Updated November 2026
TL;DR
Here are 25 jobs for high school students in five categories: retail and customer service, food and hospitality, tutoring and childcare, community and outdoor work, and digital and creative work. For most first-time workers, a grocery store associate job is the most practical start, since it teaches customer service, teamwork and responsibility with on-the-job training. If you'd rather work independently, tutoring, pet sitting or helping a local business with social media may suit you better. Under federal law, 14- and 15-year-olds can work up to 3 hours on a school day and 18 hours in a school week; there's no federal hours limit from 16, though state laws may be stricter.
You don't need previous experience to land a first job. What makes a high school job worth taking isn't the title; it's what you learn and whether it fits around school. Each job below lists a typical starting age, school-year hours and the skills you can talk about in future interviews.
Looking beyond part-time work? See Ladder's lists of paid internships for high school students and our guide to finding internships that aren't posted online.
What jobs can high school students get at each age?
Federal law allows many jobs from 14, but employers often set their own minimum of 16.
|
Category |
Example jobs |
Typical starting age |
School-year hours |
|
Retail and customer service |
Grocery associate, cashier, retail assistant |
14 to 16 |
6 to 15 a week |
|
Food and hospitality |
Host, fast-food crew, ice cream shop |
14 to 16 |
6 to 15 a week |
|
Tutoring and childcare |
Tutor, babysitter, music instructor |
14 and up |
2 to 10 a week |
|
Community and outdoor |
Pet sitter, yard helper, sports assistant |
About 14 |
3 to 10 a week |
|
Digital and creative |
Social media, design, video editing |
14 and up (platforms often 18) |
3 to 8 a week |
How many hours can high school students work?
For 14- and 15-year-olds, federal law allows work only outside school hours: up to 3 hours on a school day, 18 hours in a school week, 8 hours on a non-school day and 40 in a non-school week, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day). Those limits come from the Department of Labor's FLSA rules.
From 16, federal law doesn't limit hours for nonhazardous jobs, but state laws may, and the stricter rule applies. Even if you're allowed more, 8 to 12 hours a week is easier to balance with homework and rest.
What makes a job worth taking in high school?
Your first job doesn't have to match your future career; what matters is what it teaches you. Retail teaches you to handle customers, tutoring teaches you to explain ideas clearly and restaurants teach you to stay organized under pressure.
Compare three things: what you'll earn, how many hours it takes and whether the experience will be useful later. Those skills show up in every industry.
Retail and customer service jobs for high school students
1. Grocery store associate
Stock shelves, bag groceries and help customers find products, starting at 14 at some stores (many hire from 16), for about 8 to 15 hours a week. You'll learn customer service, teamwork and time management.
2. Retail sales assistant
Arrange merchandise, help shoppers and handle payments at a clothing store, bookstore or gift shop, for 8 to 12 hours a week. Many stores hire from 16, and you'll build communication and sales skills.
3. Cashier
Scan items, take payments and answer questions; federal rules allow cashiering from 14, though employers may want older applicants. You'll learn accuracy and staying calm with a line of customers.
4. Movie theater attendant
Check tickets, clean theaters and work concessions, often on weekends and evenings, for 6 to 12 hours a week. Theaters commonly hire from 16, and you'll get good at handling crowds.
5. Front desk assistant
Greet visitors, answer calls and schedule appointments at community centers, studios or small offices, for 6 to 10 hours a week. Office work is allowed from 14, and it builds professional communication.
Food and hospitality jobs for high school students
6. Restaurant host
Welcome guests, manage the waitlist and organize seating, usually 6 to 12 hours a week on weekends. Some restaurants hire at 14 or 15, others at 16, and you'll learn to juggle several tasks at once.
7. Fast-food team member
Take orders, prepare drinks, package food and run the register, for 8 to 15 hours a week. Workers under 16 can't do certain cooking tasks or use restricted equipment, so your duties depend on your age.
8. Ice cream shop assistant
Serve customers, take payments and keep the counter clean, for 6 to 12 hours a week. It's a low-pressure way to build customer and multitasking skills.
9. Café counter assistant
Take orders, make permitted drinks and clear tables, for 6 to 12 hours a week. Many cafés prefer 16 and older, and some equipment is off-limits for younger workers.
10. Restaurant busser
Clear and reset tables and help servers keep things moving, for 6 to 12 hours on evenings and weekends. You'll see how every part of a restaurant fits together.
Tutoring and childcare jobs for high school students
11. Academic tutor
Tutor younger students in a subject you're strong in, starting at 3 to 6 hours a week. Tutoring companies often require older tutors, so start with families you know. On a resume, note the subjects and how many students you helped.
