Easy Jobs for 12-Year-Olds That Pay Well In 2023

Not every job requires a college degree or imposes an age restriction. There are many reasons kids might wish to work, including earning some spending money, saving for an enormous gift, or even paying for college. 

We’ll look at some of the high-paying careers accessible to teenagers in this post to help you locate the one that’s right for you or your kid. 

Check Out: 20 Best Low-Stress Jobs That Pay Well Without a Degree

What Jobs Are Available at the Age of 12? 

To gain job experience, you can begin by assisting your parents or guardians around the house.

You’ll earn some additional cash and gain essential skills that will come in handy as you age. Once you’ve gained some of these experiences, you can design your CV. 

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What Sorts of Jobs are Ideal for Teenagers? 

Given that kids are often obligated to school for the bulk of the week, part-time employment that includes weekend and nighttime work might be advantageous. 

These professions might be beneficial for teenagers because many of them need little to no experience. 

Additionally, these occupations may allow kids to work a flexible schedule that accommodates their schooling and extracurricular interests. 

Pursuing these occupations as a teen can assist you in developing crucial soft skills in preparation for college or future full-time careers. 

Additionally, you may get valuable job experience to include on your résumé or college application. 

Read Also: 20 Best Jobs That Pay Over $300k a Year In 2023

Is it Possible to Create a Bank Account at the Age of 12? 

Numerous businesses/people accept payment using cash payment, PayPal, or direct deposit into a bank account. 

You could make use of Capital One’s MONEY Account, with a no-fee account for teenagers that comes with your debit card. A critical aspect is that you will want parental permission to create the account. 

Easy Jobs for 12-Year-Olds that Pay Well

There are about a few jobs that a 12-year-old can legally perform. That is not to say that there aren’t other excellent money-making alternatives available to you or your adolescent. 

If you’re questioning what occupations 12-year-olds may legally do outside the house, here are 15 jobs they can lawfully do. 

See Also: 50 Best Remote Jobs That Pay Well

1. Yard Work 

Several 12-year-olds have embarked on their first job mowing lawns or sweeping leaves. Following a storm, children might volunteer to pick up yard debris or shovel snow. 

Jobs can be discovered by distributing leaflets throughout your area or by depending on word-of-mouth from happy neighbors.

Children should be familiar with lawnmowers and may require adult supervision. Pay for yard labor varies by state, but the federal minimum wage is $7.05 per hour and the average rate is $10 per hour. 

2. Babysitting 

For 12-year-olds, interim child care is also a common career. They can make money by caring for the children of their relatives and neighbors for a few hours each day. 

For children aged 11-15, the American Red Cross provides a Babysitter Training course. Pre-teens must not be left overnight or for lengthy periods in charge of little children.

Babysitting pays an average of roughly $10 per hour, with additional factors determining the amount. 

3. Pet Care 

If your 12-year-old is an animal lover, she/he may be interested in working with furry pals. Dog walking, pet grooming, and pet sitting are all available jobs. 

When their neighbors leave on vacation, they frequently employ youngsters they know to feed and walk their pets.

Similarly, a busy neighbor or elderly family may want assistance washing or walking their dog. Pay is determined by a variety of parameters, including the quantity and type of pets, as well as additional care. 

4. Newspaper Distribution 

Newspaper delivery is still one of the FLSA-protected professions allowed to 12-year-olds. This employment is best suited for children who live in suburban areas. 

As routes develop and demand certified drivers, many grownups have pursued this employment.

Occasionally, parents and children elect to work together on this assignment. Children often get weekly fees ranging from $150 to $500 plus gratuities from homeowners if the delivery involves money collecting. 

5. Tutoring 

Children who perform well in school can earn additional money by teaching other pupils. Your children can assist other students in traditional school topics such as math and science, or in alternative fields of study such as offering piano lessons or assisting a fellow student in improving their baseball skills.

They can also attempt tuition online through sites such as Tutor.com, which charges an hourly cost of $11 or more depending on the subject. 

6. Cleaning Residences 

Do you have a well-behaved adolescent? They might begin earning extra income by cleaning houses by utilizing their cleaning expertise. 

Allow your adolescent to earn additional money by offering cleaning services to neighbors, friends, and family members. The most difficult component is locating individuals who are interested in your services.

Professional cleaning services charge between $25 and $30 per hour, so charging $20 is the sweet spot. Additionally, the cost will be determined by the number of bedrooms and the size of the house. 

7. Create a YouTube Channel 

If your forte is video creation, starting your own YouTube channel is an excellent method to earn money. 

You’ll need to identify a niche in which to concentrate your content-generating efforts. Additional devices for audio and video recording and editing may be required for this gig.

To be eligible for YouTube monetization, you must have at least 4,000 public view
hours in the previous 12 months, at least 1,000 subscribers, and an active AdSense account. 

8. House Sitting 

House sitting entails tasks such as watering plants, caring for pets, cleaning, and basic maintenance. 

While the house sitter often lives in the house, certain positions involve only daily attendance for a few hours while the house owner is gone.

While this requires a great deal of responsibility, the money is far better than dog watching, at $20-30 per day or $50 per day if staying overnight. House sitters, on the other hand, may not be authorized to leave the house and travel elsewhere. 

9. Establish a Lemonade Stand 

This common money-making concept is an excellent method for your kid to earn some extra cash during times of financial hardship. 

Additionally, it teaches kids the ins and outs of company operations, which may be handy if they intend to pursue their firm later on.

