Every high school student loves summer because it is a long break from school and other responsibilities. Summer can also be a great time for students to earn extra money in their free time. There are a plethora of flexible summer jobs available for high school students who may not have a degree yet. The most common summer jobs for teens are babysitting or pet sitting, retail workers, lifeguarding, and camp counselors.
Babysitting and pet watching are very flexible jobs that may not require you to work every day. Although the pay is not what one would expect, babysitting and pet sitting are jobs that do not require a degree of any sort. According to Monster, the median pay for a babysitter/nanny is $14.29 per hour. However, from personal experience, the hourly pay I tend to receive is about ten dollars per hour depending on the number of kids. Pet sitting and dog walking are typically flexible jobs that still pay a decent amount of money. According to Monster, the median pay for an animal caretaker is $13.67 per hour. I do not have personal experience with pet sitting, but I believe your pay will vary depending on the number of pets and the family you are working for. I recommend loving kids and pets if you are planning to spend your summer watching after them.
Working in retail can be a great job for any high school student looking to improve their people skills. According to Greenlight, working in retail typically pays minimum wage, but is teen-friendly. The pay you receive is dependent on the company you work for. For example, Target pays more than Aeropostale for a sales associate position. Working in retail helps build people skills, build patience with customers, and handle transactions. In my experience, retail can be a very flexible job if you communicate well with your managers.
Becoming a lifeguard requires a certification, but it is still a great job for teens who want to work in the summer. According to Ramsey Solutions, you will need to complete training in CPR, AED, and first aid in order to become a lifeguard. Lifeguarding will pay more than minimum wage because you have to become certified. Lifeguarding can also bring opportunities like becoming a camp counselor. At many summer camps, there are pools that need lifeguards. Duties at summer camp include watching kids, entertaining and interacting with kids, and maintaining a safe and clean environment. Becoming a lifeguard can make you look more desirable to hiring managers at camps because you are CPR, AED, and first aid certified.
There are plenty more summer jobs accessible for teens such as a barista, busser, car wash attendant, cashier, delivery driver, lawn care, tutoring, and many more. Pay depends on the company you work for, so do not let the pay deter you from a certain job. Many summer jobs are flexible and teen-friendly, and most of them know teens typically do not want to work the entire summer. Summer is definitely a time for fun, but you can also use your free time to make extra money.