12. Babysitter
Care for children in private homes, usually 3 to 8 hours a week. Casual babysitting is treated differently under federal rules, so there's no single minimum age, though families often prefer sitters 14 to 16 and up. A babysitting or first-aid course helps.
13. Homework helper
Help younger students finish assignments, follow instructions and organize schoolwork, for 3 to 6 hours a week. Working with the same student regularly builds mentoring skills.
14. Music instructor
Teach beginners an instrument you play well, for 2 to 5 hours a week. You'll practice lesson planning and running a small service, from scheduling to talking with parents.
15. Youth activity assistant
Help community centers and after-school programs run games and activities alongside adult staff, for 4 to 10 hours a week. Formal childcare jobs often require you to be 16 or older.
Community and outdoor jobs for high school students
16. Pet sitter
Feed pets, refresh water and check on animals while owners travel, for 3 to 7 hours a week. Private arrangements with neighbors are possible from about 14 with a parent involved; pet-sitting apps usually require adults.
17. Dog walker
Walk familiar, manageable dogs in your neighborhood for 3 to 6 hours a week, with parental approval. Always consider a dog's size and temperament and whether you can handle it safely.
18. Yard maintenance helper
Rake leaves, water plants and weed, for 3 to 8 hours a week. Federal rules bar 14- and 15-year-old employees from using power mowers, trimmers and similar equipment.
19. Car wash attendant
Hand-wash, dry and clean car interiors, for 6 to 10 hours on weekends. Some car-washing duties are allowed from 14, but younger workers can't use certain machinery or drive.
20. Community sports assistant
Set up equipment, run simple drills and keep score for local recreation programs, for 3 to 8 hours a week. It's useful if you're interested in coaching, education or sports management.
Digital and creative jobs for high school students
21. Social media assistant
Design posts, write captions and track engagement for a small business, for 4 to 8 hours a week. Freelance platforms often require users to be 18, so local businesses are the easier start. Save samples, with permission.
22. Graphic design assistant
Make flyers, posters and social graphics in Canva or similar tools, for 3 to 8 hours a week. Your finished designs become a portfolio for future creative roles.
23. Video editing assistant
Edit short videos, add subtitles and organize footage for local businesses or creators, for 3 to 8 hours a week. You'll build editing, storytelling and deadline skills.
24. Website content assistant
Update website text, check links and upload images for local businesses, for 3 to 6 hours a week. No coding is needed for most content-management tasks.
25. Freelance writer
Write short articles, newsletters or product descriptions for small businesses and community groups, for 3 to 6 hours a week. Your published pieces show future employers exactly what you can do.
How do you get a job in high school with no experience?
Start close to home: check local listings, walk into nearby businesses and ask, and tell family, teachers and neighbors you're looking.
Make a one-page resume with your education, activities, volunteer work, skills and availability.
Write a short email or intro saying who you are, what you can help with and when you're free.
Be flexible on weekends, when many teen-friendly employers need the most help.
Follow up a few days after you apply.
If you want to explore a specific career rather than earn money right away, an internship may be a better fit than a part-time job.
Does a high school job help with college applications?
Yes: a steady job shows responsibility, time management and maturity, and colleges value work experience alongside clubs and activities. The most useful part is the specific examples you can describe, like a problem you solved or a responsibility you were trusted with.
A job builds work habits; an internship lets you test a career. Ladder Internships places high school students in remote, eight-week start-up internships, where they work on a real project with a company coach, with full financial aid available.
Common questions about jobs for high school students
What jobs can a 14-year-old get?
Under federal law, 14-year-olds can work certain retail, office, food service, tutoring and creative jobs, such as bagging groceries, cashiering and stocking shelves. Hazardous work and some equipment are off-limits, and state laws and employers may be stricter. See the Department of Labor's rules for 14- and 15-year-olds.
How many hours can a 15-year-old work during the school year?
Up to 3 hours on a school day and 18 hours in a school week, outside school hours, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. under federal law. State rules may be stricter.
What's the best job for a high school student with no experience?
A grocery store or retail job is a practical start, because the training is built in. If you prefer working independently, try tutoring, babysitting or pet sitting.
What's an alternative to a part-time job in high school?
An internship that lets you explore a career. Ladder Internships runs remote, eight-week start-up internships for high school students worldwide, at 5 to 10 hours a week, with a company coach and full financial aid available. The next deadline is November 15, 2026, for the Winter I cohort starting December 7, 2026.
Contact us at contact@ladderinternships.com if you have any questions!