Gone are the days when the only job opportunities for teenagers were mowing grass and babysitting. Today, I’m writing one just for the teens! Whether you’re a teen or a parent of one, this article is for you! This list will cover how to make money as a teenager online, going over some of the most common and easy-to-find jobs for teens.
While there are plenty of in-person jobs for teenagers, from fast food to retail, the reality is that not all teens are able to commute or make it to a physical job. Whether it’s due to a weird schedule or simply preferring to work from a computer, there are plenty of job opportunities for all ages online.
I always appreciate the hustle and truly believe that having a part-time job as a teen can teach you things school can’t. So without further adieu, here’s how you can make money as a teenager completely online.
15 Ways to Make Money As A Teenager Online
In this list, you’ll find jobs where you can make a quick buck and others that may actually set you up for a career as an adult. So, there’s a little something for everyone!
1: Freelance Writer
Do you love English class? If you excel in writing, you may be able to earn some income from it. Most companies need writing done for them, whether it’s for their website, social media captions, or email marketing.
Consider reaching out to some of your favorite local businesses and pitch your writing services to them. See if they have a website that needs updating or need social media content with a teen’s approach!
2: Social Media Manager
What is a business without social media these days? And no one knows social media better than teenagers. Most companies don’t have the time to run their social media accounts and will happily let someone else take the reigns.
Similar to writing, look for local businesses with social media accounts that are either inactive or have trouble posting consistently. Ask if you can help out and name your price!
3: Coder
If you’re interested in working in the field of computer science one day, why not get a head start? There are tons of online resources, workshops, and even coding camps you can attend to learn how to code. Once you have the basics, you can secure an internship to begin your coding work. Oftentimes, you can do this remotely from home. Alternatively, you can utilize freelancing websites such as Upwork or Fiverr.
Learning to code early on will also greatly open the doors for future careers. Plus, it will look amazing when it’s time to apply to colleges!
4: Musician
All those hours spent in band class are about to pay off. If you have a passion for creating music, you can actually make money by licensing original songs. Stock music is the music you find in YouTube videos, podcasts, corporate videos, training videos, apps, commercials, and so much more.
Similar to selling stock photography, you can upload your music to a stock library. Every time someone licenses one of your music tracks, you earn a commission.
Check out some of these stock libraries:
5: Stock Photography
If you have an eye for what makes a great photo, you can actually make money selling your photos online. You can sell photos you have already taken or go out and shoot photos that are “commercially friendly,” such as office photos, generic photos of people smiling, and landscape images.
Try out some of these stock photography websites:
6: Tutoring
Cash in on your academic abilities and try out online tutoring. Teenagers make great tutors because the curriculum is still fresh in their minds for younger grades.
And, tutoring no longer needs to be in person, thanks to Zoom. This helps to expand your potential customer base beyond where you can bike to.
Advertise your services through social media, at local schools, or try using a website such as PalFish, Fiverr, or care.com.
7: Start A YouTube Channel
Of all the social media apps out there, YouTube is known for paying creators the best. When you monetize your videos, you can get paid for the ads on your video and the number of views it gets. To qualify, you need to have at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the past year.
What you make your channel about is up to you! Create videos about a hobby you love, your favorite sports team, or even your day-to-day life.
8: Become A Blogger
I wish I had started my blog when I was a teenager! If you have a hobby, skill, or passion that you adore, try making your own website so you can talk about what you love while potentially making money.
It takes some time to build up a blog, but with enough patience, you can begin to make money through affiliate marketing, ads, sponsored posts, and more.
The initial fees to start a blog are next to none. There are plenty of free website builders out there, and all you need to do is pay for a domain.
9: Graphic Design
Thanks to Canva, it’s easy to create amazing and vibrant designs. You can sell these images to stock photo websites, create custom designs for local businesses’ branding, or for use on social media.
Another way you can sell your designs is through print-on-demand services. Through websites such as CafePress, Red Bubble, and Merch by Amazon, you can upload designs that people can choose from. Then, the website will print your design on their item of choice, such as t-shirts, tote bags, stickers, phone cases, and more.
10: Sell Items Online
Whether it’s unused stuff around the house, flipping items you find at the thrift store, or things you make yourself, it’s so easy to sell items online now. Use social media listings like Facebook Marketplace or Instagram to sell your items. Alternatively, you can use specialized websites or apps like Decluttr, eBay, or Poshmark.
Here are some things you can easily sell online:
- Used books
- Used clothing
- Furniture flipping
- Electronics
- Collectables
11: Test Websites
If you’re already on your phone or surfing online, you may as well make money from it! Many companies need someone to check a website or app before it launches to make sure that everything works and looks good to go.
You can test these websites for money using a service such as Enroll. Anyone 13 years or older can sign up and pay by review, allowing you to work on your own time.
12: Complete Online Surveys
This is one of the easiest ways to make money online as a teenager. There are tons of apps out there that allow you to complete surveys in order to win points. With those points, you can typically redeem them for gift cards or, in some cases, cash through PayPal.
While you won’t earn a living filling out surveys, it can help you get some gas money or funds to go towards that new game system you’ve been saving up for. Filling out surveys is easy enough to do while you sit and binge your favorite Netflix show.
Try these out:
13: Start an Etsy Shop
Handmade goods have been blowing up lately, thanks to TikTok and Instagram. Promote your items through your social media of choice and watch the orders come in.
There are so many items you can create that sell well. From jewelry to cross stitch to slime, find out what you love creating most and sell your work online.
While you need to be 18 or older to start an Etsy account, you can have a guardian help you set up a seller’s account.
14: Pet Sitter
Yes, this one does require some in-person work! But do you call getting paid to hang out with animals work? Pet sitting and dog walking are wonderful ways for teenagers to make money.
You can advertise your services online through social media such as Facebook Marketplace or set up a dedicated Instagram account. Teenagers who are 18 or older can also give Rover a try. This is an app that helps connect you with pet owners directly, so you don’t have to do all the work!
15: Customer Service
If you’re a talker, you should consider customer service! You can work from the safety of the desk in your room while you do remote customer service. This can include talking on the phone, answering emails, and replying to online chats.
A great example is U-Haul which offers flexible hours for their remote customer service jobs. However, there are a ton more positions out there for many national and global countries. If you are able to listen, communicate, and have good typing skills, this type of job is perfect for you.
And that’s how you make money online as a teenager! Just because you’re still a teen, it doesn’t mean you can’t find an awesome job from the comfort of your own home. Online jobs offer much more flexible hours, which allow you to fit in a little bit of work amongst even the craziest of after-school schedules. Good luck with your job search!
If you’re wanting to bring in extra income, you’re going to want to make sure every extra dollar has a job! Find out exactly what I mean by snagging my free budgeting cheat sheet below!
