Jobs for teens
Jobs for 14 year olds.
You can work at 14, with limits on hours and on the kinds of jobs. Here’s what 14-year-olds can do, the rules employers follow, and how to find a first job.
By Lokesh Pampatti, founder of Clarity Prep · Updated October 18, 2026
Jobs 14 year olds can get
| Job | How students find it |
|---|---|
| Babysitting and mother’s helper | Word of mouth and neighborhood groups. A CPR and first aid class helps parents say yes. |
| Pet sitting and dog walking | Neighbors, family friends, a simple flyer. |
| Tutoring younger students | Your old middle school, family friends. Math and reading are in demand. |
| Lawn mowing and yard work | Hand tools only for employers under federal rules; working for neighbors directly is common. |
| Youth sports referee or umpire | Local rec leagues often train and pay teens. |
| Camp helper or counselor in training | Day camps, parks departments and places of worship. |
| Grocery bagger or cashier | Some stores hire at 14, many wait until 15 or 16. Ask the manager. |
How many hours you can work
Federal law sets the same limits for 14- and 15-year-olds, and you can only work outside school hours:
| School day (including Friday) | 3 hours |
|---|---|
| School week | 18 hours |
| Non-school day | 8 hours |
| Non-school week (summer, breaks) | 40 hours |
| Time of day | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (9 p.m. from June 1 to Labor Day) |
What you can and can’t do
At 14, a job has to be on the allowed list. If it isn’t specifically permitted, it isn’t allowed.
Allowed
- Most retail work: cashier, stocking shelves, bagging
- Some food service: washing dishes, cleaning, reheating food and limited cooking
- Tutoring, music lessons and other creative or teaching work
- Errands and deliveries on foot, by bike or by public transit
- Yard work and cleanup without power-driven equipment
- Pumping gas and car washing
- Office work and office machines
Not allowed
- Running power-driven machinery (other than office machines), including most kitchen slicers and mixers
- Baking, and working in freezers or meat coolers
- Working on ladders or scaffolds
- Most jobs in construction, warehouses, transportation and manufacturing
- Door-to-door sales and sign waving
- Lifeguarding (allowed starting at 15)
Pay and paperwork
- Minimum wage: the federal minimum is $7.25 an hour. Employers may pay workers under 20 as little as $4.25 for their first 90 days, but many states and cities set a higher minimum that applies to teens.
- Work permits: federal law doesn’t require one, but many states do for workers under 16 or 18. Your school counselor usually knows the process.
- Taxes: you’ll fill out a W-4. Most teens earn little enough to get any federal income tax that was withheld back by filing a return.
How a job looks to colleges
Better than most students think. The Common App has its own Work (Paid) activity type, and a job you keep for a year shows responsibility, time management and that you can show up. Write down your hours, what you’re trusted with and anything you improved, because those details make a strong activity description later.
Questions
Can a 14 year old get a job?
Yes. Federal law lets 14-year-olds work outside school hours in many retail, food service and office jobs, with hour limits: 3 hours on a school day, 18 hours in a school week, and only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (9 p.m. in summer). Your state may add rules or require a work permit.
How many hours can a 14 year old work?
Under federal law: up to 3 hours on a school day, 18 hours in a school week, 8 hours on a non-school day and 40 hours in a non-school week, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. From June 1 through Labor Day the evening limit moves to 9 p.m.
Do 14 year olds need a work permit?
Federal law doesn’t require one, but many states do for workers under 16. Your school counselor or your state labor department can tell you how to get one.
What can you do at 14 if no one will hire you?
Babysitting, pet sitting, tutoring and yard work for neighbors are common. Volunteering also builds the references and experience that make the first paid job easier to get; our list of volunteer opportunities for teens shows which organizations take 14-year-olds.
Fitting work into the bigger plan?
A Clarity Prep mentor helps you balance a job with classes and activities, and shows you how to write about work on college applications, with a weekly check-in until they’re in.