As the first rays of summer sunshine break through, the hunt for the perfect summer job begins for many teens. Historically, getting a summer job has been somewhat of a rite of passage, offering young people not just pocket money, but valuable life lessons and work experience. Whether it be shaping young minds as a camp counselor or perfecting the art of the Instagram-worthy latte as a barista, the best summer jobs for teens offer a unique opportunity to earn and learn.

Jobs like being a lifeguard or a photographer not only fill summer days with meaningful experiences but also build up a strong resume for future endeavors. Not sure where to begin your search for the best summer jobs for teens? Let’s explore a range of opportunities that cater to various interests and skills, along with the average pay (as of this writing).

Why Get a Summer Job as a Teen?

When school’s out, a summer job becomes the perfect opportunity for teens to pick up valuable life and business skills, along with some extra cash. By stepping into the working world, teens can learn about responsibility, money management, and the value of hard work, all of which help build initiative and confidence.

Work experience is especially beneficial with college on the horizon, and prospective students might even be able to showcase their leadership skills and work duties on their applications. What’s more, teens can use their summer earnings to help pay for future college expenses, as learning how to save money as a student is critical. In the 2023-2024 school year, tuition can range from around $10,000 for public in-state colleges to over $42,000 for a private university—so every little bit helps.

Even if college isn’t right around the corner, it can be great for teens to have a little discretionary income. Working for their own money teaches the value of a dollar, encourages independence, and paves the way for better financial literacy.

15 Best Summer Jobs for Teens

1. Landscaper
2. Babysitter
3. Waiter or Waitress
4. Camp Counselor
5. Golf Caddy
6. Lifeguard
7. Pool Cleaner
8. Dog Walker
9. Tutor
10. Car Washer
11. Cashier
12. Barista
13. Festival Worker
14. Photographer
15. Coach

1. Landscaper

Landscaping has long been one of the most popular summer jobs for teens. This gig involves various outdoor tasks like mowing lawns, gardening, planting trees and bushes, and pulling weeds. It’s a physically demanding job, but it can be a rewarding way to spend your summer productively; especially if you love the outdoors.

You can apply to work for a professional landscaping company where you’ll gain valuable experience under someone else’s wing. However, if you already have experience with lawn care and access to the right equipment, you could also start your own landscaping business and potentially make even more money.

Average pay for landscapers: $18 per hour

2. Babysitter

Babysitting is perhaps one of the most timeless summer jobs for teens, with the average hourly rates varying based on your age and experience. Networking and using platforms like Care.com or Sittercity can help you find clients (you’ll need to be at least 18 to use either platform), or you can turn to local connections through Facebook, Nextdoor, or even Craigslist.

To become a successful babysitter, it’s crucial that you’re a responsible person who loves being around children. Babysitters also must be able to ensure the safety and well-being of the kids in their care, as well as engage them in fun and age-appropriate activities. CPR and first aid training can help you fetch a higher rate and stand out in a crowd of competitors. This training can also be life-saving in the event of an emergency, so it’s a worthwhile investment for anyone interested in childcare.

Babysitting fosters skills like problem-solving, patience, and communication. Plus, it’s a great way to build connections with families in your community and potentially secure regular babysitting gigs.

Average pay for babysitters: $18 per hour

3. Waiter or Waitress

Working as a waiter or waitress at a local restaurant can be a great summer job for teenagers. This type of job teaches valuable customer service skills, plus the ability to manage your time and multitask. Waiting tables can be a fast-paced and physically demanding job—you’ll need to spend long shifts on your feet—but the tips you earn can make it worthwhile.

Many restaurants are willing to hire teens as seasonal servers during the summer months, and the flexibility of part-time shifts allows for work-life balance. Plus, the restaurant industry often offers opportunities for advancement and career growth.

Average pay for waiters/waitresses: $16 per hour

4. Camp Counselor

If you enjoy working with children and spending time outside, being a camp counselor could be the perfect summer job for you. Summer camps often hire teens to help out with organizing activities, leading games, and ensuring the safety and well-being of the campers.

Camp counselors get to spend their summers in the great outdoors, with hourly rates hovering around the $15 mark on average. Planning and coordination are two of the biggest life skills you’ll learn in this role, all while teaching kids and having fun. This job is also ideal for teens looking to improve their leadership and teamwork skills.

