Despite the fact that a 14-year old has just stepped into his teens, according to the Fair Labor Standards Act in the United States, he is old enough to be employed. There are a host of jobs for 14-year olds, which can help them use their spare time to earn some money and learn skills that help adults in their professional lives…
With teenage comes a sense of independence, and also the urge to earn and spend money. According to the Fair Labor Standards Act in the United States, the minimum age for employment is 14 years. Hence, one is legally qualified to work from the day he turns 14. However, there are limits with respect to the number of hours, and wages that one can get. One is allowed to work only during non-school hours – 3 hours on school days, and 8 hours on non-school days. On a weekly basis, one can work a total of 18 hours on a school week, and 40 hours on a non-school week. Despite all these restrictions, there are a large number of jobs for teens.
Popular Jobs for 14 Year Olds
Babysitting
This is a popular part-time job with most 14 year olds. It has been observed that children 14 years old and above are usually good with younger kids. Not only are they patient, but they are also hard-working. However, it is best not to opt to baby-sit small children, as along with love for the babies, it also requires the expertise expected of kids older than 14. Nevertheless, many parents do have 14-year olds baby-sit their kids.
Working at Restaurants or Stores
Many restaurants and fast food outlets hire 14-year olds to work as members of their team, who may not be allowed to work in the kitchen, but can wait on tables and do other easier jobs. Local grocery stores and supermarkets employ teenagers to either introduce new products to customers, or help them to locate products they want to buy. A 14-year old might not be employed as a cashier, but some stores may use their help at the cash counter to help pack items bought by customers.
Mowing Lawns
This is good option for those who can’t find a job in a store or eating joint. Just be on the look out for grassy lawns that need to be mowed. Getting a job to mow the lawn is not that difficult, as most people do not like to mow their lawns in the sun. However, a good lawn mower should be used to prevent strain and injury to the child. Also, in case such jobs are taken up during the summer, prefer to mow the lawn in the early morning or late evening.
Pet Sitting
So you love animals! In case you are a 14-year old looking for a job, you could use this passion of yours to earn a few bucks by pet sitting! There are many adults who have pets but do not have the time to take them out for a walk. A teenager offering to do that would be a blessing for such people. However, be careful that you take just as many pets as you can manage at a time.
Private Tutor
Sometimes being a nerd helps! If you are a brainy child, you could use your intelligence to earn some pocket money. Some parents don’t have the time to teach their children, whereas there are some parents who just can’t teach. Such parents would be more than happy to employ you to help their kids with their studies. However, be sure that you have done your homework before you go for your job.
Online Jobs
Though there are sites that pay to click on ads and for making referrals, such jobs pay very less. However, taking online surveys is a good way to earn from the internet, as they pay better than any other online job. These surveys are very easy to fill and require very little time. If you like writing, you can also consider working as a content writer. There are many websites that allow you to work full or part-time as a content writer, and pay well too.
Pet Store Jobs
You can visit local pet stores in your area and ask them if they have any vacancies. Many times pet stores are looking for people who can work part-time or full-time in the store. These full or part-time jobs can include tasks like helping the customers in the store to find a suitable pet or taking care of the pets.
Front Desk Jobs
You can consider working at a library or at a small office. Working as a receptionist or as junior librarian can help you earn the extra pocket money. Working in a place like a library has a great advantage, because you can get to read the books in the library for free, which makes it a great job for 14 year olds. So, check online or visit local places which have front desk job vacancies.
Accountant
If you are good at maths and quick with accounts then consider working as a helper to a businessman or at a store. You can help out a relative or acquaintance by managing their accounts. Many times small companies need accountants who can do such jobs for them. Doing a job managing accounts will also help you get better in calculations and general maths and so it will help you improve your mathematics too.
Food Delivery
Just like delivering newspapers you can consider jobs in restaurant which have the requirement for delivery boys. You can work at pizza places or any restaurants. These are easy to do jobs and you can work part or full-time.
Summer Jobs for 14 Year Olds
Delivering Newspapers
For those who wake up early, delivering newspapers is a good part-time job. All one requires is to be able to ride a bike well and deliver the newspapers right at the doorstep. However, this job should be taken up during the summers only, as it would be difficult to ride on the streets if it snows in the winters.
Amusement Park Attendants
Summertime is when families go out together to various amusement parks, to enjoy some time together. Water parks and amusement parks require help during the summer months to manage their business. This is good time for 14-year olds to look for a summer job that would help them make good money.
Volunteers for Summer Camps
If you have a flair for music or can play an instrument, then you can easily find a job in a summer camp. Children who enroll into the summer camps are coached in certain sports or are taught new skills like playing a musical instrument or some dance.
Caddies at Golf Courses
Summers make the golf aficionados frequent the golf courses like no other time of the year. In these times, it is easy for 14-year olds to find jobs as caddies or maintenance personnel at golf clubs.
As soon as children hit their teens, many avenues to earn money open up for them. Not only do these jobs augment their pocket money, they also allow youngsters to pick up certain valuable skills, like time management and communication, that would help them throughout their lives.