As a teenager, earning your own money can be exciting and a bit scary. Maybe you’re saving for college, want a new car, or just extra cash. Finding the right side hustle can seem tough. But don’t worry, this guide will show you lucrative opportunities that fit your skills and interests.
I remember my first side job, mowing lawns in my neighborhood. It taught me about hard work, managing time, and earning my own money. That job sparked my entrepreneurial spirit, leading me to explore more ways to make money as a teen.
This guide is full of best side hustles for teens. You’ll find digital jobs that use your tech skills and hands-on gigs that get you moving in your community. Whether you’re creative, tech-savvy, or organized, there’s something here for you.
Key Takeaways
- Discover a wide range of side hustles tailored to teenagers’ interests and schedules.
- Learn how to leverage your skills and passions to earn extra cash, from freelance writing to social media management.
- Explore both online and offline opportunities, from taking surveys to providing lawn care services.
- Understand the potential earnings and growth possibilities for different side hustle options.
- Gain valuable entrepreneurial experience and financial independence as a teen.
Let’s get started with the top side hustles for teens that will help you earn money and achieve your dreams. Get ready to become an entrepreneur and increase your income like never before!
Introduction to Side Hustles for Teens
Are you a teenager looking to earn some extra cash? Side hustles are a great way for young people to get work experience, learn new skills, and become financially independent. You can make money by taking surveys, testing products, playing games, or reviewing songs. The online world offers many chances for teens to earn in their free time.
Benefits of Side Hustles for Teenagers
Being part of side hustles for teens brings many benefits, including:
- Learning the importance of being productive and managing your time well
- Gaining real work experience to boost your resume
- Getting financially independent and feeling responsible
- Developing a strong desire to succeed and try out business ideas
Exploring the World of Online Gigs
The internet has changed how teens can make money online with various online side hustles. These jobs are flexible and easy to get into, letting you earn money from home. You can take surveys, test products, or review songs and commercials. There are many ways for teens to make money online.
“Side hustles are a great way for teens to gain valuable work experience, develop essential skills, and earn extra money on their own terms.”
Getting Paid to Take Surveys Online
One of the easiest side hustles for teens is taking paid online surveys. Sites like Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, and FreeCash let teens as young as 13 earn money by sharing their thoughts. Teens can make about $5-10 an hour, which adds up fast.
Many survey sites welcome teens with open arms. For instance, Branded Surveys and LifePoints need users to be 16 or older. Swagbucks and FreeCash let 13-year-olds join in. KidzEyes even has surveys for kids aged 6 to 12.
Signing up is easy, and teens can earn cash, gift cards, or points. These can be traded for prizes. Teens can work on surveys anytime, fitting it into their free time or weekends.
| Survey Site | Age Requirement | Sign-Up Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Branded Surveys | 16+ | 100 points |
| MyPoints | 13+ | $10 |
| FreeCash | 13+ | $10 |
| Survey Junkie | 12+ | $5 |
| Swagbucks | 13+ | $20 |
Teens can easily make money taking surveys as a teenager with paid online surveys for teens. With some effort, this side job can give teens extra cash. They can save, invest, or just enjoy their earnings.
“Swagbucks has paid out over $500,000,000 in gift cards and cash prizes since its inception in 2008.”
Earn Money by Testing Products and Websites
Teens can make money by testing products and websites. Many companies want young, tech-savvy people to check their products before they launch. This gives them important feedback to make things better for users.
Gaining Valuable Experience as a Product Tester
Platforms like Toluna let teens as young as 16 sign up. You can pick which products you want to review. Even though you don’t get paid directly, you keep the free samples. You can then sell them online.
This job helps you get better at paying attention to details and analyzing things carefully.
Testing websites is another way teens can make money. You get paid to find mistakes and give feedback on websites before they go live. This job is great for improving your problem-solving and talking skills, all while earning cash.
- Earn money testing products and websites
- Gain valuable experience in product evaluation and user experience
- Build skills in attention to detail, critical thinking, and communication
“Testing products and websites is a great way for teens to earn money while developing valuable skills that can be applied to future careers.”
Watch Ads and Get Paid
Believe it or not, you can earn money by watching ads online. Sites like InboxDollars pay users 18 and older for viewing short ads. It’s a simple way to make some extra cash while doing what you already do – watching online content.
Signing up is easy. You create an account on a platform like InboxDollars or Swagbucks. Then, you start watching ads and earn a small amount for each one you finish. You can earn from $0.01 to $0.50 per ad, and it usually takes just a few minutes.
