The Highest-Paying Jobs for High Schoolers

There are many jobs for students in high school. They can do a part-time job during the academic year or full-time work in the summer. Indeed, having a job is one of the best decisions that a high schooler can make. Jobs can provide high school students with funding, valuable work experience, transferable skills, and a sense of independence. 

This guide will outline some of the best jobs for high schoolers, including the highest-paying jobs and their primary responsibilities. Read on to learn more about how you can chart your future potential careers even at an early age.

Who is a High Schooler?

High schoolers are those who go to high school, a school more advanced than elementary or middle school, and attended before a university or a college. They mostly comprise teenagers, who are between the ages of 14 and 18.

What Jobs Are Available to High Schoolers?

Jobs available to high schoolers are mostly short-term and can be found almost everywhere. Employers often look for willing and passionate high schoolers and employ them for learn-on-the-job kinds of occupations. 

These types of jobs include work in the transport sector, food sector, sales sector, technical sector, education sector, healthcare, and personal care. If you’re a high schooler interested in making some income, you can work in any of these fields. 

For example, if you’re into sales and marketing with a desire to study it in college, you can work as a sales agent. This will help you gain experience and knowledge of how the sector works. Such opportunities put you in a win-win situation because you gain experience and knowledge, along with income. 

Companies That Hire High Schoolers

Starbucks

Starbucks is a multinational coffeehouse headquartered in the US. The types of jobs in Starbucks available to high schoolers are servers, baristas, and cleaners. So, if as a high schooler, you’re looking for a job, Starbucks is one of the best places for you. The salary rate is moderate and can support your school needs. You may also receive a salary increase as you progress. 

IBM

As a major employer of IT services, IBM employs over 300,000 people worldwide. The company’s employment is not limited to graduates. It also hires high schoolers as go-to-market project assistants. Upon doing this job, your responsibilities will include writing winning stories for clients, creating captivating messages for digital campaigns, and assisting with blog and article writing on various social media channels. 

Whole Foods

Whole Foods is a well-known supermarket with a network of stores in over 360 locations, making it an ideal place to gain experience. The company hires high schoolers as cashiers, store support, stock associates, and other similar roles. These jobs are commonly open to high schoolers because they wouldn’t need to go a long distance. 

Amazon

Amazon is a popular retail giant that sells wares, household items, electronics, and many other goods through the internet. Goods are usually sent to consumers through courier services. Amazon hires high schoolers who are at least 18 years of age for delivery of goods using bicycles or mini-bikes. Joining Amazon can even lead to earning decent money through a regular delivery job in the future.

Disney

Walt Disney Animation studio hires high schoolers through their internship program. It’s a 10-week experience for students, during which they’ll learn skills such as computer graphics, art animation, and other hands-on projects. After the training, you’ll be paid for your work period.

10 Highest-Paying Jobs for High Schoolers

As a high school student, you may be looking for opportunities to earn extra cash and learn specialized and soft skills while attending classes and earning your diploma. To help you start, below are 10 of the best jobs for high schoolers like you.

Cashier

The primary duty of a cashier is to manage the cash register, help customers, confirm their products, and complete their check-out process. Their roles involve doing price checks, bagging items, and processing card payments or collecting cash.

They also validate coupons or gift cards and hand out change when the need arises. You may also be asked to do responsibilities such as cleaning up, taking orders, and doing delivery jobs.

Automotive Technician

An automotive technician is responsible for the repair of automotive machinery, such as cars, and other forms of vehicles. They also run periodic maintenance tasks to ensure that an automobile is in good condition. Other duties include running diagnostic tests and vehicle inspections to ensure compliance with safety regulations, performing test drives, and maintaining accurate customer records.

This can be a great job to pursue if you’re interested in working on cars during your free time. You may also join automotive bootcamps to expand your knowledge and skills in this type of career.

Babysitter

Your basic responsibility as a babysitter is to look after young children while their parents are absent. Babysitter duties include ensuring that kids are fed by preparing their meals, cleaning them and their messes, dressing them, and providing assistance when needed in their homework. Another duty of babysitters is to keep the kids’ play area and dining area clean. You’re also expected to put them to bed at the appropriate time.

