Is your 15 year old desperate for a job?
Maybe they need extra money to go out with friends or buy new clothes and the latest video games? Perhaps a forward-thinking individual who wants to start saving for college, or an ambitious enthusiast who is determined to jump-start their resume?
In addition, the idea of finding a job may be yours! For example, you can teach them the virtues of hard work or the value of spending the money you earn.
Either way, you’ll be pleased to know that 15-year-old jobs aren’t as rare as some people think! Search in the right places and you’ll find plenty of opportunities to match your teen’s interests, schedule, and skill set.
In this article, we will share a selection of the best. Read on to find out about ten top-notch jobs that 15-year-olds can apply for today.
Key rules and regulations regarding adolescent work
Before delving into job ideas, it’s worth addressing the legal issues surrounding the employment of younger teens. Basically, as a minor, the number of jobs you can apply for is somewhat limited.
Why? Because of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
In the name of good workplace practice, this important code of child labor laws and statutes sets strict limits on where, when, and for how long you can work. Here are a few key takeaways from the FLSA to keep in mind:
The minimum employment age for non-agricultural positions is 14*.
Working hours cannot coincide with school hours
You are not allowed to work before 7:00 am or after 7:00 pm (unless you can work until 9:00 pm between June 1 and Labor Day).
- The number of hours at work cannot exceed 3 hours on school days.
- You cannot work more than 18 hours a week during school hours.
- You cannot work more than 40 hours per week outside of the academic term
The good news is that these working time rules don’t apply when you turn 16. If your teen develops a reputation for being a hard worker at age 15, they may have longer shifts a year later.
However, depending on where you live in the United States, they may also need a work permit (or age certificate) to get a legitimate job. Check with your state department of labor or school counselor to determine if you need this.
*There is no minimum age for jobs such as babysitting, acting, working in your parents’ business (as long as it does not involve manufacturing or hazardous materials) or delivering newspapers.
How much do 15 year olds get paid to work?
It is difficult to give a definitive answer to this question. Like most things, it depends! While you’re unlikely to get anything like $20 an hour, some employers pay more than others, and some states have higher minimum wages than other parts of the country.
However, the federal minimum wage is currently $7.25 an hour as of March 2022, so this is a reasonable base rate. However, there is a caveat. The FLSA allows employers to pay $4.25 an hour to anyone under 20 for the first 90 days of employment. Only then are they required to pay the minimum wage.
Where to look for work for 15 year olds
Not all industries are the same, offering jobs to 15 year olds. In general, those worth pursuing tend to fall into three distinct categories:
- Grocery stores, retail stores
- Entertainment establishments (such as amusement parks and cinemas)
- Restaurants, food service establishments and eateries (such as ice cream parlors and fast food chains)
With that in mind, here’s a short list of 15 specific companies with a reputation for hiring young teens. Consider taking these restaurant chains and researching establishments in your area to see if they have any openings:
- A.M.C. theaters
- Baskin-Robbins
- Boston Market
- Chick-fil-A
- Dairy Queen
- KFC
- kroger
- McDonald’s
- Entertainment Palace
- Pizza Hut
- safe way
- Six Flags Theme Parks
- Pharmacies SuperValu
- Taco Bell
- Hershey Company
Top 10 jobs for 15 year olds
Any of the companies in our previous section would be a great first port of call for teenagers who want to work. But they are not limited to the somewhat limited set of roles offered there! Indeed, some of the best jobs for 15-year-olds have nothing to do with well-known brands and companies.
To demonstrate this point, we will now turn to 10 high-quality alternatives to consider if regional/national chain jobs don’t seem like a good fit.
1. Babysitter or babysitter
Babysitting is a classic teen job that can be lucrative and rewarding. What’s more, it’s usually easy to get started. After all, reliable and reliable nannies are always in demand among busy parents!
Let your friends, co-workers and neighbors know that your 15 year old is free and it shouldn’t take long for them to get their first gig.
Many factors can determine how much a nanny can charge, such as years of experience and the number of children she will be looking after. They could be paid about $18 an hour.
2. Content Creator
The Internet has given rise to many new and exciting career paths, many of which require no experience or formal qualifications to get involved.
