Getting your first job as a teenager is exciting. While you can get a job flipping burgers, there are many 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 lets you learn how to balance school, extracurricular activities, helping around the house, and work.
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What Are the Best Online Jobs for Teens?
There are many opportunities to make money in your teen years. Unfortunately, you may 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.
1. Complete Paid Surveys
The problem with many of the ways for teens to make money online is that some of the best choices require you to be at least 18 years old.
Fortunately, 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 change. Market research companies will ask questions about your interests and what products you like to use. Most surveys take 20 minutes or less to complete and don’t require special skills.
Here are two of the top paid survey sites for teenagers:
Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie is an online survey site that partners with brands for market research. In exchange for providing your opinion, the platform gives you points that you can redeem for gift cards or PayPal cash.
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 extra money.
Read our Survey Junkie review to learn more.
LifePoints
LifePoints is another survey site that allows teens to earn some cash. Along with surveys, you can accumulate points by testing products and participating in mini-polls.
The one caveat with LifePoints is that you have to keep your account active to use the site. This means that you must complete a survey or other activity within 30 days of signing up and at least once every 90 days after that.
To sign up with LifePoints, you need to be at least 14 years old.
2. Deliver Meals
Delivering pizzas is one of the classic jobs for high school students to earn money on the side. Thanks to on-demand delivery apps, delivering meals is one of the highest-paying jobs for teens since you can also earn tips.
Popular mobile apps require drivers or bikers to be at least 18, so this won’t qualify among jobs for 16-year-olds. However, it will work for older students.
DoorDash is one of the top delivery apps in the space and provides an excellent way for teens to make money. It allows you to deliver fast food and restaurant meals.
To qualify for this app, drivers 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)
Some cities may require you to be at least 21 years old. You will need a car for most delivery opportunities, but you can use a bike or scooter in urban areas.
The great perks of this gig economy job are that workers can set their own schedules and earn tips. Better yet, the income potential can be competitive with a part-time job.
Read our DoorDash driver review 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.
3. Play Games Online
Playing games is an easy way to earn money online since gaming is a popular hobby for this age group. In most cases, you make money playing video games after reaching a specific level.
You can get paid to play a variety of adventure, card, puzzle, and strategy games. Many games do not require in-game purchases, so you can keep all of your earnings.
Micro-task sites usually have the best-paid game offers. Plus, you can also make money in your free time with many other gigs, such as surveys and watching videos.
If you’re looking for jobs for 14-year-olds or even a 13-year-old, Swagbucks is a fantastic choice. The app is a superior side hustle for teens as there are multiple ways to earn points, and it’s easy to redeem gift card rewards.
You can earn points by:
- Completing offers
- Playing video games
- Taking surveys
- Watching sponsored videos
- Uploading shopping receipts
When you first sign up, you receive a $10 bonus credit after making a qualifying purchase via their shopping portal. To open an account, you need to be at least 13 years of age and have a valid email address.
An email address is essential because that is where Swagbucks will send any redeemed gift cards. Most gift card rewards require a minimum $5 balance, like Target or Starbucks.
Amazon gift cards only require a $1 balance. You can even cash out via PayPal and Visa prepaid debit cards. Read our Swagbucks review to learn more.
4. Walk Dogs
Although it’s not an online gig, walking dogs is one of the best online jobs for teenagers.
Individuals at least 18 years of age can connect with pet owners through dog walking and pet care apps. If you’re still a minor, consider advertising your services on social media. You can also ask family, friends, and neighbors.
This is a fun way to make money after school for animal lovers, and you can earn more than with most online side hustles.
Rover is a top choice if you’re an animal lover and you want to earn cash.
You can make money with this pet care app in the following ways:
- Walking dogs
- Boarding animals in your home
- Pet sit in a client’s home
To start with Rover, you must 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.
Besides being able to play with animals, contractors can 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 by 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 this opportunity.
5. Do Small Jobs on Fiverr
Fiverr is a terrific opportunity for teens looking to break into the world of online businesses and side hustles. This platform lets you perform various tasks for $5.
The real money comes from offering add-ons. You can earn money in countless ways, including:
- Doing voice-overs
- Creating custom background music
- Fast graphic design
- Virtual assistant work
- Data entry
- Social media work
- Writing thank you notes
If you’re tech-savvy, this freelancing work site is one of the best online jobs for students.
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 the perfect platform.
6. Design and Sell Products on CafePress
If your teen likes designing and creating products, CafePress is a terrific website to use to make extra money. With this service, 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. However, it is important to remember that if you want to sell your own creations, you have to find a platform to do so.
To design and sell products through CafePress, you must be at least 13 years old. Sites like Shopify and Sellfy are great places to start as well.
7. Test Products at Home
Testing products is a unique way to earn money online as a teenager. It’s possible to receive product testing offers through Toluna. However, most of the paid activities are short surveys.
For example, you might be able to test health and beauty items or snacks. This is great for teens wanting to make money and try new products since these activities can pay more than a traditional survey.