The money you make from ads isn’t a lot, but it can add up. Think of it as a side job, making extra cash while you’re online. The more ads you watch, the more you can earn.
If you’re a teen wanting to get paid to watch ads as a teen or earn money watching online ads, try it out. It’s an easy way to make some extra money while enjoying your favorite digital content.
“Watching ads online can be a surprisingly lucrative side hustle for teens. It’s a great way to earn a little extra cash while doing something you already enjoy.”
Play Video Games for Money
If you’re a teenager who loves gaming, you can make money from it. Many apps and platforms let you earn cash gaming online. You can play casual mobile games or stream your gameplay to make money.
Turning Gaming into a Lucrative Side Hustle
Apps like Mistplay reward users for playing new games. You can earn gift cards or cash by hitting certain goals. Twitch lets you stream your games and make money from subscriptions, donations, and sponsorships.
A mom of 4 made up to $4,000 a month playing games on Outschool. She turned it into a six-figure business.
For a competitive edge, you can test games before they’re released. This job pays between $30,000 and $85,000 a year. You can also charge by the hour as a video game coach, earning $20-200.
Or, you can enter tournaments and matches through platforms like GameChampions. They’ve paid out over $10 million in prizes.
You can also sell video game guides or tutorials online. A friend made thousands of dollars a month selling a Minecraft guide on Amazon.
“My friend made thousands of dollars every month selling a Minecraft guide on Amazon. It just goes to show how you can turn your gaming passion into a lucrative side hustle.”
Review Songs and Commercials
Do you love music and have a sharp eye for detail? You can get paid to review songs and commercials. Sites like Slice the Pie welcome users 12 and older. They let you give feedback on new music and ads for cash.
Slice the Pie pays about $0.02 to $0.10 for each song review. You need to earn $10 before you can cash out. HitPredictor gives 3 points for rating each song, and each point is worth a few cents. These sites are great for music lovers to make money doing what they love.
For commercial reviews, Playlist Push says you can earn up to $15 per review. This depends on the playlist size and other things. Teens can use their critical skills to help advertisers. And they can make some extra cash doing it.
| Platform | Earnings per Review | Minimum Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Slice the Pie | $0.02 – $0.10 | $10 |
| HitPredictor | 3 points per song | N/A |
| Playlist Push | Up to $15 | N/A |
If you’re into music or have a good eye for ads, these platforms are perfect for you. They let you get paid to review music and ads as a teen and earn money reviewing songs and commercials. Using your skills and passion can turn your hobbies into a way to make money.
“I’ve been reviewing songs on Slice the Pie for over a year now, and it’s been a great way to earn extra cash while doing something I love. The feedback I provide helps up-and-coming artists, and the pay isn’t bad either!”
Get Paid to Review Phone Calls
If you’re good at listening and paying attention, you can make money reviewing phone calls. Sites like Humanatic pay you to listen and analyze these calls. You can earn over $5 an hour. This job not only pays but also improves your listening and analysis skills.
Developing Critical Listening Skills
Listening to phone calls requires focus. As a reviewer, you’ll need to catch important details and check customer satisfaction. This job sharpens your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Being able to listen well and pick out important info is a skill many employers want. By making money from phone call review jobs for teens or listening to and reviewing phone calls, you’re boosting your income. You’re also building skills that can help you later on.
| Typical Earnings for Phone Call Reviewers | Average Earnings for Similar Side Hustles |
|---|---|
| $5+ per hour reviewing phone calls |
|
“Reviewing phone calls has helped me develop excellent listening skills and attention to detail. It’s a great way to earn money while improving my professional abilities.”
Looking into phone call review jobs can boost your income and give you valuable experience. It can also help you in your future career. Start now and earn money while improving your listening skills.
Start an Online Store or Sell T-Shirt Designs
If you’re an entrepreneur at heart, you can start your own online store or sell custom t-shirt designs. Sites like Shopify and Printful help teens under 18 (with adult help) set up an online shop easily. You can make money by finding products, designing t-shirts, or making your own merchandise.
A t-shirt side hustle started with $200 in 2017 and grew to $88,586 by 2020. By 2021, it hit $608,000 in sales. Mike Pasley, a teen, made $10,000 a month from his side hustle in just six months, earning $445,000 by the end of 2017.
To begin, think about joining a $5,000 mastermind group for t-shirt businesses. Also, spend $100 a month on Facebook advertising, which can bring in five to seven times your spend. With a profit of $100,000, you could make $50,000 a month and hire staff for pressing and fulfilling orders.
