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Teens looking for a job no longer have to limit themselves to working in retail or at a restaurant. Today, there are plenty of easy ways to make money as a teen online.
Not quite sure where to begin? Read on to learn how to make money online as a teen — and how to manage that money.
Key Points
• Teenagers can make money via several types of online jobs.
• Taking surveys, selling crafts and old clothes, and starting a blog are all easy online options.
• Teens can consider starting a YouTube channel or podcast, but results typically aren’t immediate; growing an audience takes time.
• Teens with writing, design, or coding experience may be able to freelance.
• Those who are 18 or 19 can join the gig economy with apps like Uber Eats and Rover.
What Are Ways to Earn Money as a Teenager?
As teens explore how to make money as a teenager, looking for opportunities online is a good place to start. Online jobs allow teens to make money from home, so they don’t have to worry about having access to a car or paying for gas.
Here are some ways for teens to earn money online.
1. Take Online Surveys for Cash
Companies want to hear teens’ opinions — and they’ll pay for them. The internet is full of legitimate survey websites that pay people, including teenagers, to answer questions. These sites include Swagbucks (survey takers need to be at least 13 years old), Opinion Outpost (at least 17 years old), and American Consumer Opinion (at least 14 years old).
While teens won’t earn a lot of money by taking surveys; typically, survey takers make a few extra dollars a day. But it’s easy work they can do whenever they have free time.
2. Freelance Writing and Graphic Design
Even in the age of AI, freelance writing and graphic design jobs are still out there. While most major brands and media sites likely want writers and designers who have been professionally trained (and have some semblance of a portfolio), teens may find some clients as a beginner through sites like Fiverr or Upwork.
If you’re having trouble landing clients online, start within your own community. Does a local bakery need help with a logo? Does your church need assistance with website design? You can even launch your own blog and, as it gets traffic, monetize it with ads. Managing a blog that gets good traffic is one of the ways you can earn passive income.
3. Become a Social Media Manager
You probably spend plenty of time scrolling through TikTok and Instagram. What if you could get paid to do it?
Social media management is an important job these days, and brands both big and small often hire someone to oversee various aspects of running their accounts. That includes posting stories, reels, and product carousels, and responding to comments.
Most companies hire social media managers with a degree in marketing or business, but you may be able to find smaller brands looking for help on sites like Fiverr. You could also reach out to local businesses to see if they need help with media management.
4. Start a YouTube Channel or Podcast
Teens who have something important to say or an interesting point of view can consider starting their own YouTube channel or podcast. While there are some initial costs involved — like a microphone and perhaps some video editing software — the costs should be fairly minimal at first.
If your content resonates with viewers or listeners, you may be able to eventually monetize YouTube through ads, partnerships, and affiliate links. Similarly, a successful podcast could net you advertisers or brand partnerships. Just make sure you have something unique to talk about, and/or that you can line up interesting guests, and remain committed to regularly making new content.
5. Sell Handmade Crafts and Digital Products
If you’re crafty you may be able to sell handmade goods, such as jewelry and purses, on online sites like Etsy. You might even be able to sell digital products, like templates, art, patterns, and more.
When you’re selling stuff online via Etsy, you’ll typically need to pay a one-time set-up fee. There’s also a small listing fee per item. When you make a sale, Etsy takes a percentage of the transaction as well as a payment processing fee. As a casual seller, you might make $100 a month, but if your business is more of a dedicated side hustle, you can earn hundreds of dollars or more.
6. Offer Online Tutoring Services
While you may be able to find tutoring jobs through your school or local library, you can turn to online tutoring services to help other kids learn.
Various platforms, from Tutor.com to Varsity Tutors, make it easy to find tutoring jobs online, as long as you have the knowledge to get the job done and truly help other students. This job may be more suitable for college-age teenagers.
On average, teen tutors make about $20 an hour.
Recommended: Money Management Tips
How Can I Make Money Fast as a Teenager?
Here are some options for making money fast as a teen.
Sell Unused Items and Clothes Online
Take all those old clothes, purses, video games, DVDs, books, old baseball or Pokemon cards, or other collectibles that you don’t want anymore and sell them. You can create an account on sites like eBay and list your items for sale.
For clothes specifically, consider reputable sites like ThredUp, Poshmark, and Depop.
Participate in the Gig Economy
The gig economy has made it possible for many Americans to make extra cash via a side hustle or become their own boss full-time. As a teenager, you might be able to participate in the gig economy and get paid quickly.
