The best summer jobs for teens are lifeguarding, camp counseling, retail and food service, tutoring, and local services like lawn care or pet sitting.
The right one depends on your age, whether you need a certification, and how much you want to earn.
Most pay between $12 and $20 an hour, and many hire teens with no prior experience.
What are the best summer jobs for teens?
The best summer job for you is the one that matches your age, your schedule, and the experience you already have.
Some roles, like a lifeguard, pay more but need a certification first.
Others, like babysitting or lawn care, you can start this week with no application at all.
The table below compares the most common summer roles so you can weigh the trade-offs at a glance.
| Job | Typical minimum age | Pay range (hourly) | Experience or certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Babysitting | 13+ | $15 to $20 | None required |
| Lawn care or yard work | 13+ | $15 to $25 per job | None required |
| Pet sitting or dog walking | 13+ | $12 to $20 | None required |
| Car washing or detailing | 14+ | $12 to $18 | None required |
| House sitting | 14+ | $15 to $25 per visit | None required |
| Grocery bagger | 14 to 16 | $12 to $15 | None, brief training |
| Food service crew | 15 to 16 | $12 to $16 | None, brief training |
| Ice cream or concession staff | 15 to 16 | $12 to $15 | None, brief training |
| Movie theater staff | 16 | $12 to $15 | None, brief training |
| Retail associate | 16 (some at 15) | $13 to $17 | None, brief training |
| Barista | 16 | $13 to $17 | None, brief training |
| Amusement park staff | 16 | $13 to $16 | None, brief training |
| Camp counselor | 16+ | $13 to $18 | First aid helpful |
| Golf caddy | 14+ | $15 to $25 plus tips | None, course knowledge helps |
| Sports referee or umpire | 14+ | $20 to $40 per game | League training |
| Lifeguard | 15+ | $14 to $20 | CPR and lifeguard certification |
| Swim instructor | 15 to 16 | $14 to $20 | Water safety certification |
| Tutor | 15+ | $15 to $25 | Strong subject knowledge |
Pay varies widely by state and employer, so treat these figures as starting points rather than fixed rates.
If you are weighing one role against another, look past the hourly number.
A lifeguarding certification costs time and money upfront, but it lifts your pay and strengthens future applications.
For older teens choosing between an hourly job and an internship, it helps to know that 57.6% of interns convert to full-time employment after internships (Resume.io, 2023), which can make a focused summer worth more than the wage alone.
What are some easy summer jobs suitable for teenagers?
The easiest summer jobs for teenagers are the ones that need no certification, no formal interview, and no prior work history.
These are usually flexible roles you arrange directly with families nearby, which is why teens under 16 often start here.
The table below shows what makes each one easy, using the factors teens actually care about.
| Job | How fast you can start | Schedule flexibility | Social or solo | Need a car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babysitting | Same week | High, you pick shifts | Social | No |
| Lawn care | Same week | High, daytime hours | Solo | Helpful for gear |
| Pet sitting or dog walking | Same week | High, short visits | Solo | No |
| Car washing | Same week | High, weekend friendly | Either | No |
| House sitting | Same week | High, set by neighbor | Solo | No |
What makes these jobs easy is that they run on trust and word of mouth instead of a hiring process.
That changes how you land them.
Rather than submitting applications, you let people know you are available, then deliver reliably enough to earn repeat work.
The teens who stay booked all summer are the ones who ask neighbors, family friends, and parents' coworkers directly rather than waiting to be offered.
These self-started roles still count as genuine experience, so they are a strong first step even if you plan to apply for a formal job later.
How can I find seasonal or summer jobs suitable for teens?
Finding a summer job comes down to timing, knowing where to look, and following up.
Seasonal roles fill quickly, often by late April or early May, so starting early is the single biggest advantage you can give yourself.
Here is a simple process that works for most teens.
- Start in spring: Begin searching in March or April, before the strongest roles are taken.
- Search the right terms: Use filters like "part-time," "seasonal," or "summer," and search "team member," "crew member," or "camp counselor" rather than only "teen jobs."
- Try businesses in person: For shops, pools, and restaurants, walking in during quiet hours and asking for the manager often beats an online form.
- Use your network: Ask neighbors, teachers, and family friends if they know anyone hiring a summer helper.
- Follow up: A few days after applying, send a short email or stop by to show you are still interested.
The walk-in approach surprises a lot of teens, but small employers frequently hire on the spot when a polite, dependable applicant arrives at the right moment.
An online application can sit unread in a queue, while a face-to-face conversation puts you in front of the person making the decision.
Using both methods together gives you the best odds.
Where can I find reliable job opportunities for high schoolers during the summer?
Dependable summer opportunities for high schoolers come from teen-friendly job boards, employers used to hiring students, and community programs.
General sites like Indeed and ZipRecruiter list seasonal roles, but several channels are built specifically for younger workers and tend to produce better results.
Trustworthy places to search include:
- Snagajob: Strong for hourly roles in retail, food service, and hospitality.
- CoolWorks: Seasonal work in parks, camps, resorts, and tourist destinations.
