When looking for the best job to get at 14 years old, there are a few key factors to consider. First and foremost, there are legal restrictions on the types of jobs 14-year-olds can hold due to labor laws. Most jobs require employees to be at least 15 or 16 years old. However, there are still some great options for motivated 14-year-olds who want to earn their own money.
Some of the top jobs for 14-year-olds include babysitting, pet sitting, lawn mowing, refereeing youth sports games, tutoring, and working minor food service jobs. When evaluating the best job options, important criteria include convenience, enjoyment, skills developed, earnings potential, flexibility, and parental approval.
Babysitting
Babysitting is often one of the first jobs many teens get. It provides an opportunity to earn money while gaining valuable experience caring for children. As a babysitter, responsibilities may include feeding, bathing, playing with, reading to, and monitoring the safety of children.
Babysitting allows for a flexible schedule since families often need sitters on nights and weekends when teens are free. The ability to set your own availability makes babysitting an appealing choice. Pay often ranges from $10-$20 per hour depending on experience, number of children, and location. Babysitting can be lucrative if you get repeat jobs and referrals. It’s also possible to earn more by taking care of multiple children at once.
This job requires patience, responsibility, creativity, communication skills, a fun attitude, and an ability to respond appropriately in emergencies. CPR certification is also a major plus. Many families feel reassured hiring teen sitters who have taken a babysitting course to learn the basics of child safety, first aid, and managing behaviors.
Key Benefits of Babysitting
- Good pay
- Make your own schedule
- Gain childcare experience
- Flexible hours
- Sought-after skills
Pet Sitting
Pet sitting is another great job option for animal lovers. Responsibilities typically involve going to someone’s home to care for their pet while they are away. Common tasks are feeding, walking, playing with, and providing companionship to the pet. Most pet sitters are required for dogs, but some care for cats, birds, reptiles, and other animals.
The main perks of pet sitting are getting paid to play with animals and the flexibility to accept jobs that fit your schedule. Since pet owners usually need someone to check on their pet at least once a day, you can arrange short visits that accommodate your availability. Pay rates can be around $10-$20 per 30-minute visit. Overnight stays caring for the pet in their home or yours offer even higher earning potential.
Qualities needed for this job include reliability, love of animals, basic animal care knowledge, organization, attention to detail, and trustworthiness. Familiarity with administering medications or specialized animal handling skills can help you stand out.
Advantages of Pet Sitting
- Animals are fun to care for
- No long work hours
- Make your own hours
- Good pay for convenient work
- Gain animal handling experience
Lawn Mowing
Starting a lawn mowing business in your neighborhood can be a rewarding and profitable summer job. Many busy homeowners lack time to properly maintain their lawns and are willing to pay teens for mowing, weeding, edging, and raking services.
After school and on weekends when you have free time are prime times to schedule lawn jobs. Charging per service or signing weekly/monthly care contracts can provide recurring income. The ability to manage your own jobs and expand your client base also allows for great earnings potential. Satisfied customers may provide referrals for even more business.
Owning or borrowing necessary equipment like a lawn mower, weed trimmer, and rake is crucial. Lawns often need maintenance multiple times per month, so be prepared for frequent physical activity. Safety precautions should be taken when operating power equipment. Gardening knowledge can set you apart when starting out.
Lawn Mowing Job Perks
- Be your own boss
- Make good money for unskilled work
- Build recurring business
- Exercise while working
- Gain landscaping skills
Youth Sports Referee
Refereeing youth sports is a fun part-time job if you enjoy sports and working with kids. Sports like soccer, baseball, basketball, volleyball, and football often hire teens to officiate games. Your duties would include learning the rules, moving up and down the field/court to monitor play, making objective calls, resolving disputes quickly, maintaining an orderly game, and keeping players safe.
Pay averages $10-$20 per game based on factors like sport, ages, and level. The work is part-time on nights and weekends when youth leagues hold their games. While athletic ability and sports knowledge are required, prior refereeing experience is usually not necessary since you can get on-the-job training.
Advantages of the job include staying involved with sports, earning money doing something you enjoy, getting exercise, learning strong decision-making skills, and making a positive impact on young athletes.
