If you're a teenager or college student looking for employment, there's a chance you will be able to find a job for at least part of the year. There are also high-paying part-time jobs if you know where to look.
Keep reading to see 12 jobs for teens that pay well – around $15 an hour and up. National wage data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
1. Amusement Park or Arcade Attendant -
Median hourly wage in 2023: $14.60
Dealing with the public can be hard work, but these can be terrific seasonal jobs for teenagers. At an amusement park, expect to perform tasks such as helping organize crowds for theme park rides. Teen arcade attendants might supervise customers or keep the arcade tidy. But the atmosphere is often fun, and you may get perks like free or discounted rides or games.
Best companies for amusement park or arcade attendants: Consider applying to a Six Flags amusement park or a Disney theme park.
2. Babysitter
Median hourly wage in 2023: $14.60
This classic teen job allows you to interact with kids and maybe study or enjoy some TV time when your little charges are asleep. Babysitting can also be lucrative part-time work if you can build up a solid client roster of parents and guardians.
Best companies for babysitters to work for: It's common to network with your family and friends for this gig.
3. Barista
Median hourly wage in 2023: $14.29
If you like the idea of working at a coffeehouse, this could be a relatively high-paying gig for a teenager. If you’re working with other teenagers and pulling in tips, it could be even more fun and profitable.
Best companies for baristas to work for: Starbucks is a giant in this space. But you could always see if an independent coffeehouse is looking for seasonal or part-time help.
4. Delivery Truck Driver
Median hourly wage in 2023: $19.21
Working as a delivery truck driver may be a good fit for some teenagers, but it depends on the company at which you work. Generally, it can be a difficult job to get for a teenager under age 18 or even someone under 21, depending on where you’re driving. For instance, if you’re under 21, you typically can’t drive a commercial vehicle from one state to another.
Best companies for delivery truck drivers: In this case, going with a large corporation probably isn’t practical. Still, maybe a local business, such as a furniture store or an independent pharmacy, could use some seasonal help with deliveries.
5. Food Delivery Worker
Median hourly wage in 2023: $17.03
With a food delivery job, you could deliver for a local restaurant or pizzeria, or you could work for a food delivery app such as DoorDash or Grubhub.
Keep in mind that most pizza chains and many delivery apps will only hire teenagers to drive if they are at least 18 years old. So if you’re younger, this may not be a good fit. And if you are over 18, consider whether you want to put a lot of wear and tear on your car – or your parent's car – and whether you can or want to work at night.
On the other hand, you may work in a safe community, enjoy being on the road and feel that the tips offset any downside. Plus, at the end of your shift, you can take advantage of your employee discount.
Best companies for food delivery workers: Well-known delivery apps include DoorDash and Grubhub. Meanwhile, Dominos is one of the biggest names in food delivery.
6. Library Assistant
Median hourly wage in 2023: $16.36
Typically, a library assistant job requires a high school diploma, so this may be a match for an older teen or college student.
Best libraries for library assistants to work for: Check with your local library for job opportunities.
7. Lifeguard
Median hourly wage in 2023: $14.60
There is a serious shortage of lifeguards, according to the American Lifeguard Association. As a result, about a third of the nation’s swimming pools have been closed or sporadically open in recent years. There are plenty of opportunities if you’re certified. The American Lifeguard Association’s website offers plenty of information on how to get certified.
Best companies for lifeguards to work for: Look for positions at your local YMCA, city swimming pool or country club.
8. Receptionist
Median hourly wage in 2023: $17.23
Receptionist jobs are typically front desk roles involving answering phones and welcoming guests.
Lots of businesses hire receptionists, including car dealerships, community centers and doctor’s offices. How many hire teenagers? That’s a harder question to answer. You can call and ask or look for openings on job search sites. You could also work for a temporary staffing agency, which might send you to work as a receptionist at various companies to fill in when the regular receptionist goes on vacation.
9. Recreation and Fitness Worker
Median hourly wage in 2023: $16.55
For some teenagers, recreation and fitness worker could be a dream job. Recreation and fitness worker jobs can be found at community centers like the YMCA, public pools, parks, gyms and nursing facilities.
Depending on your age, interests and experience, you could be a summer camp counselor, a fitness attendant or an assistant at a nature center. All day, you’ll help people get exercise or broaden their horizons.
You also might discover a future occupation – for instance, a summer counselor job might spark interest in a teaching career.
Best companies for recreation or fitness workers: Reach out to local recreation and fitness centers. If you can’t find work at a fitness or community center, you might consider a job in sports and fitness retail at a company such as Big 5 Sporting Goods.
10. Restaurant Worker
Median hourly wage in 2023: $15.36
This type of job is a rite of passage for many teenagers. Restaurants need year-round workers, and teens may nab jobs working as servers, hosts, dishwashers or cooks.
How much you will earn depends on your duties, but there is a chance to make a good income, especially if you work as a waiter or waitress and earn tips.
Best companies for restaurant workers: There are many great restaurants, but Chick-fil-A and McDonald’s are on the list of companies to consider.
11. Retail Salesperson
Median hourly wage in 2023: $16.19
Another classic in the annals of teenage summer gigs is the retail job. Retail can be thankless or satisfying, depending on the specifics of your work. It can also be great seasonal work or a job for weekends or evenings after school.
In a retail job, you'll get to know a store inside and out. If you’re a people person, you’ll thrive, since customer service is so important. You may operate a cash register or be in the store room organizing shipments. Of course, if you really love this job, it could be the first step to a career in retail as a store manager, regional manager or retail-focused office worker.
Best companies for retail workers: Look into jobs at Target or Walmart. Like books? Maybe you’d enjoy Barnes & Noble.
12. Warehouse Team Member
Average hourly wage in 2024: $24.91
This isn’t a traditional teenage job, but online shopping has become such a force that warehouses are advertising positions as summer or holiday jobs for teenagers.
You might be stocking shelves, organizing products or cleaning the warehouse. You could be asked to work a night shift. But it might be a good fit if you don’t want to work in customer service, and the experience could be useful for a future career in supply-chain management, such as working as a logistician. Plus, the pay is generous.
Best companies for warehouse team members to work for: Amazon is one major pick for a summer warehouse job.
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