Why Earning Money For Teens Is Harder Than It Seems And How They Can Use Side Hustles Instead

A visualization of a teen making money through various side hustles (via moneylion.com).

One week, everyone is hunting for the same pair of low-rise cargos. Next, it’s the Sambas everyone suddenly swears they’ve loved forever (and definitely did not buy last Tuesday). From claw clips and Stanley Cups to skincare restocks and yet another plain white T-shirt that somehow costs three digits, it all adds up fast. Even if you’re stronger than the rest of us and can withstand the pressure of the purse, many teens are scrambling for cash for one reason or another. Friends want to go out for dinner; group chats decide they are overdue for a shopping trip at the mall; and concert tickets sell out in minutes.

Making matters worse, adults constantly remind teens to save for college, emergencies, and their future in general. They’re expected to spend some money responsibly while setting aside most for savings. But there’s one issue: actually earning money as a teenager is way harder than anyone admits.

After scrolling through LinkedIn time and time again searching for jobs, it’s hard not to feel discouraged. You filter by “entry-level,” click on a posting that seems promising, and then hit the same line over and over again: must be eighteen and must have two to three years of experience. You scroll past internships that require full-time availability during the school day and part-time jobs with unworkable weekday hours. At some point, you’re left wondering how you’re supposed to get experience when every opportunity assumes you already have it, as if you were meant to launch your career back in the seventh grade.

For many teenagers, they want and need money but aren’t legally able to work a traditional nine-to-five. Whether it’s labor laws, age requirements, or a lack of experience, the job market is pretty much off-limits to the vast majority of high school students.

Even when teens are technically old enough to work, the competition is fierce, with college applications making every job a potential resume boost. Workplace schedules often don’t line up with a typical high schooler’s schedule. Most teens already have a full plate with nightly homework, sports practices, and other extracurriculars. This, for cash-strapped teens, is where side hustles come in.

While side hustles are often dismissed as not being real jobs, they are by far the most realistic ways for teens to get experience in today’s oversaturated job market. Without corporate hiring processes, these jobs place more of an emphasis on integrity and initiative. Teens can find work through word of mouth, neighborhood group chats, and personal recommendations, which means reliability matters more than any research projects or prestigious internship. Showing up on time, communicating effectively, and doing the job well are often what determine whether you get hired again. This can seem like a much better alternative to filling out an online application or being sent through an automated screening system. Moreover, side hustles allow teens to work outside of school hours and choose how much responsibility they take on. For those who find interviews and resume building daunting, this could be a more welcoming way into the workforce.

Babysitting is often the first side hustle people think of, and for good reason. Parents are usually more concerned with reliability and responsibility than age or experience. A teenager who can keep a fussy kid alive, entertained, and reasonably calm is a more valuable asset than someone whose main job is fetching their boss’s coffee. Babysitting can range from occasional evening work to regular after-school help, and the pay is often well above minimum wage. Many teens start out by watching siblings or cousins, then work their way to family friends and neighbors. Soon, you are recommended in group chats you have never seen, and suddenly, you are booked every Friday night. Over time, babysitting also teaches communication, problem-solving, and time management skills, which are transferable to pretty much any future job.

A photo of a teen walking a dog.

Similarly, pet care side hustles fit naturally into teen schedules. Dog walking, pet sitting, and feeding animals don’t require formal qualifications or years of Canva or coding experience. For teens who already love caring for animals, these jobs can feel less like work and more like a good time with a paycheck as an added benefit. Unlike babysitting, weekend pet care often involves daytime tasks like walks or check-ins, making it easier to balance with homework in the evenings. Many teens start by helping neighbors or posting in local community groups. While some pet care apps have age restrictions, working independently allows teens to bypass those barriers and build a client base naturally.

As teens progress through high school, tutoring can be a great option too. You do not need to be an expert to tutor someone younger, as being one or two grade levels ahead is often enough. Elementary and middle school students need help with reading, basic math, organization, and homework completion, not the fundamental theorems of calculus. Teen tutors are appealing to parents because they are relatable and often more patient than adults. Tutoring can be in-person or virtual, making it flexible for both the family and the tutor. A student who excels in a particular subject can leverage that academic strength, generating income while getting some extra practice and skills.

Reselling has also grown in popularity with the advent of online marketplaces. For teens wanting to clean out their closets before college, platforms like Depop let them photograph, price, and market items on their own terms. Some teens take it further by thrifting specifically to resell, learning how trends, branding, and demand affect pricing. Teens must decide what to buy and how to price items in a competitive market. As a result, reselling teaches financial literacy in a way that most classes or jobs can’t.

Adding on, we also have more creative and digital side hustles, which are especially well-suited to teens who already spend time online. Skills such as graphic design, photo editing, writing, and social media management are soaring in demand. Local businesses, school organizations, and community groups often need help creating flyers, managing posts, or writing captions for their social media posts. Age matters far less in these areas of work because the output speaks for itself.

Last but certainly not the least, there are odd jobs, which remain one of the most underrated ways for teens to make money. Yard work, snow shoveling, and basement cleaning may not sound as glamorous as the aforementioned options, but they are just as, if not more, effective.

The common thread between all of these side hustles is not just the money, but the agency they provide. Traditional jobs often place teens at the bottom of rigid corporate hierarchies with little say in their schedules or assignments. Side hustles turn that dynamic on its head. Teens hold the power instead, and they can decide when they work, how much they charge, and which opportunities they accept and which they turn down. That autonomy fosters responsibility unlike other “traditional” jobs.

The reality is that many teens are ready to work long before most employers will even consider them as legitimate applicants. Side hustles are not a replacement for nine-to-five jobs, but they are a necessary bridge. For teenagers who are too young to be hired but old enough to want more responsibility, side hustles provide great opportunities.