Youth Sports Referee

The core role of this job is to oversee games between sports teams in a youth league. Such sports activities usually take place at the high school level. As a youth sports referee, some of your responsibilities include keeping track of start and stop times, ensuring that all players adhere to the game’s rules, and implementing penalties when necessary.

Server

Servers carry out work in bars, restaurants, or fast-food establishments. They take orders from customers and relay the orders to the kitchen. Sometimes, they bring food to customers, refill drinks, and collect payments. They also clear up tables after a customer is finished and prepare them for new diners. At the end of the day, they might also help clean dishes.

Dog Walker

This role is focused on taking others’ dogs out for walks. They help dogs stay healthy and fit, as well as socialize them with other pets in the area. The services of dog walkers are needed when their owners are too busy to walk them. You’ll find this job rewarding and easy if you’re an animal lover. 

Tutor

Tutors are very relevant in the education sector. They’re known for providing after-schooling guidance. During which, they teach and aid students with their coursework within an agreed period weekly. Your responsibilities include checking assignments, revising lectures, preparing your client for examinations, providing clarity for trouble areas, and helping students academically succeed.

Delivery Driver

Delivery drivers are highly in-demand in cities due to the recent rise of app-based food delivery services. Their core responsibility is to deliver orders to customers. Other duties include reviewing orders before and after delivery, and accepting and confirming payments. 

They’re also responsible for providing customer service, addressing complaints, maintaining accurate delivery-related documentation, such as delivery notes, receipts, and more.

Landscape Laborer

As a landscape laborer, your duties include mowing the lawn and trimming hedges. You’ll also be required to water plants and take out weeds. A landscape laborer may also maintain fences, clear bushes, and sustain fountains. Additional responsibilities may depend on the job location. This role is lucrative especially in areas where sporting events are frequently held.

Pet Sitter

A pet sitter takes care of pets during the absence of their owner. Their responsibilities include feeding the pets, taking them on walks, and maintaining a healthy environment around them. When the pets fall sick, you will be required to take them to the vet for medical attention. Pet sitters are also referred to as pet caretakers.

Tips for Finding Success as a High Schooler

As a high schooler, you’re in the middle of getting good grades for college and can also be making enough to sponsor your college fees. It can be a hard decision and a difficult task merging both activities. The tips below will help you succeed in juggling both school and work.

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1. Embrace work-life balance. While you should ensure you don’t overwork or overstress yourself, you must make sure that work doesn’t get in the way of your study time. It’s advisable that you come up with a good balance between these responsibilities so that neither becomes neglected.
2. Understand what time management means. Your academics and work both demand time management as a necessary soft skill. You need to remember that their success depends on how much attention you give. Allotting the required time to your school work and your job is a good way to go.
3. Choose extracurricular activities wisely. You need to select extracurricular activities that improve your well-being and complement who you are. Many extracurricular activities build your communication skills, problem-solving skills, and other soft skills.  They don’t only have to look good on a college application. If you get entangled in extracurricular activities that you don’t enjoy, you will be physically and mentally stressed.
4. Do things for yourself. Learn to leave your comfort zone and do things for yourself. While you’re a minor and living in your parents’ home, there are rules and expectations that you will need to abide by. Concurrently, it’s a good idea to have an honest conversation with your parents to establish a healthy level of independence. Getting a job is a good way to demonstrate that you’re responsible.
5. Attend bootcamps periodically to upskill. In an ever-changing environment, your skill can be advanced. Attending bootcamps will help your skills stay relevant during and after your time in high school. They’re also a great way to ensure you’re prepared for your career field after graduation.

Jobs for High Schoolers Outlook

According to Zippia, in 2020, 30 percent of high schoolers aged 16 to 19 had jobs in the US. High school jobs are expected to have more openings in the coming years. This is due to the ease of entry and the low level of skills required. However, you choose to earn extra cash, just ensure that your choice will better prepare you for a career path that you’ll enjoy.

Best Jobs for High Schoolers FAQ