Jobs for 13 Year Olds: 30+ Real Ways to Earn Money
Your 13 year old wants to earn money but is too young for a "real" job. Good news: there are dozens of legitimate ways for teens to make money right now -- no work permit required. Here is every option, what they actually pay, and how to get started safely.
Can a 13 Year Old Really Get a Job?
The short answer: not a traditional one. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) sets the minimum age for most non-agricultural employment at 14. That means your 13 year old cannot work at McDonald's, the local grocery store, or any business that issues a W-2. Most states follow this federal minimum, and many add additional restrictions on top of it.
But here is what the law does allow: informal and self-employed work has no federal age minimum. Babysitting, lawn care, pet sitting, tutoring, selling handmade goods -- all of these are perfectly legal at any age. This is actually a better starting point than formal employment because it teaches entrepreneurial thinking rather than just following instructions.
State exceptions worth knowing:Some states allow 13 year olds to do newspaper delivery, work in agriculture with parental consent, or perform in entertainment (acting, modeling) with a permit. Check your specific state's child labor laws for the full picture.
Best Jobs for 13 Year Olds
These are organized from most accessible (start today) to more advanced opportunities. Every job on this list is something a 13 year old can realistically do.
Neighborhood Jobs
These are the bread and butter of teen earning. They require no special equipment, no internet presence, and the clients are right on your street.
Lawn mowing and yard care
$20-$40/yardThe classic teen business. Charge $20-$40 per lawn depending on size. Add edging, leaf blowing, and weeding as upsells. Most neighborhoods have at least 5-10 potential clients within walking distance. Spring and summer are peak season, but fall leaf raking extends the earning window.
Pet sitting and dog walking
$15-$25/visitWatch pets while neighbors travel or walk dogs during the workday. This is especially lucrative during holiday weekends and summer vacation. Build trust by starting with one neighbor's pet and asking for referrals. Many pet owners pay a premium for someone they know over a stranger from an app.
Babysitting
$10-$20/hourOne of the highest-paying options for 13 year olds. Consider getting a Red Cross babysitting certification ($35 course) -- it dramatically increases what parents will pay and how comfortable they feel hiring a young teen. Start with kids you already know through family friends.
Car washing and detailing
$15-$30/carOffer mobile car washing in your neighborhood. A bucket, sponge, soap, and towels are all you need. Charge more for interior cleaning (vacuuming, wiping surfaces). Weekend mornings work best. Offer a discount for recurring weekly or biweekly service.
Snow shoveling
$25-$50/drivewayWinter gold mine in cold-climate states. Driveways and sidewalks need clearing early in the morning, and many adults will pay well to avoid doing it themselves. Charge per job rather than per hour -- a 30-minute driveway at $25-$40 is excellent pay for a teen.
Garage and attic organization
$30-$60/jobMany homeowners have cluttered garages and basements they never get around to organizing. Offer a flat rate to sort, organize, and clean the space. This is physically demanding but pays well and often leads to repeat work as clients recommend you to friends.
Trash can service
$5-$10/month per houseA surprisingly profitable weekly gig. Offer to roll trash cans to and from the curb on collection day. Simple, takes 2 minutes per house, and you can service an entire street. Charge $5-$10/month per household -- multiply that by 15-20 houses and you have a steady income.
Online and Digital Jobs
These require a computer or phone and some level of digital literacy -- which most 13 year olds already have in abundance.
Tutoring younger kids
$15-$25/hourIf your 13 year old is strong in reading, math, or any school subject, they can tutor elementary-age kids. Parents pay well for patient, relatable tutors. Start with kids in your neighborhood or your parents' friends' children. Video calls work too -- tutoring doesn't require being in person.
Selling crafts and handmade goods
Varies widelyEtsy allows shop owners as young as 13 (with parental supervision on the account). Jewelry, stickers, digital art prints, custom phone cases, and hand-poured candles are popular teen-made items. The startup cost is low, and it teaches real business skills: pricing, marketing, customer service, and shipping.
Social media help for local businesses
$50-$150/monthMany small business owners know they need social media but have no time or skill for it. A 13 year old who understands TikTok, Instagram Reels, and trending formats is genuinely more qualified than many adults. Offer to create 3-5 posts per week for a local shop, restaurant, or service provider.
Video editing
$10-$30/videoIf your teen already edits videos for fun (many do), this is a natural paid skill. Local businesses, YouTubers, and content creators constantly need editing help. Basic skills in CapCut, iMovie, or DaVinci Resolve are enough to start. Build a portfolio from personal projects first.
Survey and reward apps
$20-$50/monthApps like Swagbucks, InboxDollars, and Survey Junkie pay for completing surveys, watching videos, and testing apps. The pay is low per task, but it requires zero skills and can be done during downtime. Realistic expectation: $20-$50/month with consistent effort. Not a job replacement, but good pocket money.
Family Business and Errands
Working within the family ecosystem is an underrated way for 13 year olds to earn while learning.
Helping with a parent's business
$8-$15/hourIf a parent runs a small business, there are almost certainly tasks a 13 year old can handle: filing, organizing inventory, packaging orders, answering emails, updating spreadsheets, or managing social media. This is legal, paid, and gives teens an inside look at how a business actually works.
Grocery shopping and errand running
$10-$15/hourFor elderly neighbors or busy families, offer to pick up groceries, return library books, drop off dry cleaning, or handle other errands. This works especially well if you live in a walkable neighborhood or have a parent willing to drive. Charge per errand or per hour.
