

• Babysitting: $10–$20/hr

• Pet sitting or dog walking: $10–$25/hr

• Yard work: $30–$100 per task

• House cleaning and organizing: $10–$40/hr

• Retail associate: $13–$29/hr

• Grocery store bagger/stocker: $14–$18/hr

• Print material or flyer delivery: $10–$15/hr

• Fast food or restaurant crew member: $10–$18/hr

• Tutoring and homework help: $15–$25/hr

• Lifeguard or pool attendant: $13–$25/hr

While these jobs can start to build your future resume and teach you important money skills for teens, other jobs like babysitting, pet sitting, yard work, and house cleaning can offer a more entrepreneurial path to gaining job skills and earning money.

Some of these gigs may need more planning and research, as some local governments may require work permits for young teenagers or specific business licenses.

1. Babysitting: $10–$20/hour

Babysitters and nannies are always in high demand, but there is a difference between the two. You may be able to start as a babysitter as early as age 12, build your skills and clientele, and eventually work as a nanny after high school.

You can gain experience by taking care of your younger siblings or volunteering through your school, church, or local community. Explore earning child care credentials by taking safety courses through your local hospital or Red Cross.

Duties

• Supervises and ensures the safety of children

• Prepares meals or snacks

• Engages kids in age-appropriate activities

• Helps with bedtime routines

• Handles minor issues or emergencies

Skills and traits

• Reliable

• Trustworthy

• Patient

• Calm

• Creative

How to find a job: Find your first customers by letting your family, friends, and neighbors know that you’re looking to start babysitting to earn some extra money.

2. Pet sitting or dog walking: $10–$25/hour

Pet sitting and dog walking are excellent entry-level jobs for teenagers, especially those who love animals and are considering a future career working with them.

Look for books or online resources to learn about pet care, and practice your skills with your own pets or other family animals. Some organizations also provide classes for pet first aid or safety, and you can learn a lot by volunteering with animal shelters.

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Duties

• Basic tasks such as feeding, walking, brushing, or cleaning are great for when you’re just getting started.

• Working with high-energy animals and walking large or several dogs might be better after you’ve had some experience.

Skills and traits

• Familiar with taking care of animals

• Love of animals

• Calm

• Responsible

• Diligent

How to find a job: Some online programs for pet sitters don’t allow teens under the age of 18, so you’ll need to learn some marketing skills to get the word out. Making flyers and advertising in online local communities is a good place to start.

3. Yard work: $30–$100 per task

Teenagers with a willingness to put in some physical labor have an opportunity to earn money by doing yard work and other landscaping tasks. When you expand your skills and add on different services, you can start charging more.

For example, mowing or weed whacking might cost more than raking. You might start by charging $30 for simple tasks and small yards, but you can quickly move up to charging $100 or more once you’ve gained some experience or find clients with bigger lawns and more weeds.

Duties

• Start with simple chores like raking, weeding, or shoveling in the winter.

• After gaining experience, take on harder tasks like mowing lawns or gardening.

Skills and traits

• Timeliness

• Energetic

• Diligent

• Detail oriented

• Able to perform physical labor outside

How to find a job: Go to neighbors you know and offer your services, or ask parents to spread the word. A personal recommendation helps when someone is trusting you with their property. Create a simple flyer with your name, contact info, and list of services (mowing, raking, weeding, etc.) and distribute it locally. Post your availability in your neighborhood Facebook or Nextdoor group.

4. House cleaning and organizing: $10–$40/hour

House cleaning gives you the opportunity to earn some cash by using real-world life skills. New cleaners might charge $15 per hour for essential cleaning, while more experienced cleaners might charge more. Flexible hours make it easy to work this job around school hours and on weekends.

Duties

• Start by offering basic services like dusting, cleaning floors, and tidying.

• Charge more for deep cleaning tasks, like kitchen appliances or bathrooms, as well as home organization.

Skills and traits

• Organized

• Efficient

• Reliable

• Energetic

• Thorough

How to find a job: Learn about proper cleaning techniques and equipment, as well as the safe use of chemicals. Create a flyer, text, or email that lets neighbors, friends, and family know that your services are available and how much you charge.

5. Retail associate: $13–$29/hour

Retail stores offer multiple opportunities to gain various skills depending on your role.

Duties

• Cashiers work directly with customers to help with purchasing items.

• Stock associates are responsible for keeping items organized and accessible to customers.

• Customer service representatives may help with more in-depth questions and customer concerns.

