A Yearning for Earning: First Jobs for Kids & Teens

Maybe you had a paper route, or babysat the neighbors. Maybe your Dad paid you to wash his car or stack wood. Those first jobs are memorable, and important for learning about earning. Read on for more on how kids can earn money through chores and first jobs.

Pitching in at Home

Parents can begin assigning chores to kids as young as age 3, as long as they are age and ability appropriate. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, research shows that kids who do chores may exhibit higher self-esteem, be more responsible, and be better equipped to deal with frustration, adversity, and delayed gratification. These skills can translate to school, work, relationships, and money management.

Some parents give a chore-based allowance, others don’t. According to Investopedia, 75% of parents pay an allowance, and a majority of those parents require their kids to earn their allowance. The average allowance in the U.S. is between $11-20 per week.

With Till, it’s easy to set up and pay a regular weekly allowance, regardless of what you require. And if you want to pay extra for specific jobs, like washing the car or cleaning out the garage, Till’s Task feature is there for you. You determine jobs for your kids, and put them in with a value and frequency. Your kids can see their tasks in the app, and how much they can earn. Once they mark the task completed, you confirm that they did it, and you can send their payment right into their spend or save balance. Easy peasy.

Eventually, in the teen years, kids start wanting extra money and to get some “real” work experience and will seek that first paid job outside of the house. Whether you are thinking about home-based chores, extra tasks, or first jobs, here’s some info about age groups, popular jobs, and typical earnings amounts. Keep in mind that these will vary by a kid’s development, interest, and ability, as well as where you live:

Top Tasks by Age Group

Ages 3-5

For very small children, chores must be supervised activities, but by including kids in these tasks, you can gently set the groundwork for future household participation. Making these tasks into a game will help engage the littles. Include kids of this age in sorting and putting away toys, identifying groceries and learning where they go, and helping put clothes away.

Ages 5-10

Your 5-10 year old might begin to appreciate having some extra money and helping you or family members out around the house. Small jobs can give them a sense of purpose and accomplishment. Here are some jobs, and typical amount earned:

• Cleaning their room: $3-5
• Caring for pets: $3-6
• Taking out the trash: $2-5
• Unloading the dishwasher: $2-3
• Helping with groceries: $3-4
• Sorting laundry and putting it away: $3-4
• Basic yard work: $3-5

Ages 10-13

By age 10-13, your child is typically starting to show more responsibility and is curious about work and income. The types of jobs they can do at this age will help them develop a good work ethic while still having lots of time to just be a kid. These tasks start to focus more outside the house and kids may even want to let neighbors know about their services. With Till, community members (neighbors, extended family) can pay your kids in the app.

• Dog sitting & walking: $7-10 per visit
• Babysitter: $10-15 per hour
• Yard work: $7-10 per hour
• Washing the car: $8-12 per car

Ages 14-18

Kids this age can often manage more complex tasks, and many teens seek part time jobs. While their idea of a job and the reality of what’s out there may not always match up (sadly, testers for ice cream flavors or new video games can be hard to come by), it’s powerful to get that first experience with earning. Here are some typical first jobs for teens:

• Fast Food Worker, : $13-15 per hour
• Ice Cream Scooper: $9-12 per hour
• Restaurant Help: $10-12 per hour
• Pool/Beach Lifeguard: $13-20 per hour
• Grocery Store Cashier/Bagger/Shelf Stocker: $10-13 per hour

Till’s direct deposit feature lets employers pay directly into your kid’s Till app. It’s an easy way for kids with part-time jobs to manage their whole income picture with allowance, part time work and any other tasks they may pick up around the house all in the same place.

Whichever jobs your kids undertake, they’ll gain real life skills, experience and an opportunity to manage their money. With your guidance and support and Till to help you along the way, it's a winning combination!