As a teenager, it’s only natural to want more independence. For some, this means making your own decisions about your life. For others, this means becoming more financially responsible, or wanting more independence when it comes to money. This is where problems arise, since it can be hard to find a job as a teenager. Some may not even know where to start looking! Worry not; this article will help.
As a 14-year-old, options for work may be rather limited. You are definitely old enough to get a job, however many employers will only consider you if you are 16 years old or older. This can make finding a job extremely difficult. Despite this, there are many jobs which do include 14 year olds! Options only truly extend to part-time jobs, and even then, those jobs aren’t particularly highly paid. However, it’s a good way to earn some extra cash on the side and a good way to learn financial responsibility.
If you would like to learn more about how to get a job at the age of 14, read on!
1. Sports coaching/referee work
This is for those who like teaching others and sports! Sports coaching and referee work is a great way to develop further understanding of sports and can be a great option for those who love being active!
Typically, to get this type of job as a 14-year-old, it’s helpful to be in a sports club of some sort. Check if your local sports club needs any help and ask around locally. Since it’ll be part-time, and it’s likely that you won’t have a lot of work experience, your hourly wage will most likely be the National Minimum wage, although you can negotiate for higher rates.
2. Cashier
Being a cashier is quite a simple job, one that you don’t need many qualifications for. All that’s really needed is some maths skills and communication skills. It’s best to apply locally with smaller chains because some larger stores may not accept requests from applicants under the minimum leaving school age.
The pay for Sainsbury’s, for example, is good on average; they offer up to £11.00 per hour. More information on their pay can be found here on the Sainsbury website. Age requirements will depend on local bylaws.
Below are some links for various supermarket chains and job vacancies:
- Aldi Job Opportunities
- Asda Job Opportunities
- Lidl Job Opportunities
- Sainsbury’s Job Opportunities
- Tesco Job Opportunities
Be on the lookout for supermarket vacancies locally as it’s a lot easier to do so rather than searching online!
3. Tutoring
This is a great job for those good at teaching others. It consists of a lot of explanation on your behalf and good knowledge on the topic you’re trying to teach. Ask around your family and friends to see if anyone’s kid needs a little extra help in a specific subject! A lot of the time it’s a sure-fire way to make some easy money.
Best thing about tutoring is that you can set your rates. Negotiate with whoever’s hiring you but be careful not to price your services too high (approximately £5-£10 an hour is a fair starting point). Eventually, people may even recommend you to others!
Additionally, with the rise of technology and online lessons, you can even tutor online! Check out this article from The Tutor’s Association to learn how.
4. Babysitting
This job suits those with patience who are good with kids. It requires energy on your part and being good with kids, for sure. It also helps if you know the people you’re babysitting for.
Ask around! There’s bound to be a family member or friend stressing over who’ll watch their kids. Set your own rates but make them a price people are willing to pay. It’s an easy way to make some quick money and doesn’t involve strenuous work (apart from chasing kids around).
Additionally, as you babysit more and more, word of mouth can increase your rate of clients. If you’re good with kids, more people will recommend you, and then you can even increase your prices a little! Win-win.
This article from Healthline contains tips on how to be a good babysitter.
5. Dog walking
If you love animals, this may be for you. Know anyone who needs to take their dogs on walks but doesn’t have time? Maybe you have a neighbour who’s elderly and can’t manage to take their dog out. Or maybe you know someone who just doesn’t like going out with their dog. Offer your services!
You need to be comfortable with dogs for this. Ideally, you have experience with dogs, maybe having one yourself. Additionally, you need quite a fair bit of stamina and a love of outdoors to keep up with your canine buddies.
Advertise yourself through friends and family. Ask around and set rates that let you compete with other professional dog walkers!
6. Housesitting
This is one of the easiest jobs. It consists of simply taking care of a house while the owners are away. Maybe it also involves looking after pets, but usually it’s just the house.
It’s mutually beneficial for both parties. One gets their house (and pets potentially) taken care of, the other gets compensated for looking after the home. All that’s really needed to apply is finding someone going away on holiday or elsewhere and offering to housesit. Maybe even pet sit.
Negotiate a price with whoever needs your services, and the rest is history. Make sure to make a list and how-to on everything that needs maintenance and talk about everything with the owner(s)!
