Looking for the best after-school jobs for 13-year-olds that pay well? Well we’ve got you!
Turning 13 is an exciting time. You’re finally a teenager and looking forward to more freedom and responsibility.
One way many 13-year-olds celebrate their newfound teenage status is by getting an after-school job.
An after-school job allows you to earn your own spending money, learn important skills, and gain valuable work experience.
The key is finding a job that fits your schedule, interests, and abilities.
The good news is that there are plenty of great after-school jobs for 13-year-olds that provide a nice paycheck.
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26 After-School Jobs For 13-Year-Olds
Here are 26 of the best after-school jobs to consider for 13-year-olds in 2023:
1. Babysitter
Babysitting is a classic after-school job for teens. Parents everywhere need responsible, engaging babysitters to watch their kids while they run errands, go to events, or just enjoy a date night.
As a 13-year-old, you can easily find babysitting jobs in your neighbourhood or through an online service like Care.com.
The pay usually ranges from $10 to $20 per hour, depending on your experience and the number of kids you watch.
You get to play with kids, put some money in your pocket, and parents trust you to take good care of their little ones. It’s a win-win!
2. Pet Sitter
Do you love animals? Pet sitting is the perfect gig! Many pet owners hire sitters to walk their dogs, play with their cats, clean litter boxes or fish tanks, and just keep pets company when they can’t be home.
They need reliable pet sitters to make sure their furry friends are happy and taken care of.
You can easily advertise your pet-sitting services around your neighbourhood or list your services on sites like Rover.
Expect to earn around $10 to $20 per 30-minute visit. Dog walking can pay even more, from $15 to $25 per 30 minutes.
Not only will you get paid, you’ll get to spend time with adorable animals!
3. Lawn Mowing/Yard Work
Do you have a green thumb or love being outdoors? Offer up your lawn mowing, yard work, and landscaping services to neighbours.
Trimming hedges, weeding flower beds, raking leaves, and just keeping yards looking neat earn good money at your age.
You can start out charging around $15 to $20 per hour, depending on the size of the yard and other services needed.
It’s the perfect outdoor job to get your body moving and make some extra cash.
Cold knocking on doors in your neighbourhood is a quick way to pick up new clients.
4. Mother’s Helper
Many parents with young kids could use an extra pair of hands around the house a few hours a day after school.
As a mother’s helper, you can take some of the pressures off mom by playing with kids, making snacks, folding laundry, loading dishwashers, and doing general cleanup around the house.
Pay usually ranges from $10 to $15 per hour. It’s a great way to earn money while getting to interact with young kids.
Moms will love the help and you’ll be picking up useful life skills at the same time.
5. Bicycle Delivery Person
Apps like UberEATS and DoorDash are wildly popular and offer a cool way for 13-year-olds to make money using a bike for deliveries.
You simply sign up through their app, get orders to pick up food from local restaurants, and then deliver it to customers.
You can make over $20 per hour by doing bicycle food deliveries a few hours a week.
It’s an active gig that allows you to bike around your town, listen to music, and even score some free food on the job.
6. Dog Walker
Combining your love of animals and the outdoors? Dog walking is the way to go.
Many dog owners don’t have the time to walk their pups as much as they need. That’s where you come in as the reliable dog walker!
You can make $10 to $15 per 30-minute walk in most areas. Register as a dog walker with an app like Wag or Rover to easily find clients.
You’ll get exercise, furry companions, and solid pay. For dog lovers, it doesn’t get much better than this.
7. House Sitter
Heading out of town for a week or the whole summer? There’s good money in house sitting and taking care of pets long-term.
Homeowners need someone trustworthy to watch their house while they are away.
As a house sitter, your duties are generally light like getting mail, watering plants, and doing general upkeep on the home.
Pay can range from $30 to $50 per day. Not bad to spend time in a cool home and with cute pets!
8. Voiceover Artist
Have a great voice and love to perform? Try your hand at being a voiceover artist.
This fun gig involves recording your voice for commercials, cartoons, audiobooks, and more.
The pay can be awesome ranging from $100 to $500 per hour depending on the project and your experience level.
Many voiceover jobs can even be done from a home studio so you don’t have to commute anywhere.
Living in a bigger city gives you access to more opportunities with local studios.
9. Website Tester
Big and small companies everywhere need people to test their apps and websites before launch.
As a website tester, your job is to explore sites and apps, look for any bugs or issues, and report your feedback.
Pay is typically around $10 to $20 per test which can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes.
It’s an easy computer-based job you can do after school or on weekends from home. Start by signing up on sites like UserTesting.com and TryMyUI.com.
10. Online Reseller
Have an eye for spotting valuable items and flipping them for profit? Try reselling online part-time!
You can make good money by searching local thrift stores and garage sales for stuff like collectables, vintage toys, cool clothes, and more.
Then, list them on sites like eBay and Facebook Marketplace.
It takes some research to know what’s in demand and how much profit you can make reselling items.
