40 ways to make money as a teen, sorted by age from neighborhood jobs to apps at 18, with the federal labor rules, each app's minimum age, what each pays and how a parent can help.
This is a list of 40 ways to make money as a teen, sorted by the age each one allows.
I started my first online business in 2013, beside a part-time bank job, and the skills it taught me, like writing, selling and talking to customers, still pay me today. Starting as a teen gives you a head start on all of them. You can read more in my story.
Most lists skip the part that matters most for teens: what you're allowed to do at your age. So each way below shows the minimum age from the law or the platform's own rules, what it pays, and where a parent can help.
In this guide, you'll learn:
- 40 ways to make money as a teen, grouped by age
- What US labor law lets you do under 14, at 14 and 15, and at 16 and 17
- Which apps allow teens, and which need a parent on the account
- How to spot the scams that target teens
- When a teen has to file a tax return
Find your age group, then pick one way to try this month.
TL;DRKey takeaways
What teens can legally do
US federal law sets the rules below, and your state can be stricter, so check your state's labor office before you take a job:
- Hours
- Work outside the federal rules
- What you can do
- Chores around homes, casual babysitting, newspaper delivery, acting, and a business your parents own
- Source
- Department of Labor
- Hours
- Up to 3 hours on a school day and 18 in a school week, or 8 a day and 40 a week when school's out, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (9 p.m. from June 1 to Labor Day)
- What you can do
- Jobs like tutoring, creative work and many store and restaurant jobs
- Source
- Department of Labor
- Hours
- No federal limit
- What you can do
- Any job not declared hazardous
- Source
- Department of Labor
- Hours
- No youth rules
- What you can do
- Any job, and most apps
- Source
- Department of Labor
Working for yourself, like mowing a neighbor's lawn, isn't the same as being hired by a business. The federal hour limits cover jobs with an employer, not chores for neighbors, so your parents' rules and your school schedule set the limits there.
Which apps allow teens
Apps set their own minimum ages, and most money apps start at 18. Here's what each one says:
Etsy- Minimum age
- 18, or 13 to 17
- How teens can use it
- Through a parent's account
- Source
- Etsy
- Minimum age
- 18 to get paid
- How teens can use it
- A parent's or guardian's AdSense account
- Source
- YouTube
- Minimum age
- 13
- How teens can use it
- The Affiliate Program, with a parent's consent
- Source
- Twitch
- Minimum age
- 13
- How teens can use it
- Developer Exchange, with a verified email
- Source
- Roblox
- Minimum age
- 13
- How teens can use it
- A guardian on the payout account, in the US
- Source
- Gumroad
- Minimum age
- 13
- How teens can use it
- An adult on the account until you're 18
- Source
- Stripe
- Minimum age
- 18, or 13 to 17
- How teens can use it
- Through a parent's account
- Source
- Fiverr
- Minimum age
- 18
- How teens can use it
- A parent owns the account
- Source
- eBay
- Minimum age
- Legal age
- How teens can use it
- Not until you're an adult
- Source
- Upwork
- Minimum age
- 18
- How teens can use it
- Not until 18
- Source
- Preply
- Minimum age
- 18
- How teens can use it
- Not until 18
- Source
- Rover
- Minimum age
- 18
- How teens can use it
- Not until 18
- Source
- TikTok
Find the right way for you
Not sure where to start? Answer a few questions about your time, skills and what you enjoy:
Answer 6 quick questions about your skills, your time and how you like to work. Get the 3 side hustles that fit you best, each with a plan for your first week.
Question 1 of 6
The 40 ways come in five groups:
Around your neighborhood
These 13 work for neighbors and family from age 13, or any age for casual babysitting and chores.
Part-time jobs at 14 and up
These five are real jobs with a paycheck, some from 15 with training.
Online, with a parent's help
These 12 run online, through a parent's account or with an adult on it.
At 18 and up
These nine apps open on your 18th birthday.
Start a business
This one turns any of the others into a small business.
Ways to make money as a teen around your neighborhood
These 13 work for neighbors and family, and most need nothing more than your time and a parent who knows where you are.
1. Babysit
You watch neighbors' and family friends' kids while the parents are out. Casual babysitting isn't covered by federal child labor rules, so you can start before 14, and a good sitter gets booked again and again.
The Red Cross runs babysitting and child care courses for ages 11 to 16 (Red Cross), which teach the basics and give parents a reason to trust you.
It fits you if you're patient, you like kids and you stay calm when something goes wrong.
What it pays: an hourly rate. Employed childcare workers in the US earn a median of $16.82 an hour (BLS, May 2025).
Tools: keep the parents' numbers, the kids' allergies and bedtimes in your phone's notes, and confirm each booking by text.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Taking more kids than you can watch is unsafe, so agree on how many before the parents leave.
- Skipping the house rules leads to trouble, so ask about screens, snacks and bedtime first.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · Who can do it: any age for casual babysitting
2. Pet sit
You feed, walk and play with neighbors' pets while they're away, at their home or yours. Rover requires sitters to be 18, so teens find clients the old way: neighbors, family friends and word of mouth.
It fits you if you love animals and you're reliable enough to show up twice a day.
What it pays: a fee per walk, visit or night. Employed animal caretakers in the US earn a median of $17.00 an hour (BLS, May 2025).
Tools: keep a checklist for each pet's food, walks and medicine in your phone.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Taking on a pet you can't handle, like a big dog that pulls, risks injury, so meet the pet first.
