Ideas for Summer Jobs for Teens

So it’s time to look for a summer job. What’s out there? You’ll need to narrow things down according to your abilities, of course, but knowing what’s out there is a good place to start. Here is an overview of ideas for summer jobs for teens.

1. Lawn and Garden
It may be old-fashioned, but mowing grass and trimming lawns are still respectable and lucrative summer jobs for teens. If you don’t have your own equipment, you can let that be one of your stipulations for doing the job – the client must have his or her own equipment. You also might find someone from whom you can borrow or rent lawn equipment. If you buy all the equipment yourself, it can get pretty costly – you might have to do lawn and garden care for several summers in a row! You could also rent out the equipment to someone else who wants to do lawn and garden care, or partner up with someone and split costs.

2. Babysitting
Most of your parents did this summer job as a teen, too, and for good reason – parents nearly always need childcare! During the summer, parents are often looking for someone to watch their children. Because school is out, you might be able to land a daily babysitting job while the parents are at work. Or you might be asked to accompany a family on vacation. Generally, though, the majority of babysitting jobs are for weekends, which may cut into your social life. But since it’s summer and you’re not in school, you might be able to hang out with your friends some during the week.

3. Burger Flipping
It may have a not-so-great reputation, but when you think about it, working at a fast-food restaurant (even without burgers!) can be a great way to earn money and gain experience. You can also learn a lot about how employment works, and how to manage your time and money.

4. Animal Care
Lots of teens love animals. Getting a job working with them is a possibility, too. Find out if your local animal shelter is hiring summer help, even if it’s just help for a summer event. Your local vets can also give you advice, or they may even have a job available. Zoos, stables, aquariums, and even parks may have jobs available for those who love to work with animals. It might be something pretty rudimentary, like cleaning out stalls or washing glass enclosures.

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