If you’re a teenager looking to make extra money, you don’t need to get a traditional job. Here are 17 ways teens can make good money online in 2023.
Most teenagers want extra money that they can save or spend on clothes, the latest tech, or just hanging out with friends. But it can be hard to juggle a traditional job with a busy school schedule and other activities, like music, sports, or dance.
The good news is that it’s never been easier for teens to make money online; in fact, many job apps are open to kids 18 and under. Ready to make some extra cash from your laptop or smartphone? Let’s get started.
Best Online Jobs for Teens
Here are 17 of the best online job ideas for teens. Not all of the jobs on our list require you to work on a computer or mobile device, but technology plays a big part in landing the job. Also, some of the jobs are limited to older teens, like working for a food delivery app, but there’s something here for everyone.
1. Get Paid to Take Online Surveys
One of the easiest ways to make money as a teen is by completing online surveys. Survey apps are free to join, and you can start earning money within a few minutes of signing up. You can also earn rewards for referring your friends.
You won’t get rich taking surveys, but it’s an easy activity you can do while you’re watching TV or riding the bus. Depending on the app, you can earn cash via PayPal or choose other rewards, like gift cards.
I’ve listed some of the top paid survey sites below, but you can also check out this list of the best online survey sites to make money.
Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie is probably the best-known source in the online survey space. You’ll participate in surveys sponsored by businesses, mainly centering on products and services. For your efforts, you’ll earn points you can exchange for cash or gift cards or through PayPal.
As is the case with most online survey opportunities, you won’t make a fortune. But you will earn some extra spending money just for answering questions. No specific expertise is required. For more information, check out our Survey Junkie review.
Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel
Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel won’t make you a fortune or anything close to it. But just for installing the app on your mobile device, you can earn up to $50 per year. The company is looking to collect data on web surfing and browser activity and preferences.
It’s not much money, but you’ll get it just for doing what you normally do. That’s as easy as it gets.
Harris Poll
Harris Poll is one of those sites where you won’t be paid cash, but gift cards and rewards for merchants like Amazon.com, Starbucks, and iTunes. You’ll participate in surveys that will be used to help companies and government agencies develop policies and strategies.
2. Sell Your Handmade Creations Online
Are you talented or crafty? Etsy is a massive online marketplace that allows teens and adults to sell their handmade creations. Popular items include jewelry, clothing, furniture, and home decor.
Etsy charges a fee of 3.5% of your sale, which is a lot lower than what other online marketplaces charge. The rest of the profit is yours to keep, so it’s easy to see how you could earn a lot of money fast with the right homemade product.
If you are a creative person, consider starting your own Etsy store.
3. Complete Tasks with Get-Paid-To (GPT) Apps
I covered paid survey sites above, but teens can also make money by signing up for GPT apps which reward you with cash and gift cards for completing various tasks, like shopping online, searching the web, watching videos, playing games, etc.
Swagbucks is one of the top GPT sites because of the number of ways you can earn money and their low minimum payout threshold, which starts at $1, or 100 Swagbucks. Learn more in our full Swagbucks Review.
4. Food Delivery
If you’re 18 or over, you may want to consider signing up for a food delivery app like DoorDash. You can use your car, or in heavily populated areas, you may be able to deliver using a bicycle. Delivery workers are known as Dashers. As a Dasher, you get to keep the entire delivery fee as well as any tips you receive from the customer.
What I love about gig apps like DoorDash is that you decide when and how often you want to work. It’s the perfect arrangement for a busy teen.
5. Offer Your Services on Fiverr
Fiverr is a freelance marketplace that connects businesses and individuals with people who can perform tasks for a fee. The name Fiverr comes from the fact that you can order many services for as little as $5. That said, depending on the services you’re providing, you can charge more.
Most of the tasks are done online, including proofreading, photo and video editing, and even skill-based services like graphic design or web development.
6. Perform Odd Jobs
If you’re looking for work in your local community and don’t mind rolling up your sleeves, you can find odd jobs using an app called Task Rabbit.
Most of the jobs require in-person work, such as housecleaning, yard work, running errands, doing odd jobs, or making deliveries. If you prefer doing these types of jobs, I highly recommend Task Rabbit.
7. Start A Blog
Do you enjoy writing? Perhaps you journal on a daily basis. If so, you might want to consider starting a blog. Even as a teenager, you can start a blog about any topic you’re knowledgeable in and eventually earn money doing it.
But just be aware that starting a blog is self-employment in the truest sense. You’ll need to invest some money upfront, though not much. It’s now possible to get a blog up and running for under $200. You can purchase a low-cost domain name and sign up for a web hosting service.
There is one big caveat to starting a blog. It will take several months or even a year or more before you start making money with your blog. You need to be willing to put in the time and consistently create new content. Even then, there are no guarantees that you’ll make money.
8. Make Money as a Freelance Writer
If you have your own blog, it can act as a resume of sorts and help you land paid writing gigs as a freelance writer. I recommend that you pick a couple of topics where you have both interest and expertise.
You may need to write a few articles for a few sites for free just to get published. But once you do, you can use those freebies to bolster your resume for paying gigs.
You can find out more about freelance writing on the web by reading How to Become a Freelance Writer by Holly Johnson here on Good Financial Cents.
9. Become a Proofreader
We just covered blogging and freelance writing for blogs. But if you don’t want to do either of those, you can always become a freelance proofreader. Remember, someone has to proofread all of the written content that’s published online, and you can be one of those people. There is no minimum age requirement.