As testing opportunities can be invite-only, be sure to complete your profile and actively participate in surveys to be a competitive candidate.
While you earn points for your feedback, they are redeemable for gift cards, PayPal cash, or free products. You have to be at least 15 to use Toluna, which is a bit older than some survey sites. Fortunately, most teens can qualify.
8. Be a Customer Service Agent
U-haul hires online representatives and is one of the better online jobs from home for students. It 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
Be prepared to go through an interview. If you are 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. It’s possible to earn regular income thanks to a consistent work schedule.
U-haul is open seven days a week and has multiple shifts, so you can work during times that are convenient for them.
9. 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 ways for teenagers to make money online.
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 parental consent 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 situations 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 this caregiver app is creating a profile. Your profile lets you list your experience, and clients can give testimonials of your service. These will help you gain more clients.
You can pursue additional online business opportunities for teens on this platform as well. Your profile can even include being an online tutor, pet care, and housekeeping.
10. Start a YouTube Channel
YouTube is a big hit for kids and teens because there are many opportunities to earn extra cash. All you need is a phone to record and edit videos.
You must be at least 13 years of age or older to start a channel on YouTube.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to launching and maintaining a 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.
Nevertheless, if you want a creative outlet, this can be one of the more fun online jobs for children under 18.
11. Start a Blog
Do you have a lot to share? Do you enjoy storytelling or writing? If so, you can start a blog and earn cash 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, the hosting service 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 Bluehost hosting for you.
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 comes in right away. It takes hard work and dedication to build a successful and money-making blog.
Fortunately, it is possible, especially if you’re passionate about it.
12. Review Music
Slicethepie is similar to online survey sites but with a twist. It’s an excellent way to earn extra spending money if you’re passionate about music and want to help up-and-coming musicians improve their material.
You might even be able to review designs for clothing and gear that will be sold at concerts or music shops.
Like other survey sites, you get paid 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. While this isn’t one of the highest-paying jobs for teens, it’s not difficult to do.
Once you earn at least $10, you receive payment via PayPal.
To sign up for Slicethepie, you must be at least 13 years old.
13. Create and Sell Items
Consider setting up an Etsy shop if you love creating items or printables. This online marketplace lets you sell nearly everything, including jewelry, clothing, candles, and crafts.
A standard account is free, but you can unlock more seller tools with a Plus account. This premium membership costs $10 per month, including customization tools and advertising credits.
After making a sale, your proceeds deposit directly into a linked banking account. You must be at least 18 years old to create an Etsy account. Teens 13 years or older can sell with parental consent.
Read our guide on other artistic side hustles to identify other crafty ways to make money.
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 without the restrictions of a traditional job.
Pay does vary. However, if you’re willing to put in the effort, it’s possible to make money on the side or grow your savings account.
Regardless of the work-from-home gig, it’s essential to be aware of scams. Despite the 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 on to 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
Here are the best side hustle ideas for your interests and schedule.
| 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 |
Select one or two that fit your needs and start working.
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 make money, but you want to avoid scams.
Here are a few suggestions 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. Also, you shouldn’t lie about your age.
If you’re looking for online jobs for 15-year-olds, don’t apply for a side hustle app that requires you to be at least 16 years old. That can cause issues and even get you banned from websites.
It can also mean forfeiting the money you’ve earned.
Have a Valid Email Address
To sign up for jobs for teens online, 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 must be at least 18. A parent can sign up for you and then transfer the money made to your account if you don’t meet the minimum age requirement.
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 since 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 with your freelance work, a parent is aware and can help.
Even if you’re tempted to hide what you’re doing from your parents, you don’t want to put yourself at risk of fraud. Keeping your parents in the loop on your work is a wise move to protect yourself.
Communication is also a great way to build a relationship.
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.
When considering ways for teens to earn from home, don’t give out personal information, don’t plan to meet up with anyone you don’t know without a parent, and always implement safe online practices.
Bottom Line
While traditional part-time jobs are always available, some teenagers want something more flexible. You may also want to start your own business or pursue multiple passions and start working toward financial freedom.
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?
*Earning more on certain types of orders (ex. alcohol): Earn more per order as compared to restaurant orders. Actual earnings may differ and depend on factors like number of deliveries you accept and complete, time of day, location, and any costs. Hourly pay is calculated using average Dasher payouts while on a delivery (from the time you accept an order until the time you drop it off) over a 90 day period and includes compensation from tips, peak pay, and other incentives.
*Get paid instantly (DasherDirect): Subject to approval
*Cash out daily (Fast Pay): Fees apply
*Start Dashing today: Subject to background check and availability
*Dash anytime: Subject to availability
Kim Suazo has been a freelance writer and business owner for over four years. When she's not writing for Frugal Rules, you can find her on other publications like Chime, Discovery, and Due. She also owns her own websites The Entrepremomer and Part-Time Profit, where she teaches overworked moms how to streamline their new businesses so they can scale without a team.
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