20 Ways To Make Money As A Teen

If you’re looking to make extra cash or start building your resume before heading off to college and other work opportunities, there are plenty of ways to make money as a teen.

Side hustles can help you learn valuable life skills, such as financial literacy, and start boosting your savings.

The key is to find something that allows you to balance school, friends, and any other extra-curricular activities you have. From baking to pet sitting, here are 20 fun ways to make money as a teen.

1. Baking

Baking can be an excellent way to make some extra money for teens, especially during the spring and summer months.

One of my favorite ways to make money baking is to sell homemade dog treats.

The global pet care market was valued at 295 billion in 2022 and expected to grow significantly over the next several years.

You can make an extra $1,000 – $4,000+ monthly from selling homemade dog treats from your kitchen.

Here’s a free dog treat recipe you can try from the Diva Dog Bakery course.

You probably already have all the ingredients and kitchen tools you need to start baking dog treats. This is a low-cost side hustle idea.

If this sounds like a good opportunity for you, check out this free workshop hosted by my friend Kristin. After starting her own successful dog treat bakery, she’ll show you how you can get started too.

2. Sell printables

Printables are one of the best-selling items on Etsy right now. You can create a simple design using sites like Canva, then sell them online.

My friend Julie from Gold City Ventures makes thousands of dollars every month from her printable shop on Etsy.

Some of the most popular printables to sell include chore charts, packing checklists, wedding invitations, budget templates, meal planners, calendars, and coloring pages for kids.

If this sounds like a good opportunity for you, check out Julie’s free workshop. She’ll show you how to start earning passive income from selling printables today.

Please Note: All Etsy account owners must be at least 18 years of age. If you are between the ages of 13 to 17, you can sell on Etsy with your parent or legal guardian’s permission and direct supervision. Your parent or guardian must register for the account with their information.

3. Sell digital products on Etsy

Printables are not the only digital product that sells like crazy on Etsy.

Other digital products that you can sell include wall art, greeting cards, stickers, spreadsheets, digital planners, logos, business cards, social media templates, e-books, and more!

Read Next: 20 best-selling items on Etsy

4. Reselling items from thrift stores

Reselling is when you buy an item for cheap at a local garage sale or thrift store and sell it for a profit online.

For example, if you bought a handbag for $10 at a garage sale and resold it on eBay for $50. You get to keep $40.

My friends Rob and Melissa make over $100,000 a year from reselling items they find at thrift stores.

You might already have items in your bedroom that are worth lots of money. Here’s a list of 47 household items you can sell to make $100 right now.

5. Take surveys

The easiest way to make money as a teen is to take surveys. It’s free to get started and there’s no special skills required.

You probably spend a lot of time on your phone already, so why not get paid for it?

The most popular survey that pays cash is Swagbucks.

You just need to create a free account and confirm your email address to get started. The questions are easy to answer, and each survey takes between 10-15 minutes to complete.

Other survey sites that I recommend include Survey Junkie, Inbox Dollars, and ySense.

6. Start a blog

If you enjoy writing, making tutorials, reviews, or sharing stories about your personal life, then starting a blog can be a great way to make money as a teen.

The most popular ways to make money blogging include using display ads on your site, sharing affiliate links, writing sponsored content, or selling your own digital products.

Depending on how engaged your audience is, you can make up to $10,000 a month from blogging.

But blogging is not a get rich quick scheme. It takes time to create content and build an audience online.

So it may take several months before you start seeing results, but it has the potential to make thousands of dollars.

Some people are earning over $1 million per year from blogging, like my friend Michelle from Making Sense of Cents.

You can get started for as little as $2.95 a month when you sign up through my step-by-step guide here.

7. Sell your used books

If you have old books collecting dust in your bedroom, you can make cash today by selling them online.

Bookscouter is the most popular site to sell used books and textbooks. Simply enter the ISBN of each book you want to sell. (It’s a long series of numbers located above the barcode, usually on the back cover).

Bookscouter compares offers from 30+ book-buying vendors so you can make the most money for your used books.

Choose the highest-paying offer for your book, then you’ll ship it to their warehouse, and get paid within 1-3 days of receiving your shipment.

8. Sell your jewelry

If you have old jewelry that you don’t wear anymore, you can sell it for cash. This includes necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets, watches, chains, gemstones, pearls, and so on.

Worthy is the most popular website that will buy your jewelry for cash. Their online auction setup is designed to help you receive the highest price for your jewelry.

Simply send your jewelry to Worthy (free and fully insured shipping via FedEX), and they will clean and photograph your items to prepare them for auction.

They have over 1,000 professional industry buyers, which means many people will see your jewelry, which means you’re more likely to get a better price than at your local pawn shop.

Once the auction successfully concludes, you’ll get paid via a bank transfer, check, or PayPal.

9. Social media management

Most teens have a good understanding of social media, especially compared to the older generation who didn’t grow up with tech.

Companies will pay for your social media expertise and need someone to help them create and share content.

Right now, Pinterest is a popular platform for bloggers and online business owners to raise brand awareness and drive traffic to their websites.

You can make up to $35 per hour making pins using a free tool like Canva and sharing them to Pinterest.

And with more experience, you can earn up to $50 per hour as a Pinterest Manager.

You can check out this free workshop here that’ll show you how to get started as a Pinterest virtual assistant.

