14 engaging jobs for 12-year-olds that teach valuable skills
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Key Takeaways
With the teen years just around the corner, your 12-year-old might be itching to get out there and gain some independence by earning their own money.
There are all sorts of opportunities for preteens to pick up some extra cash and build skills, even if they have no experience. Whether your child is the creative type, a budding entrepreneur, or a master of household chores, there’s a gig out there just for them. Once they start earning their own cash, they can use a tool like Greenlight, the #1 family finance and safety app, to learn how to spend, save, and invest their money wisely with your supervision.
Learn more about what 12-year-olds are and aren’t allowed to do for work and explore our list of the 14 best jobs for 12-year-olds who want to earn money.
Can a 12-year-old get a job?
Traditional jobs usually aren’t available to minors due to safety concerns and federal child labor laws. In the U.S., the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), sets strict rules about what minors can and can’t do. In general, 12-year-olds can’t hold a traditional non-agricultural job unless their parents own the business. (Rules vary by state, so always check your local laws.)
When it comes to age-appropriate work, keep these safety priorities in mind:
No hazardous tools or dangerous tasks. Stick to low-risk activities suited to their age.
Supervised environments only. Your child shouldn’t be working alone with strangers.
Age-appropriate responsibilities. The job should match their maturity and physical ability.
The good news is that there’s still plenty your 12-year-old can do to earn money and build real-world skills before they get their first job, including babysitting, helping neighbors with chores, or picking produce at a local farm. These opportunities let them discover what they’re good at, what they enjoy, and how to take on responsibility.
Top 14 jobs for 12-year-olds
When your 12-year-old is looking for ways to make money, picking something they have experience in is a great way to get started. If your child has limited experience, having them do work in your home or for family members can get the ball rolling.
When they are done completing a task, you can pay them directly through the Greenlight app. Other family members, like grandparents for instance, can use your child’s Greenlight pay link to send them money so that it’s available quickly on their Greenlight card.
1. Mother’s helper/babysitter
Babysitting is still a classic job for teens and mature preteens. Many kids start babysitting younger siblings for small stretches of time around this age and then longer as they get more comfortable and prove they can handle it. A mother’s helper is similar, but the parent of the child or children being watched is home.
Earnings
$5–$10/hour for a mother’s helper $10–$15/hour for babysitting
Why it’s a good gig for a kid
As they gain experience at home, kids can start to offer their services to neighbors who have younger children. To build trust and improve their skills and marketability, the Red Cross offers babysitting and child care certification classes to people 11 years old and up. They can improve their babysitting skills while learning first aid and CPR.
2. Car washer
Have your child start out by helping you wash your car a few times. Once they get the hang of it, tell your friends and family there’s a new budding business in town. You could also accompany them while they knock on neighbors’ doors.
Earnings
#1 family finance and safety app.
$10–$20 for basic exterior wash $20–$30 for inside and out
Why it’s a good gig for a kid
A bucket, a hose, and some cleaning supplies are all that’s needed to start a business in car washing. If they enjoy this work, there are plenty of ways to earn more over time like cleaning interiors, applying wax, or learning to fully detail a car inside and out.
3. Pool skimmer
Pools are super fun, but they can be a pain to keep clean. Luckily, this presents a great opportunity for your preteen to pick up a summer job skimming leaves and debris. Get the word out by creating flyers and handing them out to neighbors and friends.
Earnings
$10–$15 for each cleaning
Why it’s a good gig for a kid
Most people who have a pool already have all of the equipment needed to do this work, so it can be a no-cost business to start. When doing work around pools, supervision is a good idea and so is being a strong swimmer, just in case.
4. Dog walker
Pet ownership is on the rise and that means lots of pups are in need of belly rubs and exercise. Since dog owners can’t always be home, they’re looking for capable dog walkers and pet sitters to hang out with their furry buddies.
Earnings
$10 to $15 for a 30-minute walk $15–$30 per day for drop-in and feeding
Why it’s a good gig for a kid
Pet sitting and dog walking can be perfect part-time jobs for 12-year-olds who have experience taking care of their own animals, and it costs no money to get started.
5. Window cleaner
Most people appreciate what a clean window does for a room, but not everyone wants to spend their Saturday cleaning their windows. This is another great opportunity for an ambitious 12-year-old to capitalize on.
Earnings
$10 to $20/hour or a flat rate of $3 to $5 per window
Why it’s a good gig for a kid
Equipped with some window cleaner, a squeegee, and some old newspapers or paper towels, there’s plenty of money to be made in most neighborhoods. Of course, this strategy works better in neighborhoods with single story houses, where no more than a step-ladder would be needed.
6. Lawn mower
Lawn mowing can be tough work on a hot summer day, but it can also be incredibly satisfying. If they’ve never mowed a lawn, they should practice on your lawn first.