Content creation is a prime example of this. From blogs and vlogs to podcasts and graphic design, anyone can learn the necessary skills and use the Internet to generate income from them (either by selling their services or by building their platform for affiliate sales and advertising revenue). This can be a lucrative path if your 15 year old shows interest in this kind of endeavor.
3. Car wash
The idea of making a living washing cars may not make your teen’s heart sing, but it’s still a viable job. Similar to babysitting, not only do you not need work experience or special qualifications, but the demand for your services should be high throughout the year.
And that is not all. It can also be a great learning opportunity, encouraging them to go door to door knocking on people’s houses to ask if the owner wants to wash their car. As a result, your 15-year-old will start gaining self-confidence, accepting rejection (an important life skill) and mastering the art of selling to boot.
Also, note that the same applies to related jobs such as yard work.
4. Business owner
Some people are born entrepreneurs. Others learn over time. Whatever category your child falls into, don’t make the mistake of thinking the business is for adults only. Once again, thanks to the Internet, it has never been easier to start and run a successful operation, no matter how old you are.
If your child has a business idea and feels the need to pursue it, we encourage you to take it seriously. Just make sure they a) understand it’s not easy and b) are willing to work many of the jobs on this list to fund it!
5. Dog walking
As a business, what’s stopping your teen from organizing dog walks in your area? They could knock on doors and put flyers through the mailboxes offering to look after pets at a convenient time for them.
Of course, the dog walking schedule should be tied to school hours. But assuming they need help on evenings and weekends, you may soon have enough customers to generate a significant monthly income.
6. Helper on the farm
For high school students in rural areas of the country, farm owners are often looking for people to help with a range of tasks. The specific role will vary depending on their needs, but common examples include harvesting and supporting the local farmers’ market.
You can pick the last harvest, learn about the land, or work at the cash register selling fresh produce to the locals on any given day. If it’s the latter, then you’ll also learn valuable life skills in customer service and money handling.
7. Golf caddy
At first glance, meeting, greeting, and carrying golf clubs around all day might not seem like a very attractive proposition. You will be surprised though!
This is great work. Many golf clubs hire young team members for this task, offering them the unique opportunity to spend time outdoors, make friends with the visitors they meet, and earn some money in the process.
Of course, this will be a client-focused role, with all the challenges and lessons that come with such positions. You will learn the art of good customer service as well as the many benefits of a positive attitude.
8. Purifier
We can imagine those teenage eyeballs watching this, but hear us out! House cleaning is another simple job that is relatively easy to find. It may also pay more than you expect ($15 an hour, for example, depending on the amount of cleaning required).
Whether you were working for a friend’s family, a neighbor, or a colleague, you were expected to sweep and mop floors, vacuum carpets, clean living quarters, wash dishes, and help the homeowner with everything else. You can also offer a “premium” service where you bring your own cleaning products and equipment, which results in you charging more.
9. Lifeguard
Lifeguard is one of the best jobs for 15 year olds who want to take charge. Of course, you will need qualifications for this, but many local groups will hire you as soon as you check this box (and some will even organize your training). From beach work to a public pool or water park, being a trained lifeguard opens doors to all kinds of possibilities.
It also looks great on your resume. He demonstrates a sense of purpose, good people skills, teamwork, awareness of health and safety regulations, willingness to take responsibility and calm under pressure.
10. Family business
Does your family own and operate the business? If so, this could be the perfect job opportunity for your 15 year old. As we noted earlier, the normal FLSA rules about how many hours they can work won’t apply. This means they can join the workforce to work longer hours and (depending on how much you pay them!) make more money as a result.
Not only that, but education would be huge. The teenager in your life can gain experience at every level of business and understand the ins and outs of running a successful company. Likewise, if you get them involved at this early age, they’ll set up perfectly if you want them to take control someday.
Check out these jobs for 15 year olds
It’s hard to overestimate the benefits of getting a job as a teenager. From building a strong work ethic (and an even better resume) to making extra money that fuels your financial independence, the list of incentives goes on and on.
Have you been looking for a job for 15 year olds trying to take advantage of these benefits? Well, we hope the suggestions in this guide have helped.
Keep them in mind, follow the ideas, and soon your teenager will find a role that suits his needs, interests and inclinations.
This post originally appeared on Savoteur.