- Forgetting a visit can hurt an animal, so set reminders for every one.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · Who can do it: 13 and up, with a parent's OK
3. Walk dogs
You walk neighbors' dogs on a set schedule, often after school, when owners are at work. Weekly regulars make this one of the steadiest teen side hustles.
It fits you if you like being outside and you can handle a dog on a leash.
What it pays: a fee per walk. Employed animal caretakers in the US earn a median of $17.00 an hour (BLS, May 2025).
Tools: bring a leash you trust, poop bags and a phone with the owner's number.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Walking several unfamiliar dogs at once can end in a fight or a runaway, so start with one at a time.
- Letting a dog off the leash without the owner's OK is risky, so keep it on.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · Who can do it: 13 and up, with a parent's OK · Paid: per walk, by the owner
4. Mow lawns
You mow lawns for neighbors, usually once a week from spring to fall. Weekly lawns close to home are the best clients, because they pay every week and take little travel.
It fits you if you don't mind physical work and you can use a mower safely.
What it pays: a fee per lawn, often weekly. Employed landscaping and groundskeeping workers in the US earn a median of $18.82 an hour (BLS, May 2025).
Example: Built From Nothing made $700 in his first 60 days of lawn care at 15. He started at $15 an hour for yard work, moved to flat rates of $25 to $30 per estimated hour, and now mows weekly lawns near home for $35 each, most in under 45 minutes (YouTube).
Watch: Built From Nothing, at 15, breaks down the first 60 days of mowing lawns and the price changes along the way.
Tools: you need a mower, a trimmer and a rake, and a parent to show you mower safety.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Charging by the hour for slow work keeps your pay low, so set a flat price per lawn.
- Mowing without safety gear risks injury, so wear closed shoes and eye protection.
Start: a little money · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · Who can do it: 13 and up, with a parent's OK · Paid: per lawn, by the homeowner
5. Do yard work
You rake leaves, pull weeds, spread mulch and clean up gardens for neighbors. It fills the seasons when lawns don't need mowing, and it pairs well with a mowing route.
It fits you if you like working outside and you can see what a yard needs.
What it pays: a fee per job. Employed landscaping and groundskeeping workers in the US earn a median of $18.82 an hour (BLS, May 2025).
Tools: a rake, gloves, yard bags and a wheelbarrow get you started.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Underpricing slow jobs, like raking a big yard by the hour, leaves you working for little, so estimate the time and quote a flat price.
- Pulling plants you can't name can remove a neighbor's flowers, so ask before you pull.
Start: a little money · Time: under 5 hours a week · Who can do it: 13 and up, with a parent's OK
6. Shovel snow
You clear driveways, sidewalks and steps after a snowfall, often for neighbors who can't do it themselves. A big storm can mean a weekend of steady work.
It fits you if you live where it snows and you don't mind early, cold mornings.
What it pays: a fee per driveway or per storm. Professional snow removal averages $126 a visit, and $51 to $203, depending on the driveway and the snowfall (Angi).
Example: Alex Mota shoveled 15 driveways in two days after a winter storm and made $1,000, in January 2026 (YouTube).
Watch: Alex Mota shovels 15 driveways in two days after a winter storm and counts what each one paid.
Tools: bring a good shovel, ice melt and warm gloves.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Shoveling heavy snow too fast can strain your back, so lift small loads and take breaks.
- Promising to clear every driveway first during a big storm sets you up to disappoint, so set an order and tell customers.
Start: a little money · Time: under 5 hours a week · Who can do it: 13 and up, with a parent's OK · Paid: per driveway, by the homeowner
7. Wash cars
You wash and vacuum neighbors' cars in their driveways. It's quick to learn, and families with two or three cars can turn into weekly customers.
It fits you if you like seeing something go from dirty to clean.
What it pays: a fee per car. Employed vehicle cleaners in the US earn a median of $17.23 an hour (BLS, May 2025).
Tools: you need two buckets, car soap, microfiber towels and a vacuum.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Using dish soap or rough sponges can damage paint, so use car soap and microfiber.
- Letting soap dry in the sun leaves spots, so wash in the shade.
Start: a little money · Time: under 5 hours a week · Who can do it: 13 and up · Paid: per car, by the owner
8. Clean homes for neighbors
You help neighbors clean their homes, garages or basements, often before a move or a party. Chores around private homes are outside the federal child labor rules, so younger teens can do them.
It fits you if you're thorough and you like making a space look new.
What it pays: a fee per clean or an hourly rate. Employed housekeeping cleaners in the US earn a median of $17.07 an hour (BLS, May 2025).
Tools: use the customer's cleaning supplies, or bring a basic kit of your own.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Mixing cleaning products can release harmful fumes, so use one product at a time.
- Throwing out anything without asking causes trouble, so check before you toss.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · Who can do it: any age for chores around homes
9. Work in your family's business
If your parents own a business, federal law lets you work for it at any age, except in mining, manufacturing or hazardous jobs (Department of Labor). It's the easiest place to learn how a real business runs.
It fits you if your family has a business and you want to learn from the inside.
What it pays: an hourly wage or a share of what you help sell, set with your parents.
Tools: use whatever the business already uses, and keep a notebook of what you learn.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Working without a clear pay agreement causes family arguments, so agree on it up front.
- Doing hazardous tasks, like running heavy machinery, isn't allowed under 18, so stick to safe work.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · Who can do it: any age, in a business your parents own
10. Tutor younger students
You help younger kids with homework, reading or math, at their home or by video. Families trust a good student who's a few years ahead, and tutoring is one of the jobs the Department of Labor lists for 14 and 15 year olds.
