Top 11 Jobs For High School Students To Earn Money
Working while having classes can be a great kick-off point for building various skills, learning responsibility, and standing out on future college applications. Plenty of jobs can fit around your schedule if you want to save for something big or just have spending money.
In this guide, we’ll break down 11 ideas to earn money, from classic part-time jobs for high school students to flexible online gigs and even a few unconventional ways to earn with almost no effort.
Traditional part-time high schooler jobs
These jobs help teens build soft skills, earn steady money, and start working in the real world.
1. Retail associate
- Time investment: 10–20 hrs/week
- Skill level needed: Beginner
- Earning potential: $9–$15/hour
A retail sales associate job is perfect if you enjoy working with people. As a retail associate, you'll be helping customers, organizing shelves, working the cash register, and maybe even unpacking inventory. It’s a great way to build customer service and problem-solving skills while working in a fast-paced environment.
Many retail stores hire employees, especially around the holidays. To boost your chances, dress neatly when applying and be friendly during the interview.
2. Food service worker
- Time investment needed: 10–20 hrs/week
- Skill level needed: Beginner
- Earning potential: $10–$15/hour + tips (in some roles)
Food service could be a great fit if you don’t mind staying on your feet and working in a fast-paced environment. Jobs in fast food places, cafes, or casual restaurants often include cashier, server, or kitchen assistant roles. You can do food delivery, take orders, serve food, prep ingredients, or help with cleaning tables – and yes, sometimes there’s free food involved!
While the work can get busy, it's perfect for building teamwork and multitasking skills. You'll also improve your communication by dealing with all kinds of customers, from chatty regulars to people in a rush. Some positions – especially as a server or barista – can also mean tips, which boost your paycheck.
And if you're a foodie or just love trying different things, you can even find extra gigs and get paid to eat – yes, for real.
3. Babysitter
- Time investment needed: Flexible; evenings and weekends
- Skill level needed: Moderate (especially with younger children)
- Earning potential: $12–$20/hour
Babysitting is a popular first job. It’s flexible and can earn pretty well. Your main duty is to make sure kids are safe and entertained. That could mean playing games, preparing simple meals, helping with homework, or getting them ready for bed.
Parents are trusting you with what matters most to them, so reliability is a must. Showing up on time, being responsible, and staying calm under pressure are huge pluses.
Want to stand out and earn more? Consider getting certified. Courses like the Red Cross Babysitting & Child Care Training or Safe Sitter Essentials teach first aid basics, emergency skills, and age-appropriate childcare.
Online opportunities
Online jobs are becoming a popular choice for teens looking to earn money with flexible hours, especially if you're interested in starting a remote side hustle.
4. Freelance writer
- Time investment needed: 5–15 hrs/week
- Skill level needed: Beginner to intermediate
- Earning potential: $10–$30/hour
If you love to write, freelancing could be a perfect fit for you. Freelance writers prepare content for websites, blogs, product descriptions, and more. It's a flexible role that allows you to work whenever you have free time.
To get started, you can find writing opportunities on platforms like Upwork or Fiverr. These sites let you set your rates and apply for writing jobs that match your interests. If you're looking for more guidance, there are ways to learn how to get paid to write.
5. Online tutor
- Time investment needed: 4–10 hrs/week
- Skill level needed: Intermediate to Advanced (strong knowledge in at least one subject)
- Earning potential: $15–$25/hour
If you're strong in a subject like math, science, or English, tutoring others online can be both rewarding and profitable. As an online tutor, you’ll help peers understand difficult topics, prepare for tests, or improve their grades.
Tutoring doesn’t just boost your own understanding; it also builds patience, communication, and teaching skills. Plus, it looks great on future college applications.
You can find tutoring gigs through websites like Tutor.com or Chegg Tutors, where students sign up for assist in specific subjects. Once accepted, you’ll be matched with learners who need help.
6. Virtual assistant
- Time investment needed: 5–15 hrs/week
- Skill level needed: Beginner to Intermediate
- Earning potential: $12–$25/hour
Being a virtual assistant (VA) means helping someone run their day-to-day tasks – just online. You might be replying to emails, managing schedules, entering data, or even handling basic customer support.
This work is ideal if you're organized and good at juggling tasks. Over time, you’ll build skills like time management, communication, and digital organization – skills that will assist you in nearly any full-time job.
If you’re ready to become a virtual assistant, there are guides that walk you through each step, including how to find clients and manage your first tasks.
7. Content creator on social media
- Time investment needed: Varies (from a few hours to daily content creation)
- Skill level needed: Beginner to Advanced (depends on platform and niche)
- Earning potential: Highly variable ($0 to $1,000+/month)
If you're always scrolling through TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube, why not flip the script and start creating instead? Content creators build videos, photos, or posts that entertain, inform, or inspire their audience.
