Whether you’re still in school or you’re a college or university student and you want a bit of extra cash in your back pocket for those warm summer nights or your next big trip abroad, we’ve got you covered.
There’s a huge variety of ways you can make some good pocket money over the summer, and we’ve put together a list to help you find the best part-time gigs to make things a little easier for you. And who knows? It might just help you kick-start your career.
So, without further ado, here are the 25 best jobs for teens and students who want to make some extra cash this summer!
25. Bartender
If you’re a bona fide party animal, why not consider taking a job in your local nightlife scene and getting paid to hang out with your usual crowd? As a bartender, you’ll be able to do just that, while making cocktails and serving all sorts of alcoholic beverages to customers. Do note that you’ll usually need to have a bartending licence to work this job.
Average Hourly Rate: $7.71 (£5.77)
24. Camp Counsellor
Do you like working with kids and enjoy being out in the wilderness? If so, working as a camp counsellor could be the ideal job for you. An added bonus is that you’ll be able to develop key leadership, communication and delegation skills that will especially come in handy in your career.
Average Hourly Rate: $9.28 (£6.94)
23. Lifeguard
If you’re a strong swimmer and fancy catching some rays on the job, this could be perfect gig for you. As a lifeguard, you’ll be responsible for supervising the safety of swimmers in a pool or the sea and acting quickly in emergencies.
Average Hourly Rate: $9.31 (£6.96)
22. Car Washer
If you have an entrepreneurial mindset, you could set up your own car washing business, cleaning the cars of friends and neighbours. All you need are a few supplies and a good work ethic!
Average Hourly Rate: $9.71 (£7.26)
21. Festival Worker
This job is perfect for keen festivalgoers who love to party and listen to the most popular artists around. As a festival worker, you’ll get paid to man entry gates and perform general stewarding duties or even work on one of the stools serving food and drinks. Best of all: you won’t have to pay an extortionate amount of money for tickets this year!
Average Hourly Rate: $9.77 (£7.31)
20. Amusement Park Worker
As an amusement park worker, you’ll be responsible for helping people have the time of their lives. There’s a number of different roles to choose from, too, from ride attendants to customer service representative and waiting staff. The plus side? You’ll get to enjoy all those fun rides for free!
Average Hourly Rate: $9.77 (£7.31)
19. Hospitality Worker
Employment opportunities in the hospitality industry are endless – you could work in housekeeping, front desk, food and beverage or as a porter. And demand for hospitality workers is usually much higher in the summer months, so finding a job will be relatively easy. And the tips are usually good, too!
Average Hourly Rate: $9.90 (£7.41)
18. Babysitter
If you love babies and young children, you could watch your neighbours’ kids while they’re at work or when they go out for the evening – and get paid for it. Like hospitality workers, demand for babysitters increases over the summer when working parents need a helping pair of hands while they’re children are off school for the holidays.
Average Hourly Rate: $10.17 (£7.61)
17. Farm Worker
If you live near a farm, and you don’t mind getting dirty, you could approach the owner for a summer job – and they’ll most likely have something for you. As a farm worker, you’ll generally help with the maintenance of animals and crops, as well as cleaning the farm.
Average Hourly Rate: $10.53 (£7.88)
16. Retail Sales Assistant
If you prefer a customer-facing job, this one’s for you. You could enquire about part-time work in your favourite shop as a cashier or stock replenisher, and the good news is that you’ll typically get a staff discount and maybe even free products and a uniform allowance.
Average Hourly Rate: $10.92 (£8.17)
15. Landscaper
If you’re famous for your green fingers, why not set up your own landscaping business? You can trim your neighbours’ lawns and bushes and maintain flowerbeds so they stay vibrant and healthy – and earn a decent paycheque out of it, while also spending some quality time outside in the sun!