“The world record for most t-shirts worn at one time is 257, achieved by Sanath Bandara in 2011, breaking the previous record by 5 shirts.”
While working full-time, you can spend 60 hours a week on your t-shirt business. Save $100,000 in savings and $150,000 in retirement accounts. Then, focus more on marketing and content creation to boost your earnings.
Consistent effort and adapting to market changes are crucial for success. With the right strategies and hard work, your t-shirt designs or online store can become a profitable side hustle. This can help you in school and prepare you for the future.
Flipping Items for Profit
Do you have an eye for spotting good deals? The art of flipping items for profit can be a great way for teens to earn extra cash. It means buying items at a low price, either online or at garage sales, and then selling them for more. Sites like Facebook Marketplace and eBay make it easy to buy and sell items to make a profit. Learning to spot valuable items and negotiate deals is a skill that can really pay off.
Finding Deals and Making a Profit
When it comes to making money reselling products, finding good deals is key. You can flip many things, from furniture to smartphones, sports memorabilia to designer watches. Furniture can be fixed up and sold for a big profit. Used smartphones, especially recent models, also have a high resale value. Sports fans can make money by flipping sports cards, autographs, and vintage gear.
Other items like concert tickets, antiques, clothing, jewelry, and sports equipment can also be flipped for profit. Collectibles like trading cards, Funko Pops, and rare sneakers are popular too. With the right knowledge and strategies, teens can turn their deal-finding skills into a successful side hustle.
| Item | Potential Profit |
|---|---|
| Furniture | Hundreds of dollars |
| Used Smartphones | High resale value |
| Sports Memorabilia | Profitable for sports fans |
| Designer Watches | Can appreciate over time |
| Concert Tickets | High demand, caution advised |
| Antiques | Opportunities at garage sales |
| Clothing | Poshmark and OfferUp |
| Jewelry | Holds value, can appreciate |
| Sports Equipment | Good resale market |
| Collectibles | Passionate collectors |
Whether you’re flipping items for profit as a teen or looking to make money reselling products, the key is to learn to find deals and flip them. With the right strategies and platforms, there are endless opportunities to earn extra cash.
Data Entry Jobs for Teens
For teenagers wanting to make extra cash, data entry jobs are a great choice. Many companies offer online data entry work perfect for teens. These jobs involve typing information into fields or spreadsheets and can be found on freelancing sites like Fiverr.
Data entry jobs pay well, sometimes up to $100 per project. This makes them a good side job for teens to earn more money. Plus, they help teens improve their organizational and typing skills, which are useful for the future.
To find these jobs, check out Fiverr, Upwork, and Snagajob. Most of these jobs are open to teens aged 13 to 18. This gives teens a chance to try a flexible and rewarding side job.
Teens can also look into other online jobs like customer service, virtual assistance, social media management, and online tutoring. These jobs offer flexibility and help teens develop new skills. They suit a variety of interests and talents.
Data entry jobs for teenagers are a great way to earn extra money and gain work experience. They also help teens develop important skills for the future. By trying out these and other online side jobs, teens can take charge of their finances and set themselves up for success.
best side hustles for teens: Reading Emails and Getting Paid
If you’re a teenager who’s good at reading and understanding emails, you can make money by doing so. Companies pay people to read and summarize their emails. This is cheaper than hiring full-time staff. As a teen, you can earn up to $20 an hour for this work, which is found on freelancing sites.
This job is great because it’s flexible. You can do it anytime, like after school or on weekends. It lets you make extra money without giving up too much time. This way, you can keep up with school and still earn.
To start, show off your reading skills and attention to detail. Companies want teens who can quickly summarize emails and spot important info. Having a portfolio of your work can help you stand out and get more gigs.
If you’re a teen wanting to get paid to read emails or earn money reading emails online, check out this side hustle. It’s a good way to use your skills, make extra cash, and gain valuable experience for the future.
“Earning money through reading emails as a teenager can be a game-changer, providing financial independence and valuable experience for the future.”
Transcription Services: Listening and Typing for Money
Teens can make extra cash by using their strong listening and typing skills. Companies need audio files turned into text and pay for this work. If you can listen well and type fast, check out Fiverr and Freelancer.com for jobs.
Transcription work pays differently, based on the job, how much work you do, and your experience. Fiverr offers $30 to $120+ per hour for this work. Allegis Transcription and Scribie pay between $13 to $25 per hour. TranscribeMe and GoTranscript let you earn up to $36 per hour, with chances for more money and moving up.
