21 Summer Jobs to Keep Your Teen Off the Couch This Summer

It’s never too early to start looking for your first job. Many younger teens than ever before are busy working, making money, or starting their own businesses. These young job seekers aren’t just beginning to find employment, but in some cases, they are setting themselves up for future careers.

Gymnastics Coach

Gymnastics Centers often look for instructors or coaches to work with young children from ages two to young teens. This role will require you to supervise participants, maintain relationships, manage and track class attendance, execute lesson plans, and be a positive and enthusiastic assistant to the gym center and lead instructors.

Babysitting

Younger job seekers will find babysitting extremely worthwhile due to its convenience, repeatability, and laxness. Most babysitting jobs require you to be vetted either by the child’s parents or by a third-party agency. But the benefits of the job are numerous, and the downsides are few.

Golf Caddy

Depending on your region’s climate, golfing may be a season or year-round activity. Golf caddies assist golfers and spend the entire round out on the course with a player. Primary responsibilities of a caddy include recommending and handing clubs to a golfer, keeping the clubs and equipment clean, raking sand traps and bunkers, fixing any divots made by the golfer, watching where the ball is hit, and tending to the pin during putting.

Home and Lawn Maintenance

If you fancy yourself a pro at running household chores, this should be a piece of cake for you. If you find jobs like these, they typically require you to clean specific areas of a home. This is a classic gig, as many people are too busy to do their own yard work or home care.

Mobile Car Wash

For the entrepreneurial-minded, a mobile car wash might be a well-received business, especially in a suburb with a high concentration of cars. Many adults have little time to clean their own car, but for the right price and convenience, they wouldn’t hesitate to have their car washed and waxed.

Freelance Writer

Freelance writing is one of the most lucrative jobs available for younger job seekers. This is due to various companies and entities’ high demand for written material. This job is also harder to get into, as you will most likely be in competition with college students, established writers, and other academic professionals.

McDonald’s

Job seekers at least 15 years old will probably find jobs in the fast food service sector most easily, but many national brands and franchises don’t hire until age 16 – even when local laws allow younger. Nevertheless, McDonald’s hires starting at 14 years old in regions where they legally can.

Tutor

If you are academically gifted, a side hustle as a tutor may be a perfect job at any age. Tutors help other students with comprehension, exam preparation, and homework. Of course, it will be critical that you have a strong grasp and understanding of the subjects that you are teaching.

Pet Care and Maintenance

Similar to babysitting, this job is popular, especially for pet lovers. This job will require you to care for pets by handling their routines and ensuring they don’t get into trouble. Pet owners love their pets but may not always have time for them. That is where you come in. Your job description includes feeding, grooming, and even walking pets.

Movie Theatre Attendant

A movie theatre attendant checks tickets before letting patrons into the theatre. Movie theaters are perfect for film geeks or anyone who enjoys the smell of buttered popcorn.

Lifeguard

A lifeguard is a unique job that allows you to be outside while entrusting you with great responsibility. Depending on where you live, your local pool or beach may hire you as a lifeguard.

Paper Route

While reading the news has grown more modern over the years, a paper route is still a classic way to start your first job. The image of a new kid in town hurling papers has made this job an icon to many job seekers. Even today, this is still a tried and true way to make money, as many people still enjoy reading print newspapers.

Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut is another brand within the fast-food industry that hires starting at age 15. Employees can expect to work as bussing staff – cleaning and preparing tables. Cashier roles are also common, where you will be expected to focus on customer-facing service.

Summer Camp Counselor

Summer day camps and sleepaway camps often seek out younger aged employees to spend their summer days playing with and supervising children. Working as a camp counselor is often an enjoyable job, as you get to spend your time outside doing various activities alongside the children. Summer camp positions are a great fit for busy teens who may not have enough free time to work a part-time job during the school year.

Parking Lot Attendant

Parking attendants coordinate where to park as well as oversee the payment process. Depending on the location and specific lot, these jobs can be quite busy with lots of customer interaction or more focused on managing the checkout gate and infrequently interacting with customers.

Retail Store Sales Associate

Although brick-and-mortar shopping is not as popular as it once was, there is still a significant need for store associates in small retail and large department stores everywhere. Although some stores do have a 16-year age requirement, we have found several stores that hire 15 years old for retail stocking and sales associate roles.

Burger King Employee

The home of the Whopper hires as young as 15 years, the same as several of their larger multi-national competitors. On-site work includes many functions, such as cooking, cleaning, serving, cashier, and drive-thru service.

Barista

Baristas prepare beverages and snacks in a coffee shop while interacting with customers in a food service role. Although some large chains, such as Starbucks, require employees to be 16, there are roles available for younger teens at private coffee chops.

Grocery Bagger

Every supermarket does not hire grocery baggers, but the ones that do often hire younger teens for this job. Baggers’ responsibilities include packing purchases into bags and carrying bags or bulky items to a customer’s vehicle.

Six Flags Amusement Parks

Six Flags amusement and water parks are located all over the U.S., and they begin hiring teens as young as 14 years old. If you live near a major metropolitan area, there is a good chance you have a park within 50 miles of your home.

Dairy Queen

Dairy Queen is a fast food chain specializing in ice cream, smoothies, and other specialty dessert items. Nevertheless, this chain also serves a full menu of fast food staples, including hot food like burgers, chicken fingers, and fries. With 4000+ restaurants operating in the U.S., the Dairy Queen brand sure can teach you how to operate efficiently.