10. Proofreading

Have you ever noticed grammar or spelling errors when reading a blog or e-book?

Even with the popularity of AI, proofreaders are still in high demand because AI still has its limitations.

For example, humans are better than AI when it comes to understanding the context in which we use certain words or phrases.

Also, AI can miss mistakes or suggest unnecessary changes, which is why companies are always looking to hire skilled proofreaders to do a final review before a piece gets published.

As a freelance proofreader, you can make money from home or anywhere that has an internet connection. If you like reading, this can be a great way for teens to make money.

You can check out this free workshop here to learn how to turn your proofreading hobby into a profitable business.

11. Freelance writing

Another side hustle that’s in demand is skilled freelance writers. Almost every business needs written content for their website, social media, emails, sales pages, and so on.

The first step to becoming a freelance writer is to figure out what you enjoy writing about. Think about your hobbies and interests to help you narrow down your niche(s).

Don’t worry, you don’t need to have any experience. You can look at your past work (this includes work written for school) or your own social media accounts to help you put together a mini portfolio.

Once you’ve gathered some writing samples, you can start applying for freelance writing jobs. The most popular sites to find paid work include Fiverr, Upwork, ProBlogger, and Journalism Jobs.

And if you’re serious about turning your passion for writing into a profitable and thriving business, check out my friend Gina’s course here: 30 Days Or Less To Freelance Writing Success.

Gina is a successful freelance writer and shares everything you need to know about starting a high-paying business in 30 days, including how to land your first client.

12. Virtual assistant

If you have a computer and an internet connection, then you can make money as a virtual assistant. This is a great side hustle for teens because the work is fun and flexible.

Bloggers and business owners are looking to hire virtual assistants who can offer them services (such as booking travel, writing emails, or creating social media posts) for an agreed-upon fee.

You get to work from home and make extra cash in your spare time.

Here’s a list of 275+ virtual assistant services to give you an idea of what you enjoy doing and can offer potential clients.

13. Sell your clothes on Poshmark

If you have gently used clothes, shoes, or handbags that you don’t need anymore, you can sell them for cash!

Fashionphile, Rebag, and Poshmark are the most popular sites to sell your clothing and accessories.

This can also be a popular resell side hustles for teens to make extra money. You can buy clothing from thrift stores and resell it for a profit online.

14. Babysitting

Babysitting is a great way to make money as a teen. You can do this part-time after school or on the weekends.

To find paid babysitting and nanny jobs, I recommend starting your search on sites like SitterCity or Care.com. Join as a sitter to create your free profile, then find and apply to jobs near you.

15. Dog walker

If you like playing with dogs, you can get paid to watch dogs or pet sit. The most popular site to find local dog walking jobs is Rover.

This can be a fun way to make $1,000 a month part-time. You can choose which services you wish to offer, set your rates and control your schedule.

16. Tutor

If you’re good at a particular subject in school, you can make money by tutoring neighborhood kids in home or by virtually online.

Subjects that you might be able to tutor in include:

Math
Science
Foreign languages
English
Music

You can ask teachers or parents at local schools to help let others know about your tutoring services. Or you can find jobs on sites like Fiverr.

17. Camp counselor

Summer camps are always looking to hire teens to work as camp counselors. This can be a good way to build your resume before going to college or other job opportunities.

If you enjoy working with kids and spending time outdoors, this can be a great option for you to make some extra cash.

Start by visiting the websites of summer camps that you’re interested in working for and check if there are any openings for high school students.

18. Content creator

If you love writing, taking photos, or making videos, you can make money as a content creator. This is a good option for teens because they have a good understanding of social media.

You can become an influencer where you build an online following, or you can help create content for businesses.

The first step is to identify what you are passionate about or what topic you want to create content about. Then figure out which platform will work best to showcase your content, such as Instagram, Tik Tok, Twitch, or YouTube.

19. Odd jobs

Completing odd jobs as a side hustle can be a great way for teens to make money. This may include washing cars, mowing lawns, delivering newspapers, raking leaves, shoveling snow, preparing garden beds, cleaning homes, cleaning pools, and so on.

You can also help around the house too by doing chores. Parents might offer you money to sweep the floor, vacuum, fold laundry, make the beds, wash dishes, clean the bathroom, and so on.

20. Find a traditional part-time job

And if the entrepreneurial route is not for you, another great way to make money as a teen is to find a part-time job.

Popular part-time jobs for teens include a cashier, barista, librarian, fast food crew member, lifeguard, retail sales associate, server at a local restaurant, sports coach, usher at a theater or stadium, and delivery driver (if you have a license).

You can search job sites for openings, but if you don’t have any previous work experience, word of mouth is always helpful. Tell everyone that you know that you’re looking for a part-time job.

Tips to make money as a teen

1. Let your parents know

It’s great to finally start earning your own money and build some independence, but it’s important to keep your parents in the loop about your new side hustle.

They can help give guidance if needed and even show you how to open your own high-interest savings account.

2. Find a balance between school and your side hustle

Making money is a lot of fun, but your school schedule should be your priority. Start by planning out your week and making sure there is enough time to complete all your homework while working on your side hustle.

For example, you’ll want to set aside at least 1-2 hours per day to focus on school work, then you can use the remaining time for your business and social life.

3. Watch out for scams

Unfortunately there are a lot of scams that are targeted towards teens, especially on social media.

Always do your research before giving out any personal information. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.