It fits you if you're strong in a subject and you can explain it patiently.
What it pays: an hourly rate you agree with the family. Employed tutors in the US earn a median of $20.84 an hour (BLS, May 2025).
Tools: turn your notes into quizzes and study guides with Gemini and NotebookLM.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Doing the homework for the student doesn't help them learn, so guide them to the answer.
- Tutoring a subject you're shaky in costs trust, so stick to what you know well.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · Who can do it: 13 and up · Paid: per lesson, by the family
11. Teach music lessons
You teach younger kids an instrument you play, like piano or guitar, at their home or yours. Beginner lessons are about patience and practice routines, so you don't need to be a pro.
It fits you if you've played an instrument for years and you enjoy kids.
What it pays: a fee per lesson. Employed self-enrichment teachers, who teach music, art and other classes, earn a median of $22.50 an hour in the US (BLS, May 2025). On Upwork, music teachers typically charge $16 to $30 an hour, and the median is $20 (Upwork).
Tools: you need your instrument, simple sheet music and a phone to record practice clips.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Teaching songs that are too hard frustrates beginners, so start with simple ones.
- Skipping a practice plan slows progress, so give each student a short daily routine.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · Who can do it: 13 and up
12. Run errands for neighbors
You pick up groceries, return packages, water plants or wait for deliveries for busy or older neighbors. Taskrabbit requires taskers to be 18, so teens find errand work through neighbors and family.
It fits you if you're organized and you like helping people.
What it pays: a fee per errand or an hourly rate. On Taskrabbit, running errands averaged $32 an hour and waiting in line $27, by data Taskrabbit shared (CNBC).
Tools: get around by bike or with a parent, and keep lists and receipts on your phone.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Paying for a neighbor's things with your own money can leave you short, so get the money first.
- Going inside a stranger's home alone is unsafe, so work for people your family knows.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · Who can do it: 13 and up, for neighbors your family knows · Paid: per errand, by the neighbor
13. Sell baked goods where your state allows it
You bake cookies, bread or treats and sell them to neighbors, at school events or at local markets. Many states let people sell some homemade foods under cottage food laws, but the rules differ by state, so check yours first.
It fits you if you bake well and you like a little selling.
What it pays: the price you set for each batch, where your state's cottage food rules allow home sales.
Tools: print labels with ingredients and allergens, and make a simple price list in Canva.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Skipping allergen labels can make someone sick, so list every ingredient.
- Selling where your state doesn't allow home baking can get you shut down, so check the rules first.
Start: a little money · Time: under 5 hours a week · Who can do it: 13 and up, with a parent · Paid: at each sale
Part-time jobs for teens 14 and up
These five are real jobs with a paycheck. At 14 and 15, the federal hour limits apply, and at 16 and 17 you can work more hours.
14. Work as a lifeguard
You watch swimmers at a pool, a water park or a beach, and step in when someone needs help. Pools hire for the summer each spring, so the time to train is before the season starts.
It fits you if you're a strong swimmer, you stay focused for long shifts and you can act fast.
What it pays: an hourly wage. Employed lifeguards in the US earn a median of $16.14 an hour (BLS, May 2025). Red Cross lifeguarding students must be at least 15 by the last day of the course and pass a swim test (Red Cross).
Tools: the Red Cross lifeguarding course gives you a certification many pools ask for.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Looking at your phone on the stand puts swimmers at risk, so keep it away during your shift.
- Letting your certification lapse can cost you the job, so renew it before it expires.
Start: a little money · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · Paid: on the employer's payroll · Age: 15+ for Red Cross lifeguard training
15. Work at a summer camp
You lead activities, sports and games for kids at a day camp or an overnight camp. Some camps run counselor-in-training programs for younger teens, which lead to a paid role later.
It fits you if you have lots of energy, you like kids and you can lead a group.
What it pays: an hourly wage or a weekly stipend. Employed recreation workers in the US earn a median of $17.58 an hour (BLS, May 2025).
Tools: a first aid and CPR certificate helps your application stand out.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Applying in May misses most hiring, so apply in winter or early spring.
- Treating camp as a vacation gets you let go, so show up on time and follow the rules.
Start: free · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · Who can do it: depends on the camp · Paid: on the camp's payroll
16. Work in a store
You stock shelves, help customers and run the register at a store, a grocery store or a mall shop. It's one of the most common first jobs, and it teaches you how to talk to customers.
From age 14, federal law allows many store jobs, with hour limits during the school year (Department of Labor), so ask stores near you which ages they hire.
It fits you if you're friendly, you like staying busy and you're reliable about shifts.
What it pays: an hourly wage. Employed retail salespersons in the US earn a median of $17.03 an hour (BLS, May 2025). Cashiers earn a median of $15.81 an hour (BLS, May 2025).
Tools: a simple one-page resume made in Canva helps you stand out.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Taking more shifts than school allows hurts your grades, so agree on your hours with your manager.
- Skipping shifts without notice gets you fired, so swap shifts properly.
Start: free · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · Who can do it: 14 and up, with hour limits until 16 · Paid: on the store's payroll
17. Work in a restaurant
You take orders, run food, bus tables or help in the kitchen at a restaurant, a café or a fast food place. Some roles add tips, and the pace teaches you to work under pressure.
It fits you if you like a busy pace and working in a team.
What it pays: an hourly wage, plus tips in some roles. Employed fast food and counter workers in the US earn a median of $15.00 an hour (BLS, May 2025).