For instance, if you’re at least 18, you’re eligible to deliver food for Uber Eats (via bike), and you can get paid the same day. Rover also allows you to start pet sitting at 18.
If you’re not yet 18 and want to make money through a side hustle, you can do so outside an app. Try posting flyers around your neighborhood or using a neighborhood website to offer dog-walking services, lawn mowing, or babysitting.
Tips for Managing Your Teenage Earnings
Earning money as a teenager comes in handy: You’ve got spending money when hanging out with friends, and you can also start saving for after graduation, whether you want to go to college or move out on your own and get a job.
Here’s how to make the most of your earnings as a teenager.
Set Clear Savings Goals
Having access to your own cash is a big deal, but you can easily spend it in the blink of an eye if you’re not careful. Before you make your first dime, create a plan to help save some of your earnings. This budgeting advice for teens can help:
• Give yourself an allowance. How much are you willing or able to spend each month when hanging out with friends? Set a realistic budget that allows you to save money toward your goals and still have fun.
• Prioritize nondiscretionary expenses first. Sure, coffee from Starbucks and concert tickets are a fun way to spend your money, but first make sure you have enough to cover things you need like gas and your cell phone bill, depending on what your parents do and don’t help with. These things are essential — paying for them is non-negotiable.
• Figure out what you’re saving for and how much you need: Are you saving for a car or a weekend trip with friends? Or are your savings goals even loftier, like money for college or a small nest egg to move out on your own? Calculate how much you need for your various goals and the ideal timeline to save the money.
Recommended: Student Budget Calculator
Open a Checking or Savings Account
To help manage their money, teenagers can explore opening a checking account or a savings account — or both. (Younger teens may need to open a joint account with a parent or guardian.)
• A checking account typically provides a debit card and the option to set up direct deposit for payments from a job.
• A savings account allows teens to store money they don’t intend to spend immediately.
Individuals interested in opening a bank account should explore such things as:
• Fees: Some checking accounts have monthly maintenance fees, overdraft fees, and more; others don’t. Ideally, individuals can find a fee-free checking account to manage their money.
• ATM access: Local banks with convenient ATMs or an online bank with an extensive ATM network make it easier to manage money.
• Annual percentage yield (APY): A high-yield savings account with a generous APY typically pays significantly higher interest rates than a traditional savings account does.
The Takeaway
You can get a headstart on life by making money as a teenager — and you don’t have to flip burgers or bag groceries to do so. There are many ways to make money as a teenager online, from taking surveys to selling crafts to launching a YouTube channel. That way you can have your own spending money and put the rest in the bank to start saving for your goals.
Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with eligible direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.
FAQ
How can a teenager make money without a job?
A teenager can make money without a traditional job by finding online work. Possibilities include online tutoring, selling items online via a platform like Etsy, or even launching a YouTube channel or podcast. Gig economy jobs, such as pet sitting, dog walking, and food delivery, are also ways for teens to make money.
How can teens make money online?
One of the ways for a teen to earn money online is by selling services as a freelancer if they have a specific, marketable skill, such as writing or graphic design. Teens can also make money by taking online surveys, selling handmade items online, launching a successful podcast or channel on YouTube, or getting an audience on social channels like TikTok and Instagram. Growing a following to monetize channels and social accounts can take a while, however.
Can a 14-year-old make money online legally?
A 14-year-old may be able to find some ways to make money online legally, such as selling crafts, taking surveys on certain online survey sites (check the age requirements), or finding clients for pet sitting or dog walking jobs by posting their services on a neighborhood website. Many app- or platform-based gig jobs have age restrictions (often 16 or 18), and some may require parental consent.
Do I need to pay taxes on money I make as a teenager?
Teenagers who are still dependents may need to pay taxes on the money they make. Those who work at part-time jobs will typically have taxes withheld by their employer, but if they earn less than the IRS-specified minimum (for 2025, it was $15,750), they usually won’t owe money, but they should file a return to get a refund if they had money withheld from a paycheck.
If a teenage dependent makes money as a contractor (selling items online, babysitting, or even freelance writing), they’ll usually need to pay self-employment taxes if they make more than $400. Always consult a tax professional or the IRS if you’re not sure.
How can I make money fast as a teenager?
It’s possible to make money fast as a teenager by becoming a gig worker or offering your services to friends, neighbors, and family members. For instance, housesitting or dog walking for a neighbor usually results in immediate payment.
App-based gig jobs may also pay quickly. For instance, Uber Eats (available to 18-year-olds delivering via bike and 19-year-olds delivering via car) offers an instant pay option, up to six times per day.
Photo credit: iStock/sarra22
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