Getting your first job as a teenager is an exciting time. For the first time, you’re earning money you can use to buy things you want, and you get the taste of financial independence. While you can get a job flipping burgers, there are numerous online jobs for teens under 18 that provide a legitimate way to make money on the side.
Earning cash allows you to learn the value of money. It also allows you to learn how to balance school, extracurricular activities, helping around the house, and work.
Top Online Jobs for Teens 18 and Under
Your teen years are an exciting time. It’s also a time where you begin to learn that items have a cost.
Unfortunately, you may also have a limited amount of time to earn money. Working online or doing work for an on-demand app is an excellent solution to that problem.
Here are 11 of the best online jobs for teenagers to earn spending money.
1. Paid Surveys or Games
The problem with many of the ways for teens to make money online is some of the best choices require you to be at least 18 years old.
However, you can start taking surveys for money at 13 years old. You won’t get rich, but it’s a fantastic way to earn some pocket money.
Here are a few of the top paid survey choices for teenagers:
Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie is an online survey site that partners with brands for market research. In exchange for providing your opinion, Survey Junkie rewards you with points that you can then redeem for gift cards or cash via PayPal.
This site is perfect for teens, and you can sign up for an account starting at 13. As long as you have an email address and answer questions honestly, you can make quite a bit of extra change.
Swagbucks
Are you looking for jobs for 14-year-olds or even a 13 year old? Swagbucks is one of the best ways for teens to earn money by taking surveys, but they also offer a great deal more than that.
Besides surveys, Swagbucks also allows you to earn points by:
- Completing offers
- Playing games
- Watching sponsored videos
- Playing online games
When you first sign up, you receive a $5 bonus credit. To open an account, you need to be at least 13 years of age and have a valid email address.
A valid email is also essential because that is where Swagbucks will send any redeemed gift cards.
Just like with Survey Junkie, there are many gift cards that you can choose from, like Target or Starbucks. You can also cash out via PayPal and Visa prepaid debit cards.
Toluna
Toluna is a bit different when it comes to survey sites. Instead of taking multiple surveys for points and cash, you test products and give your honest feedback.
This is great for teens who want to make more money and try new products.
While you earn points for your feedback, they are redeemable for gift cards, PayPal cash, or free products. Unlike Swagbucks and Survey Junkie, you have to be at least 15 to use Toluna.
LifePoints
LifePoints is another survey site that allows teens to make extra money. You can earn points by testing products and participating in mini-polls.
There is one caveat with LifePoints: you have to keep your account active to use the site. To keep your account active, you have to complete a survey or other activity within 30 days of signing up, and at least one every 90 days.
To sign up with LifePoints, you need to be at least 14 years old.
Maru Springboard America
With Maru Springboard America you earn points by completing surveys and redeem them for prizes and entries into monthly sweepstakes drawings. You must be at least 14 years old to sign up.
Similar to Lifepoints, you must keep your account active to avoid having it terminated. You can keep your account active by completing at least one survey every 90 days, according to their website.
To redeem points your account balance must hold at least 5,000 points. You may redeem points for PayPal and other gift card options on their site.
2. Deliver Meals
Delivering pizzas is one of the classic jobs for students to earn money on the side. Thanks to on-demand delivery apps, delivering meals is one of the highest-paying jobs for teens as you can earn up to $20 per hour, with tips.
Popular mobile apps require drivers or bikers to be at least 18, so this won’t qualify among jobs for 16-year-olds, but it will work for your older student.
DoorDash is one of the top delivery apps in the space and provides an excellent way for teens to make money. The service allows you to deliver fast food and restaurant meals.
To qualify for DoorDash, a driver must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a valid driver’s license and car insurance
- Be able to pass a background check
- Have a clean driving record
- Own a newer smartphone with the latest update
- Be able to attend orientation (based on your city and state)
The great perks about driving for DoorDash are that workers can set their own schedules and earn tips.
Read more about what it’s like to deliver for the food delivery app here to learn more.
Whether you’re looking for summer jobs for teens, or a job to work on weekends, delivering meals is a great way to earn money.
Here are a few other delivery jobs that pay decent money and let you start at 18 years old.
App | Avg. Hourly Pay | Pay Frequency | Bike/Motorcycle? |
---|---|---|---|
Postmates | Up to $20 | Weekly + instant | Yes |
DoorDash | $23 | Weekly + instant | Yes |
Uber Eats | Up to $15 | Weekly + instant | Yes |
Instacart | $20 | Weekly + instant | No |
Shipt Shopper | $22 | Weekly + instant | No |
GrubHub | $19 | Weekly + instant | No |
Saucey | $12 | Weekly | No |
Caviar | $25 | Weekly + instant | Yes |
Favor | $14 | Daily | No |
3. Walk Dogs
Although not an online gig, if you’re asking yourself, “What are the best part-time jobs for teens near me?” look no further than walking dogs as a possibility. If you’re an animal lover, you can earn money with Rover.