7. Gardening
This is a great job for those who like gardening and getting their hands muddy. Offer to do front yard or garden work for neighbours, or for family friends who may not have a green thumb. All you need for this is a green thumb and potentially gardening tools if your clients don’t have them.
Look at your connections, ask around your family and friends to see if anyone needs some dirty work done in the garden. Set some nice rates and it’s easy money if you like gardening.
Flowers can easily be found at flower markets if that’s what your client decides, or maybe some pruning and upkeep. Regardless, anyone who has a green thumb should consider using it to make extra cash.
8. Paper rounds
This job is great for those who like early mornings and being outdoors. Paper rounds consist of delivering newspapers from a newsagent to the houses in the local area. Sometimes you’ll have to show the newsagent that you’ve completed the round through the maps app.
It’s helpful to have a bicycle for this, though not necessary, as it speeds up the journey. It is necessary to have an alarm clock (or wake early) to deliver the papers a few times a week, rain or snow.
Ask around local newsagents to see if they do paper rounds. While it’s not very common anymore, some newsagents still do paper rounds and use paper boys or girls to do so. Negotiate your prices (but it’s not going to be the highest, usually). Check with other newsagents for their rates!
Check out this article from WikiHow for more information on paper rounds.
9. Errand running
Errands aren’t the most fun to do, so why not hire someone to do them for you? That’s where you come in! Plenty of people hold this mindset, and some look for others to run their errands for them.
Ask around people you know. Maybe your elderly neighbour needs help with her groceries. Offer your services to friends and family! All that’s needed is the willingness to do chores and errands for others. Set some rates and boom! Easy money.
10. Selling art
This is for those on the more creative side. If you want to monetise your art, consider selling art as prints or at art fairs!
All you really need are materials and a camera potentially. With a parent or guardian setting up an account on platforms such as Etsy or Redbubble, and giving you the money from your business, it’s a way to make money off your talents!
Charge based on materials, time, and skill level. Don’t undervalue your work! Selling art is a great way of making money as a teenager.
11. Washing cars
This job requires some manual labour and knowledge on how to wash cars. If you know you wash cars well and want some quick cash, why not try out car washing to earn some money?
If you like cleaning, this job may also be for you. Ask arounds friends and family. Who doesn’t like washing their car? Offer your services and set a fair rate to charge, either by the hour or a flat rate. It may be good to go with the flat rate because then it’ll feel cheaper to clients.
12. Vlogging/blogging
For those that like creating content, this is for you. Blogging is posting on an online page about practically whatever you like, like an online diary, or maybe a way to share your passions.
Vlogging is just that but in video form. All that’s needed is a laptop (and potentially a camera). The average salary for a blogger an hour is excellent too, £17.60, taken from this page on UK Indeed.
If you want to read about the top 10 blogging websites in 2023, click here to read an article from First Site Guide.
To read about starting a vlog, it may be helpful to click here for an article from Adobe.
13. Website designs
This is for those with creativity, time and some basic computer skills. Maybe you know someone trying to start a business, or someone looking to establish a brand for themselves. Ask if they’d pay someone to make them a website!
Some people may not have the time, or computer skills to create themselves a website. That’s where you come in! Decide on either a flat rate or hourly rate for your time, although flat rates are more popular as they look cheaper and better value to potential clients.
To read more about creating a website in 2023, and which programmes are the best for that, check out this article from Website Builder Expert!
14. Working for family or friends
If you don’t want to work for a potentially unknown employer, this may be for you. Working for family or friends is a very broad range of jobs. It could include anything from helping with selling something to making products for their business.
Point is, people you know are bound to have odd jobs they don’t fancy doing. So, offer your help! And who knows, it might be a good chance to bond with whoever hires you. Charge some fair rates and establish a reputation as a good helper!
15. Waitress/waiter
While this job may be somewhat strenuous, it’s a good way to earn some extra money, especially with tips. It’s a valuable job for customer service experience and requires good coordination and communication.
To apply, check out local restaurants in the area and ask around if they’re hiring waiters or waitresses. Don’t settle for the first restaurant you see; ask around the ones in your area to figure out which one is best for you.
The average wage for a waiter/waitress is £7.11. To read more about this, click here for more information from Payscale.
16. Hairdressing
Love doing hair? Consider helping out as a hairdressing assistant! You can either help out at a salon or even start your own hair business from your home by doing hair for people you’re close to for a fee.