Leveraging Language Skills for Translation Jobs
If you speak more than one language, you can work as a translator. This means you help companies and people turn content from one language to another. You can find translation jobs on freelance websites, making money and improving your language skills.
Translation work also has different pay rates. Rev and Speechpad pay freelancers $0.30 to $2.50 per minute of audio or video. TigerFish and CrowdSurf offer lower starting rates but can give you a lot of work to build your portfolio.
Whether you’re into transcription or translation, these jobs are great for teens. They let you make money and improve your skills in listening, typing, and languages.
Proofreading and Editing Gigs
Have you got an eye for detail and strong grammar skills? These can lead to great opportunities in proofreading and editing as a teen. Companies and individuals need people to check written content like books, articles, and emails for errors. These jobs are often found on freelancing sites and pay by the hour.
The demand for proofreading and editing is huge, with the tutoring market valued at over $98 billion in 2021. This is a chance for teens with a sharp eye and a love for writing to make money and improve their skills.
- Transcription agencies like Rev pay weekly to their workers. They handle tasks such as interviews, medical reports, and research.
- Video captioning jobs pay more than just audio transcription, giving workers another way to earn.
- Data entry jobs are part-time or project-based. They pay weekly and offer flexibility.
- Translation jobs pay differently based on the language. Less common languages might pay more.
- Editing jobs involve working with writers. They can be paid by project or weekly.
| Platform | Proofreading Rates | Hiring Process |
|---|---|---|
| Fiverr | Freelancers set their own prices | Flexible, freelancers manage their own profiles |
| Proofreading Services | $19 – $46 per hour | Competitive application process |
| Upwork/Freelancer | Varies based on freelancer profile | Freelancers compete for projects |
| Scribbr | Competitive rates | Comprehensive hiring process with language quiz and training |
| Managed Editing | Competitive rates | Requires Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of editing experience |
Teens with a keen eye and strong grammar can take advantage of the growing need for proofreading and editing. They can earn money while gaining valuable skills. Whether it’s freelancing or working with agencies, the opportunities for proofreading jobs for teens and earning money editing documents are many and rewarding.
Selling Graphic Designs and Illustrations Online
If you’re creative and good at graphic design or illustration, you can make money on the side. Sites like Printful and Etsy let teens 13 and up sell their designs on things like t-shirts, posters, and more. This way, you can earn money creating illustrations and learn important business skills.
Monetizing Your Artistic Talents
The market for online art sales for teenagers is booming. Teens can sell graphic designs on many platforms. Here are some ways to show and make money with your art:
- Use print-on-demand services like Society6 and Redbubble to sell designs on various products without keeping inventory.
- Offer custom illustrations, e-book designs, and Canva templates on Etsy and Creative Market.
- Look for freelance work for book covers, children’s book illustrations, and other projects on 99Designs and Upwork.
- Sell your unique fonts or offer calligraphy services for special branding needs.
- Use your web design skills for freelance work with small businesses and creators.
By offering different types of designs and using online platforms, you can earn money creating illustrations and sell graphic designs as a teen. This opens up many ways to make money online.
“The global home decor market is steadily growing by almost 20% annually, with posters being one of the best-selling products, showcasing a market trend for home decor products.”
| Product | Market Trend | Revenue Potential |
|---|---|---|
| Posters | Second best-selling product for Printful, with hundreds of thousands of pieces sold annually | The global home decor market is growing by 20% annually, with posters being a top-selling item |
| Fonts and Calligraphy | Monotype, a US font company, reported $235.8 million in revenue last year | Unique branding elements are in high demand, offering opportunities for creative teens |
| Coloring Books | In 2015, over 12 million adult coloring books were sold, with some sellers generating up to $329,000 in revenue | The coloring book market has shifted towards smaller, indie self-publishers, presenting new opportunities |
Conclusion
As we wrap up our look at the top side hustles for teens, it’s clear there are many ways to make money, learn, and grow. You might like the ease of online gigs, the fun of starting your own business, or the hands-on work of service jobs. There’s a side hustle out there for you, ready to help you reach your goals.
Start by finding something you love, see if there’s a need for it, and work hard at it. Mix your school work with your side hustle to gain new skills and interests. This way, you’ll earn extra money and prepare for a bright future.
Starting is the first step towards success. So, begin by joining a survey site, opening an online shop, or becoming a tutor or graphic designer. With hard work, creativity, and a bit of entrepreneurial spirit, you can make your side hustle dreams come true. You’ll be on your way to financial freedom and a fulfilling career.