So you’re 14 years old and want to start earning your own money? That’s awesome! Getting your first job as a teenager can teach you valuable skills like responsibility, time management, and professionalism that will help you in your future career. But when you’re only 14, there are limited options for jobs you can legally do. Let’s explore some of the best jobs for 14 year old’s so you can start making bank!
Jobs at Restaurants and Fast Food Places
One of the most common first jobs for 14 year old’s is working at a restaurant, café, or fast food joint. Places like McDonald’s, Subway, and Starbucks often hire teens as young as 14 with a work permit. As a 14 year old, you’ll likely start off doing entry-level work like:
- Taking customer orders and handling cash registers
- Preparing simple food items like fries or coffee drinks
- Cleaning tables, floors, bathrooms, and the overall restaurant
- Stocking napkins, utensils, straws, and other supplies
The work isn’t glamorous, but it’s an honest paycheck. Typical pay for 14 year olds at restaurants and fast food places ranges from minimum wage to $10 or $11 per hour. The major perk of these gigs is you’ll get free or discounted meals during your shift!
Grocery Store Jobs
Local grocery stores like Kroger, Safeway, and Albertsons are another good option for 14 year olds looking for their first job. Responsibilities may include:
- Bagging customer groceries
- Collecting shopping carts from the parking lot
- Stocking shelves with new inventory
- Cleaning around the store as needed
Pay usually starts around minimum wage. But the cool thing about working at a grocery store is employees often get discounts on groceries. Cha-ching! That employee discount can help cut down the cost of family grocery bills.
Retail Stores in the Mall
Retail stores in malls and shopping centers are solid places to search for a first job at 14. Clothing stores like American Eagle, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Hollister frequently hire teens to help customers, run the cash register, fold clothes, and keep the store looking neat.
Other retailers like Bath & Body Works, GameStop, and Barnes & Noble also take on 14 year old workers. Pay starts around $10 to $12 per hour. A bonus is getting store discounts on merchandise!
Movie Theater Jobs
What better first job for a 14 year old than working at a movie theater? You’ll get free movie tickets, popcorn, and soda! Movie theater jobs typically pay minimum wage and involve:
- Selling movie tickets and concession snacks
- Preparing popcorn, fountain drinks, and heating up food
- Tearing tickets and showing customers to the right theater
- Cleaning theaters and lobbies after movie showings
Having a job at the movies means you’ll always have something fun to do on the weekends with friends.
Country Club and Golf Course Jobs
If you live near a country club or golf course, check if they hire teenage workers. These types of places often need people to work in the golf pro shop, locker rooms, and to help out at their on-site restaurant. Responsibilities may include:
- Cleaning and organizing the pro shop or locker areas
- Answering phones and helping customers
- Driving golf carts to clean and collect balls from the driving range
- Bussing tables, running food, and washing dishes at the restaurant
Pay usually starts around minimum wage. But the perk is you’ll likely get free access to golf and the country club’s amenities like pools, tennis courts, etc.
Childcare and Babysitting Jobs
Parents everywhere need babysitters – making childcare a flexible and fun first job option for 14 year olds. You can babysit for neighbors, family friends, parents from school, or get clients through sites like Care.com.
Average pay for babysitting is $10 to $15 per hour. You’ll earn even more overnight babysitting or if you watch multiple kids. Having childcare experience will also allow you to later get higher-paying nanny jobs.
Pet Sitting, Dog Walking, and House Sitting
If you’re an animal lover, pet sitting is a great gig. Sites like Rover.com connect pet owners with local sitters and dog walkers. You can set your own rates and make $10 to $20 per 30 minute walk.
With pet sitting, you go to the client’s house 1-2 times per day to feed, play with, and care for their pets while they’re out of town. Pay is usually $20 to $40 per day. House sitting works similarly – you stay at the client’s home and care for their pets and plants.
Yard Work, Lawn Mowing, and Snow Removal Jobs
Yard work is a classic teenage job. When you’re 14, you can start your own lawn mowing business and make $15 to $20 per hour mowing neighborhood lawns. In the winter, you can shovel snow and charge $20 to $50 per driveway clearing.
