25 Best Jobs For Teens: Your Ultimate Guide to Landing Your First Job in 2025

Picture this: you’re 16, scrolling through your phone, watching your friends post about their latest purchases while you’re stuck asking your parents for money. Sound familiar?

Here’s the thing: teen employment reached a 14-year high in 2023, and teens have seen a 10% increase in pay in the last year, which is nearly double what other workers are experiencing. Yet many teens still don’t know where to start looking for work or which jobs offer the best combination of pay, flexibility, and valuable experience.

The best jobs for teens combine flexible scheduling around school, competitive pay, and opportunities to build real-world skills. From traditional roles like retail and food service to modern opportunities like virtual assistance and social media management, today’s teen job market offers more variety and better wages than ever before.

Whether you’re looking for weekend work, summer employment, or year-round income, this guide breaks down 25 of the best job opportunities available to teens right now.

Why Now Is the Perfect Time for Teens to Start Working

The current job market is more teen-friendly than it’s been in over a decade. About 37% of teens worked last year at some point – the highest rate since 2009, and employers are actively seeking teen workers due to widespread labor shortages.

According to economics correspondent Abha Bhattarai of The Washington Post, “About 37% of teens worked last year,” and employers are telling her “these teens are really excited” and “want shifts.” This enthusiasm, combined with teens seeing a 10% increase in pay in the last year, which is nearly double what other people are seeing, creates unprecedented opportunities for young job seekers.

The labor shortage has forced employers to raise starting wages and offer more flexible scheduling to attract teen workers. In July 2024, 54.5 percent of young people (those ages 16 to 24) were employed, with 26 percent of employed 16- to 24-year-olds working in the leisure and hospitality industry and 17 percent working in retail trade.

Interview Guys Tip: The current job market heavily favors young workers. Employers are not only hiring more teens but offering better wages and advancement opportunities than in previous decades. Don’t wait—start applying now while demand is high.

High-Paying Jobs for Teens (Pay: $15-25/hour)

1. Lifeguard ($12-22/hour)

Being a lifeguard combines responsibility with competitive pay. You’ll need to be a strong swimmer and obtain CPR certification, but many employers provide this training. Peak summer employment makes this ideal for students, and the life-saving skills you develop are valuable for years to come.

2. Camp Counselor ($15-20/hour)

Summer camps offer excellent leadership experience while working with children. You’ll develop communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and learn to manage groups—all while earning solid wages during summer break.

3. Tutor ($15-25/hour)

Leverage your academic strengths by tutoring younger students or peers. The flexibility allows you to work around your school schedule, and there’s high demand for STEM subjects. This experience builds communication skills and demonstrates your expertise in specific subjects.

4. Barista ($14-18/hour + tips)

Working at a coffee shop develops customer service skills while offering a creative outlet through drink preparation. Many positions include employee benefits, and tips can significantly boost your hourly earnings.

5. Youth Sports Referee ($20-30/game)

Weekend and evening games fit perfectly around school schedules. You’ll earn strong pay per game while developing decision-making and conflict resolution skills. Physical activity is a bonus, and you’ll gain experience managing high-pressure situations.

6. Landscaping/Lawn Care ($12-24/hour)

Outdoor physical work with seasonal demand spikes offers good pay and potential for entrepreneurial growth. You’ll develop work ethic, learn to use professional equipment, and gain skills that could lead to starting your own business.

7. Golf Caddy ($15-25/hour + tips)

Weekend work at golf courses provides networking opportunities with business professionals in an upscale environment. Physical activity combined with tips can make this quite lucrative, and you’ll develop professional communication skills.

Interview Guys Tip: Many of these higher-paying roles require certifications or specific skills, but the investment in training often pays off quickly through better wages and advancement opportunities. Consider these positions as career investments, not just summer jobs.

Flexible Part-Time Jobs (Pay: $10-15/hour)

8. Retail Sales Associate ($11-15/hour)

Retail positions offer flexible scheduling around school with valuable employee discounts. You’ll develop customer service and sales experience while learning about inventory management and business operations.

9. Food Service Worker ($12-16/hour)

Fast-paced restaurant environments build multitasking skills and offer advancement opportunities to supervisory roles. Flexible shifts including weekends work well with school schedules, and you’ll learn teamwork and time management.

10. Movie Theater Attendant ($10-14/hour)

Evening and weekend shifts align perfectly with school hours, plus you’ll enjoy free movie perks. Working in the entertainment industry provides customer service experience and exposure to business operations.

11. Grocery Store Clerk ($11-15/hour)

Stable year-round employment with opportunities to explore different departments. Many locations offer union benefits, and you’ll develop organizational skills while learning about retail operations.

12. Host/Hostess ($10-13/hour + tips)

Restaurant hosting develops communication and organizational skills while serving as a gateway to the restaurant industry. Professional appearance and demeanor development will benefit you in any future career.