Tools: wear comfortable non-slip shoes, and get a food handler's card if your state asks for one.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Using kitchen equipment that's off-limits for your age, like some slicers and fryers, breaks the rules, so ask what you're allowed to do.
- Working late on school nights at 14 or 15 breaks the federal hour limits, so check your shift times.
Start: free · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · Who can do it: 14 and up, with limits until 18 · Paid: on the restaurant's payroll
18. Teach swimming
You teach kids to swim at a pool, a club or a summer program, from first floats to strokes. Parents book lessons every summer, and good instructors get requests.
It fits you if you swim well and you're patient with nervous kids.
What it pays: an hourly wage or a fee per lesson. Employed recreation workers in the US earn a median of $17.58 an hour (BLS, May 2025). Red Cross swim instructor courses take students who are at least 15 by the end of the course (Red Cross).
Tools: the Red Cross swim instructor course is a certification many pools ask for.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Teaching without a lifeguard on duty is unsafe, so teach only where one is watching.
- Pushing scared kids too fast sets them back, so let them build confidence first.
Start: a little money · Time: under 5 hours a week · Paid: on the pool's payroll, or per lesson · Age: 15+ for Red Cross swim instructor courses
Ways to make money online as a teen, with a parent's help
These 12 run online. Most money apps need an adult on the account, so a parent's help is part of the setup, not a favor.
19. Resell clothes and sneakers
You buy clothes, sneakers, games or collectibles cheaply at thrift stores and garage sales, and resell them online for more. eBay requires users to be 18, so a parent owns the account and you do the work.
It fits you if you love hunting for deals and you know what's popular.
What it pays: the margin on each item. eBay's user agreement bars people who can't form binding contracts, for example anyone under 18 (eBay), so a parent owns the account.
Example: Michael Haskell started reselling items from abandoned storage units in 2024, and at 18 his business brought in $97,434 from eBay and $37,500 from an auction house in 2025 (CNBC Make It).
Watch: CNBC Make It follows Michael Haskell, 18, who resells items from abandoned storage units on eBay and at auction.
Tools: list on eBay through a parent's account, and clean product photos with the product photo background remover.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Buying fakes, like counterfeit sneakers, gets accounts banned, so learn how to check what's real.
- Spending all your profit means you can't buy more stock, so put some back into the business.
Start: a little money · Time: under 5 hours a week · Paid: to the account holder, daily or weekly on eBay · Age: 18+ on eBay, so teens sell through a parent
20. Sell crafts on Etsy through a parent's account
You sell things you make, like jewelry, art, stickers or printables, in an Etsy shop. Etsy allows 13 to 17 year olds to sell through a parent's account, with the parent responsible for it.
It fits you if you make things people compliment and you can photograph them well.
What it pays: sales, minus Etsy's fees: $0.20 to list an item, 6.5% of each sale, and a payment processing fee that depends on your country (Etsy). New sellers get paid weekly, every Monday, and can switch to daily, every two weeks or monthly (Etsy).
Example: Brenon Dopp's print-on-demand Etsy shop made $40 in its first month and $6,076 in its best month, October, in its first year, in December 2025.
Tools: take photos on your phone, make mockups in Canva, and see what you keep with the Etsy fee calculator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Copying popular designs gets listings removed, so make your own.
- Underpricing handmade work leaves you with nothing after fees, so count your time and materials.
Start: a little money · Time: under 5 hours a week · Paid: every Monday by default · Age: 18+ on Etsy, or 13 to 17 through a parent's account
21. Start a YouTube channel
You make videos about something you love, like games, sports, crafts or school tips, and grow an audience over time. Until you're 18, YouTube pays through a parent's or guardian's AdSense account.
It fits you if you like making videos and you can stick with one topic for a year.
What it pays: YouTube's ad revenue share, sponsors, memberships and your own offers. YouTube pays you 55% of the ad revenue on your long videos and 45% of your share of Shorts ads (YouTube), once you have 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in a year, or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days (YouTube).
Tools: edit on your phone with CapCut, find topics with the YouTube niche finder, and see what views pay in the YouTube money calculator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Sharing your school, address or location in videos puts you at risk, so keep personal details out.
- Switching topics every few videos confuses viewers, so stay on one.
Start: free · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · Paid: monthly, between the 21st and 26th · Age: 18+, or a parent or guardian through AdSense
22. Stream games on Twitch
You stream yourself playing games, chatting with viewers who watch live. Twitch lets 13 to 17 year olds join its Affiliate Program with a parent's consent, and a parent agrees to the payout terms for you (Twitch).
It fits you if you enjoy talking while you play and you can keep a schedule.
What it pays: subscriptions, tips, ads and sponsors. Twitch makes you an Affiliate, and able to get paid, once you stream 4 hours on 4 different days with at least 3 viewers on average and have 25 followers, and it pays out once you pass $50 (Twitch).
Watch: Twitch streamer sunshinebread on real daily earnings, from $14 days to a $600 day with ads.
Tools: a webcam, a microphone and free streaming software get you started, and the Twitch money calculator shows what subs and views pay.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Streaming late on school nights wrecks your sleep and grades, so set hours with your parents.
- Sharing personal details on stream can draw the wrong people, so keep your real name and location private.
Start: a little money · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · Who can do it: 13 and up, with a parent's consent
23. Make Roblox games
You build games in Roblox Studio, then earn Robux when players buy items or passes in your game. Developers 13 and up can cash out through Roblox's Developer Exchange once they've earned enough Robux.
