How to Make Money as a 13-Year-Old

Earning money at a young age offers valuable lessons in responsibility and financial literacy. It helps young people understand the value of hard work, manage finances, and contribute to savings. For a 13-year-old, many legitimate and age-appropriate ways exist to earn income, fostering independence and building a foundation for financial success.

Local Community and Neighborhood Jobs

Many accessible opportunities exist within one’s local community, often involving direct services for neighbors. Babysitting is a common starting point, with hourly rates for teenagers typically ranging from $8 to $16. Obtaining a basic first-aid or babysitting certification can enhance a young person’s appeal and potentially allow for higher rates.

Pet sitting and dog walking are also popular choices for animal lovers. These tasks can include feeding, playing with pets, or taking dogs for walks, with hourly rates often between $10 and $20 depending on services and number of pets. Yard work offers another consistent source of income, particularly during different seasons. Mowing lawns, raking leaves, weeding gardens, or shoveling snow are in high demand.

Teenagers performing yard work can expect to earn between $10 and $15 per hour, or a flat rate of $25 to $30 for a larger lawn. Washing cars for neighbors provides a quick way to earn money, typically priced per vehicle, ranging from $10 to $20 depending on vehicle size and detail. Finding these jobs often involves speaking with neighbors and distributing flyers in the local area.

Approaching potential clients with a clear understanding of services offered and a polite demeanor helps secure work. Setting fair prices that reflect effort and time, while also being competitive, is important. Consistently delivering quality work and maintaining a positive reputation through reliability and good communication helps ensure repeat business and referrals.

Creative and Entrepreneurial Ventures

Beyond traditional neighborhood jobs, a 13-year-old can leverage personal skills and creativity to develop entrepreneurial ventures. Creating and selling handmade crafts allows for artistic expression and direct earning. Popular items include handmade jewelry, custom greeting cards, decorative items, or upcycled goods. Materials can often be sourced affordably, allowing for a good profit margin.

Baking and selling treats like cookies, cupcakes, or custom cakes can be a lucrative option for those with culinary talents. These items can be sold to neighbors, at local community events, or through word-of-mouth. Pricing should cover ingredient costs and a reasonable hourly rate for time spent. Reselling items is another entrepreneurial path, involving finding undervalued goods at garage sales, thrift stores, or online, and then selling them for a profit. This requires an eye for value and understanding what items are currently in demand.

Offering specialized skills can also generate income. Tutoring younger children in subjects like math or reading is a valuable service. Teenage tutors typically earn around $15 to $25 per hour. Basic tech support for older adults, such as setting up new devices, troubleshooting common software issues, or organizing digital photos, can also be a needed service.

Identifying a niche market or a specific skill in demand can help focus entrepreneurial efforts. Marketing products or services effectively can involve word-of-mouth referrals, displaying samples, or with parental supervision, using local social media groups. Managing inventory or supplies efficiently and tracking expenses and sales are important steps in running a small business.

Online Earning Possibilities

The internet offers various earning opportunities for young individuals, though these often come with strict age requirements and require significant parental supervision. Participating in online surveys is one such method, where individuals share opinions for small payments or gift cards. Many survey platforms require users to be at least 13 years old and often necessitate parental consent for those under 18. Earnings from surveys are typically modest and can take time to accumulate.

Creating online content, such as a YouTube channel, blog, or social media presence, presents long-term earning potential. While a 13-year-old can create a YouTube account, direct monetization through advertising revenue typically requires the account holder to be at least 18 years old. For those under 18, a parent or guardian must establish and manage the associated AdSense account for any potential earnings. Similarly, most social media monetization features generally require content creators to be 18 years or older.

Engaging in basic online tasks that are age-appropriate and heavily supervised by a parent can also be an option. These might include micro-task websites or simple data entry, though opportunities for minors are limited due to platform terms of service. It is paramount for both young earners and their parents to prioritize internet safety. This includes avoiding sharing personal information, being wary of scams, and understanding that significant earnings from online content creation typically require considerable time, effort, and audience building.

Important Considerations for Young Earners

Parental involvement is paramount for any 13-year-old embarking on earning activities. Guidance, supervision, and explicit consent from parents or legal guardians are necessary for all money-making endeavors, ensuring safety and compliance with age-appropriate boundaries. Parents can help vet opportunities, communicate with clients, and oversee online interactions to protect their child’s well-being.

Safety precautions are essential, whether working in the neighborhood or online. When meeting clients for in-person jobs, it is advisable to do so in public places or have a parent present. Online interactions should always be conducted with parental oversight, and personal information should never be shared indiscriminately. Establishing clear rules about communication and transactions can mitigate potential risks.

Learning basic money management skills is a significant benefit of early earning. Parents can guide their children in understanding how to save a portion of their earnings, set financial goals, and responsibly spend the remainder. This can involve opening a savings account, tracking income and expenses, and discussing the concept of budgeting. Some may even choose to donate a portion of their earnings to charity, fostering a sense of community contribution.

Labor laws apply differently to minors depending on the type of work. Formal employment for 13-year-olds is highly restricted by child labor laws, which typically govern specific industries, work hours, and require work permits. Most jobs suitable for a 13-year-old, such as babysitting, yard work, or selling handmade goods, fall under informal arrangements or small entrepreneurial ventures. These informal activities are generally not subject to the same stringent labor laws as formal employment, which often has a minimum age of 14 for non-agricultural work.

Regarding taxes, while earnings for a 13-year-old are usually low, certain thresholds can trigger tax obligations. For 2024, if a dependent’s earned income exceeds $1,300 or their total income exceeds $1,300 plus $450 of earned income (whichever is greater), they may need to file a federal income tax return. Additionally, if a young person earns $400 or more in net earnings from self-employment activities, they are subject to self-employment tax. This tax, which covers Social Security and Medicare, is 15.3% of net earnings. It is important to keep accurate records of all income and related expenses. Parents should discuss these potential tax implications with their child and consider consulting with a tax professional if earnings approach these thresholds.