Refereeing Perks
- Stay connected to sports
- Get paid to be active
- Grow leadership abilities
- Make a difference for kids
- Can learn on the job
Tutoring
Tutoring provides the chance to get paid to share your knowledge and skills with others. As a tutor, you work one-on-one with students to enhance their understanding in academic subjects you excel at. Tutoring is usually done in hourly sessions with pay rates around $15-$20 per hour.
Flexible scheduling is a big benefit since sessions can take place after school, on weekends, and during breaks that work for both the student and tutor. There is also potential to grow your client base through word-of-mouth referrals. Developing tutoring profiles on platforms like Wyzant can connect you with more students seeking academic help as well.
Being an effective tutor requires strong knowledge in your tutoring subject(s), communication skills to break down complex concepts, and patience. Previous experience in roles like classroom peer tutoring, teaching youth programs, or babysitting can be helpful.
Why Tutoring is a Good Option
- Earn attractive hourly pay
- Choose your own schedule
- Leverage your academic strengths
- Help others succeed
- Gain valuable teaching skills
Minor Food Service Jobs
Many 14-year-olds hold minor food service jobs like being a host, dishwasher, cashier, or busboy. Working at restaurants, cafes, fast food chains, pizza places, movie theaters, and amusement parks are common options. Hourly pay often ranges from $9-$12 depending on your role and the employer.
Responsibilities in these starter jobs may include greeting guests, taking orders, completing light cleaning or food prep tasks, running food, bussing tables, and maintaining organization and cleanliness. While the work can be fast-paced and demanding, you get to interact with people and earn a steady paycheck.
These jobs require reliability, teamwork, customer service skills, ability to follow instructions, stamina, and attention to detail. Previous restaurant experience is helpful but often not necessary for support roles. Be sure to comply with any age limits like not using cooking equipment until you’re 16.
Benefits of Food Service Jobs
- Gain work experience
- Build customer service skills
- Sample free food
- Make money and new friends
- Can work part-time hours
Factors to Consider
When deciding the best job to get at 14, think about your unique interests, skills, schedule, and financial needs. Evaluate how jobs align across factors like:
- Enjoyment – A fun job you look forward to makes work less tedious.
- Earnings – Find an income level and payment frequency that suits your needs.
- Hours – Balance schoolwork with appropriate work hours.
- Location – Convenient job access yields a better experience.
- Advancement potential – Will the job set you up with valuable skills and experience?
- Flexibility – The ability to set your schedule is ideal.
- Comfort level – Don’t push too far beyond your capabilities.
- Parent approval – Your parents can provide guidance and support.
Also research state and federal labor laws that specify how many hours 14-year-olds are allowed to work and what hazardous jobs they have to avoid for safety. Things like manufacturing facilities, heavy construction, and driving vehicles are usually prohibited. Understand all regulations so you have a successful and compliant first job experience.
Choosing the Right Job
Ultimately the “best” job depends on aligning your personal interests and situation with employment options in your area. Babysitting, pet sitting, lawn mowing, reffing youth sports, tutoring, and minor food service roles tend to be good bets. Compare the key benefits of each:
Job | Key Benefits |
---|---|
Babysitting | High pay, make your own hours, gain valued skills |
Pet sitting | Get paid to play with animals, flexible hours |
Lawn mowing | Be your own boss, recurring summer income |
Youth sports referee | Stay active in sports, make a difference for kids |
Tutoring | Leverage academics, attractive hourly pay, flexible schedule |
Minor food service | Gain work experience, earn steady paycheck |
Talk to other teens, parents, neighbors, coaches, teachers, and community members to discover local openings. Check websites and community bulletin boards. Ask about shadowing opportunities to get a feel for jobs you’re curious about.
It also helps to spread the word about your interest in working. Letting people know you’re eager to take on a job is the first step to landing one! With persistence and the right attitude, you can find an engaging first job that provides new skills, great memories, and money in your pocket.
Conclusion
At age 14, great starter job options include babysitting, pet sitting, lawn mowing, refereeing youth sports, tutoring, and minor food service roles. Consider your personal interests, skills, schedule, earnings goals, location, and parental input when deciding the best choice. Look for openings by networking, checking online, and informing people you’re keen to work. Whichever first job you choose, maintaining reliability, a positive attitude, willingness to learn, and quality work ethic will set you up for success. The experience you gain now lays the foundation for even more job prospects in the future.