17 Age-Appropriate Jobs for 13-Year-Olds - Salarship (2024)

Many 13-year-olds are at a point where they want to earn pocket money.

However, the Fair Labor Standard Act prevents 13-year-olds from working for employers. This is why they can’t work traditional jobs like cashiers and fast-food workers.

But, there are other options to earn money, like walking dogs for a neighbor or helping a family member with groceries.

These small jobs are an excellent opportunity to learn valuable skills like time management and work ethic while making some money on the side.

Let me show you some of them!

Editorial note: the ability to search for jobs has been disabled in this article. 13-year-olds should not submit their personal information through online job sites.

Dogs need to walk to get mental stimulation, exercise, and a ”potty breaks.”

However, many dog owners are busy and do not have the time to walk their dogs. You can propose to family members and neighbors that you be a dog walker. It is a great opportunity to make side money while taking a quick walk in the park.

Requirements

• As a 13-year-old, you can’t work for gig economy companies like Rover and should inform your parents about your activity, as they could be held liable for any harm befalling the dogs. For more information, visit our article:Why 14 Is the Minimum Age to Be Employed as a Dog Walker.
• Previous experience with dogs is a plus.

Tutoring is all about sharing the beauty of a subject with people who have a hard time understanding it.

Teenagers aged 13 years can take on tutoring jobs to earn money on the side. This might include helping younger kids with homework or helping classmates who struggle with their grades.

Tutoring jobs help young teens develop important communication skills and can easily be worked into after-school and weekend schedules.

Requirements

• Good grades in the subject you want to tutor.

YouTubers can make good money by creating engaging YouTube videos.

As a young Youtuber, you can share your passions about video games, traveling, toys, etc.

At the end of the day, a YouTuber is responsible for attracting people’s attention, gaining more views on video content, and making money through advertising.

Requirements

• Required: A decent camera and a microphone.
• Preferred: Excellent communication skills.
• Preferred: high-speed internet connection.

Large companies and small businesses often hire teenage models to advertise their products:

• Commercial modelslook like everyday people and promote everything, such as food and household items. This job often requires basic acting skills.
• Parts modelsare in huge demand from companies who want the perfect hands, legs, feet, or other body parts to advertise their products.
• Catalog modelshave a look that appeals to the target audience. They do not have the same physical requirements as fashion models.

Requirements

• An impressive modeling portfolio.

Some 13-year-olds are mature enough to convince a family member or a neighbor to take care of their children for a few hours.

They usually get compensated for their care.

Requirements

• Check whether the 13-year-old is mature, responsible, and knows how to call the parents in case of emergency.

There is no doubt about it, understanding the minds of 13-year-olds is challenging.

This is why the opinion of teenagers is worth gold, and online companies pay to get the opinion of 13-year-olds about toys, video games, branding, products, etc.

Even though completing surveys might sound like a chill online job;, the salary is very small, and taking surveys can get boring very quickly.

Requirements

• Willingness to share personal information.

Camp counselors might seem like the dream summer job.

However, it is not all fun and games. Camp counselors also have many responsibilities:

• Role model: camp counselors assist and motivate children in daily activities.
• Creativity: camp counselors make each of their campers’ summer the most memorable yet.
• Planning: lead and implement fun camp programs for children.

Requirements

• Requirement: A high level of maturity.

Pet sitting is a great job for teenagers who love dogs, cats, birds, fishes, and reptiles.

Whenever a family member or neighbor goes on vacation, you can offer your pet-sitting services in exchange for a few bucks. Pet sitters make money by cleaning litter boxes, feeding the pet, watering plants, etc.

Requirements

• An extensive amount of hands-on experience with the animal in question.
• Preferred: pet first aid and CPR training.

Yard workers take care of backyards: they spread mulch, pull weeds, plant flowers, etc.

Many tasks in the backyard do not require potentially dangerous tools like a lawnmower or snowblower. This is a great opportunity to make money as a 13-year-old.

Requirements

• Having a neighbor or family member with a yard.

More Online Jobs for 13-Year-Olds

Here are more jobs to make money online as a teenager:

• Work as an Online Freelancer: The idea is to sell online services (logo design, voiceover, data entry requests, etc.) to others via the Internet. Many platforms allow teenagers to take part in the gig economy.
• Sell Unused Items on Online Marketplace: The idea is to make money by selling unused clothes, video games, accessories, gift cards, or other items that you have lying around the house.
• Be a Content Creator: Nowadays, it is possible to monetize online content on platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitch, etc.

More Job Ideas for 13-Year-Olds

Here are more ways to make extra pocket money with part-time jobs:

• Teenage Fence Painter: This is one of the classic summer jobs for 13-year-olds.
• Sports Team Mascot: A Sports team mascot cheers up your school sports team. This is an energizing job, but there is a catch: team mascot jobs are usually unpaid.
• Teenage Voiceover Specialist: The expansion of streaming services and podcasts has created more teenage voiceover opportunities than ever before.
• Teenage Cleaner: Every house needs to be cleaned. The idea is to contact friends and family to see if you can make a few bucks by helping them with their chores. You can even scale your own business by contacting trusted homeowners in your neighborhood.
• Grocery Shopper: Helping your parents or neighbors with groceries is a great way to make money on the side.
• Teenage Artist: It is possible to make money by selling your art on Etsy.

Remember That 13-Year-Olds Are Generally Not Allowed to Work as Employees

Generally, the Fair Labor Standard Act prohibits employers from hiring 13-year-olds.

However, there are limited exceptions to sectors such as agriculture, newspaper delivery, wreath-making, and teenagers with parental exemption.

For more information about teenage labor, feel free to visit this page from the U.S. Department of Labor: Child Labor And Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA).

The Bottom Line

Job search is very challenging for 13-year-olds as they are not allowed to be employed under the Fair Labor Standard Act.

However, it is possible for them to make their own money via online jobs and traditional jobs.

Keep in mind that young students should not work more than 15 hours a week during school semesters. In fact, working more than 15 hours a week can negatively impact academic performance.