Best Jobs for 14-Year-Olds: 21 Jobs for Younger Teenagers

Are you a younger teen searching for your first job or an eager parent interested in helping your 14-year-old find a job? 

Believe it or not, many companies hire kids as young as fourteen. In addition, there are plenty of side hustles 14-year-olds can start themselves.

To help you search for a job, I’ve compiled a list of the best jobs for 14-year-olds. Ready? Let’s dive in!

If your child is a year old, our list of the best jobs for 15-years-olds has more options (as older kids have more options).

Where Can a 14-Year-Old Work?

At fourteen, you can find work at a variety of traditional and non-traditional jobs. As someone who got her first job at 14, I can attest that it was a good experience starting to work at that age.

My mom and I worked together painting apartments for a rental property owner. The job instilled a good work ethic in me and gave me some spending cash at the same time.

It’s important to remember that some states restrict how long and how often someone can work when they are 14 years old. For example, in Maryland, a 14-year-old cannot work more than 4 hours on any day when school is in session. They cannot work more than 8 hours a day when school is not in session. They also cannot work more than 23 hours a week when school is in session. These rules are well understood so many companies are still willing to hire younger workers, but states vary in their rules.

Here are some jobs you might consider doing at fourteen:

1. Work at a Movie Theater

Ever thought about working at a movie theater? There are a variety of jobs available, such as working concessions, taking tickets, and cleaning theaters after a show.

AMC is a popular movie theatre chain that will often hire 14-year-olds. With over 946 theaters in the U.S., there is likely one near you.

Note: Not all AMC (or other) theaters hire 14-year-olds due to local laws. Check with a theater near you for hiring age information. 

2. Become a Social Media Manager

Social media managers manage one or more social media accounts for local businesses. The work can involve anything from taking pictures to creating posts to managing interactions.

The job is suitable for anyone who is good with people and has a sound knowledge of at least a few social media channels, like Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok.  

One way to find work is to reach out to a business owner who could benefit from an improved social media presence.

If you or your parents have a friend or family member who owns a business, that might be a good place to find your first client.

Or you could reach out to businesses in your area and offer your services.

3. Babysit

Do you love kids? Why not work as a babysitter? Babysitters make anywhere from $10 to $20 an hour in many cities. 

Although babysitting is a big responsibility, you might enjoy the work if you can manage and entertain children (oldest siblings, take note!). 

Tip: Work with your parents to create a profile on Care.com to get immediate advertising for your services.

4. Tutor

If you excel in one or more school subjects, tutoring is a great way to make extra money at fourteen.

Younger students often need help learning math, reading, English, etc. Keep your ears open to parents talking about struggling learners, or approach parents you know to ask if they would like to hire you as a tutor. 

5. Work at a Restaurant 

Have you considered working at a restaurant? Many restaurant chains hire 14-year-olds, including: 

• Chick-fil-A 
• Culver’s 
• Dairy Queen 
• KFC 
• McDonald’s 
• Pizza Hut 
• Taco Bell

If you find work in a restaurant, you’ll be expected to perform numerous duties, including processing transactions, filling orders, doing dishes, and cleaning the restaurant. 

6. Scoop Ice Cream

At fourteen, an ice cream store might be a better gig than a traditional restaurant. Aside from serving customers and cleaning up, you could score some free ice cream!

Ice cream stores that hire 14-year-olds include Baskin Robbins, Bruster’s, and Rita’s Italian Ice.

7. Provide a Service

If you’re looking for a way to make extra money, consider selling your services. There are many different tasks people in your neighborhood are willing to pay someone else to look after.

Some ideas include: 

• Cleaning houses
• Mowing lawns
• Working as a Mother’s Helper
• Running Errands
• Visiting with the homebound
• Washing cars

To find customers, hand out flyers or advertise in your local Facebook Community group.

8. Freelance Your Skills

If you have a more specialized skillset, consider selling your services as a freelancer. Freelancing is one of the best work-from-home jobs because of its flexibility. Not sure what you can try? Start by making a list of things you’re good at, then find a way to use each skill to make money.

For example:

• Do you have graphic design skills? Make and sell t-shirts on Redbubble.
• Are you an artist? Find gigs on Fiverr.
• Are you a talented writer? Search for jobs on Upwork or start your own blog.
• Do you know a few things about website development? Start your own web design business.

Regardless of your skills, there is probably a way you can use them to make money. 

✨ Related: Ultimate Freelancer’s Guide: Freelancing Tips And Tricks

9. Work at a Grocery Store

Many grocery stores hire 14-year-olds to work in various departments. You could work as a cashier, grocery or produce clerk, bagger, cart attendant, etc.

Some national grocery store chains that may hire 14-year-olds include:

• Fareway
• Hy-Vee
• Giant Food
• Giant Eagle
• Kroger
• Safeway
• Publix
• Winn-Dixie

Visit your local grocery store for an application and information on available jobs.

10. Work as a Farmhand

Do you live in a rural area? Why not find work as a farmhand? Farmhands do heavy and sometimes dirty work, but you might find, as I did when I worked as a farmhand, that the atmosphere makes the hard work worth it.

As a farmhand, you’ll help care for animals or work with crops such as corn and potatoes. With this type of work, no two days are exactly alike.

Working as a farmhand can also be a great way to connect with nature. 

11. Start a Pet Care Business

Are you a dog or cat person? If so, you could find work caring for pets.

