Ways for 12-year-olds to earn money

tween

Twelve is when babysitting other families' kids becomes a real category. Most parents will hire a 12-year-old with a Red Cross babysitting cert for $10-15/hour.

Labor law for age 12

Federal law allows limited employment at 12 in family-owned businesses (with parent permission). Otherwise, informal work continues.

12 ideas

Each idea below shows realistic pay, time commitment, and how much parent help is needed. Pay ranges are starting points — adjust to your local cost of living and your kid\'s experience level.

Neighbor / community

Babysitting (other families, with cert)

$10–$18/hour

Start-up $35·⏱ 4 hr·Minimal parent help

Red Cross or community center babysitting course is $25-45 and dramatically increases trust.

Pet sitting business (regular clients)

$40–$120/week

⏱ 1 hr·On their own

Help-at-home business (organizing, light cleaning)

$10–$20/hour

⏱ 2 hr·Minimal parent help

Tech help for older neighbors

$10–$25/job

⏱ 45 min·On their own

Phone, TV, wifi, email setup.

Dog washing / grooming at home

$10–$25/job

Start-up $30·⏱ 1 hr·Minimal parent help

Physical / outdoor

Lawn care route (4-6 customers)

$80–$200/week

⏱ 6 hr·On their own

Snow shoveling (full route)

$50–$200/week

Start-up $30·⏱ 1 hr·On their own

Snow weeks only.

Yard maintenance (weeding, mulching, leaves)

$15–$40/job

⏱ 1 hr·On their own

Camp counselor-in-training (paid stipend)

$50–$200/week

⏱ 30 hr·Minimal parent help

Tutoring & teaching

Tutoring (3-5 kids per week)

$60–$100/week

Start-up $5·⏱ 1 hr·On their own

Online

Etsy / online shop (parent-managed)

$20–$200/week

Start-up $100·⏱ 2 hr·Parent help recommended

YouTube / Twitch (parent-managed account)

$0–$200/week

Start-up $100·⏱ 4 hr·Parent help recommended

Most earn $0 for the first 6+ months; treat as a hobby with optional income.

Pricing tip

At 12, the babysitting cert is the biggest lever — most families will pay 25-50% more for a certified sitter. The course pays for itself in 2-3 jobs.

Tax note

Self-employment income over $400/year triggers a return. If they're babysitting consistently, this is the year to set up a Roth IRA — earned income is required to contribute, and starting at 12 vs. 22 is a 50%+ difference at retirement.

The parent angle

Twelve is when kids start being entrepreneurs in a recognizable adult sense. They're negotiating, scheduling, managing customer relationships, and reinvesting earnings (better tools, more advertising). Lean into the business framing — they're ready.

Frequently asked

How much can a 12-year-old earn babysitting?

$10-15/hour without a cert; $12-18/hour with one. A regular Saturday-night babysitter clears $40-80 per gig. Two gigs a month = $100-160.

Should a 12-year-old have a real bank account?

Yes — a custodial checking + savings combo (Chase First Banking, Capital One MONEY) is the standard play. Direct-deposit babysitting income, see the balance grow, build the deposit habit early.

Is babysitting safe at 12?

For familiar families, neighborhood kids, and short windows — yes. The Red Cross / YMCA babysitting course teaches first aid, emergency response, and screening; it's the right entry point.