Earn, learn, and build financial confidence
Are you a teenager looking to earn extra cash, add skills, and gain real-world experience? Whether you're saving up for a car, gaming console, or the next sneaker drop, planning for college, or just want some independence, side hustles and part-time jobs are perfect ways to get started. The best part? Many of these opportunities require little to no experience, have low start-up costs, and can fit into your busy schedule. In this handy guide, we'll look at the top five side hustles for teenagers—plus tips on how to get started—so that you can use your spare time to explore career paths and start building a confident financial foundation.
1. Babysitting: The classic, reliable side hustle
Babysitting has been a go-to part-time job for teenagers for generations, and for good reason. It's a flexible, rewarding gig that teaches responsibility, communication, and problem-solving. Plus, it’s a low-investment side hustle—often all you need is a few references and perhaps a quick babysitting course (which can sometimes be free or very affordable).
- No experience required: Many parents are happy to hire a responsible, trustworthy teen even if you’re new to babysitting. Of course, having younger siblings or volunteer experience helps, but it’s not mandatory.
- Flexible hours: You can babysit during weekends, evenings, or school holidays, making it easy to fit around your studies and extracurriculars.
- How to get started: Ask family, friends, and neighbors if they need a babysitter. You can also create flyers or online profiles on local community boards or safe babysitting websites . To boost your credibility, consider taking a CPR or first aid course .
- Pay: Rates can vary, but babysitters often earn between $10 to $20 per hour depending on location and your experience.
Babysitting isn’t just about watching kids—it’s about building trust, managing situations, and maybe even learning a thing or two about patience. As your reputation grows, you might find yourself with regular clients and even referrals.
2. Dog walking and pet sitting: For animal lovers
If you love animals, dog walking and pet sitting can be an amazing no-experience-required side hustle. Many pet owners look for reliable, caring people to walk their dogs or care for their pets while they're at work or away on trips.
- Low start-up costs: You may only need some sturdy shoes, a leash, and a love for animals! Most clients provide what you need for their pets.
- Flexible schedule: Walk dogs before or after school, on weekends, or during holidays. Pet sitting can sometimes involve overnight stays, but it’s usually just a few hours at a time.
- Build skills: You’ll learn about animal care, develop time management skills, and gain experience working with different pets and personalities.
- How to find clients: Start with neighbors, family friends, or your community’s online groups. You can also sign up on apps dedicated to pet care (with parental permission if you’re under 18) including Rover and Wag .
- Pay: Dog walkers can typically charge $10-$20 per walk, and pet sitters might charge $20 to $50 per day depending on the number of pets and how much care they need.
Dog walking and pet sitting are perfect side hustles if you enjoy fresh air, exercise, and furry friends. Plus, happy pet owners often leave great reviews and tips.
3. Tutoring: Share what you know and help others succeed
Are you good at math, science, languages, or other subjects? Tutoring is a fantastic freelance gig and part-time job that lets you help others while strengthening your own knowledge.
- No experience necessary: If you’ve got good grades and a knack for explaining things, you can start tutoring peers, younger students, or even classmates online.
- If you’re bilingual, your tutoring opportunities will grow, especially if you're keen to teach language. Platforms such as Preply offer a great way to promote yourself as a language tutor .
- Boost your college applications: Tutoring shows leadership, responsibility, and a commitment to helping others—qualities colleges (and employers) love!
- Flexible format: Sessions can be in-person or virtual, and you can arrange them after school or on weekends.
- How to get started: Advertise through your school, community centers, or on social media. Word of mouth is powerful, so ask parents, teachers, and friends to spread the word.
- Pay: Rates vary, but you can often charge $15-$30 per hour, and sometimes more for advanced subjects.
Tutoring isn’t just about reviewing homework; it’s about inspiring confidence and making learning fun. As you gain experience, you might even specialize in test prep or certain subjects.
4. Content creation: Turn your passions into profit
In the digital age, content creation is one of the hottest low-investment side hustles for teenagers. Whether you love photography, making videos, writing, or gaming, there’s a platform for you—think YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, or even starting a blog.
- Minimal investment required: Most platforms are free to join. Use your smartphone to create videos, take photos, or record podcasts.
- Endless possibilities: Share tutorials, vlogs, reviews, or whatever you’re passionate about. Consistency, originality, and authenticity are key.
- Build a personal brand: Content creation allows you to showcase your talents and creativity to the world. Over time, you can attract followers, land sponsorships, or earn ad revenue.
- How to get started: Pick your favorite platform, decide on your focus (gaming, fashion, education, etc.), and start posting! Be sure to learn about internet safety and privacy, and always involve a parent or guardian if you’re under 18.
- Potential earnings: This can vary wildly. Some teens earn pocket money; a few make thousands. Monetization usually comes with growth, so patience and persistence are important.
Content creation is not just a side hustle—it’s a way to learn digital skills, connect with others, and maybe even kickstart a future career. Be creative, stay safe, and have fun!
5. Freelancing: Explore the world of online gigs
Freelancing offers an almost unlimited range of part-time job opportunities for teens. You can offer services like graphic design, writing, coding, voiceovers, or even managing social media for small businesses—all from your own home.
- No experience? No problem!: Many online freelance gigs are open to beginners, especially if you’re willing to learn and build a portfolio. There are lots of free resources to help you get started.
- Work on your terms: Choose the projects you want, set your own schedule, and work as much or as little as you like. Freelancing is the ultimate flexible job.
- Where to find gigs: Sites like Fiverr , Upwork , and Freelancer have sections for younger freelancers (with parental consent if you’re under 18). Start by offering simple services—like creating social media posts, editing videos, or designing logos.
- Pay: Freelance gigs can range from $5 for quick tasks to hundreds for bigger projects. As you gain skills, your earning potential grows.
Freelancing is a fantastic way to get a taste of the professional world, build a resume, and develop valuable skills that will be useful for years to come.
Your future starts now
Being a teenager is the perfect time to explore side hustles and part-time jobs. Not only will you earn some extra cash, but you’ll also learn skills like responsibility, communication, and creativity—skills that will help you in school, college, and beyond. There’s a perfect side hustle for every teen.
And to keep your earnings in a secure and convenient place, explore the Meridian Youth Savings Account .
Learn more about…
The Meridian Sean Jackson Scholarship
