Getting a job in high school can be a great idea. Not only will a job help you save up for college, buy a car, or afford to go out to eat with your friends, but it will also give you valuable working experience and be something that you can add to your resume.
There are a lot of options out there, but choosing the right job can be tricky. With school, extracurriculars, and college prep, high school is a busy part of your life. You don’t want a job that will take up too much of your time or add any unnecessary stress. For that reason, it is important to pick something that you would enjoy.
Here are 12 perfect jobs for high school students.
Babysitter
While babysitting is not always the most steady job, it has the potential to be very high paying. If you’re good with kids and don’t mind watching Nickelodeon, babysitting may be the best job for you.
The biggest challenge to babysitting is finding consistent work. While hourly wages for babysitting are typically high, opportunities can be few and far between. Babysitting one night a week won’t put very much spending money in your pocket. But, if you’re able to find multiple clients, you’ll start raking in the dough.
The best way to find babysitting jobs is to network. Post on social media. Ask around. Let your friends, family, and neighbors know that you’re looking to babysit. You could also post flyers to bulletin boards in local coffee shops and restaurants. Additionally, there are websites, such as SitterCity, that post babysitting jobs in and around your community.
- Estimated wage: $10-$35 per hour
Camp Counselor
Being a summer camp counselor is a classic high school job. You could be a camp counselor at a sleep-away camp and have all of your living expenses covered, or you could be a day-camp counselor at a local school, YMCA, or church, for example.
Both options are fun and typically stress-free ways to make some extra spending money. Most of your days will be spent looking after kids and leading or assisting with camp activities. If you were a camper when you were younger, the easiest way to get a camp counseling job is by checking in to see if your former camp would hire you. Otherwise, many camps list jobs online or on flyers around town.
- Estimated wage: $8-$15 per hour
Delivery Driver
If you prefer to work independently, are good with directions, and work well under pressure, being a delivery driver might be your best high school employment option. Most of the independent delivery services, such as Uber Eats or DoorDash, require drivers to be at least 18 years old. So, as a high school student, your best bet is to try to find a job working as a restaurant’s delivery driver. Of course, if the restaurant asks that you deliver by car, you’ll have to have a license. But, some restaurants hire bike delivery drivers.
One of the best parts about being a delivery driver is the pay. Members of a restaurant’s wait staff, for example, often make below minimum wage because they are expected to make up for it in tips. Delivery drivers, however, are typically paid at least minimum wage, plus tips. So, if you are able to land a job at a popular restaurant that sends out a lot of delivery orders, you have the chance to make a lot of money.
Like other restaurant jobs, the best way to become a delivery driver is by walking in and asking for an application. Restaurants typically have a lot of staff turnover. So even if the restaurant isn’t hiring at the moment you apply, they will save your application on file and call you for an interview when they are hiring again.
- Estimated wage: $8-$15 per hour + tips
Dog Walker
If you’re a dog person, there are few jobs that are more enjoyable than being a dog walker. There are plenty of benefits to being a dog walker, including a flexible schedule and the ability to spend a lot of time outside. The downsides include having to walk many dogs at one time who may not get along, having to clean up after the dogs, and having to walk dogs even if the weather is less than ideal.
Unfortunately, most of the dog-walking apps, including Rover and Wag, require workers to be at least 18 years old. So, if you’re still a minor, your best bet is to knock on your neighbors’ doors, check listings online, post on social media, and attach flyers to bulletin boards or to the windows of local businesses.
- Estimated wage: $14-$17 per hour
Ice Cream Scooper
Is there a more storybook high school job than being an ice cream scooper? I’d say it is tied with being a lifeguard or a summer camp counselor. Kidding aside, working at an ice cream store is a great option for high schoolers. The job is not very labor-intensive, and if you work at a shop with good ice cream, your friends might come to visit you at work.
Compared to the other jobs on this list, the pay for being an ice cream scooper is pretty average. Your hourly wage likely won’t be as high as that of a babysitter, and your tips probably won’t be as good as that of a restaurant worker. But, the job definitely still has its perks.
The best way to find a job as an ice cream scooper is to stop into the local stores and ask for an application. The ice cream business picks up in the summertime when school is out, so shops are typically looking to hire more workers.