You’ll need to buy or borrow some basic lawn equipment. But yard work is a scalable business since your earnings grow the more lawns you take on.
Refereeing Youth Sports Leagues
If you played sports through school, try refereeing for local youth leagues on weekends. Sports like soccer, basketball, baseball, and football often hire teenage refs to officiate games and practices.
Pay ranges from $10 to $20 per hour and goes up the more experience you gain. Having referee experience can also help you land paid coaching gigs down the road.
Working as a Camp Counselor or Pool Lifeguard
Once you turn 15, you can apply to be a camp counselor or lifeguard during the summer. These active jobs typically pay $10 to $15 per hour.
As a camp counselor, you’ll lead outdoor activities, sports, and arts & crafts. To be a lifeguard, you need to first complete a certification course on water safety and lifesaving skills.
Tips for Landing Your First Job at 14
Finding your first job at 14 comes down to selling yourself to managers and showing you have the maturity to work responsibly. Here are some tips to help you get hired:
- Highlight any babysitting, lawn mowing, or volunteering you’ve done
- Take a resume even if not required – it shows initiative
- Practice interview skills and dress professionally
- Get a work permit from your school or local government
- Ask managers what openings they have for 14 year olds
- Follow up after applying and be persistent
Freelance Writing and Creative Gigs
If you’re a talented writer, artist, or photographer, put those skills to work! Many 14 year olds earn money freelancing creating blog posts, taking photos, designing graphics, editing videos, or providing other creative services.You can find freelance clients through sites like Fiverr and Upwork. Average pay ranges from $10 to $50 per hour based on the type of work. Building a portfolio of your creative work can help you land higher paying gigs.Some other creative jobs for 14 year olds include:
- Selling your photos, videos, or art online on sites like Etsy
- Entering contests to win cash prizes for your writing, art, or filmmaking
- Starting a YouTube channel and earning ad revenue from your videos
- Teaching music lessons to younger kids if you play an instrument
Delivery Jobs
Once you turn 15, delivery jobs are an option if you have a bike, moped, or car. Apps like Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Instacart let you earn $12 to $20 per hour delivering food, groceries, and packages around your town.You’ll get some exercise and make decent pay. Just be safe using apps like these at a young age and let your parents know when you’re working.
Promoting Brands on Social Media
Brands are always looking for teens to promote their products on social media. You can search for opportunities on sites like BrandBabu, Grapevine, and Hype.As a teen influencer, you’ll get free products and make commission promoting brands you love on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and other platforms. Average pay is around $20 to $100 per sponsored post depending on your following.
Tutoring Other Students
If you’re doing well in subjects like math, science, English, or history, offer tutoring services to classmates or younger students who need a hand. You can charge around $15 to $20 per hour for private tutoring sessions.This is a great job if you have a knack for helping others learn. Share your tutoring services through classroom announcements or local Facebook groups.
Hosting a Garage Sale
One weekend, gather items around your house that your family doesn’t use anymore and host a garage sale. You can earn a few hundred dollars selling old toys, clothes, electronics, furniture, and more.Make colorful signs to attract people driving and walking by. Any earnings are yours to keep as a 14 year old!
Starting an Ecommerce Business
Many teens launch online businesses selling products through sites like Shopify and Etsy. You can sell homemade crafts, clothing designs, accessories, or source products wholesale to resell.Building your own brand and store teaches valuable ecommerce skills. You’ll learn digital marketing, product photography, inventory management, and customer service. Profit margins vary widely but top teen entrepreneurs make thousands a month!
The Takeaway
While jobs are limited at 14, you can still find great local opportunities like working at restaurants, stores, golf courses, and summer camps. Freelancing, lawn mowing, and pet sitting are other options with flexible hours. Stay motivated by keeping your future goals in mind. The money skills and work ethic you build now will help tremendously throughout your education and career. Good luck with your job search – you got this! Let me know if you have any other questions.
