4 days ago
15 Summer Jobs for Teens That Pay the Most
Getting a summer job is a rite of passage for teens. It's a little taste of independence, builds great skills, and comes with their very own paycheck! As someone who dealt with irate customers and grueling hours at a fast-food restaurant as a teen for $7.50 an hour, I know how important making (good) money can be. No one wants to waste their time when they are trying to save for a car or college! To help teens out, we've compiled a list of the highest paying summer jobs for teens in 2025.
From food service to landscaping, here ae the industries and companies your teens should apply for this summer.
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Resume Genius released a report of highest-paying teen jobs, and the number of teens employed based on 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Top of the list? Food service manager, with a staggering wage of $31.40/hour and 33,000 teens employed across the country. Of course, if this is your teen's first job, they will have to start out as a regular employee, working their way up to manager.
According to Finance Buzz, some restaurants to look at include:
The Cheesecake Factory: $10/hour plus tips, averaging about $24.33/hour
In-N-Out Burger: $18/hour on average
Starbucks: $15-$23/hour
Chipotle: $11-18/hour
IHOP: $13/hour plus tips
Panera Bread: $15-$18/hour plus tips
Olive Garden: $12/hour plus tips
Hands-on fields make a lot of money, with carpentry coming in second, with an average wage of $28.51/hour and 32,000 teens employed. Redditors gave some advice for teens wanting to break into this industry, including familiarizing yourself with power tools and taking vocational classes at school on woodworking or construction. After high school, your teen can join an apprenticeship program to earn money while learning.
Construction laborers were also on the list, making about $22.14/hour with 104,000 teens employed, as were landscaping workers, making $19.13/hour with 74,000 teens employed. Stockers and packagers came in at $18.12/hour each, with 188,000 teen stockers and 53,000 teen packagers.
Third on the list is a retail supervisor, with an average wage of $31.40/hour and 37,000 teens employed.
Customer service representative positions are also popular with teens, with an average wage of $20.59/hour and 236,000 teens employed.
Become an automative service technician or mechanic (fourth on the list) with $23.88/hour and 44,000 teens employed. A delivery truck driver is also popular, making $20.56/hour with 47,000 teens employed.
Yes, teens are old enough to work in an office environment! An administrative assistant is the fifth job on the list, with $22.82/hour and 15,000 teens employed, and an office clerk also makes the list, with $20.97/hour and 63,000 teens employed.
Additional high-paying industries on the list include nursing assistant ($18.96/hour with 68,000 teens employed); security guard ($18.46/hour with 18,000 teens employed); and courier ($18.44/hour with 30,000 teens employed).
Of course, jobs where teens got paid cash and weren't reported (like mowing lawns, dog walking, babysitting, etc.) weren't on the list, but that doesn't mean they aren't great options as well. Babysitters make about $20/hour for one kid, per depending on your state and experience, and dog sitters make about $12.60-$21.70 per hour. According to lawn mowers can make between $49-$147 per lawn, but teens will likely make less if they are just starting out and depending on your area.
It can be challenging for your teen to find a job, especially in this economy. According to The New York Times, job availability for teens is estimated to be at its lowest point since 2010.
SheKnows spoke to teens about their experience finding a job and any tips they had to help. Belija, 19, said, 'Honestly, it was just luck and applying to a bunch of positions.'
Dauphin, 19, said that finding just a job for the summertime is one of the most challenging parts. 'Most places local to where I live aren't hiring seasonally, so it's hard to get a job just for the summer,' Dauphin told us.
It may not be easy to find a job, but if they can secure one in one of these top-paying areas, it'll definitely make it worth the of SheKnows
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