Average pay for camp counselors: $15 per hour

5. Golf Caddy

Working as a golf caddy can be a fantastic gig for teens during the summer months. As a caddy, your responsibilities go beyond just carrying bags; you’ll also be managing equipment, setting up gear, and acting as a right-hand helper to golfers during their game. It’s a bit like being a personal assistant, just for a golfer out on the green.

To be a good caddy, you’ll need a solid understanding of golf. This includes knowing the game’s rules, etiquette, and terminology. Physical fitness is also important, as the role often demands carrying heavy bags across expansive courses for long periods of time. You’ll need to be able to communicate clearly and effectively, offering guidance when needed and fostering a positive on-course atmosphere. And, attention to detail is a must; you’ll need to anticipate and address golfers’ needs promptly, whether it’s locating wayward shots or assessing course conditions.

Average pay for golf caddies: $19 per hour

6. Lifeguard

Lifeguards are in high demand during the summer season, and teens can leverage that demand into a lucrative job opportunity—one of the highest paying on this list at an average $25 per hour.

There are a few prerequisites to becoming a lifeguard; you’ll typically need to undergo some specialized training and certification, which may cover things like water rescue techniques, CPR, emergency response protocols, and risk assessment. It goes without saying that lifeguards also need to be proficient swimmers and physically fit enough to effectively perform their duties.

The skills you learn as a lifeguard, including first aid, effective communication, and the ability to stay calm under pressure, are invaluable in all areas of life. From a professional standpoint, skills like responsibility, leadership, and quick decision-making will help lay the foundation for confidence and resilience in any future job.

Average pay for lifeguards: $25 per hour

7. Pool Cleaner

Being a pool cleaner offers a range of benefits and valuable experiences. Firstly, it keeps you outside and in the sunshine, which is the perfect gig for anyone who wants to enjoy the summer weather while they work. Being a pool cleaner also requires minimal training; you typically just need to familiarize yourself with pool cleaning equipment and chemicals, making it accessible to teens seeking entry-level work.

Pool cleaners need to have excellent attention to detail and the ability to follow instructions for proper pool maintenance. They also need basic physical fitness to handle cleaning equipment and perform tasks like scrubbing the pool walls and vacuuming debris. This job can be a great lesson in networking, as happy customers are likely to refer you to other pool owners in your community. This is especially lucrative in a warm-weather climate where many homes and apartment complexes have pools.

Average pay for pool cleaners: $17 per hour

8. Dog Walker

If you love animals, there’s a fun money-making opportunity waiting for you as a dog walker. A dog walking gig is an excellent opportunity for teenagers during the summer months. They can get started with a dedicated dog-walking service like Rover or Wag!—although it’s worth noting they’ll need to be at least 18 years old to use either platform—or they can tap into their entrepreneurial spirit and start their own dog walking business.

To kickstart a dog walking business for teens, look to your existing resources and spread the word around the neighborhood. Consider hanging flyers up in local pet stores, community centers, and on bulletin boards. You can also take to social media or platforms like Craigslist or Nextdoor to connect with potential clients. As the business grows, think about creating your very own business website so customers can find you via a professional web presence. And, offering additional services like pet sitting or grooming can help diversify the business and increase revenue streams over time.

Average pay for dog walkers: $17 per hour

9. Tutor

Are you a superstar in one particular subject? Why not make some extra money tutoring in that subject over the summer? As one of the most lucrative ideas on this list, tutors earn an average of $20 per hour with the potential to earn more for more specialized subjects. If you’re an academic type with excellent patience, empathy, and communication skills, tutoring may be just the job for you.

Tutoring is an excellent summer job for students because it’s about a lot more than just making extra money. To start, it can have a lasting positive impact on the life of another student who is struggling, boosting not only their grades but also their confidence and self-esteem. As a bonus, when you tutor in a subject, you enhance your own knowledge on the topic, further reinforcing your expertise. It’s an especially excellent practice if you have any aspirations to go into teaching professionally.

Getting started as a tutor is relatively straightforward. Start by identifying your strengths and the subjects you feel confident teaching. Then, reach out to local schools, community centers, or online platforms like Nextdoor to advertise your services. Building a solid reputation as a reliable tutor who gets results will lead to word-of-mouth referrals and steady work, where you can easily make $100 a day or more.

Average pay for tutors: $20 per hour

10. Car Washer

Working as a car washer can be a fantastic summer job option for teens and a good way to earn extra cash while enjoying the sunny weather. As a car washer, you’ll be responsible for cleaning and detailing vehicles, including washing the exterior, vacuuming the interior, and sometimes even waxing or polishing. It’s a hands-on job that lets you work outdoors and stay active throughout the day.

