Making money as a teenager is hard. You might be working the same job as adults, but you’re getting paid a lot less than them.
Making money is tough and it can be overwhelming when you start looking around for jobs to apply for or ways to make some cash online.
As a teenager, you’re likely eager to start earning your own money and gain a sense of financial independence.
Whether you’re saving up for something special, want to learn valuable money management skills, or are looking to start building your resume — making money as a teen is an excellent idea.
I remember being in your shoes not too long ago. At 16 years old, I was determined to earn enough cash to pay for my first car, new computer, and going out with friends without constantly asking my parents.
After trying out tons of different money-making methods, I’ve gained some great insights into what really works for teenagers.
How To Make Money As A Teenager
In this guide, I’ll share all the best ways I and other successful teen entrepreneurs have made money over the years.
We’ll cover everything from freelance gigs and side hustles you can start today to building a presence on platforms like YouTube, TikTok and more.
The key is finding money-making opportunities that align with your skills, interests and availability.
With some creativity and effort, you can absolutely start stacking cash as a teenager! Let’s dive in.
1. Affiliate Marketing
What is it? Affiliate marketing means earning commissions by promoting other companies’ products or services on your website, blog, YouTube channel or social platforms.
For every purchase someone makes through your unique referral link, you get a percentage of the sale.
How to get started:
Sign up for affiliate programs with companies like Amazon, ShareASale, Clickbank or individual brands you want to promote.
Then create content incorporating your affiliate links, whether that’s blogs, videos, social posts or your own website.
Mindset tip:
The key to affiliate marketing success is only promoting products you truly believe in and would recommend to others. Authenticity and trust are everything.
2. Monetized TikTok Account
TikTok is an insanely popular video-sharing app with over 1 billion active users.
As a creator on the platform, you can make money a few different ways: through TikTok’s Creator Fund, receiving gifts during Live sessions, or partnering with brands as an influencer.
How to get started:
First, you’ll need to grow an audience on TikTok by consistently posting interesting and engaging content that people want to watch.
Most monetization features require at least 10,000 followers and 100,000 authentic video views in the past 30 days.
Mindset tip:
TikTok fame requires a ton of creativity, energy and an innate understanding of what your target audience wants to see. Studying trending videos in your niche can provide great inspiration.
3. YouTube Channel
As one of the biggest video platforms, YouTube provides multiple income streams like ad revenue, channel memberships, super thanks, merch shelves and more.
While it takes time to build an audience, the most successful YouTubers can earn 6–7 figure incomes.
How to get started:
Pick a specific niche or content type like product reviews, comedy sketches, gaming commentary, etc.
Focus your channel on that theme and post videos consistently (quality is also important).
For monetization, you’ll need at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours over the past year.
Mindset tip:
YouTube is a long-game that requires tremendous patience and determination. Many of the top channels took years of twice-weekly, high-quality video uploads to start earning significant income. Don’t get discouraged!
4. Online Surveys.
Online surveys. This is one of the most popular ways to make money online, and it’s a great way to start making money as a teen.
You can sign up for online surveys on sites like Swagbucks, which will pay you in gift cards or PayPal cash.
You may also be able to find paid survey opportunities on other platforms such as Survey Junkie, Survey Spot, and Survey Voices (just search for “teen surveys”).
The pay per hour varies depending on the survey but tends to range from $0.50 to $5 per hour — but note that you won’t always make minimum wage with this method because you’ll have to complete all the questions before payment is sent out!
My favorite online survey sites are Swagbucks and Survey Junkie because they pay you with gift cards.
Swagbucks has the added benefit of allowing you to cash out for PayPal cash.
The best way to make money with online surveys is to sign up for as many survey sites as possible, do the surveys when they’re available, and cash out your earnings! I’ve been able to earn $100-$200 a month just by doing this.
5. Watch advertisements
Did you realize you could get compensated by simply watching commercials?
Some sites permit youthful young people to bring in cash online by watching these promotions.
Two of the main sites are MyPoints and Jingit.
6. Sell things online
As a teen, selling things online is presumably probably the most extraordinary way to bring in cash.
Rather than making only a couple of dollars in a single hour, you can sell more incredible things for several hundred dollars (contingent upon what you’re selling, obviously).
You can sell things lying around the house on Facebook Marketplace or other internet-based commercial center sites.
A few standard things that sell well are books and gadgets, expressions and specialties on Etsy, gift vouchers, closeout things on eBay, etc.
7. Online tutoring
A distant memory is a time of meeting at the library for coaching. You can now telecommute during your available energy as a web-based mentor.
You can connect with companions via virtual entertainment and deal with private coaching, or you could take a stab at pursuing a mentoring site permitting adolescents beyond 13 years old.
8. Freelancing
Outsourcing is becoming increasingly more well-known today as a way for individuals to bring in cash as an afterthought.
You can be independent (or become a self-employed entity) with practically any sort of advanced assistance. This can be for composition, visual depiction, or even video altering.
You can begin as a youngster on sites like Fiverr or Upwork. Fiverr permits adolescents beyond 13 years old to join, and Upwork permits youngsters beyond 14 years old.
You can begin on Fiverr by adding a “gig” or the assistance you will finish. Individuals will track down your gig and request from you.
On Upwork, you will apply to occupations you feel fit for, finishing with a proposition.
9. Sell graphic designs
On the off chance that you are great at planning illustrations, you can sell them! Sites like Cafepress or the “world’s best gift shop” permit adolescents the period of 13+ to join.
On the off chance that you are innovative, you can plan anything essentially. You can sell plans on things, for example:
- Clothing (t-shirts, hoodies, etc.)
- Home décor
- Stationary
- Cups, mugs, etc.
- Stickers and signs
How can a Teenagers make money fast?
Once in a while, you can bring in cash online take a touch of time.
This might mean trusting that a record will get supported or payouts are given a week or later after you bring in the cash.
If you want to bring in cash quickly, you could investigate doing a task nearby.
A few thoughts for this would be looking after children, your nearby paper around the area, pet strolling or sitting, yard work, or mentoring.
Do online jobs for teenagers require parent permission?
As a general rule, most sites will probably require parental consent.
The legitimate working age online in the United States is 13 years old, yet you are not yet thought to be a grown-up.
Since you’re not a grown-up, you will probably require a parent or watchman’s consent, as you do with most other things.
It’s always crucial that your guardian knows what websites you are on to ensure no scams or anything takes your personal information that can be stolen.
Final thoughts
Assuming you’re a youngster searching for ways of bringing in cash on the web, realize that choices exist.
It’s vital that while you’re searching for online work, you ought to be cautious all of the time. If it appears to be unrealistic, it likely is.
Never give out any private data, for example, your government-managed retirement number.
Have a parent or gatekeeper set up a financial balance, and PayPal represent you, so you don’t need to give ledger data, and you’ll be set.