Ask around local hair salons to see if they’re hiring! The average pay for a hairdressing assistant is £8.71, but if you’re 14 it may be less. To read more about this, check out this page at Payscale!
If you’re doing your friends’ and family’s hair at home for a fee, the good news is that you can choose your fee. Just make sure not to set it too high or else they may not be very happy!
17. Small business
This is perhaps one of the most flexible jobs to do at a young age. As a small business owner, you can sell pretty much anything. Get creative!
Some ideas of what to make and sell could be:
- Art
- Scrunchies/masks
- Jewellery
- Figurines
- Clothes
All you really need is a platform and packing materials. Additionally, business customers that are eligible can receive free shipping supplies from Royal Mail. To find out more, click here.
While you may not be ready to fully commit to a postal business, you can try selling your products at car boot sales or markets with parents or guardians. Don’t give up!
18. Working as a café assistant
This job isn’t particularly hard and can be an easy way to earn money! All that’s needed is good communication skills, basic knowledge of a café and possibly clean up skills. As a café assistant, you mostly do odd jobs and help out where needed.
To apply, ask around local cafés to see if they’re hiring any assistants or need some help. As an assistant, you’ll only really be paid the National Minimum wage, especially if you’re 14.
Working as a café assistant can also look good on future job applications, as it shows customer service skills and utility. Additionally, as a café assistant you may be able to get food at a discounted rate, or even free, so there’s an added bonus.
19. House cleaning
If you like cleaning (or are good at it), why not do it for money? Plenty of people don’t like cleaning their own houses; that’s where you step in!
All you really need is to be good at cleaning and potentially some equipment for cleaning. To get started, ask around your friends and family to see if anyone wants to pass on the chore of cleaning their house. With any luck, someone will want a cleaner.
Set some fair fees! Most of the time, people would rather pay someone they know to perform a service, rather than a stranger.
20. Farm hands
If you live somewhere rural with not many businesses to apply to, why not try being a farm hand? A farm hand is someone who helps with farm work. This may include helping with animals, such as horses, or doing heavy manual labour like moving sacks of grains.
All you really need are some good shoes (and potentially boots if you’re helping with horses) and work gloves if you’re doing heavy lifting. Farm hands will usually be paid hourly, and there is no real set pay. Instead, negotiate a price with whoever’s hiring you that’s fair to both of you.
To find out more information on becoming a teenage farm hand, check out this article from Jobs for Teens HQ.
21. A model
This job is for those of you who enjoy getting your picture taken! There are always plenty of modelling jobs going around, often with good pay, depending on the agency.
It is also a great job if you like getting pampered, as models will need to have their hair and makeup done before shoots. You could be modelling sports clothes, general fashion trends and even be used in adverts!
This job is certainly not for those of you who are camera shy! If you really have a passion for fashion, are confident and possibly enjoy doing model faces in the mirror, this would be a fantastic opportunity.
All you need to do is go to a modelling agency’s website and apply! You can find out more information about teen modelling on this article from the UK models website.
22. Corner shop helper
This job is for those of you who like being busy and on the go. If you work in a corner shop, you are likely to be given a range of tasks. This could include sweeping up the floor, assisting customers when they ask for certain products and possibly working the till.
However, as a 14 year old, you will likely be working behind the scenes, keeping the shop clean and making sure that all of the stock is on display.
Surely everyone lives close to a corner shop! These are also known as convenience stores and are quite small establishments, which sell a limited amount of stock.
If you are interested, go and check one out close to you and ask the owners about any potential jobs. The amount of pay will depend on your employer.
23. Lifeguard
For those of you that love swimming, lifeguarding could be a great career option! Of course you will have to gain the qualifications, however this can easily be done if you are good at swimming. Then all you need to do is ask your local pool!
This job will entail you keeping an eye on the pool and making sure that everybody is safe. If someone is struggling in the water, you will need to assist them.
As a result, you will also need to have knowledge about first aid. Your job could also involve opening and closing the facilities and monitoring weather reports also.
According to this article from Indeed, the average salary of a lifeguard is £17,356 per year. This wage isn’t bad as a 14 year old!
24. Ice cream scooper
This is a fantastic summer job! Especially if you are a people person and have a knack with the scooper.
Students often do this job only on the weekends and during the summer months. Some employers even let their workers test some of the ice cream flavours, after all, you need to be good at recommendations.