This is a particularly good gig for teens who live in a community or neighborhood where it’s easy to spread the word about your new business. You could start by washing cars for friends and family members, work your way up to neighbors, and even print flyers to place in people’s mailboxes.

Average pay for car washers: $16 per hour

11. Cashier

Being a cashier provides valuable experience in customer service and handling money, both of which are skills that can benefit teens on any future career path.

Cashiers are needed for all kinds of businesses, including retail stores, grocery stores, restaurants, and even entertainment venues like movie theaters or amusement parks. Getting started as a cashier typically involves applying directly to businesses that are hiring or searching for job listings online. Many businesses offer on-the-job training for cashiers, so prior experience may not always be necessary. However, having strong math skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work efficiently under pressure can increase a teen’s chances of success in this role.

Average pay for cashiers: $13 per hour

12. Barista

Being a barista can be a dynamic, engaging, and social summer job for teenagers who don’t mind a fast-paced, public-facing gig. As a barista, you’ll be responsible for preparing and serving coffee and other beverages, taking customer orders, and maintaining a clean and organized workspace.

On the job, baristas hone their communication skills, multitasking abilities, and attention to detail, all of which are transferable skills that will serve you well in any future endeavor. And, working as a barista offers insight into the fast-paced world of hospitality, building a great foundation for other potential careers in the industry.

To succeed as a barista, you’ll ideally need strong interpersonal skills and a friendly, outgoing personality. Being able to work efficiently under pressure during busy periods is also crucial, as is a willingness to learn and adapt to new tasks.

Average pay for baristas: $16 per hour

13. Festival Worker

Summertime is peak festival season, and festivals are a hub of activity that need staff in order to function smoothly. From running the ticket booth to crowd control to selling merch, there are a variety of temporary roles that would be perfect jobs for teens during summer break. Even entertainment gigs like face painting or balloon twisting could be a fun, lucrative way to make money as a festival worker.

Festivals can be busy, loud, and unpredictable, so you’ll ideally need to be adaptable and good at making quick decisions. Physical stamina may be required for tasks that involve standing for long periods of time or lifting heavy equipment. But, as a huge bonus, you’ll also get to soak up the festival atmosphere and enjoy the events taking place on the grounds.

Average pay for festival workers: Varies

14. Photographer

If you have a sharp eye, your next summer job may be right at your fingertips. Photography can be an incredibly rewarding way for teens to earn some extra cash while catering to their creative side. Whether it’s snapping portraits at family events, taking product stills for social media, or capturing breathtaking landscapes, there’s a plethora of opportunities waiting behind the lens.

Photography is in demand across all avenues of life, both personally and professionally. Couples, portrait, and event photography are all popular niches that help memorialize someone’s milestone or special moment. In the commercial space, there’s also steady demand for high-quality images for social media, websites, and marketing materials. All in all, there’s plenty of work to go around.

To get started with a photography gig, you’ll need some specific skills under your belt. First, a good eye for composition and lighting is essential. You should also have a solid understanding of the principles of photography, including exposure, aperture, and shutter speed. As for equipment, while fancy cameras and lenses can certainly enhance your photos, you don’t necessarily need top-of-the-line gear. Many smartphones boast impressive camera capabilities, making them a perfectly viable option for budding photographers on a budget. Of course, if you do have access to a DSLR or mirrorless camera, that’s even better. And, finally, don’t forget about the power of a website; showcasing your images and building a portfolio will help you gain new clients.

Average pay for photographers: $20 per hour

15. Coach

Are you an active, athletic type looking for a summer job? Consider becoming a coach. Coaching can be a fun way to spend your summer making money while sharing your passion for sports. Whether you excel at basketball, soccer, swimming, or something else, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved and make a positive impact on young athletes.

One of the great things about coaching as a summer job is that it lets you stay active and engaged in the sports you love. Instead of sitting behind a desk all day, you’ll be out on the field or court, leading drills, organizing games, and helping others develop their own skills. Not only is this a fantastic way to stay fit and active over the summer break, but it also gives you the chance to inspire others.

What skills do you need to become a successful coach? Firstly, you need a strong understanding of the sport you’ll be coaching; your knowledge of the game will be invaluable in teaching others. Additionally, solid communication skills are key, as you’ll need to be able to explain drills, provide feedback, and motivate your players. Patience, leadership, and a positive attitude are also important traits for any coach to possess.

Average pay for coaches: $18 per hour

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