Skills and traits

• Engaging with the public

• Quick thinker

• Able to handle a fast-paced environment

• Organized

• Time management

How to find a job: Many retail stores provide shifts for teens who are available to work after school and on the weekends. When applying, keep your availability open for these shifts. Highlight any experiences that prove your reliability. Keep a friendly attitude to show that you’re a team player with the ability to connect with customers.

6. Grocery store bagger/stocker: $14–$18/hour

Working as a grocery store stocker or bagger is one of the most accessible and well-rounded first jobs a teenager can land. Grocery stores almost always have part-time and flexible scheduling, making it easy to balance with school.

Duties

• Replenish shelves

• Organize inventory

• Keep the store tidy

• Pack customer groceries

• Help customers find items

Skills and traits

• Customer service

• Teamwork

• Attention to detail

• Stay on task in a fast-paced environment

How to find a job: Most grocery store chains accept applications directly on their websites or in-store, and many actively hire teens as young as 14 or 15 with a work permit. Walking in and asking to speak with a hiring manager or picking up an application in person can often be just as effective as applying online and shows initiative that managers tend to appreciate.

7. Print material or flyer delivery: $10–$15/hour

This is a great job for busy teens because it’s straightforward and requires little to no prior experience. It often comes with flexible hours and, since it’s largely self-directed, gives teens a taste of personal accountability that more supervised jobs don’t always provide.

Many delivery roles are paid per route rather than by the hour. It can be a solid way to earn consistent pocket money while building good habits.

Duties

• Distributing printed materials, including the local paper, promotional flyers, and coupon mailers, to homes and businesses along a set route, typically in the early morning or after school.

Skills and traits

• Able to complete tasks independently

• Reliability

• Time management

How to find a job: Check the newspaper’s website for a “delivery” or “routes available” section and reach out directly. You can also call or email local newspapers, approach local businesses or marketing companies that regularly distribute flyers, or search teen-friendly job boards like Indeed or Snagajob.

8. Fast food or restaurant crew member: $10–$18/hour

Fast food and other restaurant jobs are good for teens who are able and willing to work in fast-paced environments, and some even include tips! If you can stick it out through the ups and downs of fast food work, you’ll be creating a strong work ethic that will serve you for years to come.

Duties

• Cashier

• Drive-thru associate

• Kitchen prep

• Busser

Skills and traits

• Multitasker

• Team player

• Calm under pressure

• Communication

How to find a job: Apply online through the restaurant’s website or walk in and ask for an application. Be flexible with availability, as restaurants especially need coverage on nights and weekends.

9. Tutoring or homework help: $15–$25/hour

If you’re good with academics, tutoring and homework help might be a natural way to make money during your free time. You could help students taking similar classes to you, or you might teach younger students in middle or elementary school.

You might be able to charge more for higher-level classes, like AP subjects, or during exam periods where there might be higher demand.

Duties

• Helps students understand subjects or concepts.

• Reviews homework, tests, and assignments to identify areas that need help.

• Explains material to match the student’s learning style.

Skills and traits

• Leadership

• Communication

• Patience

• Working with children

How to find a job: Your peers are a great place to start looking for clients, but you can also put the word out with family and neighbors and advertise in your local community.

10. Lifeguard or pool assistant: $13–$25/hour

Becoming a lifeguard or pool assistant is a great way for teens to enter the path of careers related to health and safety. Most areas require teens to be at least 15 years old to become a lifeguard.

Lifeguarding can be a higher-paying first job option, sometimes as high as $25 per hour depending on demand and location. While the pay is often higher because of the higher risks, if you’re a responsible teen who wants to gain experience with public safety jobs, it’s a terrific opportunity.

Duties

• Enforcing pool or beach rules

• Being attentive to possible safety risks

• Performing rescues when needed

Skills and traits

• Strong swimmer

• Hold current certification for first aid, CPR, AED, and lifeguarding

• Safety awareness

• Quick decision-making

How to find a job: These are typically the most teen-friendly summer jobs and are always hiring seasonally in the spring. Be prepared to demonstrate technique on the spot. Apply directly to the local community pool, YMCA, neighborhood HOA pools, or water parks.

Make the most of your first paycheck and build smart habits

Teenagers can use entry-level roles such as babysitting, pet sitting, yard work, and house cleaning to earn money while still prioritizing school and other commitments. But your first job isn’t just about making money, it’s also about learning how to manage your paychecks wisely.

Greenlight helps you build smart money habits. The Greenlight money app offers lessons on setting money goals, saving, and parent-approved investing, with your own money. Explore Greenlight for teens to make the most of your first paycheck.