By Jeff Gillis

Many 14-year-olds like the idea of earning some cash. Getting a head start on saving for a car or setting some money aside for college aren’t uncommon goals, though some may just want their own spending cash. In either case, finding the best jobs for 14-year-olds ends up a priority.

But what jobs hire at 14? Are there really good jobs for 14-year-olds out there?

If you’re asking questions like that, you’re in luck. There are some excellent options for motivated teens. If you’d like to learn more, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s what you need to know about the best jobs for 14-year-olds.

Jobs for 14-Year-Olds

Before we dive into the best jobs for 14-year-olds list, let’s go over what finding a job as a 14-year-old is like.

First, it’s important to understand that getting a traditional job is more challenging for anyone under the age of 16. Younger teenagers usually don’t have any previous experience. Plus, there are a lot of rules employers have to follow when hiring 14-year-olds.

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) has a lot of restrictions that apply to young workers, particularly when it comes to work hours. During the school year, you can’t work:

• More than 18 hours per week
• More than 3 hours on school days
• Before 7:00 am
• After 7:00 pm

When school isn’t in session, you can work more often. However, there are still rules, including that 14-year-old can’t work:

• More than 40 hours per week
• More than 8 hours per day
• Before 7:00 am
• After 9:00 pm (from June 1 to Labor Day)

Depending on where you live, 14-year-olds might also need a work permit. Usually, school guidance counselors can fill you in on that requirement.

Finally, while the FLSA rules above are pretty strict, some states are even more stringent. If you live in one of those areas, the strictest rules apply, which could mean working even fewer hours than what’s outlined above.

Okay, but if you’re okay with all of that, how do you find jobs that hire at 14? Are there any jobs for 14-year-olds that are actually worthwhile?

Well, when it comes to where you should look, restaurants and retail are usually the easiest places to start. However, there may be some self-employment options, too, as well as some other service-oriented positions you may not expect.

18 Best Jobs for 14-Year-Olds

If you’re looking for jobs that hire at 14 – including the highest-paying jobs for 14-year-olds – here are 18 options to explore.

1. Golf Caddy

If you live in an area with good weather year-round and are looking for places that hire at 14, heading to a local golf course and securing a position as a golf caddy could be an excellent option. The work is a bit physical but isn’t overly difficult. You’ll simply help golfers by carrying clubs and assisting with other simple tasks and is a great summer job option.

When it comes to pay, you can do really well. About $19.96 per hour is the norm. Plus, you might snag some tips, bringing your earnings up a bit higher.

2. Dog Walker

In the land of freelance jobs for teens, dog walker is one of the strongest options. In most cases, you can reach out to neighbors and offer your services, walking dogs either before or after school.

The typical pay rate for a dog walker is near $12.68 per hour, which is definitely solid. However, you may be able to bump it up a bit by walking dogs from several households at once.

3. Babysitter

One of the highest-paying jobs for 14-year-olds around is babysitter. Usually, you can earn $10 to $30 per hour, depending on the number of children you’re keeping an eye on and other tasks you’re handling.

Plus, babysitter is one of the best jobs for 14-year-olds that want some flexibility. You can decide whether or not you want to babysit any particular night. Additionally, if you stay after the kids are asleep, you may get some quiet time for homework or studying, all while earning a bit of cash.

4. Grocery Bagger

While some chain stores won’t hire younger employees for cashiering jobs, many will bring 14-year-olds onboard for specific roles, including the grocery bagger job. With these, your main responsibility is to bag up customer purchases. In some cases, you may also help them get items into their vehicles.

There are quite a few places that hire at 14 for grocery bagger positions, including many large chain supermarkets. As for the pay rate, it often comes in close to $12.00 per hour, which is pretty good considering no prior experience is required.

5. Dishwasher

If you’re looking for a job that doesn’t require much – if any – experience, becoming a restaurant dishwasher could be a great choice. Since it doesn’t involve any cooking equipment, many of the restaurant-oriented restrictions don’t apply to this role, making it a decent choice for younger workers. Plus, the pay rate is reasonable, coming in at about $12.00 per hour.

6. Yard Worker

While snagging a job with an actual landscaping company might not be an option, launching a freelance yardwork business could be on the table. You could offer to handle a range of basic lawn care tasks, like mowing and weeding, taking that burden away from homeowners.

Usually, you’ll charge by the job instead of per hour. However, your pay rate will probably work out to about $15.34 an hour in the end, which is pretty great.

7. Concession Worker

Since there can be cooking-related restrictions for younger workers, many restaurants hesitate to bring in someone under the age of 16. However, concession workers are different. While they may use some cooking equipment, most of it isn’t the kind that younger workers can’t operate.

Movie theaters, ballparks, theme parks, zoos, and aquariums may all be places that hire at 14 for concession worker positions. The pay rates can vary depending on where you work, usually falling in the $8.00 to $12.00 per hour range. However, some cross over $16.00 an hour, which is pretty awesome.

8. Fast Food Worker

Another food service-oriented option that may work for 14-year-olds is fast food restaurants. While you can’t use certain kinds of deep fryers or anything that involves an open flame, many of the other duties are on the table for younger employees.

The benefit of considering fast food is that the positions are widely available. Plus, pay rates often come out near $11.60 an hour, which isn’t bad for a first job.

