Looking back to the late 1980s, right around 57% of 16-to-19-year-old teens were employed during the summer. But today? That number is much lower, with just under 37% of young folks taking home a paycheck while school is out of session. Summer jobs for teens may not be quite as popular or as commonplace as they used to be, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t a good idea.
In fact, pursuing a part-time job over your summer break can be a great way to earn some extra cash while also setting yourself up for future success. In this guide, we’ve pulled together all of the summer job information you need—including their advantages, tips for finding one, and some potential positions you can explore.
Why Take on a Summer Job?
Summer is your chance to rest and recharge after all of the demands and expectations of the school year. So, why would you want to take on a job that cuts into the time that’s supposed to be dedicated to leisure and fun?
Well, summer jobs for teens offer a number of convincing benefits, including:
- Money: Let’s start with the most obvious benefit first—taking on a summer job means you can earn some spending money that you can use to fund your passions, hobbies, or social activities.
- Transferable skills: Even if your summer job isn’t in the career field you ultimately want to pursue, you’ll still build soft skills (everything from communication and teamwork to time management and problem-solving) that you can use to impress future employers. A whopping 85% of job success comes from well-developed soft skills and people skills.
- Work experience: Beyond the skills you’re picking up, you’re also gaining work experience and learning what it takes to thrive as a professional—which improves your resume and helps you land future jobs. 91% of employers admit that they prefer candidates who have work experience.
- Connections: Have you heard the “it’s not what you know, but who you know” cliché? While it might seem worthy of an eye roll, it’s true. Summer jobs give you the opportunity to build professional relationships with people who can offer advice, act as references, and boost your future career in other ways.
Sure, a summer job means a little less time for relaxation and fun. But, this isn’t a zero-sum game. Even a job that requires a few hours a week is a great outlet to earn both money and professional experience, while still leaving you plenty of time to enjoy your summer break.
Even a job that requires a few hours a week is a great outlet to earn both money and professional experience, while still leaving you plenty of time to enjoy your summer break.
Where Can Teens Find a Summer Job?
You admit that a summer job sounds like a good idea, but now you’re faced with this question: How and where do you find one?
There are different routes you can take to find a summer position that’s the right fit for you, including:
- Job boards: Online job boards (like Lensa) have plenty of summer job options for teens.
- Networking with others: Connecting with your teachers, friends, parents, and other family members could alert you to suitable job opportunities that aren’t advertised on traditional job boards.
- Starting your own business: Teens with an entrepreneurial spirit might opt to start their own business or side hustle, as opposed to applying for a job with an employer.
What Are the Best Summer Jobs for Teens?
Before you kick off your search for a summer job, you’ll want an idea of what type of position you’re looking for.
A lot of that will depend on your interests, skills, and availability, but here are 10 popular summer jobs for teens that can give you a starting point.
1. Camp Counselor
- Camp counselor average hourly rate: $9.94 per hour
- Great fit for teens who: love the outdoors and are interested in working with children
2. Babysitter
- Babysitter average hourly rate: $11.53 per hour
- Great fit for teens who: love working with children
3. Pet Sitter
- Pet sitter average hourly rate: $13.14 per hour
- Great fit for teens who: love animals
4. Lifeguard
- Lifeguard average hourly rate: $10.06 per hour
- Great fit for teens who: love to be outdoors and/or active
5. Grocery Stocker or Bagger
- Grocery stocker or bagger average hourly rate: $12.35 per hour
- Great fit for teens who: love working with people
6. Tutor
- Tutor average hourly rate: $17.71 per hour
- Great fit for teens who: excel in school
7. Landscaper
- Landscaper average hourly rate: $14.06 per hour
- Great fit for teens who: love to be outdoors and/or active
8. Retail Sales Associate
- Retail sales associate average hourly rate: $11.35 per hour
- Great fit for teens who: are interested in customer service
9. Food Service Associate
- Food service associate average hourly rate: $11.10 per hour
- Great fit for teens who: are interested in customer service
10. House Cleaner
- House cleaner average hourly rate: $12.09
- Great fit for teens who: are detail-oriented and like to be active
Tips for Finding (and Making the Most Of) A Summer Job
Your wheels are turning about the places you could find a summer job and the types of roles you could pursue. Before you press “send” on a job application, let’s cover a few more tips to make the most of your experience:
- Be entrepreneurial: Remember, having a summer job doesn’t have to mean working for a traditional employer. A lot of the above jobs give you the flexibility to start your own summer business, which is an equally great way to gain desirable skills and experience.
- Keep an open mind: Your summer job isn’t a forever career decision, which means you don’t need the perfect role right now. Focus on finding something that checks the boxes you need immediately and resist getting too hung up on long-term details.
- Emphasize soft skills: As you brush up your resume or job application, remember to call attention to soft skills (things like communication or problem solving) that make you a good fit for that role. The expectation isn’t that you have a ton of relevant career experience and qualifications as a teenager, so draw attention to the other qualities that will help you succeed.
The expectation isn’t that you have a ton of relevant career experience and qualifications as a teenager, so draw attention to the other qualities that will help you succeed.
- Do your best: Every job is worth doing your best in. Once you land a role for the summer months, commit to doing your best work and making a positive impression. That experience and those relationships will pay dividends moving forward.
Find the Right Summer Job for You
There are plenty of summer jobs that are ripe for the taking when you’re a teenager. Start by thinking through some of the primary things you want out of that experience and jot them down. That will give you a list of criteria you can reference as you evaluate your options.
Next? Use this list as your guide and peruse different outlets—like job boards and even your network—to discover what opportunities are available to you.
Find one that seems like a fit, submit your application, and you’re well on your way to a summer job that gives you experience, boosts your skills, and fills your wallet.
If you’re a college student, an internship might be a better fit than a part-time summer job. Check out our guide to summer internships here.