According to this article from Indeed, the average salary of an ice cream scooper is £21,996 a year. However, you will get a bit less than this if you work part time.
Check out your local ice cream shops if this job appeals to you. There are many different shops about, with some even residing on farms.
25. Camp counsellor
If you used to spend the school holidays at summer camps, this job may appeal to you. You would be responsible for looking after children younger than you are.
You could be asked to lead different games and activities, making sure that you are keeping everyone safe, whilst they have fun. If you like the sound of this job, its best to phone up different summer camps, maybe even camps that you went to as a youngster!
You will most likely get an average salary of £9.68 per hour. You can find out more about this on this career guide from Indeed.
26. Grocery bagger
If you feel like being helpful to some people who struggle with their shopping, this job is ideal. You will be responsible for helping customers put their shopping into bags.
You may also have to help them carry their shopping to their cars! To get this job, it is best to just ring up any supermarkets which are close to you and are hiring.
The pay is pretty good too! It averages at £10.99 per hour, according to Indeed. However, to do this job, you need to make sure that you have good communication skills and will be able to deal with some potential difficult customers!
Of course, being organised would also be a handy trait to have.
27. Dishwasher
As a 14 year old, you may not be able to become a waiter or waitress. However, you could still be given the chance to work in a restaurant! This could be done if you become a dishwasher.
Your job will purely involve washing up all of the dishes, getting them ready for the chefs. If you are quite a shy person and don’t want to have a job where you talk to lots of different people, this is a great option for you!
You could ask the owners of local restaurants or cafes if they are hiring. The average salary according to Indeed is also very good, at £9.68 per hour!
28. Ride operator
For those of you who like to have fun and like watching other people have fun, this job is for you! You will be required to operate different rides, whilst keeping customers safe.
You could be working at a fair ground, or even a popular amusem*nt park! There are plenty of jobs normally open for this role, especially during the summer.
The average salary, according to this career guide from Indeed is £9.03 for a ride operator, which is pretty good. It is a fun job, however you need to make sure that you are sensible and not putting any of the customers at risk.
29. Actor
Don’t ever think that you can’t become an actor if you really want to! Most people think that there is no way they could every become famous.
However, how do you know if you don’t even try? You will definitely have seen child stars in films and television programmes, so it is certainly doable.
If you have a passion for acting and think you could really go somewhere, go for it! You could sign up to theatre plays and then work your way up.
Child actors can earn varying amounts of money. If you make it big, you could be earning a sizable sum!
30. Survey completer
If you don’t really want to go outside and get a job, this way of making money is ideal. There are plenty of surveys online, where companies will actually pay you to complete them.
This is because it provides them with data about the general population’s opinions and views. All you have to do is look up different surveys online and complete them!
Some are really easy too, only taking five minutes to complete. However, you need to make sure that they are legitimate before giving them a go!
31. Virtual office assistant
Not many people have heard of this job role, however it could provide you with great opportunities! If you do this job role, you would be required to complete administrative tasks for different businesses and organisations.
This could include sending emails or creating spreadsheets. All you need for this job is to have access to the internet and be good at communicating.
According to Indeed, you could be earning £11.82 an hour if you do this job role! The best part of this job is that you could easily work from home!
32. Online seller
If you are one of those people who just have too much stuff in your bedroom, why not consider selling them? A great way to earn money is to sell any products you have which you don’t want anymore.
For example, Ebay is a great platform for selling your unwanted toys. You could also look into different clothes websites if you are interested in selling your clothes.
For example, Vinted and Depop are great options for helping you sell clothes! If you want to discover more about Vinted, you can check out their website here.
33. Market stall worker
Most towns have one day a week which is known as ‘market day’. This involves many market stalls all piling into the town centre, selling a range of different products.
If you have a passion for making a product which you think that could sell really well, this could be a good option for you. You could have a baking stall, for instance.
Another good idea is a candle or jewellery stall, as these products are great for gifts. You will need to apply for a spot to put your stall by most likely having to write a letter or email to the council.
Depending on what you sell, the amount of money you make can vary. However, if you want some tips on how to make the most amount of money possible, check out this article from Cariki blogs.
34. Busker
This job is for those of you who are confident and have a passion for music. If you love to sing or play an instrument, busking is a great way to make money!