But some teen resellers earn several hundred dollars a month picking this lucrative side hustle.
It’s a fun way to capitalize on the latest trends and make extra cash from home.
11. Tutor
Got a subject you’re really good at in school, like math, science, English, or history? Offer your services as a tutor!
Parents are always on the lookout for qualified tutors to help their kids grasp concepts and improve grades.
You can tutor neighbourhood kids one-on-one or list your services on sites like Care.com and Wyzant.
Pay ranges from $15 to $25 per hour based on the subject matter expertise required.
It’s rewarding to help younger students while padding your wallet.
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12. Computer Repair Technician
Know your way around computers? Put your tech skills to work repairing PCs for people in your area.
Lots of adults have basic computer issues they need help resolving, like removing viruses, upgrading hardware, and troubleshooting printer issues.
You can earn anywhere from $20 to $50 per hour helping neighbours or small businesses out with their computer problems.
Maybe you even build custom PCs for gaming enthusiasts for $300 to $500 per computer. Let your tech talents make you money!
13. Freelance Writer
Do you love to write stories, articles, poems, or essays? Try your hand at freelance writing online.
Many websites and publications hire teen writers to blog about relatable topics or cover stories specifically for a tween/teen audience.
The pay ranges widely from $10 to $50 per article based on the length and complexity required.
Build up a writing portfolio on your own blog showcasing your stuff to attract clients.
It’s a flexible gig allowing you to write anywhere, anytime about subjects you enjoy.
14. Car Washer
Everybody needs a shiny, clean car! Offer up your superior car washing services around the neighbourhood.
From washing, drying, vacuuming, and waxing, you can make vehicles sparkle.
Charge $10 to $20 for basic washes or $20 to $50 for more detailed interior and exterior cleaning.
You provide the labor and they supply all the tools and products. Who doesn’t love cranking up some music and getting a little wet while getting paid?
15. Landscaping Assistant
Does growing trees, plants, and shrubs sound like your kind of gig? Look for a job assisting at a local landscaping company.
You’ll get to work outdoors in gorgeous yards helping with planting trees and shrubs, building garden beds, laying sod, setting pavers, and maintaining lawns.
The pay for landscaping assistants typically ranges from $11 to $16 per hour.
It’s rewarding to see your hard work create beautiful outdoor living spaces for people.
A landscaping job keeps you active, learning, and earning.
16. Virtual Assistant
Do you have excellent organizational and administrative skills? Try working as a virtual assistant.
Many businesses hire VAs to handle clerical tasks online like data entry, email management, writing, social media, and research.
The pay ranges from $15 to $25 per hour depending on your experience level and skills.
It’s an easy remote job you can do online from home in your PJs! Just make sure to meet all deadlines and provide great service.
17. Bookkeeper
Strong math skills? Offer bookkeeping services to help local people and businesses keep financial records organized.
Bookkeeping involves tasks like tracking income and expenses, invoicing clients, keeping tax records, and producing financial statements.
Freelance bookkeepers can make $15 to $40 per hour, depending on the client and the complexity of the work.
It’s great experience understanding business finances and looks impressive on a resume, too!
Just make sure to keep everything ethical and confidential.
18. Photographer
Have an artistic eye and love photography? Start snapping pics for people as a freelance photographer.
You can take all kinds of photos, from senior portraits to special events to product shots for businesses.
Photographers earn $25 to $100 per hour depending on their skill level, experience, and the types of sessions booked.
It’s a super creative way to earn money doing what you love and build an impressive portfolio.
19. Child Actor
Do you have dreams of being a famous actor one day? Start honing your acting skills now by working as a child actor in your free time.
Look for local casting calls and auditions for TV shows, movies, commercials, and plays.
The pay ranges widely based on the production budget and your role but averages around $100 per hour minimum.
You can earn residuals too if it screens on TV later. It’s an exciting way to gain experience and get discovered at a young age. Fame and fortune awaits!
20. Doggie Daycare Assistant
Is a job surrounded by adorable pups your idea of a work paradise? See if any doggie daycares in your area need assistance.
You’ll get to play with, feed, and care for the furry guests while their owners are at work.
Pay averages $9 to $12 per hour to start. You’ll stay active running around with the dogs, plus have tons of fun with animal companions.
Exposure to different breeds and their needs provides a great experience for a future career working with pets.
21. Referee/Umpire
Are you super into sports? Look for part-time referee or umpire gigs for local youth leagues, high school games, etc. Refs make sure games follow official rules and regulations.
Pay ranges from $10 to $25 per match or game depending on the sport, age, and level.
Make some extra cash enforcing rules and calling out penalties, strikes, fouls, and more. Just make sure you know the sport well before signing up!
22. Housecleaner
Ready to do some grunt work for good pay? Offer housecleaning services in your neighborhood!
Interior chores like sweeping, mopping, scrubbing bathrooms, dusting, vacuuming, changing linens, and general tidying are needed everywhere.