It fits you if you play Roblox and you want to learn to code and design games.
What it pays: Robux from players who spend in your game, cashed out through Developer Exchange. You need 30,000 earned Robux to cash out, which pays $114 at $0.0038 per Robux (Roblox), and since June 8, 2026, Robux spent by US players over 18 cash out at $0.0054 (Roblox).
Tools: build in Roblox Studio, and learn the money rules on Roblox's Developer Exchange page.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Buying game templates instead of learning slows you down, so build your own from scratch.
- Expecting quick money from your first game leads to quitting, so treat early games as practice.
Start: free · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · Paid: after Roblox approves each DevEx request · Age: 13+ for DevEx, with a verified email
24. Vibe code an app or game
You build an app, a game or a website by describing it to AI coding tools, then charge for it or grow it free. Teens can take payments through Stripe from 13, with an adult on the account.
It fits you if you have ideas for tools or games and you like trying things until they work.
What it pays: subscriptions or one-time sales of what you build, or the visitors and email sign-ups a free tool brings in. Across more than 115,000 subscription apps, the median new app made about $72 a month a year after launch, the top 10% made $2,500 or more, and 17.3% reached $1,000 a month within two years (RevenueCat).
Example: The 700+ free tools on this site are my own builds, vibe coded with Claude Code and Codex.
Tools: I build with Claude Code and Codex, and Lovable and Replit build apps from a prompt. Read what vibe coding is to start.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Building for months before anyone uses it wastes the time, so share a small version early.
- Collecting other people's personal data without care can break privacy laws, so ask a parent before you add sign-ups.
Start: free · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · Paid: every business day through Stripe · Age: 13+ on Stripe, with an adult on the account under 18
25. Sell digital products
You make study guides, templates, wallpapers or presets that people download, and sell them online. Gumroad lets you sell from 13, and in the US a parent or guardian joins the payout account until you're 18 (Gumroad).
It fits you if you make something useful that others ask you to share.
What it pays: one-time sales on your site or a marketplace. Gumroad keeps 10% plus $0.50 of each sale you bring in yourself, and 30% of sales from its own marketplace (Gumroad).
Tools: sell on Gumroad, and see what you keep with the Gumroad fee calculator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Selling notes or tests your school doesn't allow can get you in trouble, so sell your own original work.
- Using images you don't own can get products removed, so make or license them.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · Paid: every business day through Stripe · Age: 13+ on Stripe, with an adult on the account under 18
26. Sell Canva templates
You design Canva templates for social posts, planners or school projects, and sell them as links on Etsy through a parent's account. Templates sell again and again once they're listed.
It fits you if you design well in Canva and you know what other people need.
What it pays: a price per template that you set, minus Etsy's $0.20 listing fee, 6.5% of each sale and payment processing (Etsy).
Tools: design in Canva, and see what you keep with the Etsy fee calculator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Using Canva Pro elements buyers can't access breaks their copy, so test on a free account.
- Listing single templates competes with thousands, so sell themed bundles.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · Paid: weekly on Etsy by default · Age: 18+ on Etsy, or 13 to 17 through a parent's account
27. Photograph events and families
You photograph neighbors' family portraits, school sports, pets or small events, then edit and send the photos. You'll charge less than a pro at first, but local clients pay well for good photos.
It fits you if you have a good eye and you're comfortable directing people.
What it pays: a fee per shoot. Photographers on Thumbtack charge a national average of $164 an hour and $358 a job, and portrait sessions average $277 (Thumbtack). On Upwork, photographers typically charge $25 to $45 an hour, and the median is $30 (Upwork).
Tools: edit in Adobe Lightroom or your phone's photo editor.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Posting photos of other people's kids online without permission causes trouble, so ask first.
- Promising too many photos makes editing drag on, so agree on a set number.
Start: some money · Time: under 5 hours a week · Who can do it: 13 and up, with a parent
28. Design thumbnails for creators
You design the thumbnails YouTubers use to get clicks, often in packs for each new video. Fiverr lets 13 to 17 year olds sell through a parent's account, and you can start with creators you already watch.
It fits you if you watch a lot of YouTube and you can tell why one thumbnail gets clicked.
What it pays: a fee per thumbnail or a monthly package. Searches for YouTube thumbnails grew 52% on Fiverr in the six months to April 2026 (Fiverr). On Upwork, graphic designers typically charge $15 to $35 an hour, and the median is $25 (Upwork).
Example: AahilTube shares how he earned ₹5,00,000 as a freelance thumbnail designer, in May 2026.
Tools: design in Canva, and test titles next to your design with the YouTube title checker.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Using a celebrity's face or a brand's logo without permission can get a video claimed, so use the creator's own images.
- Underpricing forever keeps you busy and broke, so raise your price after your first reviews.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · Who can do it: 13 and up, through a parent's account on Fiverr
29. Edit videos for creators
You edit YouTube videos, shorts and TikToks for creators who'd rather film than edit. If you already edit your own videos, you have the skill creators pay for.
It fits you if you can sit with an editing timeline for hours and you know what holds attention.
What it pays: a fee per video or a monthly package. AI video generation and editing was the fastest-growing skill on Upwork in 2025, up 329% (Upwork). Most video editors on Upwork charge $6 to $25 an hour, and the most experienced earn a median of $100 an hour (Upwork). Employed film and video editors in the US earn a median of $75,420 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Tools: edit in CapCut, and cut shorts from long videos with OpusClip.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Using music you don't have rights to gets videos muted or claimed, so use the platform's free music.
