17 Jobs That Hire Teens

As a teenager, a first job can not only be a source of income but also help you gain more independence and experience in being part of a team and/or becoming a leader. If you're interested in finding a job that hires teenagers, it can be useful to know about restrictions and laws related to when and where teens can work.

In this article, we explain what jobs teens can apply for, as well as go over employment restrictions, plus we share 17 jobs teens could pursue.

This article is for information purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice. Minors under the age of 16 are not allowed to use Indeed job search, per our Terms of Service.

Related: 21 Work-From-Home Jobs for Teenagers (With Tips)

What sort of work can teens do?

Teenagers can work in multiple industries, including retail and food service. Here are a few roles that make great first jobs for teens:

In-person opportunities:

1. Theater usher

National average salary: $13.75 per hour

Job duties: Ushers are responsible for walking theaters before, during and after shows to ensure customers are following theater rules, cleaning auditoriums and lobbies, and helping handle customer questions and concerns.

2. Cashier

National average salary: $13.41 per hour

Job duties: Cashiers are typically employed by retail stores and fast-food restaurants to receive cash, credit card or check payments, issue receipts and refunds, count money and keep the cash drawer balanced throughout their shifts.

Read more: Learn About Being a Cashier

3. Busser

National average salary: $13.32 per hour

Job duties: Bussers work at restaurants and are tasked with clearing utensils and drinkware from tables, wiping down eating surfaces, refilling customers’ nonalcoholic beverages and helping carry food to tables.

Read more: Learn About Being a Busser

4. Ice cream scooper

National average salary: $13.69 per hour

Job duties: Ice cream scoopers greet ice cream shop customers, offer menu suggestions, answer customer questions, provide samples, scoop and serve ice cream products, collect customer payments and maintain ice cream inventory.

5. Grocery bagger

National average salary: $13.85 per hour

Job duties: Grocery baggers assist grocery store customers by quickly organizing purchased groceries into bags and helping carry bags to customers’ vehicles.

6. Dishwasher

National average salary: $14.26 per hour

Job duties: Dishwashers work at restaurants and are tasked with cleaning dishes and cookware and placing clean dishes in the serving stations. They may also set tables and perform table bussing duties, depending on the restaurant.

Read more: What Does a Dishwasher Do? (With Salary and Skills)

7. Barista

National average salary: $14.59 per hour

Job duties: Baristas are typically hired by coffee shops to prepare and serve beverages like coffee and tea, answer questions and help customers choose menu items, use a cash register or other point-of-sale technology and help keep work areas, equipment and customer areas clean and sanitized.

Read more: Learn About Being a Barista

8. Restaurant host

National average salary: $14.14 per hour

Job duties: Restaurant hosts are responsible for greeting patrons, leading them to open tables, presenting menus and informing them of specials. They’re also responsible for making sure restaurant sections are balanced to prevent overloading servers.

Read more: Learn About Being a Host or Hostess

9. Lifeguard

National average salary: $14.34 per hour

Job duties: Lifeguards are employed by public and private pools, and are responsible for surveying visitors, making sure everyone adheres to safety rules and, in the event of an emergency, providing immediate care (such as CPR) until medical services arrive.

Read more: What Does a Lifeguard Do? Duties, Qualifications and Skills

10. Camp counselor

National average salary: $15.26 per hour

Job duties: Camp counselors help lead games, hikes, sing-alongs and other camp activities.

11. Dog walker

National average salary: $17.87 per hour

Job duties: Dog walkers may be independent or work for a dedicated business. Some dog walkers take one dog out at a time for walks, and others may take multiple dogs on each outing. The duration of each walk depends on the breed of the dog and the instructions from the client.

Read more: How To Become a Dog Walker

12. Caddie

National average salary: $18.66 per hour

Job duties: Caddies are typically employed by golf courses and country clubs to assist players by carrying golf bags, cleaning golf balls, raking sand bunkers, holding flags and consulting players on which club to use.

Related: How To Craft a High School Resume in 6 Steps (With Examples)

13. Referee

National average salary: $18.79 per hour

Job duties: Referees monitor and enforce the rules of sporting events, such as basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer and football. Their responsibilities usually include starting or stopping the game whenever necessary and resolving infractions of game standards.

Read more: How To Become a Referee

14. Tutor

National average salary: $24.81 per hour

Job duties: A tutor’s role is to improve the learning of a student outside of the traditional classroom. A tutor will dedicate one-on-one time to work with students who may need extra attention to succeed in their education. Typically, a tutor will help a student focus on one specific subject, such as math or history.

Read more: Learn About Being a Tutor

Remote opportunities:

15. Virtual office assistant

National average salary: $16.36 per hour

Job duties: Virtual office assistants complete administrative tasks for companies, such as responding to emails, organizing spreadsheets, putting together virtual office activities and more.

Read more: Learn About Being an Office Assistant

16. Remote babysitter

National average salary: $21.61 per hour

Job duties: Many parents are needing to balance caretaking and work in a virtual landscape. You might consider checking in with neighbors, family friends and coworkers to understand their babysitting needs. Planning fun and engaging zoom activities to do with kids for a few hours a day can allow parents to focus on work.

Read more: Learn About Being a Babysitter

17. Remote tutor

National average salary: $24.81 per hour

Job duties: Similar to the responsibilities of an in-person tutor. You can search for tutoring positions on Indeed.com, or consider reaching out to members of your community (friends, colleagues and virtual neighborhood boards) for more informal tutoring opportunities.

For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, click on the link(s) provided.

More employment opportunities

There may be more job opportunities available in your local area. Consider speaking to friends, family, neighbors and local businesses to see if they're looking for any part-time help. More local opportunities may include:

• Babysitting

• Amusement park staff

• House sitting

• Pet sitting

• Concession worker

• Landscaping/lawn maintenance

• House painting

Try getting creative. Teens can take a hobby of theirs and see if anyone in their local community will pay them for their skills. For example, baking, coding and arts and crafts are hobbies that can be turned into paid opportunities. Teens can market their products, skills or offerings to their community by printing out flyers or posting on community-centric app.

Related: How To Write a Great Resume With No Experience

Whether teenagers are seeking an opportunity where they can grow their customer service skills, learn more about a specific industry or work in a field where they already have interest and expertise, there are several job opportunities available for teens. By gaining valuable work experience as a teenager, you can develop a skill set that prepares you for a successful future.