Naturally, you’ll need to have a sound knowledge of grammar and sentence structure (now don’t you wish you paid more attention in English class?).
That said, you can get some help in this area with the spellcheck functions available with both Microsoft Word and Google Docs. If you want to take your proofreading to a higher level, you can always use an online tool like Grammarly!
To find proofreading gigs, try emailing popular blogs and offering your services. You can also try using online sources. One example is the freelance marketplace Upwork. They specifically offer freelance assignments in proofreading and related functions.
10. Become a Virtual Assistant
If you have a specific skill, such as proofreading, social media marketing, web design, customer service, or any one of dozens more, you may be able to offer your services as a virtual assistant to either individuals or small businesses.
You can work on single projects or get hired on an ongoing basis. You can even work for several clients at the same time. In each case, you’ll be doing work for someone who has one or more projects they either don’t have time or expertise to do.
You can find work as a virtual assistant on sites like Indeed.com or Craigslist, or you can take advantage of sites that specialize in the category, like Remote.co
It’s no secret that teenagers are more social media savvy than most adults. If you have what it takes to build an audience on YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram, you may be able to convert that into a regular paycheck.
One way is to become a social media manager for a small business. These days, nearly every business is looking to expand its social media presence. If you have a knack for creating viral social media content, you can offer your services as the social media manager for a business.
Some businesses need a person to manage social media inquiries because no one inside the business has the time or the expertise.
If you have a large social media following of your own, you could make money as a social media influencer. You can get paid by brands to review and endorse products and services of interest to your audience. The possibilities are endless.
12. Sell Your Old Stuff
This might be the fastest way for teenagers to make money. Look for items around your house that you no longer use – video game systems, a bicycle, sports equipment, electronics – as long as it’s in decent shape, it only takes a few minutes to list them for sale on sites like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or eBay.
Whatever you decide to sell, the key is to clean it up, take lots of good pictures, write a thorough description, and price it to sell. With the right approach, you’ll be fielding offers within an hour or two.
13. Start a YouTube Channel
Starting a YouTube Channel and making money are two different things. Before you can make money, you need to publish consistently and build an audience.
People of all ages are making money on YouTube, the world’s largest video-sharing website. While you have to be 18 or over to make money on YouTube through the YouTube Partner Program, younger teenagers can have a parent or guardian sign the YouTube Partnership contract.
Of course, starting a YouTube Channel and making money are two different things. Before you can make money, you need to publish consistently and build a loyal following. Patience is key, but your hard work can eventually pay off. For inspiration, check out my guide to making money on YouTube.
14. Work as a Customer Service Representative
Several businesses are willing to hire older teens to work as online customer service reps. Depending on the company, you may need to be 18 or over, but some companies will hire teens as young as 16, UHaul being one of them. You will need to have your own computer and headset device, along with access to the internet.
15. Product Flipping
If you have an eye for value, you can make good money by flipping products you find at thrift stores, yard sales, flea markets, on Facebook Marketplace, or eBay. Many people don’t realize the value of the items they’re selling – to them, it may seem like junk – but if you can find those hidden gems, you can make a large profit. There’s some time involved, but the overhead for this kind of side hustle is very low. Value items include electronics, musical instruments, running shoes, sports jerseys, etc.
16. Dog Walking
If you’re 18 or over, you can find dog walking and pet-sitting gigs using Rover, an app that connects pet owners with animal lovers looking to make extra money caring for pets in their neighborhood. If you’re under 18, consider posting ads around town or advertising your services on your local community’s Facebook group.
17. Sell Your Old Clothes
If you’ve got a closet full of clothes you’re not wearing anymore, consider listing items for sale on websites like Poshmark. You can make a pretty penny selling gently used clothes, especially brand-name clothes. To increase your chances of success, make sure you take lots of high-quality pictures and add a thorough description to your listings.
Online Jobs for Teens FAQs
Most, but not all, of the online job ideas on our list work for beginners. If you’re dipping your toes into the world of online business, you may want to start by joining a survey website or by selling and flipping products on Facebook Marketplace or eBay.
Once you get the hang of things, you can try more involved online business ideas, such as blogging or starting a YouTube channel. That said, the most important thing you can do is just get started.
The fastest way to make $100 online is to sell something you already own via Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or eBay. There’s a good chance you own something worth at least $100.
You could list it online in the next few minutes, and if it’s an item that lots of people are looking for, you could have the money in your pocket by the end of the day. Good items to sell include video game systems, your old smartphone (that still works), clothing, and furniture. For more money-making ideas, check out this list with 59 ways to make $100 fast.
Some of the ideas on our list are for older teenagers. For example, you need to be at least 18 years of age to deliver for DoorDash. Here are some money-making ideas for 15-year-olds: paid surveys, babysitting, petsitting, selling your old stuff, selling crafts on Etsy, etc.
Many different websites and apps offer free money in the form of bonuses and discounts. Think of cash back credit cards or credit card welcome bonuses, free company stock with apps like Robinhood and Webull, and loyalty rewards when you shop with Rakuten.
Final Thoughts
If you want extra money but are looking for more flexibility than regular part-time jobs offer, consider one or more of the online jobs from our list. You may have to expand your idea of what a job is. But the payoff will be the potential to make money while working on your own terms. If you need more inspiration, check out my list of the best money-making apps.