Lemonade prices vary according to the ingredients used; you may charge up to $1.25 per cup if you use fresh lemons, while $0.50 per cup is frequently fair if you use a powdered mix. 

READ ALSO: Best Jobs That Pay $15 An Hour

10. Retail Employee 

Teens as young as 12 years old can serve clients, arrange products, and clean the space.

However, due to the limitations of the legislation, a youngster under the age of 14 may only work for his or her parent’s business. 

11. Garage Cleaner 

While cleaning the garage is a pain in the neck for most people, it is an excellent source of revenue for teenagers. 

The tasks might be as basic as cleaning the environment or as complex as organizing your belongings. You may increase your earnings by adding other services such as vehicle cleaning. 

12. Sell Art on Etsy 

Etsy is the greatest online marketplace for selling handmade goods and art supplies. 

If you have artistic ability or live in a location where art supplies such as seashells are plentiful, Etsy offers a possibility for additional revenue. Minors under the age of 13 require immediate supervision by a parent or legal guardian. 

13. At Events, Sell Water 

Selling water bottles may be a lucrative revenue source at local events when people are unable or unwilling to purchase water or food. 

Purchasing water from a reputable provider is critical to avoiding health problems for your clients. Adult supervision may be required in some states. 

14. Decorating for the Holidays 

Your 12-year-old might make additional money throughout the holiday season by assisting neighbors in putting up their Christmas decorations. 

From stringing Christmas lights to adorning the tree, there are several simple methods for your adolescent to make some extra cash over the holidays. 

15. Elderly Aide 

Your 12-year-old could also assist an elderly neighbor or family member at their house. 

They can keep the individual company or assist with household chores such as cleaning, organizing, and pet care. 

16. Runs Errands 

An Errand Runner will be assigned to do errands for those who are either too busy or unable to complete the work. 

These errands often include pet services, gardening, and attending events. Additionally, errand runners are hired to assist the elderly with food shopping, snow removal, and other physically demanding duties. 

Depending on the locale, some sites charge between $18 and $35 per hour, with the national average being $25 per hour. 

17. Services on Fiverr 

If you’re more interested in online work, Fiverr is a suitable freelancing platform for 12-year-olds. 

Fiverr is a marketplace where anyone may sell their skills for a fee, with a minimum of $5 per bespoke order.

If individuals want your services, they will reach out to you to organize for the job. Teens can earn additional money on Fiverr as long as the service is not unlawful, fraudulent, vulgar, or “nonsense.” 

18. Lawn Care / Landscaping 

As a landscaper, you’ll be responsible for mowing the lawn, removing weeds, and generally maintaining the homeowner’s yard. Summer months provide a plethora of landscaping and lawn care career options.

While this profession requires considerable hard effort, income ranges from $9 to almost $20 per hour, depending on the size of the lawn. 

Additionally, it’s an excellent opportunity to get some exercise and learn about managing time and hard work. 

19. Painting 

Summer is often when homeowners plan house upgrades. This provides employment options for teenagers. 

You and your pals can get work painting interior and outdoor walls. If you run out of houses to paint, you can also paint fences. 

It’s worth noting that before you begin, you should familiarize yourself with the best types of paint to use on various types of surfaces. 

20. Maintenance of Swimming Pools 

Another excellent side employment for teenagers is pool cleaning and maintenance. This work requires you to brush the pool’s surface, skim debris from the water, and suction material from the pool’s bottom region.


This profession may also need you to clean pool filters and, as you age, manage chemical levels. 

When starting, the remuneration is around $10 each visit but can increase to $25 if chemical levels are maintained. 

21. Modeling 

For individuals who are not interested in performing jobs, consider modeling. As a young model, you will almost certainly work for printed media outlets such as magazines. 

You can get work as a model for stock pictures, fashion, or beauty goods, depending on your interests. The average hourly income for modeling is $11.43. 

22. Be a Movie Actor 

Did you know that Macaulay Culkin, the star of “Home Alone,” was only eleven years old when he originally portrayed Kevin McCallister? Children under the age of 14 are legally permitted to work as actors in films, television shows, and radio programs. \

If you’re a talented actor, you can audition for positions at various television stations or production companies. If you’re serious about acting as a career, signing up with an agency is a smart place to start. 

23. Music Critic 

As a music critic, you will be provided with a song clip to listen to and offer a candid opinion on. 

Pay begins at around ten cents for each review. By submitting high-quality reviews and improving your score, you may quadruple your profits. Music X-ray is one of the websites that provide this gig. 

24. Removal of Snow / Leaves 

Teens can also find seasonal jobs that pay well, such as shoveling snow in the winter and leaf raking in the fall. 

When shoveling snow, ensure that you use a non-stick shovel and a snowblower to effortlessly remove ice. You may earn additional money by selling the leaves to persons in need of mulch, often farmers and gardeners. 

Snow shoveling compensation ranges from $20 to $35 per hour, depending on the location, but raking leaves is often charged at $5 per bag. 

25. Acquire and Sell Scrap Papers

Scrap paper is among the most recycled commodities on the planet. Typically, papers are charged by ton and paper type. 

Corrugated containers cost between $69 and $210 per ton, while copy papers, letterheads, and envelopes cost up to $210 per ton. 

If you live near an office or other organization that generates a lot of paper, arrange to pick up their paper waste. 

CONCLUSION

Although statutes restrict the kind of work that 12-year-olds can perform, there are still several ways for a youngster of this age to earn money. You or your child may earn money as long as they adhere to federal and state regulations. 

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