12 jobs for 14-year-olds to earn money

Starting a job at 14 can open a world of opportunities for young teens eager to earn their first paycheck. Working offers a sense of independence and helps kids develop essential life skills like time management and financial literacy. Let's dive into potential job options and what makes them good choices for many teens. 

Traditional jobs for 14-year-olds

For 14-year-olds looking for their first job, these common first jobs are a great place to start. 

Babysitting👶

A classic choice, babysitting allows teens to earn money while learning responsibility. It's a role that demands patience and creativity, making it a great way for teens to engage with younger kids.

Lawn care and maintenance🌳

For those who enjoy working outdoors, yard work like raking and gardening is physically active and fosters a strong work ethic. Your neighborhood, friends, and family are good places to start. Or look into working with an established lawn care company. Either way — make sure it’s non-hazardous work, like manual weed pulling, raking, or basic yard cleanup. 

Food service🍔

Many fast-food chains hire 14-year-olds as cashiers or team members. These jobs teach valuable customer service skills and how to work in a team environment.

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Grocery store bagger🛍️

Working as a bagger at local grocery stores offers 14-year-olds the chance to interact with customers and be part of a team. It's a role that emphasizes organization and efficiency while helping develop communication skills.

Lifeguard🛟

Does your child love spending time by the pool? If they’re a strong swimmer, being a lifeguard is fun and teaches valuable lessons in responsibility and safety. Lifeguarding can also be one of the higher-paying summer jobs. It usually requires successful completion of a lifeguard training and certification course, including CPR and First Aid.

Paper route delivery🗞️

Delivering newspapers is a classic teen job that offers flexibility and teaches responsibility. If you live near a paper route, it's an excellent way for younger teens to learn punctuality and commitment while getting some exercise walking or biking. 

Pet sitting🐕

For young animal lovers, pet sitting or related tasks like feeding or walking is a fun way to earn money while hanging out with furry friends. Caring for others’ animals and pets teaches responsibility, empathy, and attention to detail. If your teen has multiple clients, it’s also a good lesson in time management, prioritization, and organization.

Tutoring✍️

Teens who excel in certain subjects can offer tutoring to younger students or peers. Sharing their knowledge can help reinforce their subject expertise while developing communication and teaching skills. It’s also a great way to understand and navigate different learning styles and creative problem-solving.

Movie concessions🍿

Is your teen a movie fan? They can get a job at their local movie theater selling tickets, popcorn, and snacks or cleaning aisles and restrooms. Bonus: Some cinemas offer employee discounts on concessions and tickets or let you watch movies for free (age-appropriate, please). 

Online jobs for 14-year-olds

Digitally savvy 14-year-olds might consider one of these online jobs for teens. 

Blogging and vlogging💻

Teens can turn their passions into profit by starting a blog or YouTube channel. Whether it's about gaming, fashion, or DIY crafts, content creators can earn money on sites like TikTok through advertisements and sponsorships if the audience demand is there. 

Note: This one might require more significant parental oversight to ensure content is appropriate and teens follow internet safety protocols.

Social media management📱

If your teen has a knack for digital tools and snappy writing, they can offer to manage social media accounts for school, extracurricular clubs, or small businesses. This role involves creating engaging content and tracking online trends, providing a great platform to sharpen marketing skills. But it’s critical to abide by minimum age requirements.

Freelance work⌨️

Platforms like Fiverr and Upwork may offer opportunities appropriate for 14-year-olds skilled in writing, graphic design, or computer programming. Freelancing can be an effective way to work on different projects that interest them and develop professional skills early on. 

Parents take note: Unless it’s an internship, younger teens like 14-year-olds may need extra help to ensure they meet deadlines and can balance any assignments with their schoolwork or other responsibilities. 

Paychecks and money management

Once your child starts earning money, they’ll need a safe place to deposit their earnings. 

• Help your teen open a bank account and set up direct deposit.

• Talk about how much of their paycheck to save.

• Help them create a basic budget.

One of the easiest ways to give kids and teens some independence while still keeping them – and their money – safe is through an all-in-one money app. Greenlight’s debit card for teens helps kids learn to spend wisely – while parents keep an eye on balances and track their spending. 

Benefits of working at a young age

Working as a young teen instills a strong work ethic, teaches financial management, and can help build a professional network. By handling tasks and responsibilities, 14-year-olds learn valuable life lessons that prepare them for future challenges.

Know the labor laws around hiring 14-year-olds

According to federal law, 14- and 15-year-olds can work non-hazardous jobs. But they’re limited to specific hours. You must also adhere to state labor laws.

Under the federal mandate, teens 14-15 can only work outside school hours. They must also adhere to the following restrictions:

• Maximum 3 hours on school days

• Maximum 18 hours a week when school is in session

• Maximum 8 hours a day when school is not in session

• Maximum 40 hours a week when school is not in session

• No working before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on any day (except June 1 through Labor Day, when nighttime work is allowed until 9 p.m.)

If your teenager is ready, finding a job as a 14-year-old can earn more than money; they can gain valuable experience and learn important skills. Whether through traditional jobs or online ventures, these opportunities help set the foundation for a successful financial future.

Empower kids to earn and learn. Manage chores, jobs, and allowances. Teach kids to earn, save, and invest with the Greenlight app. Try Greenlight today.

This blog post is provided "as is" and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional advice. Some content in this post may have been created using artificial intelligence; however, every blog post is reviewed by at least two human editors.