According to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the minimum age for employment is 14 years old. This means that a 15 years old teenager can get a job and earn both money and experience.
Around this age, most teens are in school studying to become professionals in an area they most like to work in. But in the meantime, they can practice and get some useful skills with a part-time job.
Finding a job that suits your expectations at this age can be challenging, but every risk you take has its reward, and this is no exception. It is never too early and too late to start working, and 15 years old teenagers can mark their path to their own job.
What Are the Highest Paying Fast-Food Jobs?
One of the most common part-time jobs that a teenager can get is work at a fast-food restaurant. You can start working at 15 years old, but depending on the restaurant’s policy, there is a minimum age restriction to work in one (generally between 14 and 16 years old).
People always wonder something like: Can you work at KFC at 15? or Are there jobs available for teens at a Mcdonald’s? Most fast-food chains offer jobs to teens, and you do not need any prior experience in order to land a position as a part-timer.
There are different duties that a fast food attendant has, for instance, preparing and serving food is an essential thing to do in a restaurant. Other assignments include cleaning the establishment, attending orders from the drive-thru, or washing dishes (if any).
In fact, these jobs are some of the most profitable for teenagers, the downside is that it requires a lot of movement and physical exertion. And even though your schedule is fixed so you can go to school without stress, numerous customers will arrive during your shift.
Still, 15-year-olds can get a good salary from these fast-food chains:
- Burger King
- McDonald’s
- Wendy’s
- Chipotle
- Chick-fil-A
- Subway
- KFC
- Taco Bell
- Arby’s
You can earn money through tips, but mostly, your hourly wage is your primary source of earnings. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “The median hourly wage for food and beverage serving and related workers was $12.49 in May 2021.”, so you can expect to get between $9 and $13 per hour.
Other Jobs for 15 Years Old Aside from Fast-Food Restaurants
If you are not interested in working for a fast-food chain, then you have other options that you can enroll in if you have 15 years old. You can learn so much from these jobs, preparing you for the industry and your future career.
Make sure that, whatever you are applying for, is not a burden on your school schedule. It is not worth it to sacrifice right now if you are in school and still learning. Your chance to get a part-time job will arrive whenever you feel ready and in good physical and mental condition.
Babysitter
One of the most simple jobs that you can get and you do not have to look for it in businesses. All you have to do is go around your neighborhood and ask families if they need a babysitter, that way you can gain between $10 and $25 per hour easily.
This job can be reasonable with the work hours; you can adjust it with the parents so it benefits both of you. After that, you will make sure that the baby or kids stay healthy and are taken care of according to the parents’ needs.
Cashier
This is another position for fast-food attendants, but there are other places that require a cashier, like retail or grocery stores. You do not need any sort of formal education requirement, but you will need on-the-job training to become one.
Most stores constantly require a cashier, so if you have 15 years old, you should apply for it. Their job goes as followed: they register the customer’s purchases, accept different types of payment, count money, give change and receipts, bag the purchases, and if necessary, issue refunds.
Dog walker
If you like pets, then why not try to walk dogs to gain some money? You can post your services on social media, or go door to door asking if they need your services. In a month you can profit a lot if you find recurrent customers.
You will have to plan the route that you are going to walk the dog depending on where the owner lives, and you must fit it into your schedule so it does not bother you with school classes.
And you are in luck, there are multiple apps for dogwalkers that you can download on your phone if you do not find customers in your neighborhood.
Car washer
Another profitable job you can get is at a car washing agency. You will have all cleaning equipment at your disposal, and you will get on-the-job training on how to clean a car on the inside and outside.
It is a demanding job depending on the type of vehicle and how dirty it is. Washing, vacuuming, polishing, and drying are some of the assignments that you will do on your job.
If you rather go for something small, you can ask your neighbors if they need their car cleaned. You will not earn as much as having a job at an agency, but it is still a good source of income.
Veterinarian assistant
Do not get confused, a veterinary assistant is formally known as a professional who assists scientists and veterinarians in their tasks. Such things as laboratory procedures, helping during the surgery of animals, and giving medication are some of the jobs for this role.
On top of that, you will need a high school diploma, and you cannot have one at 15 years old. But being an assistant can go for other simple things, and you would not require a diploma for it.
For example, cleaning pet cages, giving baths, feeding them, and taking animals on walks are simple activities that you can do to support a veterinary or animal shelter.
Private tutor
And if you are currently excelling at a specific school subject, then become a tutor for kids and teenagers. You can charge per hour and decide the process to teach the student.
You have to also prepare the material you are going to use, whether it will be books, digital content, videos, etc. On top of that, you can decide whether you want to teach remotely or in person; that decision will be chosen according to your school schedule and the availability of the student.
Painting and gardening
Finally, one of the simplest but tiresome jobs you can find is being a gardener. At your current age, you can start by mowing the lawn of neighbors, pulling weeds, and watering flowers. If you find attractive this job, then once you grow older you can go and become a ground maintenance worker for bigger places.
Another thing that you can do around the house is paint fences or walls. There are techniques to paint a wall properly, so with time you will learn how to do it.
Start Your Journey to Many Successful Jobs
For a 15 years old teenager, getting a job is the greatest thing that can happen to you in your school life. You will get to learn to manage multiple businesses and gain experience from it, making you more qualified for other jobs in the future.
We recommend that you always strive for more and give it all you have got on your job. You might get a raise with time, and you will feel happier with how things are going.