- Missing upload deadlines loses clients, so agree on dates you can keep around school.
Start: free · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · Who can do it: 13 and up, with direct clients
30. Run social media for a local business
You post photos and videos for a local business, like a café, a gym or a salon, and reply to comments. Owners often don't have time for social media, and a teen who knows the apps can help.
It fits you if you use social media every day and you can write in a business's voice.
What it pays: monthly retainers. On Upwork, social media managers typically charge $14 to $35 an hour, and the median is $20 (Upwork). Demand for Instagram services grew 147% on Fiverr in the six months to April 2026 (Fiverr), and social media strategy was among Upwork's fastest-growing marketing skills in 2025, up 36% (Upwork).
Tools: design posts in Canva, edit Reels in CapCut, and check results with the Instagram post analyzer.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Posting without the owner's approval can embarrass the business, so agree on a review step.
- Working without a written agreement leads to unpaid work, so put the price and tasks in writing with a parent.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · Who can do it: 13 and up, with direct clients
Ways to make money at 18 and up
These nine apps open on your 18th birthday, and they're worth knowing about now, so you can plan your first months.
31. Deliver food
You pick up meals from restaurants and drop them at customers' doors, with an app telling you where to go. DoorDash requires dashers to be 18, and older in some states (DoorDash).
It fits you if you have a car, a bike or a scooter, and you know your area well.
What it pays: a fee per order plus tips. Employed driver/sales workers, the BLS group that includes food delivery drivers, earn a median of $18.64 an hour in the US (BLS, May 2025).
Watch: Jay Fourty lives off DoorDash earnings for a week to see what it really pays.
Tools: sign up with DoorDash, and track your miles for taxes in a notes app.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Taking every low-paying order wastes gas, so check the pay per mile before you accept.
- Forgetting that delivery pay is taxable leaves you with a surprise bill, so set some aside.
Start: a car, bike or scooter · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week
32. Shop for Instacart
You shop for customers' groceries and deliver them, choosing the orders you want. It pays per order plus tips, and new shoppers sometimes get a guaranteed amount for their first batches.
It fits you if you're quick in a grocery store and you have a car.
What it pays: a fee per order plus tips. Instacart pays shoppers weekly by direct deposit, offers Instant Cashout when you need the money sooner, and lets you keep 100% of customer tips (Instacart).
Example: Brandon Pack shopped for Instacart on his days off and after work for 30 days and made about $636, with a $450 guarantee for his first 30 batches, in January 2026.
Watch: Brandon Pack shops for Instacart for 30 days on days off and adds up the total.
Tools: shop with Instacart, and keep a list of the stores you know best.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Accepting orders with low pay and no tip wastes your time, so check the total before you accept.
- Picking the wrong item size annoys customers, so message them before you swap anything.
Start: a car · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · Paid: weekly, or right away with Instant Cashout · Age: 18+ on Instacart
33. Do tasks on Taskrabbit
You assemble furniture, mount TVs, help with moves and run errands for people who book you through the app. It's the grown-up version of the neighborhood jobs above, with a much bigger pool of customers.
It fits you if you're handy and you like a different job every day.
What it pays: the hourly rate you set. Clients pay Taskrabbit's service fee on top of your rate (Taskrabbit), and you pay a one-time, non-refundable $25 registration fee to start (Taskrabbit).
Tools: find jobs on Taskrabbit, and bring a drill, a level and a stud finder.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Quoting without seeing the job leads to surprises, so ask for photos first.
- Taking jobs you can't do well hurts your reviews, so stick to your skills at first.
Start: a little money · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week
34. Pet sit and walk dogs on Rover
You board, walk and sit for pets through Rover, which finds the owners and handles payment. If you walked dogs for neighbors as a teen, Rover lets you grow that at 18.
It fits you if you love animals and you can host or visit pets on a schedule.
What it pays: the rates you set, minus Rover's 20% service fee, so you take home 80% (Rover). A profile review costs $49 to $79, depending on where you live (Rover), and payments show up two days after you complete a service (Rover).
Example: Money Moves With Eric made $9,455 on Rover in September 2026, his best month, with $6,060 from boarding and $2,840 from doggy day care (YouTube).
Watch: Rachel Cole shares Rover earnings month by month for a year.
Tools: find clients on Rover.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Taking too many dogs at once can lead to fights, so cap your boarding numbers.
- Skipping a meet-and-greet risks a bad fit, so meet each pet first.
Start: free · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · Paid: two days after each service
35. Freelance on Upwork
You sell a skill, like writing, design, video editing or coding, to clients around the world. Upwork requires users to be of legal age, and it supports freelancers in 180+ countries (Upwork).
It fits you if you built a skill as a teen, like editing or design, and you have samples to show.
What it pays: hourly, day or project fees. Upwork pays hourly work 10 days after each weekly billing period, and fixed-price work after the client approves it, plus a five-day security hold (Upwork).
Tools: find clients on Upwork and Fiverr, and see what you keep with the Upwork fee calculator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Offering every skill at once makes your profile forgettable, so lead with one.
- Taking payment outside the platform breaks Upwork's rules, so keep the first projects on the platform.
Start: free · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · Paid: weekly on Upwork, 10 days after each work week · Age: 18+ on Upwork
36. Train AI models
You write, check and rank AI answers so models get better, from home, at hours you choose. It suits college students who are strong writers or know a subject like math or coding well.
It fits you if you write clearly and you're careful with details.