You can earn $10 to $20 per hour depending on the size of the home and tasks involved.
It’s a flexible part-time job allowing you to plug in your headphones while you clean. Get some exercise and make everything sparkle!
23. Movie Theater Attendant
If you love movies, scoring a job at your local theater is super fun.
Theatre attendants get to tear tickets, operate concessions and box office, usher people to seats, and even clean auditoriums after shows.
You’re surrounded by movies, popcorn, and people having a good time!
Pay averages around $9 to $10 per hour. Sweet perks include free movies, posters, popcorn, and soda!
It’s an easy, entry-level job that keeps you busy without a ton of responsibility.
And you can tell all your friends to go to your theater and see you in action!
24. Host/Hostess
Outgoing and energetic? Look into working as a restaurant host or hostess.
These important roles involve greeting guests, seating them properly, answering phone calls, taking reservations, and fielding customer questions.
Pay averages $10 to $12 per hour for hosts/hostesses starting out. You’ll improve your people and phone skills in a fast-paced environment.
Who knows, you may get some free meals out of it too! Just be ready to hustle.
25. Lifeguard
If you’re a strong swimmer, lifeguarding is an ideal summer job. You get to spend the days outside watching over the pool or beach while getting paid.
When not scanning for safety issues, you can work on your suntan!
Pay averages $10 to $15 per hour. You’ll need current lifeguard certification which involves some training.
But it’s worth it for the tan lines, people-watching, and keeping swim areas safe. Be sure to reapply sunscreen frequently!
26. Dog Bather/Groomer Assistant
Combine your love of pups with earning money as a dog bather and groomer assistant.
You’ll help bathe dogs and prep them for their grooming appointments. With training, you can also learn to dry groom, and trim dog nails.
The average pay is $10 to $14 per hour. You’ll get wet but stay cool in the summer heat playing with sudsy pups.
It’s a fun hands-on job for animal lovers. Just be prepared for some smelly moments.
Conclusion
Turning 13 opens up a whole new world of opportunity to start an after-school job and gain valuable experience.
Babysitting, lawn mowing, pet sitting, tutoring, delivering food, and working at a movie theater are classic ways for teens to earn money.
But don’t overlook chances to turn hobbies like photography, writing, acting, and reselling into profitable gigs.
Or explore working with animals, landscaping, housecleaning, and bookkeeping if you’re craving more active and hands-on roles.
With so many options, you can choose the right job to match your interests and schedule.
Just be sure to keep up with school work, help around the house, and save some of the cash for college one day.
The ability to earn income at such a young age is an incredible opportunity if you stay focused.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Some Good First Jobs for a 13-Year-Old?
Some good first jobs for 13-year-olds are babysitting, pet sitting, lawn mowing, tutoring, refereeing youth sports games, being a mother’s helper, and doing yard work or house cleaning for neighbors.
Jobs like dog walking, working at a garden nursery, or assisting with children’s classes/camps are also great starter jobs.
What Jobs Allow 13-Year-Olds to Get Working Papers?
13-year-olds can receive working papers for jobs like babysitting, yard work, farm work, retail, food service, amusement parks, landscaping, pet care, cleaning, and some office jobs.
The exact regulations vary by state so check your local labor laws about any age or permit requirements.
How Many Hours Can a 13-Year-Old Work?
Federal law states that 13-year-olds can work up to 3 hours on school days, 8 hours on non-school days, and up to 18 hours total per school week.
There are stricter hourly limits for more hazardous jobs so check restrictions for your state.
What Qualities Do Employers Look For in a 13-Year-Old Employee?
Employers look for 13-year-olds who are reliable, polite, hard-working, punctual, positive, enthusiastic, friendly, able to follow directions well, and get along with others.
Showing honesty, responsibility, motivation and a willingness to learn are also key.
Do I Need a Work Permit to Work at 13?
Many US states require a work permit (also called working papers) for anyone under 16.
Check with your school counselor or local labor department website to find out about permit requirements based on your state laws and desired job.
Applying is generally straightforward.
Is a 13-Year-Old Allowed to Work Alone?
Each state has its own regulations regarding minors working alone. Many prohibit 13-year-olds from working alone or unsupervised.
Babysitting and apprenticeships/internships typically have exceptions. Check your state labor laws or speak with an employer to understand the rules for your job.
What Jobs Should a 13-Year-Old Avoid?
Jobs 13-year-olds should generally avoid include anything using ladders, scaffolds, or height; construction; loading/unloading trucks; commercial cooking; industrial work; dangerous equipment or driving vehicles; collecting trash; door-to-door sales; and any hazardous jobs.
Be sure to know prohibited jobs based on your age and state.
Can I Work at a Fast Food Restaurant at 13?
You typically have to be 14 or 15 to work at a fast food restaurant per federal labor laws.
However, some states allow 13-year-olds to do limited types of work like a cashier or host provided proper permits and parent/school authorization are obtained.
Check with locations near you to see if they hire at 13.