Average Hourly Rate: $11.03 (£8.25)
14. Uber Driver
If you have a new car and a clean driving license, why not tap into the peer-to-peer ridesharing industry and become an Uber driver? It’s easy and you’ll be able to work when and where you want and at any point throughout the day.
Average Hourly Rate: $11.09 (£8.30)
13. Cleaner
Are your friends convinced you have OCD and do you have a knack (and even love) for getting grime off surfaces? If so, perhaps you should consider cleaning a few houses on the weekend!
Average Hourly Rate: $11.11 (£8.31)
12. Movie Theatre Attendant
There is no better job than that of a movie theatre attendant if you’re quite the movie buff! You’ll get paid to either attend cinema screens (which means that you get to watch the latest flicks for free) or serve popcorn and sell tickets.
Average Hourly Rate: $11.52 (£8.62)
11. Swimming Instructor
As a swimming instructor, you can help children and even adults improve their strokes by teaching them how to swim. Do note that you’ll generally need a CPR or first aid certification to prove that you’re a trained and licensed swimmer.
Average Hourly Rate: $11.71 (£8.76)
10. Telesales Adviser
If you enjoy talking to people all day, you might want to explore the opportunity of working as a telesales customer service adviser on a part-time basis. Don’t worry: you’ll usually be provided with a script to follow for a variety of different cases.
Average Hourly Rate: $12.86 (£9.62)
9. Pet Care Worker
If you love animals, why not consider working as a pet sitter or a dog walker? Not only will you be able to make some pocket money, but you’ll also get to play with cats and dogs for a living! This job is even suitable for those that work from home – you can keep your furry friends company while you get on with your normal duties.
Average Hourly Rate: $13.14 (£9.83)
8. Golf Caddy
If you love playing golf, you could help carry players’ bags and build their spirits up by offering advice throughout the game. These positions are usually seasonal and on the rise throughout the summer months.
Average Hourly Rate: $14.54 (£10.88)
7. Chef
If you’re a culinary master, you could make your own meals and package them for sale. Or, if you aspire to be the next Gordon Ramsay, you could find a job in a local restaurant to gain some valuable experience.
Average Hourly Rate: $14.65 (£10.96)
6. Admin Assistant
If you’re the organised type, you can work as an admin assistant on a temporary contract. Many temp workers end up earning great experience at big companies like Google, and this can be a huge CV booster.
Average Hourly Rate: $15.38 (£11.50)
5. Mystery Shopper
If you think you’re a bit of a detective and you enjoy shopping, you could sign up as a mystery shopper and go undercover in shops, restaurants, etc to rate a product, service or the establishment in general. These kinds of jobs aren’t frequent, so it’s not something you can rely on to make a steady income.
Average Hourly Rate: $15.38 (£11.50)
4. Photographer
Are you an aspiring photographer who loves taking a snap or two? Well, there’s good news for you! You could work at corporate events or weddings to build up your portfolio during the summer months, and also make some vital networking connections in the process.
Average Hourly Rate: $16.02 (£11.98)
3. Content Writer
Do you have a way with words and conjuring up captivating stories? If so, perhaps you should consider writing blog posts and landing pages for different websites.
Average Hourly Rate: $17.17 (£12.84)
2. Tutor
If you’re skilled in maths or English, for example, you can become a private or online tutor and provide one-on-one support to children and adults alike. You could even work abroad teaching English as a foreign language if you have the necessary qualifications.
Average Hourly Rate: $17.80 (£13.31)
1. App Developer
If you're skilled at developing apps, why not cash in on your talent and start offering your services to companies? You could even create your own app and make money on iTunes and Google Play every time someone downloads it.
Average Hourly Rate: $29.82 (£22.30)
There are countless of ways you can make some extra money over the summer, but we’ve only rounded up the best of the best to help you get started.
Have you worked a summer job before? If so, join the conversation below and let us know what you did and if you enjoyed it!
Salary information is based on data compiled and published by PayScale. Currency conversions are based on rates supplied by XE.com on 23 May 2018.