10 Great Summer Job Possibilities for Teens

Summer Job Possibilities for Teens

School is nearly out and your tween or teen will have a lot more time starting this next month. With all the stimulation that school and sports bring, summer can lag for teens when their energy and minds are not put to good use. Yes, they have more time to see friends, which is good, but the time is also ripe to learn new skills and earn good money over the summer. Also, remember a summer job or internships, look good on college applications because they show extra skills and initiative!

Most teens earn minimum wage, but some jobs pay higher wages, and if your teen has an entrepreneurial bent and wants to start their own company, they could make some good money over the summer. So, at minimum wage, your teen could earn between $2,000-$5,000 this summer, depending on the type of job and whether they are working part-time or full-time. Also, if your teen starts their own company during the summer and will attend college locally, they could shift from working full-time on their company to part-time and have a continuing income stream.

 

Starting a Company, Working Freelance, and Job Ideas

Teens have many more choices when it comes to employment that wasn’t possible when we were teens, because of the internet and e-commerce sites. Many jobs we list are freelance opportunities but could be turned into a company if your teen is very successful. It is also an opportunity to bring on friends to help with the company as employees. Also, the internet makes finding freelance opportunities easier and opens up more possibilities.

So, as you go through our list you will note whether these are employment opportunities, freelance situations, or an opportunity to start their own company or take a freelance situation and grow it into a company. We will also add when a vehicle will be needed to perform the work.

 

1. Dump Runs, Donation Drop-Offs, or Yard Sale Organizer

If your teen has a truck, making dump runs for neighbors when they are disposing of lots of stuff is very helpful. Also, many times families don’t have the time to take items to donation and this can be a way to help out and make money. Many families have perfectly usable items but not the time to price and organize them for a yard sale. So, organizing and staffing a yard sale is a great service to offer and doesn’t require a vehicle unless they want the unsold items to be taken to a donation site.

 

2. Clothing or Book Reselling

Consignment stores are a great way to make extra cash when selling clothing or books. Going to the local flea markets, finding brand-name clothing in great shape at low prices, and then selling to a consignment store is also a way to make some extra cash. Also, you could always set up an eBay store to sell used clothing, books, and more. In well-to-do areas, it’s amazing what you find at the local donation stores that you can turn around and make some serious money on because someone didn’t want to keep a Burberry coat any longer or a friend found a Steuben China piece at a flea market that they bought for $10 that was valued at over $2000. So, with some footwork, research, and a little luck this is a summer project that can generate some extra cash.

 

3. Retail & Food Service Jobs

Usually, retail and food service jobs pay minimum wage. They are also flexible on hours which is great for a teen during the summer. Also, with food service jobs, working the counter at Starbucks, or other foodservice jobs, usually tips are one of the perks. If your teen has the opportunity to wait tables at a higher-end restaurant, especially if you live in a tourist destination area, they can make some great money just from tips over the summer.

 

4. Construction Work

Some construction jobs only hire people are over 18, but some jobs allow teens to work that over 16. Construction laborers and helpers usually can make between $15-$18 an hour depending on the area. This is also a great way to pick up some new skills and start learning a trade. There’s a lot of money in construction once you are a journeyman or have your own company.

 

 5. Lifeguard or Swim Instruction

You need CPR training, but if you love kids and water this is a great summertime job for teens. Also, many community pools and country clubs offer swim lessons, and becoming an assistant swim instructor is a fun summertime job.

 

6. Lawn & Landscape Maintenance

Mowing grass, fertilizing, pulling weeds, climbing trees, cutting firewood, pruning, pond cleaning, and you can always offer to build raised beds and plant a vegetable garden for a family. Many of these tasks can be a one-time opportunity or weekly or monthly gigs. If you are doing simple tree removal sometimes the homeowner doesn’t want the wood and you can sell firewood on the side as campfire wood, beach firewood, or wood for heating homes during the winter. A cord of good wood can bring in some good money.

 

7. Tutoring

Depending on your educational or computer strengths, tutoring can be a lucrative summertime job. You can find tutoring opportunities in nearly any subject, from math to Spanish, to chemistry to computer skills and coding. If you have a musical talent you can always offer music lessons from piano to guitar and so much more. Music lessons can work around your summer schedule and still allow you a lot of free time while making some good money.

 

8. Freelance Writing & Coding

If you are good at writing there are some great opportunities online to use your writing skills freelance. Also, if computer coding is what you love there are so many sites you can register at to offer your coding skills. If you want to keep your computer skills local consider helping older adults with computer clean up and learning their way around different computer programs.

 

9. Dog Walker, Pet & House Sitting

Dog walking and pet sitting can be a lucrative business. You can easily make between $10-$16 an hour and more in some areas. Dog walkers in our area get $25 for an hour-pack walk and that can include up to 3-6 dogs walking together, do the math! Many people who travel, don’t want to kennel their pets and would prefer to have them stay at home, so offering pet sitting and house sitting can provide a low-stress summer job if you enjoy animals. Many pet sitters earn between $30-$50 a day for each animal and many times more in well-to-do areas pet sitting can go for $200-$300 for a weekend.

 

10. Babysitter or Summer Nanny

Since many schools don’t go year-round but parents’ jobs do, helping as a summer nanny to a family is a great job. You can offer just babysitting for special occasions or when adults go out for the evening. Also, there is the possibility of being a full-time summertime nanny, many choices are available. Many of my friends growing up were summertime nannies and even got to go on vacation with families to help with the children, so they not only got paid but they got paid to travel and have some fun!

So, have your teen look at their skillsets and what they enjoy doing and help them put together a plan for summertime employment whether it’s a job, gig work, or starting their own company. It’s a great way to learn new skills, make valuable connections, and earn good some money over the summer. We have only scratched the surface in summertime job ideas, let your teen’s imagination and skillsets lead the way to a good job opportunity or starting their own company this summer.

A great way to spend more time with your family this summer is to delegate tasks you don’t love to someone else. Give us a call at Crystal Clear Home at 707-827-3316 or fill out our FREE ESTIMATE FORM and one of our cleaning professionals will be in touch promptly to answer your questions and give you a free estimate on cleaning your home or business.