Tech support for older adults
$10-$20/sessionSetting up phones, teaching someone to use an iPad, helping with email, fixing WiFi issues, organizing photos -- these are trivial tasks for a 13 year old and genuinely valuable to grandparents and older neighbors. Word of mouth spreads fast in this niche.
Seasonal and Event-Based Jobs
These are time-limited but can be very profitable during peak demand.
Lemonade stand or bake sale
$30-$100/dayThe original kid business. Set up during neighborhood garage sales, local events, or busy weekends. Baked goods (cookies, brownies, rice krispy treats) have better margins than lemonade. A well-placed stand at a community event can earn $50-$100 in a single afternoon.
Holiday decorating and removal
$25-$75/jobOffer to put up and take down holiday lights, set up yard decorations, and help with seasonal decor. Charge per job. The demand window is short (November-January for winter holidays) but the pay is excellent because most adults dread doing it themselves.
Leaf raking (fall)
$20-$40/yardFall's version of lawn mowing. Large yards with mature trees can produce enormous piles of leaves. Charge per yard based on size and tree density. Offer to bag and dispose of leaves for an additional fee. A productive Saturday can earn $100+ across multiple yards.
Gift wrapping (holidays)
$3-$5/giftSet up a gift wrapping station during the holiday season. Offer to wrap presents at home for neighbors or set up at a community event. Provide your own supplies and charge per gift based on size. Fast hands can wrap 10-15 gifts per hour.
Garden planting (spring)
$12-$20/hourHelp neighbors plant flower beds, vegetable gardens, or window boxes in spring. Physical work, but satisfying and well-paid. Many gardeners are older adults who need help with the heavy lifting of spring planting.
How Much Can 13 Year Olds Earn?
Realistic expectations matter. Here is what 13 year olds actually earn across different commitment levels:
Casual (2-3 hours/week)
$40-$80/monthOne babysitting gig per week or a few dog walks. Enough for personal spending money, a streaming subscription, and saving a little.
Consistent (5-8 hours/week)
$150-$350/monthRegular lawn mowing route (4-5 yards), weekly pet sitting, or consistent babysitting clients. Enough to save meaningfully for larger purchases.
Ambitious (10-15 hours/week)
$400-$800/monthMultiple revenue streams: lawn care business plus babysitting plus seasonal add-ons. This is a real commitment and should only happen during summer or with very careful school-year scheduling.
The most important factor is not the job itself but consistency. A 13 year old who mows 4 lawns every Saturday for 6 months will earn far more than one who tries 10 different things and sticks with none of them.
From Chores to First Paycheck
Before your 13 year old starts earning from neighbors, they need the habits that make them reliable. ChoreSplit lets teens track household chores, earn points for consistency, and build the kind of work ethic that turns a one-time gig into a repeat client. Start with chores at home -- graduate to paid work outside it.
Safety Tips for Young Workers
A 13 year old working independently requires parental awareness. These are non-negotiable safety guidelines:
Always know the client
Your teen should only work for people you know or have vetted. Neighbors, family friends, and community members who you have spoken with directly. No anonymous Craigslist gigs. No meeting strangers alone.
Share location and schedule
Know exactly where your teen is working, what time they started, and when they expect to finish. A shared family calendar or location-sharing app makes this easy without being overbearing.
Set up payment expectations upfront
Before the work starts, the price should be agreed upon. This prevents awkward conversations and teaches your teen to value their time. Put it in writing if needed -- even a text message confirmation counts.
No power tools without training
Lawn mowers, trimmers, and other equipment are fine with proper instruction, but a 13 year old should never use chainsaws, table saws, or industrial equipment. Supervision for the first few uses of any power tool is essential.
Establish check-in protocols
A simple text when they arrive and when they finish gives you peace of mind without hovering. For longer jobs (babysitting overnight, multi-hour projects), agree on check-in intervals.
Online safety for digital work
If your teen is selling online or doing social media work, never share personal addresses or phone numbers publicly. Use a parent's email for business accounts. Monitor communications for the first few months until trust is established.
Building an Entrepreneurial Mindset
The real value of a 13 year old working is not the money -- it is the mindset. Every job on this list teaches business fundamentals that schools do not cover:
Pricing strategy
Learning what people will actually pay versus what you think your time is worth. Undercharging teaches humility; overcharging teaches market awareness.
Client management
Showing up on time, communicating clearly, and handling complaints. These soft skills matter more than any hard skill in adult careers.
Financial planning
Deciding how much to save, spend, and reinvest. A teen who buys better lawn equipment with earnings is learning about capital investment without knowing the term.
Marketing and sales
Creating flyers, asking for referrals, and learning to pitch themselves. Every adult needs this skill, and most never practice it until their 20s or 30s.
Time management
Balancing work with school, friends, and rest. Learning to say no to a job when the schedule is full is a skill many adults still struggle with.
Problem solving
The lawn mower breaks. The dog escapes. The kid will not stop crying. Real-world problem solving cannot be taught in a classroom -- it has to be lived.
Research consistently shows that kids who earn their own money develop stronger financial habits as adults. A 2019 study from the University of Arizona found that teens who worked (even informally) were significantly more likely to save money, avoid debt, and feel financially confident in their 20s. Starting at 13 gives your kid a multi-year head start on these skills.