How do you really make money if you’re a teenager?
Everything is so expensive right now, and it seems like everyone is looking for ways to make extra cash — including kids.
If I was a teenager in 2026, I’d be tempted to try my hand at flipping collectibles on eBay or creating YouTube content as an influencer, among other ideas.
But let’s be real. Earning real money from making videos can take years, and in my teenage heyday, I was saving for a car!
What I was able to do is make a decent hourly wage washing dishes at a nursing home at about 16. Admittedly, that job was miserable, but for some reason I reflect back on the suffering with a smile.
First up: How old are you?
You can get a real job at a young age. Traditional work opportunities open up at age 14, according to the Department of Labor . With some restrictions, you can do:
- Retail work (cashiering, stocking, bagging, price marking).
- Creative/intellectual work (tutoring, acting, music, coding).
- Errands and delivery by foot, bike or public transit.
- Yard work and cleanup (no power equipment).
- Basic car care (pumping gas, hand-washing cars).
- Limited food service (reheating, dishwashing, some cooking).
- Lifeguarding at pools/amusement parks (15+, with requirement).
Now, let’s talk Nerdy old-school jobs
When I asked my NerdWallet Content colleagues about their first jobs as teens, none of them said “surveys for money.”
But nearly every single one reminisced fondly about even the most awful of first jobs. They worked retail, scooped ice cream, made sandwiches, umpired little games, stuffed Build-A-Bears, bagged groceries and much more.
The common theme? Most of us worked for an employer, earned an hourly wage and found the experience beneficial.
These few options don't require an application, but may be even more profitable.
Babysit for friends and family
Babysitting in your spare time is a very realistic high-earning option for a 14-17-year-old.
You might be too young to sign up for a site like Care.com (caregivers must be 18 or older), but that doesn’t mean you can’t get jobs. Parents are sometimes more comfortable hiring a teenager they know, so leaning on word-of-mouth is the right starting point.
The average rate in the U.S. for babysitting one child is $26.24 per hour, according to the caregiving website UrbanSitter. You can probably ask for $10 to $20 per hour to undercut the competition. Plus, these gigs often come with downtime when kids are sleeping or busy doing their own homework.
Try asking friends or family for recommendations to get started.
Go the extra mile and get CPR certified. The American Red Cross has online CPR classes for $37, and some organizations offer classes for free.
Petsit for busy and/or traveling neighbors
Petsitting is a great gig for animal lovers. This is also one where word-of-mouth — rather than a platform like Rover or Wag — is the way to go for teens under 18.
Use your parents, neighbors and friends to find jobs walking dogs, checking on cats and getting the mail while people are away.
As with babysitting, pay can vary depending on location, experience and the number of animals in your care. According to Rover’s website, the average rate in the U.S. for a 30-minute dog-walk is $21.45. You could ask for $10 or $15 per walk to beat the online competition.
Tutor younger students
There’s a range of subjects and ages you can work with as a tutor. If you’re under 18, you’ll probably need to advertise your services and get jobs through your network. Offer sessions over Zoom to widen your reach.
If you’re 18 or older, you can branch out with an online platform like Wyzant.
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We have new school options, too
I’ve driven for Instacart, Uber and DoorDash and they are all a grind, plus you can’t do those as a teenager. But ya could …
Sell your stuff or flip something for a profit
You can sell stuff on some of the popular online platforms at 13 to 17, but there’s a catch. A parent or legal guardian has to be involved.
Etsy is the go-to option if you have art or handmade objects to sell, and it lets minors between 13 and 17 do so via an account supervised by an adult.
LeiLei Secor, who founded the Etsy shop DesignedByLei, started selling her handmade jewelry on the site the summer before her junior year of high school. She has since used her earnings, which have surpassed six figures, to pay for college.
Mercari is another popular platform for selling a range of stuff, and you can do so at age 13 through an account owned by the guardian.
Depop is hot for clothes and the minimum age to buy and sell is 13. But you’ll need the help of a parent to set up a payment method.
» Explore: The best places to sell stuff online
Facebook Marketplace is your best bet for selling or flipping larger items like furniture or bikes. If you’re not 18 yet, you’ll need your parent or guardian to handle the posting and transacting.
It’s definitely possible to make some money if you’re motivated. I’m not exactly a young adult, but I've done well selling on Marketplace.
Start freelancing online
If you have a skill that others might pay for, like writing, coding or making social media reels, you can use some freelance websites.
Fiverr, for example, lets teens 13-17 give it a go, with the assistance of a parent or guardian’s account. Make a profile and you can post listings for many services, like writing emails for a marketing campaign and coaching people through tough levels of video games.
Freelancer.com will let you use its site at age 16. With a free membership plan, you can bid on six paid assignments per month in your field of choice.
A lowkey (low-pay) option
Take online surveys
Taking online surveys is certainly an easy task — you can do it almost mindlessly while watching TV. Just don’t expect to get rich. Most apps compensate you in cents (not bucks) for each survey.
Stick with survey apps that are better-rated, like Swagbucks (ages 13 and up), and never share personal info. Watch out for survey sites that abruptly quit on you or send you to a spammy third-party client.
» See our rundown of game apps that pay real money
As for me, I didn’t stay at the dishwasher job long. When I turned 18, I found my calling parking cars at a local dealership. I was butter smooth with a stick shift and held that job my whole senior year of high school through the first couple years of college.
» Find even more ways to make money online, offline and at home with our full guide.
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- 1. Department of Labor: YouthRules. Child Labor Laws and Young Workers: Non-Agricultural Jobs - 14-15. Accessed Jun 9, 2026.
