Summer Jobs Guide

So, you’re a teenager who’s ready to earn your own money — how exciting! (We’re betting your parents are pretty pumped, too, since you’ll be coming to them less often for cash.) What you do for your summer job depends on a lot of things: how much responsibility you’re ready for, what types of opportunities are available in your community, whether you have transportation to get there, the employment laws in your area, and probably most important, what your parents are comfortable with you doing (and hold on, over-18 crowd — we’ve got some great suggestions and helpful tips for you, too). With these things in mind, your friends at UBT have put together a list of summer jobs to give you some ideas and get you started on your search. We also have some suggestions on benefits, as well as smart moves for the money you make. Let’s get to it!

Summer jobs for teens under 14

If you’re under 14, your best bet is probably a more informal employment arrangement — one that doesn’t generally involve a job application or other elements of what you might think of as “grown-up” jobs. Informal jobs like dog walking, lawn mowing, or babysitting can provide a little cash, great experience, and valuable job skills, and many adults decide they want to make a career of these things, so you never know.

Child care. If you’re interested in child care, we suggest taking a babysitting class first. This lets prospective employers (the parents of the kiddos) know that you’re familiar with care basics, first aid, and rescue methods like CPR, and that you’ve completed something official that tells you to stay off your cell phone when you’re on watch. You may also receive guidelines on what to charge. Check with your local YMCA or Red Cross for such a class; the credibility you receive with your certification will make you glad you did.

Dog walking or pet sitting. If you really like pets and can show owners you can treat their furry family members with a lot of love, pet sitting might be an option beyond taking Rover for a stroll. Both dog walking and pet sitting gigs are usually paid by the job, and you can work out that rate with the owner or look online to see what other pet sitters in your area charge.

Mowing. Mowing and helping pull weeds are typically flat-rate, rather than hourly, jobs. What you can charge for mowing will depend on the size of the yard, whether you use your equipment or theirs, and services offered. And if your green thumb extends beyond mowing, you may offer to water pots or tend gardens during vacation season. 

The best way to get started on any of these? Start spreading the word among neighbors and parents’ friends; word of mouth will give you opportunities. Ask a parent or other trusted adult to help you screen offers from folks you don’t know. You can also consider getting crafty: If you have a special knack for a handmade item, consider selling them on a website like Etsy (with your parents’ help, of course).

Summer jobs for teens ages 14 -17

Welcome to the “get a work permit, fill out an application, show your ID, and join the work force” years! Employers have a minimum hiring age, and they can vary quite a bit. Some businesses are fine hiring teens who are 14 or 15, and some like their employees to be a little older, so you may have to do a bit of detective work on your own. To help get you started, we’ve broken down several common jobs for teens, based on type of work and work environment. Pay varies, but most jobs listed pay at least minimum wage.

Outdoor jobs. If you are the outdoorsy type, you may be interested in detasseling or other agricultural work. There are other jobs that allow you to be outside, such as grounds work in parks or golf courses (check through Parks and Recreation). If you would rather walk the golf course and understand the game, maybe caddying would be your thing. It’s usually a minimum wage job, but many of the golfers tip. Two more summer jobs that let you spend time outside would be a car wash attendant or car detailer. Both vary in wages and often include pooled, or shared, tips. Speaking of pools, you may be able to start working at yours as an attendant at 14 or 15, or as a lifeguard when you are a bit older. You’re going to want to take a Red Cross course for this one, too.

Food service. While some fast-food places may hire for the summer, there are opportunities beyond the burger joint. Retirement facilities may be needing kitchen help or servers, and many restaurants may hire teens for some positions like bussers (table clearers) or kitchen help. Don’t rule out smoothie, coffee, or donut shops, either.

Retail worker. Retail establishments, big-box stores, and grocery chains could offer opportunities for car attendant, bagger, and cashier. Most of these opportunities will begin at age 16, so you’ll want to ask before you apply.

Housekeeping. Many caregiving facilities and hotels offer housekeeping staff opportunities. You can check on minimum hiring age when you apply. Or, you could provide housekeeping services to family friends.

Camp counselor. Teens who love the camp atmosphere, working with kids, and don’t mind spending the night away from home may welcome the chance to hone their leadership skills.

Movie theater worker. If you love a good movie, people, and air conditioning, this might be the perfect summer job. Check with your local theatre for hiring ages.

Tech support or tutor. If you excel in one or more academic areas or have a techie touch, consider responding to an ad for your services (or place one). As a tutor, you’ll be working with younger people; as tech support, you could help older adults master their devices or help businesses with website setup or social media.

Summer jobs for 18 and over

Not only would any of the above positions be a great fit for you, but chances are, if you’ve been employed at an establishment for a while, you have acquired some experience that qualifies you for a promotion. If you’ve been working in a restaurant as a bus person or dishwasher since you were 14, by the time you’re 18, you may very well be ready for a supervisor position. Or, you may be looking at something new, which is great because many companies begin hiring for entry-level positions at age 18. This is a great time to take your college major into consideration, if you know it, or to be thinking about employment that offers tuition reimbursement.

Bank teller, customer service representative (in a variety of fields), administrative assistant, and office or data entry clerk are some options that can offer more of a business-focused environment and related experience.

If working in a healthcare setting appeals to you, you may want to look for jobs as a nursing aide, certified nursing assistant, or medical transcriptionist.

If you see yourself as a creator, builder, constructor, or have an interest in the technical trades, construction worker or landscape technician are all options, as are assistant positions in different fields, such as plumbing and electrical work. And a delivery or transport driver gig will earn you some coin while getting you out and about.

Once you’re in the 18-and-over bracket, you should also start paying closer attention to the benefits employers offer, like insurance, tuition reimbursement, leadership training, time off, and more. We talked a lot about benefits in one of our recent MoneyBetter podcast episodes; click here to listen.

Smart money moves: Get a checking and/or savings account

Once you’re earning some summer money, you’ll need to have a plan for it. If the goal is to save your money, a savings account is a great place to start. If you’re going to have some expenses and want to be able to access your money, you’ll likely need a checking account, if you don’t already have one. Once you’ve opened your account(s), we recommend avoiding the paper paycheck hassle by having your check directly deposited into your account if your employer allows. And to make that process even easier, we have a form that you can complete and submit to your employer to get the ball rolling (you’ll just need to have your accounts opened first). Download it here.

We hope we’ve given you some ideas for employment. We’re sure that whatever you do, you’ll be great at it! Good luck in your new venture, and if we can help answer questions as you learn to manage your money, know that we’re here for you. You can also open an account online or visit your local UBT branch and we will be happy to help.