Ways for 15-year-olds to earn money

teen

Fifteen is the year a part-time job ($150-300/week) and a side hustle (lawn care, babysitting, online creator income) often coexist. Schedule pressure becomes the binding constraint.

Labor law for age 15

Same federal rules as 14-15: work permit required, school-week hour limits. Many states allow extended hours by 15. Driving for hire is still off-limits until 18.

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.

Physical / outdoor

Part-time retail/food service (with permit)

$200–$400/week

⏱ 20 hr·On their own

⚖️ Permit-limited hours during school year.

Lawn-care business (all-summer)

$250–$800/week

Start-up $200·⏱ 15 hr·On their own

Camp counselor (paid)

$250–$600/week

⏱ 40 hr·On their own

Lifeguard (with WSI cert)

$14–$22/hour

Start-up $250·⏱ 4 hr·Minimal parent help

⚖️ Most pools require 15+ for lifeguard, plus Red Cross WSI cert ($200-300).

Neighbor / community

Premium babysitting clientele

$18–$30/hour

Start-up $35·⏱ 5 hr·On their own

Pet sitting / Rover (with parent-managed account)

$100–$400/week

⏱ 2 hr·Minimal parent help

Tutoring & teaching

Tutoring at $20-30/hour (online and in-person)

$100–$400/week

Start-up $30·⏱ 1 hr·On their own

Teaching music / sports / instrument lessons

$20–$50/hour

Start-up $30·⏱ 1 hr·On their own

Online

Etsy / online shop (independent + scaling)

$50–$1000/week

Start-up $200·⏱ 4 hr·Minimal parent help

YouTube / TikTok / Twitch creator

$0–$1000/week

Start-up $200·⏱ 10 hr·Minimal parent help

Print-on-demand merch creator

$50–$500/week

Start-up $50·⏱ 3 hr·Minimal parent help

Web/app dev for small businesses

$25–$75/hour

⏱ 4 hr·Minimal parent help

Pricing tip

At 15, charge for skill, not effort. A 15-year-old who codes well can make $40-60/hour from small businesses on Upwork. A 15-year-old who babysits well can make $25/hour. Both beat the $14/hour ice cream shop — when you have the skill, charge for it.

Tax note

Most 15-year-olds with a part-time job + summer hustle clear $3,000-6,000/year. Max Roth IRA contribution ($7,000 in 2025) up to earned income. Even at $3,000 contributed, that's a life-altering decision at this age.

The parent angle

Fifteen is the year to step back from picking the work and stay close on the financial decisions — Roth contributions, savings rates, first-checking-account hygiene. Most 15-year-olds will make their own work choices well; few will think to fund a Roth without prompting.

Frequently asked

What's a good first job for a 15-year-old?

Retail, food service, ice cream shops, libraries, grocery stores. Look for places that hire teens regularly — they'll have permit experience and won't treat the limit as a hassle.

How much can a 15-year-old earn in a summer?

$2,000-6,000 is realistic. A part-time job at $14/hour × 25 hours/week × 10 weeks = $3,500. Add a side hustle (lawn, babysitting, online) and $5,000-7,000 is achievable.

How does a teen become a lifeguard at 15?

Red Cross WSI + Lifeguard Training (combined ~$250-400). Most pools start hiring at 15 once certified. Pay is $14-22/hour, often with set schedules and back-to-back shifts in summer.