- Estimated wage: $8-$15 per hour + tips
Lifeguard
Being a lifeguard is another classic summer job for high school students. What’s better than making money to sit in the sun by the pool or beach all day? Most of the time, being a lifeguard is a very relaxing and enjoyable job. However, it also comes with a lot of responsibility as you are in charge of keeping swimmers safe from drowning. For that reason, in order to become a lifeguard, you will have to undergo a swim test, lifeguard training, and complete a CPR certification course.
- Estimated wage: $12-$15 per hour
Paid Intern
No employment opportunities are more valuable for students than paid internships. Not only do they provide you with a little bit of spending money, but they also grant you valuable experience that looks good on a resume and can help you decide what to study in college.
Paid internships, particularly ones that fit around school time, are hard to come by. But if you find one that interests you, fight your hardest to get it. If you have a dream company in mind, start by looking for internships on its website. If you’re still undecided, there are plenty of internship search engines, including TUN’s Internship Search Tool, that can help you find the right gig. Also, check out TUN’s list of the best internships for high school students.
- Estimated wage: $8-$25 per hour
Restaurant Worker
Working in a restaurant can be a great job while you’re in high school. Not only do restaurant gigs typically pay more than most of the jobs on this list, but work hours are also usually at night and on weekends. That way, your work will likely not interfere with school.
Restaurants typically have a lot of staff turnover, so finding a job shouldn’t be too difficult. The best way to land a gig at a restaurant is by walking in and simply asking if they are hiring. While some managers may ask for a resume, others don’t mind if you’ve had experience or not. If you’ve never worked in a restaurant before, you may have to start as a dishwasher or host. However, if you perform well, moving up to the more lucrative positions should be easy.
- Estimated wage: $8-$12 per hour + tips
Retail
Retail jobs are a great option for high school students. Step into Target, Whole Foods, Starbucks, or any other big retailer and ask if they have any job openings. Of course, most retailers also list job opportunities online, but applying in-person is an excellent way to catch managers’ attention.
There are a few benefits to working at big retail stores. Many allow workers to transfer locations. So, if you’re going to college next year and the retailer you work for has a store in your college town, you may have a place to work. Additionally, a lot of big retailers offer worker discounts. So, it’s best to pick a store that you love!
The only main downside to working in a big retail store is that you don’t always have a say in your work schedule, so it might interfere with schoolwork or other activities.
- Estimated wage: $8-$15 per hour
Transcriber
Transcribing is a simple job that you can easily work around your school schedule. Typically, it involves listening to an audio recording and typing it out. If you’re a quick typer with laser-sharp focus, you can make good money as a transcriber.
There are dozens of transcription services that frequently hire new transcribers. A few to get you started include Accutran Global, GoTranscript, and GMRTranscription.
Although getting transcription jobs is typically pretty simple, the actual task of transcribing can be very monotonous and stressful. The amount you earn per month typically depends on your turnaround time.
- Estimated wage: $.005 per word
Tutor (After School)
If you excel in a subject, why not use your expertise to make some money? While there are some websites out there that will pay tutors, many of the good, secure websites require that tutors have at least a high school degree. For that reason, the simplest and most profitable way to be a tutor as a high school student is to work independently, assisting students at your school or at nearby middle and elementary schools.
Like many jobs on this list, the best way to gain clients is by advertising your services online and throughout the community. Post on social media and spread flyers throughout your neighborhood.
- Estimated wage: $15-$20 per hour
Yard worker
Particularly if you live in a more rural or suburban area without a lot of restaurants or shops to work at, being a yard worker is a great option. Although the labor is typically pretty intense, it can feel really rewarding to put in a hard day of work. Additionally, you’ll be out in the sun sucking up vitamin D.
There are two main ways to get a job as a yard worker. A lot of times, lawn care professionals will hire high school students to help out with menial tasks. So, if you have a family friend, relative, or neighbor who owns a lawn care business, check to see if they’re hiring. The other option is to go solo. Put up advertisements throughout the town, post on social media, and knock on your neighbors’ doors. Of course, if you opt to go solo, you’ll need access to lawn care equipment.
- Estimated wage: $8-$15 per hour
Conclusion
There are a lot of employment options out there. But, it is important to remember to keep your priorities straight. As a high school student, academics are the most important thing. Even though it can be nice to have some extra spending money in your pocket, you shouldn’t lose sight of your future.