You can make money with Rover in the following ways:
- Walking dogs
- Boarding animals in your home
- Pet sit in a client’s home
To start with Rover, you have to create a profile and pass a background check. You also need to be at least 18 years old. Once you’ve signed up and completed a background check, you can start getting clients right away.
Besides being able to play with animals, Rover contractors also charge what they want. For example, you can charge $30 a night for boarding, or $100 a night. The choice is yours.
Rover’s site claims dog walkers can earn at least $1,000 per month offering various pet-related services; this makes it one of the better high paying jobs for teens.
Read our guide on how to walk dogs for money to learn more about Rover, and other platforms.
4. Perform Simple Tasks on Fiverr
Fiverr is a terrific opportunity for any teen looking to break into the world of online business and side hustling. With Fiverr, you perform various tasks for $5.
The real money comes in offering add-ons you can charge at whatever level you want. You can make money in countless ways on Fiverr, including:
- Doing voice-overs
- Creating custom background music
- Fast graphic design
- Virtual assistant work
- Writing thank you notes
If you’re tech-savvy, Fiverr is one of the best online jobs for students available.
To work with Fiverr, you need to be at least 13 years of age. If you’re looking for jobs for 14-year-olds, this is a perfect platform to start.
5. Design Products Through CafePress
If your teen likes designing and creating products, CafePress is a terrific website to use to earn money on the side. With CafePress, you customize products to sell to people.
Examples of what you can design include:
- Mugs
- T-shirts
- Hats
- Blankets
You can also purchase premade items and resell them.
The opportunities are endless when it comes to creating and customizing products on CafePress. However, it is important to remember that if you want to sell your own creations, you have to find a platform to do so.
Sites like Shopify and Sellfy are great places to start. To design and sell products through CafePress, you must be at least 13 years old.
6. Tutor Other Students
If you are great with people, you can teach English. Teaching English online is a popular way for those with teaching experience to make money.
However, it’s still an option if you want to make money tutoring.
SameSpeak and SkimaTalk are excellent platforms to find online tutoring jobs for teens.
For SameSpeak, tutors earn $10 for every 30 minute session that they complete. For SkimaTalk, there aren’t any specific numbers, but they share that their top earners make more than $1,000 a month.
You must be at least 16 years old to work for SameSpeak and 18 years old for SkimaTalk.
It’s also important to note that as a tutor, you will likely be teaching someone in China. Due to the time difference, early mornings are the most popular class times.
If you’re looking for summer jobs for teens, this schedule works well since they won’t be in school.
7. Work for U-haul
U-haul hires online representatives, and is one of the better online jobs from home for students. U-haul starts employees at $10.00 an hour, to work from home on a computer providing customer service.
You can also earn bonuses and extra pay based on performance. To be an online representative, you must meet the following qualifications:
- Ability to type 25 words per minute
- Have a reliable internet connection
- Be at least 16 years of age
You will have to go through an interview, and if chosen as a representative, you will have to go through four weeks of paid training.
The position is part-time, typically 32 hours a week or less.
U-haul is open seven days a week and has multiple shifts, so your teen can work during times that are convenient for them.
8. Babysitting
Babysitting is a classic way to make money as a teenager. If you like spending time with younger children, babysitting is one of the higher paying jobs for teens.
Where I live it’s common to earn at least $10 per hour as a babysitter. If you watch multiple children, it’s possible to earn up to $15 an hour.
Care.com is a useful resource to use to find babysitting jobs. The minimum age requirement is 13 years old. However, if you are between 13 and 17, you need a parent or guardian to grant permission to hold and use an account.
You cannot have your own account until you’re at least 18.
To apply for “jobs”, all a teen has to do is look for open positions, see if the times, dates, and situation work for them, and apply. People can also request to work with the teen, and they can accept or decline the offer.
A significant feature of Care.com is that you can create a profile. This profile lets you list your experience, and clients can give testimonials of your service. That will help you gain more clients.
Nextdoor is a suitable, and free, way for teens to find babysitting gigs and earn their own spending money.
9. Produce Videos on YouTube
YouTube is a big hit for kids and teens because there is so much opportunity to earn extra cash. The best part is, you can record and edit videos right on their phone.
You must be at least 13 years of age or older to start a YouTube channel.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to starting and maintaining a YouTube channel. You can create your own schedule and film whatever you find interesting.
However, it’s important to remember that you can’t make money from YouTube right away, and it could take time to build a base that pays. However, if you want a creative outlet, this can be one of the more fun online jobs for children under 18.
