So, you want to know how to make money as a teenager? Even though you’re an adolescent, that doesn’t mean you can’t start thinking about how to make money.
There are plenty of ways for teenagers to make money, both online and off. So whether you’re looking for a summer job or some extra cash to save for college, read on for ideas on how to make a pretty penny before your turn 20!
How to Make Money as a Teen Offline
1. Become a House Sitter
As a house sitter, one of your primary duties is to make the home look occupied. This means keeping the pets fed and taking them for walks, as well as maintaining the home and garden.
In addition, you may be responsible for accepting mail and handling other tasks on behalf of the homeowner. It’s a lot of work, but if you ask yourself how can a teenager make $1000, this is the way to go.
Namely, in New York, the house sitters make an average of $1,068 per week. That’s a whopping $27.00 per hour!
At the same time, if you’re from Los Angeles, you can make up to $760 per week or $19.00 per hour. In other words, your salary will depend on your location.
2. Become an Event Photographer
How to get rich as a teenager? Become an event photographer. This can be a great way to make some extra cash, and it’s also a lot of fun! There are many different events that you can photograph, such as weddings, birthday parties, and corporate events.
To get started, you’ll need to invest in digital photography equipment, such as a good DSLR camera and lenses, as well as a tripod. No, your dad’s old Nikon F camera won’t do the trick this time.
You’ll also need to learn how to use your camera properly. Once you have the basics down, start looking for events that you can photograph.
Contact the event organizer and ask if they would be interested in having you take pictures. If they say yes, then you’re in business! Charge a reasonable fee for your services, and you’ll be making money in no time.
Professional photographers typically charge $50 to $300 per hour. Amateur and hobbyist photographers charge $25–$75 per hour (this is you), while student photographers usually charge $50 to $100 per hour, as they have more experience than amateur and hobbyist photographers.
3. Sell Your Old Stuff
How to make money as a teenager without a job? One great way is to sell your old stuff. Chances are you’ve grown out of a lot of the clothes, toys, and games that you once loved, so why not sell them online or at a garage sale?
You can make a good amount of money this way, and it’s a great way to declutter your room or house (just don’t touch your parent’s vinyl).
4. Work in a Movie Theater
One of the best and easiest ways to make money as a teenager is working in a movie theater. They often need people to work concessions or clean up after the show.
This can be an excellent way to make extra cash on weekends and during school breaks. Plus, it’s a perfect opportunity to see free movies! Movie theater employees make about $9.00 per hour.
5. Become a Dog Walker
How to make money as a 15 year old? Become a dog whisperer. Joke aside, given that 69 million households in the US own at least one dog, you are most likely to live beside a neighbor who’s too busy to take his Fido for a walk. This is where you come in!
What’s best, you can set your own hours, walk as many or as few dogs as you want, and get paid cash for each walk. The average salary for a dog walker in the US is $15.06 per hour, meaning you can make up to $600 per week!
How to Make Money as a Teenager Online
1. Become a Freelancer
One way to make money as a teenager is by doing freelance work. If you’re good at writing, design, or anything else, there are many websites where you can find work. Just create a profile and start applying for jobs!
For example, freelancers can make between $250 and $399 for a 1,500-word blog post and $500–$999 for writing a whitepaper.
2. Become an IGer
There are several ways you can use this social media platform to your advantage. How to make money on Instagram as a teenager? You could sell products, become an affiliate for specific brands, or offer services such as photography or design work.
Instagram users with 6,000–10,000 followers get paid an average of $88.00 per post.
3. Become a YouTuber or a TikToker
This can be a great way to share your interests or talents with the world and make some money while you’re at it. You could review products, do unboxing videos, or post vlogs of your everyday life.
For example, TikTok pays $0.02–$0.04 per every 1,000 views, $15 for 500,000 views, and $40–$50 for 1 million views, while YouTube pays between $2,000 and $4,000 for 1 million views.
4. Participate in Online Surveys
How to make money as a teenager without a job online? Participate in online surveys. This is a great way to make money, and it’s easy to do. You can simply sign up for an account, and then start completing surveys.
Just be sure to read the terms and conditions before you start so that you know how each website works.
For example, if you want to know how to make money as a 14 year old, try Swagbucks. Swagbucks is a website where you can earn points (called SB) by completing tasks such as taking surveys, watching videos, and searching the internet.
You can redeem these points for gift cards or PayPal cash. People who use Swagbucks casually can earn $25–$100 in PayPal Cash or gift cards every month.
5. Review Songs
How to make money during the lockdown as a teenager? How about listening to some music? Is that even possible? Of course, it is! You can make money by writing song reviews.
For example, Slice the Pie is a website that pays people to listen to and review music. You will be paid 2 to 10 cents for every review you write. Payment is immediate and you can withdraw your earnings through PayPal once you have reached $10.
All you need to do is listen to music for at least 90 seconds. Sounds too good to be true, right?
Benefits of Making Money Early in Life
Besides asking yourself: how can I make money as a teenager, you should also ask yourself what can you gain if you start making money early in life. Here are just a few of the many benefits of making money as a teenager:
You Can Gain Financial Independence
If you start earning and saving money as a teenager, you can achieve financial independence from your parents or guardians. This can be a great way to learn how to manage your own finances and make responsible decisions with your money.
You may even be able to start building up your own savings so that you can eventually buy a car or house.
You Can Learn How to Budget and Save Money
There are many easy ways for teens to make money. However, you should know that with money comes great responsibility.
On that note, making money as a teenager can teach you how to be more mindful about your spending and how to start saving for future goals. You may even find that you’re able to save up for larger purchases, like a new computer or a trip to Europe.
Budgeting and saving money are important life skills that will help you throughout your adult years.
You Can Gain Work Experience
Besides learning how to earn money as a teen, you’ll also learn how to communicate with co-workers, handle customer service inquiries, and meet deadlines. These skills will be helpful in any career you choose to pursue.
You Can Earn Extra Money for College
Did you know that students from the District of Columbia have an average student loan debt of $55,400? So, if you’re looking to save up for college, making money as a teenager can be a great way to do it.
You can use your earnings to pay for tuition and other college-related expenses. Having money saved up can make attending college much easier and less stressful.
Conclusion
So there you have it, now you know how to earn money as a teenager! Remember that these are just the basics, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to making money. The best way to find what works for you is to experiment, be creative, and stay focused on your goals.
With a bit of effort and perseverance, we’re sure you can achieve great things! What are you waiting for? Start brainstorming some ideas and put yourself on the path to financial success.
FAQs
How to make $1,000 as a teenager?
Here are a few ideas:
- Start a small business: there are many online businesses that you can start for very little money, and you can grow them over time.
- Become a house sitter: house sitters can make up to $1,000 per week (depending on the location).
- Use a money-making app: there are many apps these days that allow you to make money by doing things like taking surveys, watching videos, or shopping online.
How to make money as a teenager in the UK?
The same way you can make money in the US. You can become a house sitter (most house sitters earn £50 per day), a dog walker (dog walkers earn an average of 17 pounds per hour), or an event photographer (freelance photographers make between £50–£55 per hour).
You can also do some online work. Create a Youtube/TikTok channel, write blog posts, become an Instagrammer, etc.
How could a 15 year old make money?
If you’re 15, and you want to make some easy cash, you can try using Swagbucks and earn money by taking online surveys or watching videos. You can review songs on Slice the Pie and similar platforms, or you can do some freelancing work.
On the other hand, if you want to avoid the online world and start making money doing things the old-fashioned way, by foot, you can become a house sitter or a dog walker.
If you want to know how to make money as a teenager without actually working, you can start by selling your old things.