It can also give you exposure, as you may gain a few fans of your work. Busking could also give you opportunities to increase your confidence when performing in front of other people.
However, if you do become a busker, you need to be aware of the hard work. You could be busking in horrible weather and may not make a lot of money.
Regardless, it is a great job idea for a 14 year old if you genuinely have a passion for busking. Check out this article from the To Busk website for some top tips.
35. Games tester
This job will be fantastic for those of you who love playing video games. In fact, it may not even seem like a job to you if you love it!
To become a games tester, you will often need qualifications. However, this isn’t the case for all companies and you may be lucky when applying for a job.
This is because games companies may actually appreciate a 14 year olds perspective. This job includes checking for any bugs in the games you are testing and attempting to identify any problems.
This job can actually be quite hard work, as you have to be good at paying attention to detail and extensive knowledge about video games is needed. The pay for this job varies, however if you want to find out other key aspects about the job, check out this article from Youth Employment UK.
36. Volunteer
If money isn’t really important to you and you maybe just want work experience, volunteering could be the way to go! You could ask your favourite charity shops if you could help out.
You could also help out at fundraising events, such as sponsored runs or bake sales. You will likely not make any money from these events. However, if you have a passion for helping charities and want to do something meaningful in your free time, volunteering is a fantastic idea!
Charities will always be happy for you to help out! If you want to find out about discovering volunteering opportunities, check out this article from the Volunteer Now website.
What is the minimum age you can work in the UK?
In short, the minimum age a child must be to work is 13 years old. However, this is only applicable for part-time jobs, because they are the only jobs those under 16 can do.
Additionally, children can work younger if the field they work in involves theatre, modelling, sport or television. However, in those cases the children will need a performance license. More about performance licenses can be found here on the UK Government’s website.
In order to work full-time, the child must be of the minimum school leaving age. In England, you can leave school on the last Friday in June if you’ll be 16 by the end of summer. However, you still must either attend college, do an apprenticeship or traineeship, or be in part-time education, all until 18.
To see the other regulations within the UK and read more about them, check out this article from the UK Government’s website.
After the school leaving age, the maximum a child can work is 40 hours per week. Once they’re 16, they are entitled to at least £4.81 (statistic taken from the UK Government’s article on payment for child employment, here).
What are the employment laws for 14-year-olds in the UK?
For one, 14-year-olds aren’t entitled to National Minimum Wage. However, a good way to make sure you’re being compensated for your work is by asking your employer for the minimum wage (depending on the job you’re doing).
Additionally, since 14-year-olds are only working part-time, it’s highly unlikely that they’ll earn enough (over £12,570, also known as Personal Allowance) to pay income tax. More on this can be found here on the UK Government’s article about income bands.
There are a lot of restrictions surrounding child employment. For example, children aren’t allowed to work in:
- Factories and industrial sites
- Pubs, night clubs or betting shops (anywhere with 18+ entry requirement as a general rule)
- Areas prohibited by local bylaws
- Jobs that could negatively impact your health, education or wellbeing
While some jobs may be out of reach for now, there are still plenty of others!
How many hours can 14-year-olds work in the UK?
13 and 14-year-olds can work a maximum of 12 hours per week during term time. This includes a maximum of 2 hours on school days and Sundays, and 5 hours maximum on Saturdays.
During school holidays, however, 13 and 14-year-olds can work a maximum of 25 hours per week. This includes a maximum of 5 hours on weekdays and Saturdays, and 2 hours on Sundays.
Children are not allowed to work:
- Before 7am and after 7pm
- For more than an hour before school (unless local bylaws permit this)
- Without a 2 week break from any work during school holidays in each year
- For more than 4 hours without at least an hour’s break
To read more about restrictions, check out the UK Government’s article here.
Good job sites for 14 year olds
As a 14 year old, you may be worried that there isn’t a lot of support out there to help you find a job. After all, most students look for jobs when they are 16 years old or over!
However, there are some good job sites out there which can give you support:
- Student Job– This job website is specifically tailored to students, making sure that you get a job which is safe and suits your interests. You can visit the website here.
- Reed- This website not only gives you loads of job options, but it also gives you some great advice! You can visit the website here.
- Jobrapido- This website displays so many different jobs, so you will definitely have plenty of options. You can visit the website here.
- Indeed- This is a very popular website, with many employers advertising their jobs on here. You can visit the website here.