Monetizing your content can come from several sources: ad revenue from views, brand sponsorships, affiliate links, or even selling your own merch.
The key to success is finding your voice, posting regularly, and interacting with your followers. Even small accounts can start making money once they hit engagement milestones.
Non-traditional earning methods
Not all jobs require a set schedule – some students prefer flexible, low-effort options that let them earn money without investment.
8. Participating in online surveys
- Time investment needed: 10–30 minutes per session
- Skill level needed: Beginner
- Earning potential: $1–$5/survey
Online surveys are one of the simplest ways for students to earn money in their spare time because companies want honest opinions to improve their products. You’ll typically answer questions about your habits, preferences, or feedback on ads, apps, and everyday products.
Popular survey types include product feedback, entertainment preferences, and lifestyle choices. The best part? You can complete them while commuting, relaxing at home, or even during lunch breaks.
Reliable platforms like JumpTask make it easy for beginners to get started. You can get paid to take surveys without needing any special skills or training. Just sign up, pick surveys that interest you, and earn points or money for each one you finish.
Easy money between classes
With JumpTask, you can take surveys, play games, test apps, and more – all on your own time.
9. Get paid to click ads or read emails
- Time investment needed: 5–15 minutes a day
- Skill level needed: Beginner
- Earning potential: $0.05–$2/day
If you’re looking for a fun way to earn money online, clicking ads or reading emails might be worth trying. It’s not a huge income, but it’s easy and takes almost no effort.
The main appeal is how beginner-friendly it is – you don’t need any experience, just an internet connection and a few spare minutes. Think of it as pocket money for doing things you’re probably already doing online.
To start, look for trusted sites that don’t require upfront payment. For example, you can get paid to read emails or get paid to click through platforms that cater to new users. Just be realistic about earnings – this is best used as a side activity, not a full-time employment.
10. Earn passive income selling internet data
- Time investment needed: Less than 30 minutes (one-time setup)
- Skill level needed: Beginner
- Earning potential: $5–$30/month
Selling unused internet bandwidth is a passive way to earn money without doing anything extra. Some companies compensate users for a small portion of their internet connection used for secure, anonymized data collection or web intelligence services.
It might sound sketchy at first, but trusted platforms ensure your personal data and privacy are protected. These services never access your private files or browsing history – they’re only interested in your bandwidth.
Once you sign up and install the app, it runs quietly in the background. After that, you just let it do its thing while you go about your day. It's a true "set it and forget it" method to earn passive income with zero hassle.
11. Earn rewards by searching the web
- Time investment needed: Ongoing (passive during normal internet use)
- Skill level needed: Beginner
- Earning potential: $1–$10/month
Did you know you can make money just by doing what you already do online – like Googling or looking up music lyrics? Some browser extensions and search engines reward users for their regular search activity with points, gift cards, or even cash.
These tools replace your default search engine or run quietly in the background, tracking your searches anonymously and sharing the ad revenue with you.
Using platforms that protect your privacy and don’t sell personal information is important. If you're just getting started, a safe option to get paid to search the web is through trusted reward-based platforms designed for casual users.
Tips for balancing jobs with school commitments
Juggling work and education can be challenging, but it’s totally doable with the right approach. Prioritize school work – grades come first – and choose jobs with flexible hours that fit your schedule. Planning ahead is key to avoiding burnout.
Here are a few tools and techniques to help:
- Use a planner or calendar app (like Google Calendar) to map out your week.
- Set reminders for assignments, shifts, and study time.
- Try time-blocking to separate work, school, and rest.
- Use task managers like Todoist or Notion to stay organized.
- Don’t forget to rest – sleep and downtime matter just as much as productivity.
Side income that fits your routine
Complete simple online tasks you can do on your schedule with no fixed hours and no stress.
FAQs
In most places, you need to be at least 14 or 15 to work a part-time job, but the rules can vary by location and work type.
Yes, many online jobs are available to teenagers, but make sure to check local laws for restrictions on working hours and job types.
Students can get paid through PayPal, direct deposit, or gift cards from platforms like freelance sites, surveys, or task-based jobs like JumpTask.
Simple jobs like online surveys, clicking ads, or reading emails are beginner-friendly and require minimal skills, making them a great starting point.
Monika Ivanauskaite
Content Manager
Meet Monika, your go-to person for turning side-hustle ambitions into real income. As a content manager at JumpTask, she makes digital earning opportunities easy to understand and follow. With a Communication degree from Vilnius Tech and studies in International Communication at Hanze, Monika knows how to turn tricky money earning topics into practical tips. She’s been where you are and knows how hard it can be to start. That’s why her advice is always honest and clear. No empty promises, just real ways to make money online.
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