- HireTeen: A database focused on companies that hire 14, 15, and 16-year-olds.
- School career centers: Counselors often hold listings shared directly by area employers.
- Parks and recreation departments: Towns hire heavily each summer for pools, day camps, and grounds work.
These channels work well because the employers already expect to hire students and understand the rules for younger workers.
That means fewer dead ends and less time wasted on roles you are not eligible for.
Pools, libraries, grocery stores, and recreation departments are especially open to first-time workers, so begin close to home before widening your search.
What resources are available online for teens seeking summer jobs with no experience?
Plenty of online resources are designed for teens with no work history, and the trick is filtering for entry-level roles and presenting what you already have.
Major job sites now include "no experience" and "entry-level" filters, while teen-specific boards list only roles open to younger applicants.
You have far more genuine options online than teens did a few years ago.
Helpful online resources for first-time workers include:
- Indeed and ZipRecruiter: Use the "no experience," "part-time," and "summer" filters to narrow the list fast.
- Snagajob: Geared toward hourly, first-job roles like crew member and cashier.
- Company career pages: Applying directly often beats a third-party listing.
- CareerOneStop: Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, with job-search and resume guidance.
No experience does not mean nothing to show.
Volunteering, sports, school clubs, and babysitting all count, and they belong on a first application.
The most common mistake teens make is leaving a resume blank because they have never been formally employed.
If you are building your first one, focus on skills and reliability rather than job titles, and keep it to a single page.
A clear first resume often matters more than the length of your work history, and there are simple ways to write a resume with no experience that hiring managers respond to.
What are summer youth employment programs, and are there government-funded options for teens?
Yes, government-funded summer jobs exist, and they are among the most dependable options for teens.
Most major cities and counties run a Summer Youth Employment Program, often shortened to SYEP.
These programs serve residents aged 14 to 24, pay a guaranteed wage, and frequently include pre-employment training, which makes them well suited to first-time workers.
Common government-funded options include:
- Local SYEP: Run by your city or county, often through a department of youth or workforce services. Wages commonly range from $15 to $20 an hour.
- Youth Conservation Corps: Outdoor and conservation work, often linked to national or state parks.
- AmeriCorps: Service-focused roles, with some programs aimed at older teens and recent graduates.
Two details decide whether you get a place.
First, many programs are first-come or carry firm deadlines, frequently in late April or May, and spots are limited.
Second, some are income-based, meaning eligibility depends on household income, so check the requirements before you apply.
To find yours, search your city or county name plus "Summer Youth Employment Program," then confirm the deadline and eligibility rules as soon as applications open.
How many hours can a teen legally work in summer?
How many hours you can work depends on your age, and the rules loosen in summer.
Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, 14 and 15-year-olds can work more in summer than during the school year, while 16 and 17-year-olds face no federal hour limits.
Knowing your limits helps you plan realistic earnings and avoid roles you cannot legally take.
Federal hour and age rules work like this:
- Ages 14 to 15: Up to 40 hours per week when school is out, and between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day. Outside summer, the evening cutoff is 7 p.m.
- Ages 16 to 17: No federal limit on hours, in any job not declared hazardous.
- Age 18 and over: No youth employment restrictions apply.
Certifications carry their own age rules.
A properly trained 15-year-old may lifeguard at a traditional swimming pool, but natural-water sites like lakes and beaches require lifeguards to be at least 16.
Many states also require a work permit, sometimes called working papers, for teens under 16 or 18, usually arranged through a school counselor.
State law can be stricter than federal law, so check your state's rules before you accept a role.
Key takeaways
- The best summer jobs for teens include lifeguarding, camp counseling, retail, food service, tutoring, and local services, with most paying $12 to $20 an hour.
- Easy, no-experience options like babysitting, lawn care, and pet sitting can be started directly with neighbors, with no formal application.
- Searching in March or April gives you the widest choice, since competitive roles fill before summer begins.
- Government-funded Summer Youth Employment Programs pay a guaranteed wage to residents aged 14 to 24, but often have firm spring deadlines and income rules.
- Federal law lets 14 and 15-year-olds work up to 40 hours a week in summer until 9 p.m., while 16 and 17-year-olds have no federal hour limit.
Frequently asked questions
Here are quick answers to the questions teens ask most about summer work.
How much do summer jobs pay teens?
Most summer jobs pay teens between $12 and $20 an hour, depending on the role, location, and any certification required.
Lifeguarding and tutoring tend to sit at the higher end, while entry-level food service often starts near the local minimum wage.
Self-started work like babysitting or lawn care can pay well per job once you build repeat clients.
When should teens apply for summer jobs?
Teens should apply in March or April, before school ends.
Many camps, pools, and government programs begin hiring in early spring, and competitive roles fill by late April or May.
Applying early gives you the widest choice and the best shot at higher-paying or certification-based jobs.
Do teens need a work permit for a summer job?
Sometimes, depending on your state and age.
Many states require a work permit, also called working papers, for teens under 16 or 18, usually arranged through a school counselor.
Federal law does not require one, but state rules can, so confirm your state's requirement before your first day.