Look for dog-walking jobs or get paid to pet sit for pet owners who have to leave their pets at home for extended periods because they’re traveling or have a busy schedule.

Advertise your services to neighbors, family, and friends, and create a profile on Rover to help you find work in pet care faster. 

12. Become a Golf Caddy

Golf caddies work at local golf courses. As a golf caddy, you’ll be responsible for providing any of the following services to golfers:

• Carrying their clubs
• Keeping clubs and other equipment clean
• Handing them towels, drinks, and tees when they need them
• Ensure their golf bag is organized

As a golf caddy, you’ll earn an hourly wage with the potential for tips if you do a good job. 

13. Take Surveys

If you don’t need to earn much but would welcome a little extra cash, you could earn money by signing up for paid surveys. 

You are providing feedback to various brands by taking online surveys, helping them develop and market the best products and services.

The best survey sites pay in cash or via PayPal when you take surveys at your convenience. 

Surveys might take between 10 and 40 minutes to complete, depending on the survey and the company. Think you’re too young? Most survey companies hire teens as young as 13 to take surveys. 

14. Work for a Small Business Owner

Another idea for 14-year-olds who want to work is to find a local tradesperson or retail store owner who needs help for a few hours each day or week.

Reach out to people who own trade businesses, retail stores, and other small businesses to see if they need help. 

15. Get a Seasonal Job

You may be able to find seasonal work as a 14-year-old. For instance, you could work for a landscape company mowing lawns or cleaning pools. 

You might find retail stores willing to hire 14-year-olds to work during the holiday season. Working as a lifeguard could be another seasonal job you could pursue, but you can’t pursue this opportunity until you turn 15 due to federal law.

Capitalize on the seasons and the holidays/events that happen year-round and look for opportunities to work when they’re happening. 

16. Work at an Amusement Park

Amusement parks often hire teens as young as fourteen for a variety of job positions. If you have an amusement park near you, you could be hired to: 

• Work in food service
• Get a job cleaning up the park
• Operate certain rides
• Work as a ticket taker
• Work as a cashier in a souvenir shop 

Contact local amusement parks near you to find out about job openings. Most amusement parks begin hiring before the peak season, so don’t wait until it’s too late.  

17. Work at an Orchard

Orchards of all types often hire teenage workers due to the labor-intensive nature of the work. You could work at an apple orchard, vineyard, or berry farm.

Your responsibilities can vary at an orchard, from picking fruit and helping customers to maintaining plants and trees. 

18. Work at an Animal Shelter

Another job for pet lovers is to work at an animal shelter. Animal shelters hire teens for many different responsibilities, such as:

• Cleaning cages
• Grooming animals
• Feeding animals
• Walking dogs
• Playing with pets
• Stocking shelves

This could be an excellent job if you love animals. It can also be a great volunteer opportunity if you’re looking for a way to give back.

19. Computer Repair Service

Are you a 14-year-old computer whiz? If so, consider starting a computer repair business. 

Many people (myself included) have computers but don’t know enough about them to keep them in optimal running condition. 

Use your skills to your advantage by offering computer services in your neighborhood or among your social circle.  

20. Food Prep Worker

Larger restaurants and cafeterias are always looking for food prep workers.

As a food prep worker, you help get food ready to be available to cafeteria customers. You might stock shelves with drinks, ensure adequate supplies like forks or salt and pepper, and prepare menu offerings. 

Check with hospitals and other large food companies for information on job openings.

21. Flip Products for a Profit

Product flipping, also known as retail arbitrage, is easier than you think. It involves buying something for a lower price and reselling it for a profit. 

For example, let’s say you go to a garage sale (or browse the best online sales sites) and find your favorite video game for sale at a rock-bottom price of $5. 

It’s in great condition, so you buy it and then sell it to a friend for the going rate, which is $35. You’ve just made a $30 profit.

It will take some work to figure out which products can sell for a higher price, but once you do, you can make some serious cash. 

Labor Laws for 14-Year-Olds

As a 14-year-old, you are subject to federal laws regarding when and how much you can work. Here are some of the guidelines employers are required by law to follow if they hire a 14-year-old worker:

• Maximum of three hours of work on a school day
• No more than 18 hours of work during a week in which school is held
• Maximum of eight hours of work on a non-school day
• 40-hour maximum work week during a non-school week
• Work hours must be between 7 am and 7 pm except from June 1 through Labor Day, in which case 14-year-olds can work until 9 pm.

Any business employing a 14-year-old to work outside these parameters violates federal law.

There are also laws regarding how much you must be paid as a working 14-year-old. The federal minimum wage for a 14-year-old is $7.25 per hour. 

However, the law states that businesses can pay workers as little as $4.25 per hour for their first 90 days of employment.

It’s important to note that individual states may have wage laws that deviate from federal laws, allowing workers to be paid more or less. For that reason, you must also check your state’s minimum wage laws.

Final Thoughts

The best jobs for 14-year-olds pay a decent wage, adhere to state and federal laws, and provide valuable learning experiences. As you can see from our list, the possibilities are almost endless. Many companies hire 14-year-olds for traditional jobs, but starting your own side hustle is also an option.

If you’re ready to make money as a teen but are having trouble finding work, my advice is to be patient and not give up. Also, don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Use our list for inspiration. And talk to people you know. Many employers prefer to hire based on referrals from current employees or people whose opinions they trust.