It’s important to know how to operate a lawn mower safely, but if they don’t have experience, there are several other jobs they can do. Many homeowners need weeds pulled, plants watered, driveways shoveled/swept, and leaves raked. Yard work of all kinds can be a great opportunity for kids to get some exercise and make some extra money.
Earnings
$20–$40 depending on size of lawn
Why it’s a good gig for a kid
A few friends working together can really lighten the load. While they might need their own lawn mower to pick up these gigs, some homeowners have all the supplies needed, including the mower.
7. Fruit or vegetable picker
If you live in a rural area with a lot of farms, getting out there and picking fruits and veggies can be a good job for 12-year-olds.
Earnings
$4.25 to $7.25/hour
Why it’s a good gig for a kid
In some states, agricultural jobs have looser rules when it comes to child labor laws as long as the job isn’t during school hours, the environment is safe, and you’ve given your permission for them to do the work.
8. Reseller
Does your child enjoy collecting things? If they have an eye for what other people like to collect and an entrepreneurial spirit, there could be some good money to be made by buying and selling collectibles.
Earnings
Varies, but 30%–50% profit is a good goal
Why it’s a good gig for a kid
Visiting neighborhood yard sales, thrift stores, and flea markets to find treasures that they can sell online can help them create valuable expertise while learning important skills like sales and e-commerce.
Just keep in mind that due to internet age restrictions, 12-year-olds can’t open seller accounts on Amazon, Etsy, or any other marketplace where they could make sales. You’ll need to be the account owner and assist them with their work.
9. Garage sale helper
Garage sales can be a lot of work, and there are probably neighbors who would appreciate help with theirs. This could be a great job for a 12-year-old, especially if there are a lot of garage or yard sales in your neighborhood.
Earnings
$5–$10/hour or a percentage of proceeds
Why it’s a good gig for a kid
Putting merchandise out, pricing it, organizing it, putting out fliers, and greeting people as they come in are all valuable services your child can provide while learning organizational and communication skills.
As a bonus, they get to meet the neighbors and become more comfortable talking to people and selling.
10. Content creator
Does your child have a skill or hobby to share with the world? Your 12-year-old can use a phone camera and an internet connection to create content.
Earnings
Varies
Why it’s a good gig for a kid
Once an account racks up 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time, you can apply for the YouTube Partner Program and begin monetizing the channel.
YouTube’s terms of service don’t allow kids under 13 to open an account. So you will need to create the YouTube channel for them, supervise them while they create content, and help them manage it. Reviewing internet safety protocols with your preteen can help prepare them for working online.
11. Trash can duty
Your child can offer to roll neighbors’ trash bins to the curb and bring them back after collection and wash out dirty bins for an extra fee. Even a few clients to start can really add up!
Earnings
$3–$5/week, more if curb is further away $10–$20 to wash out bins
Why it’s a good gig for a kid
It doesn’t cost anything to get started, they get to work outside, and they learn the importance of punctuality and reliability.
12. Tutor
If your child shines academically, they can use their skills to help other kids in the neighborhood improve their grades by becoming a tutor.
Earnings
$10–$15/hour
Why it’s a good gig for a kid
Teaching other kids reinforces your child’s own learning and teaches important people skills like empathy and communication. As an added bonus, being able to show a history of helping others can look good on a college application.
13. Pooper scooper
Yes, this one is exactly what it sounds like, and it’s a much-needed service for busy dog owners. Your 12-year-old can make money by offering pet waste cleanup services for neighbors.
Earnings
$10–$20/visit Add extra for first visit or more than two pets
Why it’s a good gig for a kid
They learn to be reliable while helping pet owners keep their outdoor spaces nice and clean by removing waste. They can even extend their services to emptying cat litter boxes. The best part is, no experience is required! All they need is a scoop, some gloves, and bags for the waste.
14. Pantry organizer
Kids may be able to earn some extra money by organizing pantries and cabinets for family, friends, and neighbors. They can offer to sort food, check expiration dates, arrange shelves and cabinets, and label food items to make it easy for families to find exactly what they need.
Earnings
$8–$15/hour
Why it’s a good gig for a kid
Some 12-year-olds really excel when it comes to organizing and creating order out of chaos.
Help your 12-year-old build money skills too
Part of growing up is finding ways to become more independent. Doing a job that teaches your child new skills and lets them make their own money can get them ready for the next stages in life.
While jobs for 12-year-olds are limited due to child labor laws, with a little out-of-the-box thinking, you’ll find there is so much your child can still do that will help them grow and earn their own money.
Greenlight is all about helping your kids get excited when it comes to learning about money. With the Greenlight app and debit card, you can help them learn real-world lessons about budgeting, saving, and even investing with parental oversight.
The Greenlight® prepaid card is issued by Community Federal Savings Bank, member FDIC, pursuant to license by Mastercard International.
© 2026 Greenlight Investment Advisors, LLC (GIA), an SEC Registered Investment Advisor provides investment advisory services to its clients. Investing involves risk and may include the loss of capital. Investments are not FDIC-insured, are not a deposit, and may lose value.
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