10. Start a Blog
Do you have a lot to share? Do you enjoy storytelling or writing? If so, you can start a blog and make money from it.
Self-hosting offers the best chance of earning money with a blog. Bluehost offers hosting for $2.95 per month. For that price, Bluehost sets up the site and provides the chosen domain name free for one year.
The minimum age requirement to use Bluehost is 13 years of age. If you’re a minor, your parent will have to purchase the Bluehost hosting for you. However, you can set up everything else and design your website exactly how you want it.
It’s important to note that blogging doesn’t mean money coming in right away. It takes hard work and dedication to build a successful and money-making blog.
However, it is possible, especially if you’re passionate about it.
11. Slicethepie
Slicethepie is similar to survey sites, but with a twist. This is an excellent site if you like music and clothing.
Like other survey sites, Slicethepie pays you for your opinion. The most popular way to earn money on the site is to give your opinion on a song. You listen to a clip of music, then review it.
Each review you leave nets a payment of $0.05 to $0.20. Yes, this isn’t one of the highest-paying jobs for teens, but it’s also not difficult to do.
Once you earn at least $10, Slicethepie pays you via PayPal.
To sign up for Slicethepie, you must be at least 13 years old.
How Can a Teenager Get a Job Online?
It is not difficult for a teen to get a job on the internet. Like adults, there is a lot of opportunity for industrious minors to find work online.
Pay does vary, but if you’re willing to put in the effort, it’s possible to earn extra spending money or enough to grow your savings account.
Regardless of the work from home gig, it’s essential to be aware of scams. Despite legit potential to make money online, fraud is also a reality.
If a job sounds too good to be true, or doesn’t feel right it’s best to move onto another opportunity. You can also ask your parents to take a look at the site to see what they think.
You don’t want to fall prey to a hoax, so take the time to do your homework before agreeing to do a job.
Summary of Online Jobs for Teenagers
Opportunity | Work Performed | Earning Potential | Minimum Age |
---|---|---|---|
Surveys | Surveys, games | 2 | 13 |
DoorDash | Deliver meals | 4 | 18 |
Rover | Walking dogs | 3 | 18 |
Fiverr | Small tasks | 3 | 13 |
CafePress | Selling designs | 3 | 13 |
SkimaTalk | Tutoring students | 2 | 18 |
UHaul | Customer service | 3 | 18 |
Care.com | Babysitting | 4 | 13 |
YouTube | Video influencer | 3 | 13 |
Bluehost | Blogging | 4 | 13 |
Slicethepie | Music reviews | 2 | 13 |
What to Know About Teens Making Money Online
Making money as a teen is exciting, but there are also some things to know first, especially when looking for tips for working from home. Working online is a terrific way to earn money, but you also want to avoid scams.
Here are a few tips to help as you look for online jobs for teenagers.
Know the Age Requirements
No matter what, it’s vital to know the age requirements. And, you shouldn’t lie about their age.
For example, if you’re looking for online jobs for 15-year-olds, don’t apply for a side gig app that requires you to be at least 16 years old.
That can cause issues and even get you banned from websites. It can mean forfeiting the money they’ve earned.
Have A Valid Email Address
To sign up for any online jobs for teens, you must have a valid email address.
They’re easy to create, and you only need to be 13 to open a Gmail, Yahoo, or Outlook email.
Having an email address is also necessary to sign up for a PayPal account. Many online gigs pay via PayPal, so you want to make sure you have what’s needed to receive payment.
Get A PayPal Account
To sign up for PayPal, you need to be at least 18 years old. However, a parent can sign up for you and then transfer the money made to your account.
Remember that if you’re an independent contractor, you may need to set aside some earnings for taxes.
Ask your parents to help you with this step as they might need to consult a tax professional about how much you will need to set aside.
You can even open a bank account for teens through Copper to keep your earnings for future needs.
Be in the Know
Unless you’re a legal adult, it is important to include your parents in what you do. That way, if anything goes wrong, a parent is aware and can help.
Even if you’re tempted to hide from you’re doing from your parents, you don’t want to put yourself at risk of fraud. Keeping your parents in the loop on the work you’re doing is a wise move to protect yourself.
Always Be Smart Online
The internet is great, except when it’s not. The online workspace is full of scams. Due to scammers and other people who take advantage of others, it’s not always completely safe.
So, always be aware and smart online. Don’t give out personal information, don’t plan to meet up with anyone you don’t know without a parent, and always practice safe online practices.
Summary
While traditional part-time jobs are always typically available, some teenagers want something a little more flexible. You may also want to start their own business or pursue multiple passions at once.
These online jobs for teens offer ways to make money and be independent, without sacrificing other areas in life.
What are some other ways to make money as a teenager?
Leave a Reply