What it pays: pay per hour. DataAnnotation lists $25 to $50 an hour for generalists and $40 to $150+ an hour for coders and other experts (DataAnnotation). Demand is real: freelancer earnings from AI data annotation and labeling grew 154% on Upwork in 2025 (Upwork).
Tools: the work runs on platforms like DataAnnotation and Outlier. Read each one's pay and rules on its own site first.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Paying to join an AI training job is a red flag, so walk away from any offer that asks for money first.
- Rushing tasks can get you dropped from projects, so check each answer before you submit it.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week
37. Earn TikTok's Creator Rewards
You post videos of at least a minute, and TikTok pays for qualified views once you join its Creator Rewards Program. It's open to creators who are 18 and live in one of eight countries, including the US (TikTok).
It fits you if you've grown an audience as a teen and you can make longer videos.
What it pays: creator programs where you qualify, brand deals and affiliate links. TikTok's Creator Rewards Program pays for videos of at least 1 minute once you have 10,000 followers and 100,000 views in 30 days (TikTok), and YouTube pays 45% of your share of Shorts ads (YouTube).
Tools: edit in CapCut, and see what views pay with the TikTok money calculator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Relying on creator payouts alone keeps income low, so add brand deals and your own products.
- Using a business account makes you ineligible, so keep a personal account.
Start: free · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · Paid: monthly on the 15th on TikTok, once you pass $50 · Age: 18+ for TikTok's rewards
38. Test websites and apps
You try websites and apps while saying your thoughts aloud, so companies see where people get stuck. UserTesting pays through PayPal, about 14 days after each test.
It fits you if you can explain what you're thinking as you click.
What it pays: a fee per test. UserTesting sends each payment to PayPal 14 days after you upload the test (UserTesting).
Watch: PaidFromSurveys on getting paid to test websites with UserTesting.
Tools: the tests come through UserTesting.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Rushing through a test gets it rejected and unpaid, so speak your thoughts throughout.
- Expecting full-time pay sets you up for a letdown, so treat tests as extra cash.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · Paid: by PayPal, 14 days after each test · Age: 18+ for PayPal in the US
39. Tutor on a platform
You teach a subject or a language by video, with a platform finding the students. Preply requires tutors to be 18 (Preply), so a teen who tutored neighbors can move online at 18.
It fits you if you explain things patiently and you know a subject or language well.
What it pays: a fee per lesson, at a rate you set. Preply keeps the first trial lesson with each new student, then 18% to 33% of each lesson, falling as your teaching hours grow (Preply). Employed tutors in the US earn a median of $20.84 an hour (BLS, May 2025).
Tools: Preply finds students for you, and Gemini turns your notes into quizzes.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Opening hours you can't keep hurts your rating, so open only the slots you'll show up for.
- Teaching on bad Wi-Fi loses students, so test your connection first.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week
Start a business as a teen
Any of the ways above can grow into a small business, with a parent's help on the paperwork.
40. Turn one of these into a small business
You take one way that's working, like mowing lawns, reselling or editing, and run it like a business: a name, a price list, a way to get paid and simple records. Your parents can help with the bank account and the taxes until you're 18.
It fits you if one of the ways above is already earning and you want to grow it.
What it pays: whatever your customers pay you, minus costs. If your net earnings from self-employment reach $400 in a year, you have to file a tax return, even as a dependent (IRS).
Example: Kirk and Jacob McKinney started Junk Teens in February 2021, when Jacob was a high school freshman, with a used pickup truck they bought for $4,000 of their own money. They worked a job or two a week around school at first, and the business brought in $1.2 million in 2024, Jacob's last year of high school (CNBC).
Tools: make a logo and price list in Canva, send invoices with the invoice generator, and read my take on why you should start before you're ready.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Mixing business money with your spending money makes taxes hard, so keep them separate.
- Growing faster than school allows hurts your grades, so hire friends or say no to some jobs.
Start: a little money · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · Paid: by your customers
Staying safe when you make money as a teen
Scammers target young people with fake jobs and easy-money offers. The FTC's rules of thumb catch most of them:
- No honest job makes you pay first: the FTC says no legitimate gig will make you pay for expenses, training or anything else to get the job (FTC).
- Don't move money for anyone: scammers use young people to move stolen money, and helping them can get you in legal trouble (FTC).
- Don't deposit a check from a stranger and send part of it back, because the check bounces later and you owe the bank.
- Meet clients you don't know with a parent, in a public place, and keep your address private online.
If an offer feels too good, show it to a parent before you reply.
Teens and taxes
Teens pay taxes like everyone else, though most earn too little to owe much. If a parent claims you as a dependent, you have to file a federal return for 2025 once your earned income tops $15,750 or your unearned income tops $1,350 (IRS).
Self-employment changes that. If your net earnings from working for yourself, like mowing lawns or selling online, reach $400 in a year, you have to file a return and pay self-employment tax, at 15.3% (IRS).
If you have to file but can't, a parent or guardian can file the return for you (IRS). I'm not a tax advisor, so have a parent check with an accountant once the money adds up.
Bank accounts for teens
You'll need somewhere to keep what you earn. Some states don't let minors open accounts on their own, but a parent can open one for you and put both names on it (CFPB).
Banks and credit unions offer accounts for teens, often with a parent on them, and many states allow working minors to open accounts of their own, in some cases with limits (CFPB). Ask your bank which accounts it offers at your age.