13. Busser ($9-12/hour + tip share)

Entry-level restaurant positions offer fast-paced work environments that build team collaboration skills. While the base pay may be lower, tip sharing can significantly increase earnings.

14. Pet Store Associate ($10-14/hour)

Working with animals provides care experience while developing product knowledge. You’ll educate customers about pet care, building communication skills and industry expertise.

15. Babysitter ($12-20/hour)

Babysitting offers ultimate flexible scheduling with high hourly rates. You’ll gain child development experience and develop responsibility and problem-solving skills that transfer to many other areas.

Interview Guys Tip: These roles might seem basic, but they’re goldmines for developing transferable skills like customer service, time management, and teamwork that employers value in any industry. Don’t underestimate the career value of your first job.

Remote and Online Opportunities (Pay: $12-22/hour)

16. Virtual Assistant ($12-18/hour)

Support businesses with administrative tasks while developing professional software skills. Working remotely teaches self-management and helps you build a professional network early in your career.

17. Social Media Manager ($15-22/hour)

Leverage your native social media skills for creative content development and marketing experience. Many small businesses need help with their online presence, making this a growing opportunity.

18. Online Tutor ($15-25/hour)

Share your subject-specific expertise with flexible global scheduling. Technology platform experience gained through online tutoring is valuable for many future careers.

19. Freelance Writer ($15-22/hour)

Develop a writing portfolio while building research and communication skills. Writing for various topics expands your knowledge and helps you discover new interests.

20. Data Entry Specialist ($10-15/hour)

Detail-oriented work that develops basic computer skills with consistent remote work availability. While repetitive, it teaches accuracy and time management in a professional context.

21. Customer Service Representative ($12-18/hour)

Phone and chat support roles develop problem-solving skills and professional communication training. Many companies hire remote customer service representatives, offering flexible scheduling.

Interview Guys Tip: Remote work teaches crucial digital communication and self-management skills that are increasingly valuable in today’s workplace. Start building these capabilities now to stand out in future job applications.

Seasonal and Summer Jobs (Pay: $10-20/hour)

22. Pool Maintenance ($15-20/hour)

Seasonal summer work that teaches technical skills with equipment while providing physical outdoor activity. Chemical handling and mechanical skills are transferable to many other jobs.

23. Ice Cream Shop Worker ($10-15/hour + tips)

Fun summer environment with customer service experience in a relaxed setting. Potential for creative input in flavor recommendations and seasonal promotions adds to the appeal.

24. Theme Park Employee ($12-16/hour)

Entertainment industry experience that builds teamwork and problem-solving skills. Interaction with diverse public develops communication abilities and cultural awareness.

25. Warehouse Worker ($15-25/hour)

Physical work with good pay and overtime opportunities during peak seasons. Experience with inventory systems and logistics provides valuable business operations knowledge.

Interview Guys Tip: Seasonal jobs often lead to year-round opportunities. Many employers rehire reliable seasonal workers for permanent positions or offer them first priority for the following season.

How to Land Your First Teen Job

Getting your first job requires strategy, not just applications. Start by creating a simple resume that focuses on school activities, volunteer work, and personal qualities. If you’re starting from scratch, our guide How To Make A Resume 101 provides comprehensive steps for creating professional application materials.

Apply early and in person when possible – many teen-friendly employers prefer face-to-face interactions. This shows initiative and allows them to assess your personality and communication skills immediately.

Leverage your network by asking family, friends, and teachers about opportunities. Many teen jobs come through personal connections rather than online applications.

Be flexible with scheduling initially to prove your reliability. Once you’ve established yourself as a dependable employee, you’ll have more leverage to request preferred hours.

Follow up professionally after applications and interviews. Our 25 Job Search Tips and Hacks includes templates and strategies for effective follow-up that sets you apart from other candidates.

For interview preparation, How to Prepare for a Job Interview offers comprehensive guidance on research, practice, and performance strategies. Even for entry-level positions, proper preparation demonstrates maturity and serious interest.

Consider learning 15 genius job interview tips and hacks that help employers see you as the obvious choice, even when competing against more experienced candidates.

The teen job market in 2025 offers unprecedented opportunities with better pay, more flexibility, and valuable skill-building experiences than previous generations enjoyed. Don’t wait for the “perfect” opportunity—start applying now while employers are actively seeking teen workers and wages continue rising.

Choose 3-5 jobs from this list that match your interests and availability, then begin crafting your applications. Remember, your first job is about gaining experience and building your professional foundation. The skills and work ethic you develop now will set the trajectory for your entire career.

With teen employment reaching 14-year highs and wages increasing 10% annually, there’s never been a better time to start your professional journey. The experience you gain and connections you make in your first job often influence opportunities for years to come—so choose wisely and start strong.

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