9. Cart Pusher

If you’re looking for a straightforward job and don’t mind spending your time outside, working as a cart pusher is a stellar option for 14-year-olds. Your primary responsibility is to collect carts from the parking lot and bring them back into the store. Other duties can include wiping down carts to keep them clean or removing garbage that shoppers left behind.

The pay rate is pretty solid, considering how simple the work is overall. Usually, it comes in somewhere in the $10.00 to $16.00 range, which isn’t bad for such a low-stress job.

10. Pet Sitter

One of the good jobs for 14-year-olds that love animals, pet sitters ensure that a household’s pets stay healthy, fed, and comfortable while their owners aren’t home. Along with feedings, you may be responsible for exercising or playing with the animals. You may also need to handle bathroom-related responsibilities, depending on the kind of pet.

How much you earn as a pet sitter can depend on the number of animals involved and whether any have special needs. However, bringing in about $12.68 per hour is typical.

11. Car Washer

For 14-year-olds looking for freelance options, being a car washer could be a reasonable choice. You could offer your services to vehicle owners in your neighborhood, giving them an easy way to keep their cars in great shape.

When it comes to rates, you usually charge per job instead of per hour. Something in the $20 to $40 range might be appropriate depending on where you live, so use that as a starting point.

12. Housekeeper / Janitor

Cleaning another person’s house or a professional building isn’t completely unlike cleaning your own home. As a result, many teens actually have experience with this kind of work.

In some cases, you can go the freelance route with this kind of work. However, there may be some companies that will hire younger employees as well. In any case, a pay rate near $12.30 per hour is what you can probably expect.

13. Farmhand

When it comes to good jobs for 14-year-olds that want to stay active, getting a position as a farmhand could be an ideal choice. The tasks are easy to understand but usually involve quite a bit of physical effort, making them a great way to stay in shape while earning some cash.

Pay rates for farmhands can be really strong, too. Earning around $13.89 per hour is typical, making it one of the higher-paying options for younger teens.

14. Newspaper Delivery

A quintessential job for younger teens, newspaper delivery is a great way to take your first steps into the workforce. You’ll receive newspaper bundles, prepare each paper with a rubber band or bag, and take them to the homes on your subscription list.

Many city or suburb routes can be completed on foot or while using a bicycle. It’s incredibly low-key, too, allowing you to make about $15.00 per hour without much stress.

15. Poop Scooper

Did you know that many dog owners will pay someone to remove their pet’s poop from their yard? It’s true. While the work isn’t glamorous, it can be a solid option for teens that are having trouble finding traditional jobs that hire at 14.

In most cases, you’ll want to market your services to nearby homes, keeping everything within a walkable or bikeable distance. Additionally, you may need to charge by the job instead of by the hour.

Exactly how you figure out your pricing could depend on a number of factors. However, something in the $10.00 to $50.00 range could be appropriate depending on the size of the yard and the number of dogs.

16. Food Prep Worker

Food prep workers are critical in larger restaurant kitchens. As a food prep worker, your main responsibility is to make sure that the ingredients a restaurant’s cooks need are ready to go. In some cases, you’ll also do some light dish assembly or assist with dishes, though that isn’t always the case.

The work is fairly simple and can serve as an excellent foundation for a culinary career. Plus, it usually pays around $12.00 per hour, which isn’t bad for a 14-year-old.

17. Floral Clerk

Some grocers with floral departments will hire 14-year-olds to assist as floral clerks. You’ll spend your time taking orders from customers, cutting flowers, and making arrangements. In some cases, you’ll also stock specific shelves or assist with other celebration-oriented products. For example, you may be responsible for filling helium balloons.

This is one of the good jobs for 14-year-olds because it is low-stress in general. That makes it an excellent introduction to working, allowing young teens to adjust with greater ease.

When it comes to pay rates, it can vary depending on where you live. However, somewhere in the $8.00 to $16.00 per hour range is typical.

18. Ice Cream Scooper

If you don’t mind food service but aren’t necessarily interested in cooking, getting an ice cream scooper job could be an excellent fit. You’ll focus on creating delectable frozen treats for customers, including sundaes, milkshakes, and more.

Pay rates for ice cream scoopers tend to come in somewhere between $8.00 and $16.00 per hour. Plus, there’s a good chance you’ll get an employee discount, ensuring you can enjoy a nice treat when the mood strikes.

Putting It All Together

Ultimately, all of the options above are some of the best jobs for 14-year-olds. They are usually reasonably available and come with decent pay rates, making them great positions for teens looking to take their first steps into the workforce.

P.S. You can land a job interview pretty quickly after applying for one of these jobs, so it pays to be prepared for your interview. That’s why we’ve created an amazing free cheat sheet that will give you word-for-word answers for some of the toughest interview questions you are going to face in your upcoming interview.

Click below to get your free PDF now:

You may also be interested in our other “Teen Jobs Articles”:

• 19 Best Jobs For 12 Year Olds That Pay
• 22 Best Jobs For 13 Year Olds That Pay Well
• 20 Best Jobs For 15 Year Olds
• Top 20 Best High Paying Jobs For 16 Year Olds
• Top 15 Jobs For 17 Year Olds That Pay Well