How parents can help
If you're a parent reading this, a few things make the biggest difference:
The rest is up to them, and that's the point: a first side hustle teaches what school can't, like pricing, customers and follow-through.
FAQs about making money as a teen
Answers to the questions teens and parents ask most about making money as a teen.
Start with neighborhood work, like babysitting, pet sitting, mowing lawns or tutoring, which you can do from 13 or younger.
From 14, part-time jobs in stores, restaurants and camps open up, with hour limits until 16.
Online, apps like Etsy and Gumroad let teens sell with a parent on the account.
Sell crafts or printables on Etsy through a parent's account, or digital products on Gumroad with a guardian on the payout account.
You can also make Roblox games, edit videos or design thumbnails for creators, and start a YouTube channel that pays through a parent's AdSense account.
Keep your personal details private, and show any offer to a parent before you reply.
At 13, you can babysit, pet sit, walk dogs, mow lawns and do chores for neighbors, since casual babysitting and chores around homes are outside the federal child labor rules.
Online, Roblox pays developers from 13, and Etsy allows sellers from 13 through a parent's account.
A parent should know who you're working for and where.
At 14, you can take a part-time job in many stores and restaurants, for up to 3 hours on a school day and 18 hours in a school week.
Neighborhood jobs like babysitting, lawn mowing and tutoring still work too.
Check your state's rules, since some are stricter than federal law.
At 15, you can train as a lifeguard or a swim instructor, since Red Cross courses take students who are 15 by the end of the course.
Store, restaurant and camp jobs are open with the same hour limits as at 14.
Online, you can sell on Etsy through a parent's account or edit videos for creators.
Etsy and Fiverr let 13 to 17 year olds sell through a parent's account, and Gumroad lets teens sell from 13 with a guardian on the payout account in the US.
Roblox pays developers from 13, and Twitch lets teens join its Affiliate Program with a parent's consent.
Most gig apps, like DoorDash, Instacart, Rover and Taskrabbit, start at 18.
Snow shoveling, car washing and yard cleanups pay the same day, often in cash.
Selling things you no longer use, through a parent's account online or at a garage sale, is fast too.
Skip any offer that promises quick money for no work, since those are often scams.
Yes, they do, if they earn enough: a dependent has to file once earned income tops $15,750 for 2025.
If you work for yourself and your net earnings reach $400, you have to file and pay self-employment tax, even below that limit.
A parent can file for you, and an accountant can help once the money adds up.
PayPal accounts are for adults in the US, so UserTesting, which pays through PayPal, works from 18.
Until then, a parent's account or a bank account with a parent on it is the usual way to get paid.
Ask your parents before you sign up for any payment app.
Many stores, grocery stores, restaurants and camps hire at 14, with federal limits on hours during the school year.
Tutoring and creative work are on the Department of Labor's list of jobs for 14 and 15 year olds.
Ask employers near you which roles they hire for at your age.
Pick a side hustle that's already earning, like mowing lawns or reselling, and give it a name, a price list and simple records.
A parent can open a bank account with you and help with taxes until you're 18.
Junk Teens started this way, with two teen brothers and a $4,000 pickup truck, and it brought in $1.2 million in 2024.
Online tutoring of younger kids, Etsy sales through a parent's account, Roblox games and video editing for creators all work from home.
Selling digital products, like study guides or templates, works from home too.
A parent's help with the accounts is part of the setup for most of them.
Final thoughts on making money as a teen
The best way to make money as a teen is the one you can start this week, at your age, with what you already have. For most teens, that's a neighborhood job like mowing lawns, babysitting or pet sitting, and an online skill you can grow into.
Start small, charge a fair price, and raise it as you get better. That's how the teens in this guide did it.
Keep reading:
- 60 things to sell to make money
- 70 side hustle ideas
- 48 ways to make money on your phone
- 50 best online side hustles
- 38 ways to make money fast
Your next step: take the side hustle quiz, pick one way from your age group and ask your first customer this week. And if this guide helped, DM me on X or Instagram and tell me which one you picked.
Navid Moazzez
AI business strategist & AI OS builder
Navid Moazzez helps creators and founders master AI and build their own AI Operating System (AI OS) to automate their business and life.
Navid.me is reader-supported. When you buy through links on this site, I may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.
Similar articles
200+ creator economy glossary terms you need to know (2026)
What is a wantrapreneur? How I stopped being one (and how you can too)
35 highest paying side hustles in 2026, ranked by real rates
The 18 best ecommerce platforms in 2026: free and paid, compared
44 ways to make extra money beside your day job in 2026
50 ways to make money from home in 2026, with what each pays
The 14 best website builders in 2026 (free and paid)
28 ways to make passive income with AI in 2026, and how passive each really is
50 best online side hustles for 2026, ranked by what they pay
85 remote side hustles you can do from anywhere in 2026
48 ways to make money on your phone in 2026, and how fast each pays
The 15 best landing page builders in 2026 (free and paid)
Outils gratuits associés
YouTube
Instagram Newsletter IA gratuiteLa newsletter IA la plus concrète pour les fondateurs
Chaque semaine, recevez des stratégies IA éprouvées, des outils sélectionnés et des systèmes pas à pas pour développer votre audience, créer un meilleur contenu et bâtir un business de créateur rentable.
Pas de blabla, pas de remplissage, pas de baratin. Juste cinq minutes par semaine qui peuvent faire passer votre business en ligne et votre vie au niveau supérieur.
P.-S. Inscrivez-vous maintenant pour accéder gratuitement à mon guide ultime des outils IA pour les créateurs.
